After months of waiting, some of the first 64-bit tablets with Windows 8.1 and Intel’s Bay Trail chips were announced by Hewlett-Packard.
HP’s ElitePad 1000 G2 and ProPad 600 G1 are targeted at business users. The tablets have 10.1-inch screens with resolutions of 1920 by 1200 pixels, and run on Intel’s quad-core Atom processors with clock speeds starting at 1.6GHz.
The ElitePad will be priced at $739.99 and ship worldwide in March. The ProPad 600 price wasn’t provided, but it will be priced lower as it has fewer features, said Derek Everett, director of worldwide product management for commercial Windows tablets at HP.
The release of 64-bit Windows 8.1 tablets with Atom chips was delayed due to limitations in the OS concerning some tablet features. The first tablets out of the gate in September last year had 32-bit Windows, but Microsoft has now resolved the issues.
ElitePad offers self-repair
Designed to be somewhere between a pure tablet and laptop replacement, the ElitePad 1000 G2 differentiates from rival offerings with unique self-repair features. The tablet’s back can be opened up to replace the battery, display, webcam, system board, and other components. Tablets are typically highly integrated and need to be replaced or sent back to a device maker for repairs, and the self-repair feature in the ElitePad 1000 G2 could save time and money.
The tablet, which weighs 680 grams, has a battery life of ten hours, according to HP’s measurements. It comes with 64GB or 128GB of storage. Other features include an 8-megapixel rear camera, 2.1-megapixel front camera, and USB 3.0 and micro-SD slots.
Optional LTE connectivity is available with the tablet. Smart Jacket protective covers can add an additional battery and ports to the tablet.
The ElitePad 1000 replaces the older ElitePad 900.
Hewlett-Packard ProPad 600
The ProPad 600 is not as rich on features at the ElitePad 1000, but a more affordable option for businesses, Everett said. The core technology is similar, he said.
The tablet has up to 64GB of storage. It is lighter at 652 grams, but a little thicker than the ElitePad 1000. The ProPad has an 8-megapixel rear camera, 2.1-megapixel front camera. It also has micro-USB 2.0, micro-HDMI and micro-SD ports.
It does not work with Smart Jackets, and it cannot be self-repaired or serviced like the ElitePad 1000, Everett said. The ProPad is also available with 32-bit Windows.
