HP tx2000 Tablet PC Release and Our First Look Review

That is right, HP finally updated the tx1000. Welcome the tx2000 Tablet PC. It has the same design as its predecessor, but now has an active digitizer and touchscreen. We were lucky enough to get our hands on one and bring you this first look review. I have to say I am quite impressed with this 12.1-inch tablet. We received a pre-production unit too and it's still near perfect.

The HP tx2000. (view large image)

HP tx2000 Tablet PC specs:

AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core processor TL-66 2.3GHz
Up to 4GB DDR2 RAM (review unit had 2GB)
Nvidia GeForce Go 6150 graphics
Hard drive options of 120GB, 160GB or 250GB
12.1" WXGA touchscreen display with built in digitizer (1280x800 resolution)
LightScribe Super Multi or Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW
Windows Vista Home, Business or Ultimate OS
Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet
802.11a/b/g/n with Bluetooth
ExpressCard Slot
3 x USB ports
2 x headphone out and one microphone-in
VGA-15 pin
TV-Out S-video
RJ-11 and RJ-45
Notebook Expansion port 3
2 x Consumer IR
Battery: 4-cell or 6-cell Lithium-Ion
Weight: 4.3 pounds with weightsaver and 4-cell battery
Dimensions: 8.82"(L) x 12.05"(W) x 1.23"(H)


Design and Build

The tx2000 has a high-gloss HP exclusive Echo finish. Unlike its predecessor the lid is glossy black and has the Echo pattern, which also extends inside to the silver keyboard. Very sleek design, but it does get full of fingerprints. The overall design and chassis are still the same. The tx2000 feels solid and weighs in around 4.3 pounds.


Lid of the tx2000 with Echo imprint. (view large image)

Students and professionals everywhere are rejoicing to this news. The updated tx2000 Entertainment Tablet PC has a touchscreen and active digitizer, which means now you don't have to use just your finger to navigate because there is a pen for taking notes or drawing. The pen is accurate and responsive as well. It still comes packed with a remote (my unit was lacking one though) and Altec Lansing speakers, so watching movies or listening to music is great.

Display and Keyboard

The 12.1" WXGA display is kind of grainy, but this is common with tablets. It is glossy and reflective, but nothing major if you like high-gloss screens. It is actually helpful in the sunlight, not that I have seen much though here in the cold MidWest. The viewing angles are fine and now that it has both a touchscreen and active digitizer, it's a real tablet.


The tx2000 in tablet mode with pen. (view large image)

The screen automatically changes orientation when rotated into tablet mode and the small hinge is surprisingly sturdy. The pen feels nice as well and I prefer it when navigating over my finger because it is more accurate. The tx2000 feels a little heavy when carrying in tablet mode, but it does come packed full of features.


The tx2000 keyboard and touchpad. (view large image)

The Keyboard feels solid. The keys don't flex too much and response time is good. HP is making the keyboards even better on the production models with improved accuracy and response. The touchpad is still the famous perforated design. There are plenty of multimedia buttons for watching DVDs, listening to music or viewing your photos. There is even an optional Webcam.

Performance and Benchmark

The tx2000 now has that needed bump of power with its AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core processor. Browsing the Web and uploading pictures was an easy task. The Nvidia Go 6150 graphics will be a disappointment to some, but still work fine, just no hard-core gaming. This tablet was in need of a refresh and I can't complain, especially for the price.

Battery life was good. I got around four hours with the 4-cell battery, which sticks out the back of the tablet a bit. The 6-cell actually raises the tablets height from 1.23" to 1.52", so that is something to think about. If you carry your tablet in slate mode the 4-cell battery might be more comfortable.


HP tx2000 in notebook mode. (view large image)

Wireless options are endless from 802.11b/g WLAN to 802.11a/b/g/n with Bluetooth and everything in between. At the office I had no problems connecting to the Internet, but at my house the tx2000 wouldn't pick up a signal for anything. It was either hit or miss, but the Verizon coverage isn't so great in my neighborhood.

PCMark05 measures the systems performance as a whole.

