HP introduces the multi-touch consumer Tablet PC: TouchSmart TX2

One of my favourite Media Center enabled laptops is the HP Tx2500, it has a tablet PC digitizer and touch enabled screen which makes it great for using as a tablet PC and as Media Center device. HP have updated the device to the TX2 series which features a multi-touch interface as well as the pen digitizer. HP have developed a multi-touch enabled MediaSmart UI that sits on top of Windows which I suspect will be like the touch UI on the TouchSmart PCs (see my video review). Multi-touch is going be a big part of Windows 7 and it’s good to see HP coming up with a multi-touch enabled device.

Some details from HP:

This sleek, ENERGY STAR® qualified, recyclable laptop has a 12.1" diagonal screen. The unique, dual-mode display accepts input from either a finger or a pen. You get:

• Quick and easy selection, organization, and manipulation of digital files via finger swipe
• A digital pen that turns the tx2z into a tablet so you can draw or take notes and then automatically convert to text (the pen stores in the PC's base)
• A convertible design with a twisting hinge that lets you choose from three modes: PC, display, or slate
• A streamlined, glossy, titanium finish and our cool "Reaction" imprint pattern
• Three on-display launch buttons: one for MediaSmart software, another for Windows Vista Mobility Center—to get battery, volume, wireless or display data—and one for "rotating" the screen into slate mode
• A color-matched keyboard and touchpad
• AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core Mobile processors for intense multimedia²
• ATI Radeon HD graphics for speedy processing on the go

The unit will be priced at $1199 and its spec is:

• Processor:  AMD Turion X2 Dual-core processor, 2.0 GHz - 2.4 GHz
• Memory: up to 8 GB
• Video:  ATI Radeon HD 3200
• Hard drive:  160/ 250/ 320/ 400/ 500 GB (5400 rpm)
• Webcam
• Optical drive:  DVD R/RW double-layer or LightScribe
• Display:  12.1-inch 1280X800, integrated touch-screen, convertible display (LED backlit)
• Network:  Gigabit Ethernet
• Wireless: 802.11 b/g, 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth, 802.11 a/b/g/n, 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluethooth
• Audio:  Altec Lansing
• Pointing device:  touch-screen multi-touch, digital ink pen
• ExpressCard/34 slot
• Ports: 3 USB, VGA, RJ-11, RJ-45, 2 Headphone out, mic, expansion port, IR, pen silo
• Dimensions:  12.05"x8.82"x1.23" (with 4-cell battery)
• Weight: 4.33 lbs.
• Power: 4-cell, 6-cell, 8-cell battery, 65W adapter

Checkout more details on HP’s information page (via jkOntheRun.com)