Tablet PC Review

The Apple iPad. The name is a killing word — more than a product — it’s a statement, an idea, and potentially a prime mover in the world of consumer electronics. Before iPad it was called the Apple Tablet, the Slate, Canvas, and a handful of other guesses — but what was little more than rumor and speculation for nearly ten years is now very much a reality. Announced on January 27th to a middling response, Apple has been readying itself for what could be the most significant product launch in its history; the making (or breaking) of an entirely new class of computer for the company. The iPad is something in between its monumental iPhone and wildly successful MacBook line — a usurper to the netbook throne, and possibly a sign of things to come for the entire personal computer market… if Apple delivers on its promises. And those are some big promises; the company has been tossing around words like “magical” and “revolutionary” to describe what many have dismissed as nothing more than a larger version of its iPod touch. But is that all there is to this device? Is the hope that Apple promises for this new computing experience nothing more than marketing fluff and strategic hyperbole? Or is this a different beast altogether — a true sign that change has come to the world of the PC? We have the definitive answers to those questions (and many more) right here, so read on for our full review of the Apple iPad!

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Business users and consumers who want a well-built tablet PC have a few options on the market right now, including models from HP, Lenovo and Dell, among other manufacturers. HP just updated the aging EliteBook 2730p, replacing it with the EliteBook 2740p that includes upgrades to the latest Core i5 and i7 processors. In this review, we take an in-depth look at this newest business tablet PC and see how well it stacks up against the competition.

Our HP EliteBook 2740p Tablet Specifications:

• Screen: 12.1-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) UWVA LED Backlit Multitouch (Matte finish)
• Operating System: Windows 7 Professional (64bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-540M (2.53GHz, 3MB Cache)
• Memory: 4GB DDR3 RAM (2GB + 2GB)
• Storage: 250GB Toshiba 1.8″ HDD (5400rpm)
• Wireless: Intel 6200 802.11AGN, Bluetooth
• Graphics: Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics
• Power: 44Wh primary battery, 46Wh slice battery, 65W 20V AC adapter
• Dimensions: 11.42 x 8.35 x 1.25″
• Weight: 3.93lbs
• Retail Price: $1,699

Build and Design
The HP EliteBook series of notebooks and tablets are known for their sturdy designs. In most cases, the EliteBook 2740p follows that trend, but with a subtle shift away from the brushed metal screen covers. Instead, HP uses a silver painted cover accented by black rubbery paint on the bottom of the chassis, which is similar to what’s found on Lenovo ThinkPads, but with a more “grippy” feel. The inside of the tablet follows the same silver theme with a brushed metal palmrest and a silver keyboard, which is carried over from the previous generation’s model. The screen bezel and other trim pieces have the same color scheme, with some brushed metal accent piece covering the screen hinge. The bottom of the tablet is black and designed with a flush-mount primary battery. A slice battery is an option on this system, which consists of a thin battery with the same footprint as the notebook. The battery clips securely onto the bottom of the notebook and effectively doubles battery capacity. Both the battery and the bottom chassis covered with the rubbery black paint, so you don’t lose the added grip once you clip on an external battery.

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The HP Pavilion tx2500 is the much needed update to the tx2000 Tablet PC. That’s right, the tx2500 has an updated processor and graphics. HP finally answered our prayers and added the new AMD Puma processor and ATI Radeon HD 3200 integrated graphics into the same great design. So let’s see how much better it performs.
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Welcome to the April 2009 Most Popular Tablet PCs list. This report is made using the total page-views each product page receives in one month; so each time someone clicks one of the product links, they are submitting a vote in our monthly rankings. This list doesn’t always show which models are the best selling, but instead the models that readers want to research the most.

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