HP ElitePad 900: Is this the ultimate Windows 8 tablet?

The Gadget Show  Monday 01 October 2012

We’re less than a month away from the launch of Windows 8 now, and the new PCs, laptops and tablets are starting to come thick and fast. Next to roll off the factory pipeline: the HP ElitePad 900, a full fat Windows slate with a stylus. Eat your heart out iPad?

The 10-inch HP ElitePad 900 may be targeted at business users first and foremost, with its smart encryption security software, but with support for a stylus and an optional 3G or even 4G connection for ultra fast speeds anywhere, it’s quite the competitor to Apple’s sensational iPad whichever way you cut it.

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The HP ElitePad 900 is powered by an Intel Atom Clover Trail processor, a chip meant for full on computers rather than mobile devices. That might mean the HP ElitePad 900 is a bit bigger and noisier than some of its competitors, but it also means you can run full Windows 8 and download any apps you choose, not just the more restricted version of Windows 8 for tablets, Windows RT. There’s also a keyboard dock, so you can type up documents and emails on the go.

That’s all backed up by a beefy 2GB of memory for multitasking and up to 64GB of storage, and while the whole affair is only 9.2mm thick, it’s also military grade, and its sharp 1280×800 resolution display can survive a tumble onto concrete thanks to its Gorilla Glass prowess – don’t go testing that out to be sure though.

The HP ElitePad 900 is out in January, and price is still to be confirmed, but so far it’s shaping up nicely. Is this a genuine rival to the iPad and Microsoft Surface? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.

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