Hewlett-Packard on October 1 unveiled plans for a new tablet computer. The business- and government-friendly ElitePad 900 is slated to be released in the U.S. this coming January, according to a company press release.
HP's ElitePad 900 will be an 11-inch, 1.5 pound device, complete with 3G/4G connectivity. The 1.5-pound tablet is comprised of CNC-machined aluminum and Gorilla Glass. The display will feature a screen resolution of 1,280 X 800 pixels, per the HP press release. There will also be a front-facing 1,080p camera and a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera.
PC Mag tested the ElitePad 900, and found the screen to be "as responsive as the Apple iPad," though Engadget suggested the resolution may be the "one feature likely to disappoint power users."
The tablet will run on Windows 8 software and will be built around the next-generation, energy-efficient Intel Atom processor. Engadget estimates the device will get about 10 hours of battery life per charge.
Customers who purchase the forthcoming tablet will also have the option to buy an HP-branded cover that doubles as a keyboard attachment, similar to the cover Microsoft offers with its Surface tablets.
"People want something they feel proud to carry," HP CEO Meg Whitman said of the device, according to NBC Today.
At the time of publication, HP had not released any prices for this product.
Let's hope this tablet will impress customers more than the ill-fated TouchPad that HP released in July of 2011. That device originally retailed at $399, but was cut to an unbelievable $99 after sales tanked. Eventually the product was scrapped completely.
What are you initial thoughts on the ElitePad 900? Is HP making the right call releasing a business-friendly tablet?
