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)
My TX1220us is 13 months old and has probably had 40 hours total use in the last year. Currently it is being fitted with a new motherboard which will cost me $400 – this new motherboard will still contain the original design flaw & will probably fail in a few months! HP Total Care do not want to know!
Do not take my word for this type in ´TX1000 serious problem´ into the web & see for yourself what the 1000´s of very angry TX1000 series owners have to say about that expensive ´paper weight´ you are contemplating buying!
Is this available in the UK?
I thought it was ,but I can’t find a UK site selling it