Killer Windows 8 tablet design: Bring back the HP tc1100

Summary: We are already seeing tablets with keyboard docks, but none as practical as the HP tc1100 hybrid design from years past. Let’s bring it back with Windows 8.

Tablets are here to stay no matter how you feel about them, and Windows 8 tablets will be appearing en masse later this year. We’re already starting to see the return of the convertible notebook, with several models displayed at the CES that have the tablet screen slip down on top of the keyboard for dual duty as both a tablet and a laptop. Rather than revisit the convertible notebook that yields a heavy, thick tablet, I’d like to see the rebirth of the hybrid HP tc1100 with the detachable keyboard.

I used a tc1100 for several years as my Tablet PC, and the detachable screen let me use the tablet in as light a form as possible for the time. The keyboard with its innovative hinge let me have a laptop equivalent as needed, without adding excessive weight to the gear bag. It wasn’t a thin and light solution as the tablet was thick and heavy by today’s standards.

A hybrid design using today’s hardware would be outstanding, and I believe it would be a popular for those needing a Windows tablet. Imagine a thin, one pound slate like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, with a light keyboard that could be attached when needed. The whole enchilada would be less than half an inch thick with the keyboard attached, and weigh maybe two pounds. This is entering the territory where you could leave the keyboard attached even while using it as a tablet with little penalty.

Look at the photo of the tc1100, and you can’t help but appreciate the design of the keyboard unit. The screen of the tc1100 was a bit smaller than the widescreen display of today’s 10.1-inch tablets, so the keyboard unit could be a little wider for an even more comfortable typing experience. Note the keys on the keyboard and you appreciate how thin it is while remaining as good as those bulky laptop docks.

The tc1100 tablet was thick and heavy (over 3 pounds), and this created an engineering challenge for the hybrid design. The keyboard needed to be thin and light, yet it needed to support the bulk and weight of the tablet in a variety of configurations. This challenge largely goes away with a tablet as light as the Galaxy Tab, so I believe HP or another OEM could make this design pretty easily.

Tablets available today are using a full keyboard dock, complete with second battery, and while that turns the tablet into more of a laptop than the hybrid solution I want it comes with a penalty in weight and bulk.

I have no problem carrying an iPad 2 with a light keyboard case, and this hybrid would weigh about the same and take up the same space in the bag. It would turn the Windows 8 tablet into a real laptop running Windows, and that would be appealing to both the enterprise and consumers.

HP could produce my hybrid using the same technology from the tc1100. It could use either an Intel tablet, or better an ARM-based tablet to keep the battery life and weight down. The lack of a battery in the keyboard unit would prohibit using a trackpad, but that should be OK with the touch screen tablet. It’s just as precise to manipulate the screen directly, and the arrow keys on the keyboard add precision when needed. The trackstick on the tc1100 keyboard functioned flawlessly, and would work just fine.

I would buy one of these hybrid tablets and keyboards in a heartbeat. How about you?

CES 2012: HP Envy 14 Spectre is a $1,400 Ultrabook built from glass

Summary: Amid a sea of lower-priced Ultrabooks that Intel hopes will turn the laptop platform into a mainstream success floats HP’s new Envy 14 Spectre, which is certainly not a run-of-the-mill anything. Its most notable feature is a glass-based chassis, — yes, glass — that is scratch-resistant and lightweight enough to still weigh under 4 [...]

Amid a sea of lower-priced Ultrabooks that Intel hopes will turn the laptop platform into a mainstream success floats HP’s new Envy 14 Spectre, which is certainly not a run-of-the-mill anything. Its most notable feature is a glass-based chassis, — yes, glass — that is scratch-resistant and lightweight enough to still weigh under 4 pounds.
The Envy 14 Spectre also manages to squeeze a 14-inch display into the 13.3-inch chassis, and includes such amenities as a multi-touch-enabled touchpad, Beats Audio, and a HP Radiance backlit keyboard that lights up when you approach it. According to Engadget, it evens comes with a built-in NFC chip that can be paired with an Android phone for very close-range communication.
Inside the Spectre, HP promises Intel Core i5 and i7 processor options, either 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB solid state storage, though no Thunderbolt port like on the Acer Aspire S5. The company claims up to 9 hours of battery life, though expect less in the real world.
As you might guess, anything this striking will not come cheap. HP plans to sell the Envy 14 Spectre starting at a hefty $1,400 on February 8 (though you can reserve one now on the HP website). You do get a dedicated tech support line for Envy customers, at least.

Read also:

• Dell XPS 13 (photo gallery)

• CES 2012: Dell announces $999 XPS 13 Ultrabook

   

Dell XPS 13 (photo gallery)

Dell XPS 13 Photos

Dell XPS 13 (Left side view)

Dell XPS 13 (glass glisture in up view)

Dell XPS 13 (smooth Keyboard & pad with 13" LED screen)

Dell XPS 13 (Right side view)

Dell XPS 13 (from right side)

Dell XPS 13 (From above showing smooth ivory back of device)

Add caption

Dell XPS 13 (smooth sensitive touchpad)

Read also:

• CES 2012: Dell announces $999 XPS 13 Ultrabook

CES 2012: Dell announces $999 XPS 13 Ultrabook

Summary: Now the big boys are getting into the Ultrabook act. Last night, HP unveiled its Envy 14 Spectre “premium” model, and today Dell has bowed with its Ultrabook debut. Dubbed the XPS 13 Ultrabook, it will start at the magical $999 price point when it goes on sale at the end of February. The 13.3-inch display 

Now the big boys are getting into the Ultrabook act. Last night, HP unveiled its Envy 14 Spectre “premium” model, and today Dell has bowed with its Ultrabook debut. Dubbed the XPS 13 Ultrabook, it will start at the magical $999 price point when it goes on sale at the end of February.
The 13.3-inch display features Gorilla Glass, and Dell claims it has squeezed it into an 11-inch footprint. (The touchpad with multi-gesture support also uses glass.) The XPS 13 Ultrabook will come with either an Intel Core i5-2467M or Core i7-2637M processor, 4GB of RAM, Intel HD3000 integrated graphics, and an 128GB or 256GB solid state drive. The company says the system lasted 8 hours and 53 minutes on MobileMark 2007 with a 6-cell battery in its lab testing, though your mileage will certainly vary.
To sweeten the deal, Dell is offering US purchasers a year of both Accidental Damage Service and LoJack Theft Recovery Service. Corporate types can opt for add-ons like the Windows 7 Trusted Platform Module and ProSupport service.
Dell says you can reserve an XPS 13 Ultrabook right now, but as of this writing the link on the Direct2Dell blog is not working. Could there be some pent-up demand for a Dell Ultrabook — or just some poor website maintenance?

Read also:

• Dell XPS 13 (photo gallery)