General2.10.2012

HP Unveils a True Tablet for Business

HP today introduced the HP ElitePad 900, a tablet that balances a beautiful design with enterprise-grade features, functionality, and support.

Designed for business, government healthcare and retail, it features HP ElitePad Smart Jackets, which add connectivity options and longer battery life along with specific add-ons that customise the tablet for specialised uses.

The HP ElitePad is an ultrathin, lightweight Microsoft® Windows 8 tablet that delivers features to keep IT managers happy and touts a design that employees will crave. It offers full serviceability, enhanced security and manageability found in HP Elite PCs, packed with a battery that passed over 115,000 hours of tests.

“Many organisations are forced to trade design for functionality when making technology purchasing decisions,” said Gerwald van der Gijp, director commercial products, Personal Computer Business Unit, HP EMEA. “By combining the style and user experience consumers demand with the features IT requires, the HP ElitePad shows that customers can have it all.”

A tablet that is made for business

Ergonomically shaped to fit comfortably in the hand, the HP ElitePad offers a 25.7 cm (10.1”) display, weighs just 0.68 and measures 9.2 millimetres (mm) thin. The 16-by-10 aspect ratio maximises the display area for ideal viewing of traditional business applications, as well as video content. Precision crafted, with an eye toward fit and finish, the HP ElitePad uses stylish, premium materials such as CNC-machined aluminium and Corning®Gorilla® Glass 2.

Powered by next-generation Intel® mobile processors, the HP ElitePad delivers PC productivity for those on the go and Intel x86 compatibility for existing business application support. It is optimised for Windows 8 and supports touch-, pen- or voice-based input. The HP ElitePad also provides power efficiency and smartphone-style convenience with compatibility for traditional Windows applications, as well as easy integration into existing IT environments.

The unique, productivity-enhancing ecosystem of HP Smart Jackets and additional accessories designed specifically for the HP ElitePad expand the tablet’s potential, turning it into a total enterprise solution:

  •     HP ElitePad Productivity Jacket—includes an integrated keyboard, connectivity ports, SD card reader and adjustable viewing angles for a complete computing experience.
  •     HP ElitePad Expansion Jacket—adds USB, HDMI and other connectivity to get more done on the go. Add even longer battery life when bundled with the optional HP ElitePad Jacket battery.
  •     The HP ElitePad Rugged Jacket—provides added protection HP ElitePad Docking Station—delivers an enterprise-class desktop experience with an added keyboard and monitor and also charges the tablet. Or, use it to set the tablet up as a secondary screen for phenomenal multitasking.
  •     HP Executive Tablet Pen—lets customers write messages and notes in their natural handwriting directly on screen and then save or convert to typed text for use in other applications.

Loaded with tools for mobile work or play

The HP ElitePad tablet’s 1080p front-facing video camera and 8 megapixel (MP) rear camera with an LED flash and included CyberLink YouCam software help users easily communicate face to face, create high-definition (HD) web videos or record training videos without high production costs.

Powered by technology from HP Labs, the company’s central research arm, new HP PageLift is an application that automatically trims, and correctly lights and orients a captured image of a whiteboard, paper contract or other document so it is ready to use or share without requiring manual editing.

Users can easily print directly from their HP ElitePad to any ePrint-capable HP printer or to a networked HP printer without the need for downloading drivers. HP ePrint software allows users to print remotely at more than 24,000 public locations such as hotels and business service retailers. The HP ElitePad also helps small workgroups connect with HP Wireless Hotspot, a desktop application that allows users to share a wireless internet connection and network bandwidth.

Additional user-experience software includes the CyberLink Media suite, which enables users to manage and create audio and video content with the same easy-to-use interface as other HP business PCs. Plus, users can record and listen to audio with a stereo microphone and headset jack that feature the richness of SRS Audio.

Information management is made easy with Evernote, which captures, saves and synchronises information across devices with impressively quick search capability, and Skitch software that eases collaboration with colleagues by quickly marking up images with captions or sketches.

Manageability, deployment and security for IT environments

The HP ElitePad offers a long life cycle, stable image, three-year limited warranty and HP Global Series Support, all of which IT managers expect in an enterprise tablet. The HP ElitePad is fully serviceable with an optional, industry-unique service tool for self-maintainers that allows customers to access the panel, battery, motherboard and unibody chassis, helping reduce downtime and keep sensitive data and devices in-house.(10)

In addition, organizations will appreciate the enterprise-calibre data, device and identity protection from HP Client Security, including HP BIOS Protection, Security Manager and HP Drive Encryption. Additional security features include Device Access Manager, Computrace and Sparekey.

Device deployment and ongoing support and maintenance are made easy with x86 compatibility and support for HP Client Management solutions. The LANDesk Management Suite also increases security and eases management by providing differentiated tools to locate and protect data on lost devices, remotely capture SIM card info for mass WWAN activation and enforce geographic policies to remotely lock, full wipe or selectively wipe data.

Availability

The HP ElitePad 900 is expected to be available in January 2013.

 

Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter