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(More customer reviews)This is a quick review. I have had my tablet for the past month plus. I am a heavy tablet user and have had tablets for the past 5 years. (Motion Computing, Lenovo convertible). I thought hard about buying the IPAD, I held back and I was so happy that I did. Everyone, I talk to that has an IPAD says that it does not do what a computer does. I am tired of getting an item and finding out that I have to find all of the work arounds (extra apps) to do what my slate does for me. I am a heavy pc user and have found that this tablet has replaced my Lenovo Convertible tablet. I use my HP to get my work done, surface the web, enjoy movies, listen to music and then get out and ENJOY LIFE by moving around and socializing with real people!
PROS:
1.WEIGHT: HP Slate weighs 1.5 lbs with the pen and nice case 1 lb 10oz. Any item that gets to 2 lbs is too heavy to carry. The screen is big enough to do work. I think the power cable is 9oz?? Most newer tablets are pushing 3lbs which is the SAME as a LAPTOP. A Laptop, that lasting 2hrs forces you to carry the power cable 1lb, too heavy to carry in your bag.
2.Your Software works: NO finding work arounds and converting file formats from Android/IPAD
3.No DVD drive: I have a portable DVD drive so I plugged it in, the driver installed. But for software, you can download the trial versions off the web and then use your key to unlock your programs
3.Windows 7 Professional: Quick, seems as fast as my Lenovo Convertible Tablet. But I have not done heavy work such as video editing on this machine. I have had 7 programs opened and have not had any problems in speed.
4. Office 2010: Word works great, PowerPoint awesome, OneNote wonderful. Excel as usual. But I haven't pushed EXCEL or the other software in the bundle yet.
5.Other Favorites: Snippingtool: Lets you take a picture of anything on your screen; Cutepdf: Free pdfprinter on line; Freemind Mindmap, Stickies, Picasa to alter photos
5. Free AVG or AVAST Antivirus
6. Printer: Set up your PC printer as usual. Lexmark 901 wireless. Downloaded the driver from the website and installed. I suspect my other printers will install as this is windows.
7. Web Browsing: Explorer or Mozilla. All my web programs work, gotomeeting, toodledo.com.
8. FLASH YES, Youtube, HULU, watch my favorite shows online.
9. SD Memory Card: Can upload your photos from you camera. Have a 32GB ($50). Increases memory from built-in 60GB to 92GB. So much can be stored in the cloud which frees up space on the tablet.
10.USB slot: Plug and play my CURRENT Windows items. Drivers are there. USB Mouse, microphones, storage drives, phone charger. No searching the web looking for a work around with my existing tech gadgets. Many items running android and IPAD do not have the drivers for accessories
11.Wireless: I have no problems connecting at work, starbucks, coffee shops, home.
Bluetooth: Connected my old Foldout Stowaway keyboard (didn't have to spend another $100). Figured out how connect my jawbone but the sound quality is not great to listen to music. Probably ok for Skype calls.
12.MIC/Headset/Speakers: The Speakers are loud enough to listen for personal use in a room similar to a hotel room. They don't have base but they are not as tinty as some can sound. When you plug in a good speaker or headset the sound is great. The internal MIC is fine for Skype calls or recording such as on ONENOTE.
13.SKYPE: Works fine. It was hard for the Skype to detect the camera. I got frustrated and tried to install my Logitech external webcam. When I did this, Skype then saw the HP cameras. In the Skype settings, video you can select the camera because you have a front and back. If you use a Bluetooth headset, first connect the headset using the windows Bluetooth icon, "Add a Device." If you wish to only listen and speak using your Bluetooth, you have to "disable" your default speakers, open the "horn" icon, right click on the "playback", select the speakers, right click, select disable. This will force the sound into your headset only. Then go into the Skype audio settings and choose the Bluetooth mic and speaker. The video camera works but you will need high speed to really get good video quality.
14.Battery Life: Last for 5 hrs. I can go to meetings and sit in coffee shops for hours until I need to plug in. Before with a laptop, I could only last 1-2 hrs.
15.Camera quality is fair. It doesn't get moving people as well. If it is a stationary item it does ok. The video works also. I get better quality on my SPRINT EVO. The camera is nice to capture something quick to add into a document.
So, this is how I use my tablet.
