HP Pavilion tx2000z Tablet

HP Pavilion tx2000z Tablet Review

When we reviewed the tx2000's predecessor, aptly named the tx1000, last July, we found it to be an interesting machine. It was unique in being one of the only entertainment-minded laptops with a resistive digitizer display. HP has refreshed the tx1000 with the tx2000, which brings a technology refresh as well as a full active WACOM digitizer.

Design & Features

Overview
When we reviewed the tx2000's predecessor, aptly named the tx1000, last July, we found it to be an interesting machine. It was unique in being one of the only entertainment-minded laptops with a resistive digitizer display. HP has refreshed the tx1000 with the tx2000, which brings a technology refresh as well as a full active WACOM digitizer.

Design
We found the design of the tx2000 to be strikingly similar to the previous model. While the previous model combined black and silver cues, creating a piecemeal effect, the new model swaps the silver hinge with a black one for more uniform design. The same goes for the inside, where the black keyboard was replaced with a silver one, matching the base. The tx2000 also sports an 'Echo' imprint, which looks like crop-circles, on both the lid and the palmrests, unlike the 'wave' imprint that was present on the tx1000.

The hinge looks nearly identical to the previous model, although HP decided to emblazon a helpful arrow to tell you which way the hinge turns. Once you turn the LCD around (the right way) it snaps closed in four locations to tablet form. The clasps won't automatically snap in place, so you need to make sure you apply equal pressure.

The speakers remain on the hinge itself, which is an excellent design choice. In real-world usage the classic laptop position is poorly suited for a number of activities, including watching videos. If you're on a plane, for instance, the normal laptop position is usually at odds with the seat in front of you. Try turning the monitor around and watching from that position. You'll be glad the speakers turned with the picture.

The keyboard remains nearly identical to the tx1000, which is to say smooth with excellent tactile feedback. The key noise is on the loud side, but some break-in is sure to reduce that somewhat. The keyboard was changed to silver to match the base, and the right shift key was enlarged to full-size. The entire keyboard feels less cramped than the original. I have larger-than-average hands, so this is high on the totem pole for me.

Fortunately, the touchpad is the same one we came to enjoy on the tx1000. It uses an interesting inverted bump design for superb tactile feel, and a separate bar on the right for scrolling. This seems to work better than other laptops, which combine the scrollbar with the touchpad. Above the touchpad is a silver switch which turns the touchpad on or off, if you're using an alternate input device or to avoid accidental touch recognition.

The tx2000 doesn't quite tip the scales, although 4.26 pounds isn't light for a 12.1' ultraportable. The travel weight goes up to around five pounds, depending on the power supply. While in the same form factor size range as other 12' widescreen notebooks, the thickness is a rather portly 1.23-1.52 inches.

Features
The tablet mode of the tx2000 is what makes this laptop stand out from the rest. The active digitizer display is effectively a WACOM tablet, providing more accurate ink lines than a traditional resistive digitizer display like the tx1000. This review found the tablet positioning ill-placed for a southpaw, with my left palm accidently double-clicking icons along the left-hand side. This was troubling, considering the active digitizer should differentiate between the stylus and my hand.

Although stylus strokes were very accurate -- when they were picked up -- we found the display had a difficult time deciphering our handwriting at normal speed. If we slowed ourselves down, the tablet had an easier time of it. It's important to run the tablet training mode to learn exactly what this display is capable of doing. Also, running the tablet and pen properties allowed you to calibrate both the screen and the stylus, providing the opportunity to remap keys and even adjust the firmness of the eraser.

WiFi is provided by a Broadcom 4321AG 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n wireless adapter. Support for draft-n is welcome even though the standard isn't official. You also get Bluetooth as part of the package. The wireless adapter had no trouble connecting to my Wireless-N network. If you're looking for a wired connection, the tx2000 won't leave you in the dark. The included nForce networking controller transfers wired data at the 10/100 level. A 5-in-1 card reader is standard, along with three USB 2.0 ports, S-Video, Expansion port 3, microphone-in, two headphone outs, and an IR receiver for the included remote. There's also VGA for an old-school monitor setup.

The 12.1' WXGA High-Definition HP Brightview Widescreen boasts a native resolution of 1280 x 800, which is decent for such a small display. The display exhibited fair clarity, and screen rotation is faster than the tx1000. Off-angle viewing is below average as well, although you probably won't have a group of people crowding around a 12' screen. It is much brighter than the previous model, which is a welcome improvement, but the overall display experience is average. Although it's a quality display, it's obvious that there's something between you and the picture.

Our unit came with 4GB of RAM, which is the current maximum. The majority of tx2000's sold are equipped with 2GB RAM.

Heat and Noise
The tx2000 was relatively silent throughout general use and high-load testing. This can be attributed to the improvement of the fan location, which makes a more direct outlet and reduces heat buildup. On the same token, the heat emanating from the vent can be uncomfortably warm if the vent is even slightly obstructed. The only time heat became an issue was when using the laptop in tablet form resting on my lap.

When placed into tablet form, the screen orients so the fan is facing directly toward you. That means you have a significant amount of hot air blowing directly onto your leg. It looks like HP didn't have much of a choice, since the opposite end housed the power plug. You have to pick between a power cord jabbing your leg or a load of hot air. After 30 seconds of use, I decided on the power cord.

Performance & Conclusion

Specs	Worldbench 6	3DMark 06	PCMark 06
HP tx2000	53	192	2313
Fujitsu E8410	80	360	4296
Lenovo ThinkPad X300	N/A	475	3480

We were interested to see what the TL-66 could muster. It posted a Worldbench 6 score of 53, which isn't very impressive. 3DMark '06 scored a paltry 192 3dMarks. The Turion X2 processor helped post a more respectable 2313 using PCMark Vantage.

Battery Life on the tx2000 was above-average given the small 4-cell battery. We managed to squeeze nearly four hours of general use, although that was light on the stylus. If you switch the tx2000 to performance mode or use the digitizer exclusively, you may see lower times. It's important to note that an optional 6-cell battery is available, although this raises the unit's height from 1.23" 1.52".

Conclusion

Pros:

• Dual-Mode Display
• Good Battery Life
• Thoughtful Design
• Good Value
• Brighter than the original

Cons:

• Tall when Closed
• Below-Average screen clarity
• Bulky for an Ultraportable

HP has been bringing some thoughtful design to the laptop market for the past few years. This laptop is especially unique -- it's a convertible notebook with an entertainment focus. The tx2000 seems much faster than the benchmarks it posted, and we didn't feel hampered by the AMD processor platform. Unfortunately image quality suffers on the touchscreen, lacking the clarity and vibrance of other displays. Also, we found the digitizer to be inaccurate when registering touches, although the inking was easy to use. Calibrating the pen and the screen helped, although the hand writing recognition software found it difficult to read my handwriting. To be fair, it's not easy for me either.

As a laptop, this device is easy to recommend. However, I wasn't impressed with the accuracy of the active digitizer. I'd like to see what HP brings to the tablet with their next refresh. With a more consistent method of transcribing penstrokes to electronic letters, HP will have a real hit on their hands. Until then, this laptop is only halfway there.

Price as tested, $1,737.98