Notebook	PCMark05 Score
HP tx2000 (AMD Turion 64 X2 2.3GHz, Nvidia Go 6150 graphics)	3,738 PCMarks
Asus R1E (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, GMA 965 chipset)	4,679 PCMarks
Fujitsu LifeBook T2010 (Intel Core 2 Duo ULV 1.2GHz, GMA X3100 graphics)	2,334 PCMarks
Gateway C-140x (Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz, ATI X2300 HD graphics)	4,342 PCMarks
HP Compaq 2710p (Intel Core 2 Duo ULV 1.2GHz, GMA X3100 graphics)	2,453 PCMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6GHz, GMA X3100 graphics)	3,473 PCMarks
Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz, GMA X3100 graphics)	4,171 PCMarks
Gateway E-155C (Intel Core 2 Duo ULV 1.06GHz, Intel GMA 950 graphics)	2,205 PCMarks
LG C1 (Intel Core Duo 1.2GHz, Nvidia Go 7300)	2,568 PCMarks
Toshiba R400 (Intel Core Duo ULV 1.2GHz, Intel GMA 950 graphics)	2,187 PCMarks
HP tx1000 (AMD Turion X2 2.0GHz, Nvidia Go 6150)	3,052 PCMarks
Asus R1F (1.66GHz Core Duo, Intel GMA 950 graphics)	2,724 PCMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad X60t (1.66GHz LV Core Duo)	2,860 PCMarks
Toshiba Tecra M6 (1.66GHz Intel T2300E, Intel GMA 950)	2,732 PCMarks




Stay tuned for more benchmarks and testing in my complete review, which will be published in a few days. The tx2000 is definitely a true competitor. College students will love this convertible notebook, I mean the first one (the tx1000) was a huge success.

Ports

I don't think you can ask for much more then what the tx2000 already offers. It isn't the lightest tablet I have held, but it is the funnest. I wasn't disappointed in the feature set and the entertainment features are an added bonus for this tablet.


Left side view of the ports. (view large image)


Right side view of the ports. (view large image)


Front view of the tx2000. (view large image)


Back view of the tx2000. (view large image)


Underneath view of the tx2000. (view large image)

Pricing and Availability

Prices for the tx2000 start at $1,299 and it is supposed to be available by January 8th on hpshopping.com. If you want some hands-on time with one you will have to wait until March when they hit retail stores.

 

Nice review Tiffany.

How's the glare from the screen? My dv6000t is horrible on that. And do you know if there's a weight saver option for the optical drive?

I think HP has a winner here, and this tablet would open up the tablet pc market to the masses. Wow! 2008 promises to be interesting.



*Edit:*
Just saw that it does have a weightsaver option.

 

Still using 6150 graphics, thought they would have updated to the 7150.
And I was wishing they'd finally go to Intel processors and chipsets, guess AMD has a nice exclusive deal with them.

Great to see an active digitizer on it now, this will be very popular like its predecessor, I'd get it if it had an Intel processor, dislike the Turion X2 in my Compaq.

 

Sorry for my incompetence, but could someone explain the PC benchmarks? Is a higher or lower score better? I was going to buy an m700 but this has definitely caught my eye now. DECISIONS DECISIONS

 

That active digitiser... is it wacom? How does it feel in terms of lag and sensitivity?

It looks like it will make a fun tablet, but doesn't seem to be a replacement for my T4210 as a work tablet - How does the Turion stack up against a Core 2 Duo, and what about battery life? 6150 graphics looks like it could be a small battery drainer... though digitiser+touchscreen is awesome =)

 

Ditto. Take a pen from a Wacom tablet PC and see if it works on this thing.

By the looks of the pen though, it doesn't look Wacom. The shape of the pen tip looks a lot like the Finepoint pens on the old Gateways. It could be that new Finepoint digitizer with passive and active capabilities (along with pressure and tilt support).

According to Engadget, they are gonna offer Intel Core 2 Duo and mobo as options on this thing.

 

This thing intrigues me...how much will they be charging for it?

 

I take it you didn't read the last line of the review.



And to add overall, now that machine looks worth it. Active is the way to go.

 

I was all set to order the Toshiba M700 when this thing comes along. I think I may end up going the HP route. I don't mind the AMD CPU so much, and since I don't plan on drawing with it, the lack of a Wacom won't be a killer. Plus, it's a bit cheaper than the Toshiba is.

 

I think the AMD bit is what's making it alot cheaper than the M700. If you configure it with supposedly to be available Core 2 Duo option, it would be like M700 in price.

If this unit comes with Wacom, it would make for a very nice entry level active digitizer 12" TPC for artists. It would sell like hotcakes for artists and student artists on the budget.