I go to 3 hr meetings, record information using the stylus or type using my foldout keyboard. I go to a preschool sites (evaluate safety and nutrition). Hook into their wireless or Tether to SPRINTEVO (haven't needed to yet), get reports, take photos of what I see if necessary, write notes on my ONENOTE, printpdf the report, send it to the teacher by email. She prints the document if necessary. Other instances, I can complete a surveymonkey as a report gathering tool and submit it. I have training video, I can show a teacher on the spot. I go to a coffee shop with free wireless, plug in my headset (Pandora), plug in my wireless mouse, pull out the Bluetooth keyboard and use office and answer emails. I could also make SKYPE Calls if needed. Go back to the office, plug into my screen (see below) and it becomes a regular computer. For movies, I use to copy my DVDs that I purchased with software and loaded them on to my portable hard drives and download the movies that I want to see. But I just watch online (remember flash).
Why buy this device if I have to pull out all of the extra gadget (keyboard, mouse). It's because of the weight. I can walk around with just the slate comfortably when I want or need to which you can't do with a netbook or laptop.
Workarounds
No VGA port: There is HDMI on the docking station. HP please find a spot on the device, then I don't need to carry the dock and preferably on the short side. I bought the HP HDMI to VGA converter for $39 in the HP Home section. It works with old VGA ports. You need the converter for VGA as you are going from digital back to analogue. But many projectors and TVs are HDMI or DVI (HDMI without the sound). You can get an adapter for HDMI to DVI for projectors too. You might need a 3.5 audio to cable out. I never use the speakers from a projector. I have external speakers which provide better quality or I feed into the AV System. Used the HDMI cable with a projector and it was beautiful. You could project your movies or use it as a large screen. I am sure if you were in a hotel, carry your HDMI and plug into the Flat screen, carry your Bluetooth keyboard and work from bed. Or show your personal movies for yourself or kids.
No Ethernet: I don't use my Ethernet much. Yes my Agency has this but doesn't let us plug our personal items into their system. There is a HP USB to ethernet adapter for $39 if this is a needed.
Stylus: You will need 4AAAA batteries. BEWARE; I scratched the screen with the stylus. It is a quarter inch scratch. Don't know how it happened. I don't see it when the screen is on.
Screen: Nice Glass. The case is designed to accommodate the cameras. I flip it around in the case when I want to stand the HP like a Teepee. The bummer is when you plug in and don't have the dock you have to prop it up against a bag. You can only rotate the screen on two sides where other tablets let your rotate to any side. It is true that the leather can get in the way on the side to move scroll bars. But learn how to use the "FLICK" setting and you don't need the scroll bars. I still use my key commands of CTRL + or - to increase or decrease the screen. The finger zoom is not as good as newer device.
Screen set up. Because your palm can rest on the bottom part of the screen, I set my windows taskbar on the top screen instead of the bottom so I don't open the Clock by accident. I also docked the INPUT panel on the task bar. When it is docked on the sides, it can block items. Learn how to go use your "Flick" settings which help you use your fingers on the tablet. Also, right click on the N Trig DuoSense Pen Icon in the taskbar tray, select properties. Here you can turn off the capacitive screen and use only the pen such as in ONENOTE or Windows JOURNAL. So you can rest your palm of your hand on the screen and it won't draw scribbly lines.
Overall, this was the best purchase technology wise that I have made in years. I have invested much to try out new tech gadgets. This does it all. It is not perfect in the touch screen interface but it is an improvement from the earlier tablets. Yes, it cost more ~$850 but I don't have to buy more apps and I can use what I have from my windows computers. In the end, it is what the tablet CAN DO that matters.
HP, you have a winner. I wish you went toe-to-toe with the IPAD, you could have punched hard! Don't do what Microsoft always does. Create something good and then let another company create and market another product off their original good creation. It's the size, screen, weight and operating system! If you don't like it, return it. It took me 2.5 months to get mine because they sold out. I am sure someone will want to buy it off you.
Conclusion:
Weight 1.5 lbs, battery life 5 hrs, no workaround apps, uses my current windows gadgets, prints to printers, usb and SD Memory, Outputs to projectors and monitors using HDMI, wireless, bluetooth, can tether to Phone hotspots. It truly replaces my Laptop for light Office work and entertainment...Read more›
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