The ElitePad 900 runs the upcoming Windows 8 operating system and features a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 multi-touch display made out of Corning’s tough Gorilla Glass 2. The tablet’s body is made from a machined aluminum and weighs in at 1.5 pounds (the same as the first generation iPad, though slightly heavier than the new third-generation). At 9.2 millimeters thick it is 0.2 mm thinner than the newest iPad, though slightly thicker than the iPad 2.
The device is powered by Intel’s 1.8 gigahertz Atom-based Clover Trail processor with 2 gigabytes of RAM and up to 64GB of storage space. The tablet has an 8 megapixel camera with flash on the back and a camera that shoots 1080p HD video on the front.
But HP has also designed an array of accessories for the ElitePad. There’s a Bluetooth keyboard and a dock that features, among others, USB, HDMI and Ethernet ports. There’s also a nifty stylus for pen input and what HP calls a Productivity Jacket that, in addition to acting as an extra bit of protection for the device, adds on USB, HDMI and memory card ports as well as a slot for an expanded battery.
That Productivity Jacket battery adds an extra 80 percent of battery life to the ElitePad’s claimed 10-hour span. The extra bit of weight definitely seems worth it for the added protection and 18 hours of battery life you’d get on the jobsite.
It’s early on, but if I’m a contractor or construction IT manager looking at rolling out Windows 8 and Windows 8 devices, I’m heavily interested in HP’s latest. The ElitePad 900 combines a full desktop OS, tablet software, a ton of ports thanks to the docking station and Productivity Jacket, all in a thin and light package that is also military spec.
Unfortunately no pricing is available as of yet, but HP says to expect that info closer to the device’s U.S. launch in January 2013.
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