jkOnTheRun video- HP tx2051 Entertainment Notebook

When I first saw the HP tx2000 earlier this year I was impressed with the improvements made over the original tx1000 model.  HP has incorporated a dual digitizer that provides an excellent touch experience along with a great inking experience with the pen.  The tx2051 covered in this 20 minute video is a powerhouse that is easily the fastest Tablet PC I have used.  Take a look and see why I feel this is a good value for those who want a good notebook with occasional inking.  In the video I show how good the touch experience is on the tx2000.  It is easily as good as the touch I have seen in videos of the Dell XT with the capacitive digitizer.  Enjoy the show.

Comments

[scoobie]

James I saw one of these in the shops and I found the screen very grainy even with the brightness turned right up- how does it compare to other screens to you.

If you get a chance I would like to see a comparison in size between this and the mini note, as this would give me a better idea just how big the mini notes is. As a tip for the future I'd recommend doing size comparisons to other objects, as I find it very difficult to get a feel for the size of things on video
thanks

[Travis]

Do you use a video monitor to see what you are recording when you do these presentations?

I think I can speak for nearly everyone when I say that we appreciate you and Kevin doing them for us.

Thank you.

[Nansong]

Hi, James. What's the name of that rainy screen saver?

[Nansong]

Sorry, wallpaper :)

[Iron--Hide]

Very nice video. Obviously you are happy thus far.
Is heat a concern? Have read that it gets fairly warm. Also, does the bump beneath the 8-cell assist in getting a good grip on the device? It looks like it would make a good hand-hold if you position it to sit in your left hand & orient the screen accordingly.
With the prices now as they are on this machine, I simply can't justify spending more on the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium. The HP looks like a better bet, especially given the power this little demon has!
Thanks again for taking the time to enlighten us.

[Filip Norrgård]

Wow! That is one sweet tablet PC! I really would like to see one in person before buying it... but I'm starting to get impatient so maybe I'll just buy it the day I got some cash to spare. ;)

Great video review, James! It is a shame that the nice graphic on the lid didn't show through although I watched your video using the high resolution version on YouTube. But, maybe someone can find another photo of the lid somewhere on the intarwebs? :)

[James Kendrick]

scoobie, the screen is OK to me, not the best viewing angles around but I don't find it bad.

Travis, I use my MacBook Pro as a video monitor when recording these videos.

Nansong, the rainy wallpaper comes with DreamScene. It has no name just a number.

Iron-Hide, it can get a little warm while plugged in but not terribly so. It's not warm on battery though. Check the video where I show the battery being a hand grip that works nice.

[Iron--Hide]

Question for all: which is the better OS for Tablet PC's - XP Tablet Edition or Vista Home Premium??

[Iron--Hide]

Thanks for the response JK!
With regard to the battery being used as a hand grip; have you tried swinging the device around so that you are gripping the battery with your left palm cupping the bulge & the body of the device along your inner forearm (did I explain that properly)?
In the video, you are using the battery as a grip & the body of the device is away from your body.
I'm just trying to get an idea of the most comfortable way of carrying it while doing a presentation, for instance.
Unfortunately, I am in the Caribbean & that particular model has not graced our shores yet. So I am unable to physically play with the device!

[James Kendrick]

It can be held the way you describe too, probably better for longer sessions.

[Iron--Hide]

Aaaah, Thanks so much!
I have to say and I am sure I speak for all of us here, that what you guys do is incredible. It is fantastic to have a resource like this, especially for myself down here in the Caribbean,where a knowledgeable person can give their objective opinion on these devices. This allows us to make as educated a decision as possible, as to whether or not to buy said devices.
Thanks once again & keep up the good work guys!

[Iron--Hide]

Ok, I just had to pull the trigger!
It just so happens that HP are offering a 30% off coupon for the tx2000z (it end tonight guys!). I could NOT resist that much temptation!
On the way is the following spec machine:
HP Pavilion tx2000z customizable Notebook PC
* Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
* AMD Turion(TM) 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology Gold Edition TL-64 (2.2 GHz, 512KB+512KB L2 Cache
* 12.1" diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen (1280 x 800) w/Integrated Touch-screen
* 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 6150
* FREE Upgrade to HP Imprint Finish (Echo) + Fingerprint Reader + Microphone
* Wireless LAN 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth
* 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
* FREE Upgrade to LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support!!
* No TV Tuner w/remote control
* 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* HP 12" Reversible Notebook Sleeve

As I decided to go with Vista Home Premium 32bit, I only elected to put 3gb Ram in there. Why waste the 4th?

All this for the low price of $979.74 including shipping!
Sorry if I seem like an excited school boy, but that is just how I feel! I can't wait!
That video is what did it for me...the machine is just so sweet looking!

Ok, I'm done ranting...carry on! :)

[Jake]

I saw one of these in John Lewis here in London a couple of weeks ago and the hinge could barely hold the screen up. If you tried to move it around the whole screen would just flop back and forth. It was a display model which may explain it but I wasn't too impressed.

[Jake]

It's probably worth mentioning that, like all there other products, HP don't allow you to configure this here in the UK. God knows why HP don't allow this in the UK but unfortunately it's enough to stop me from buying any of their products.

[bludshot]

hi john,
as someone that is looking for their first tablet(for school, mainly) i am looking for one to sub in as my main computer. i'm a bit of a tinkerer, but i've noticed that i mainly have been using word, outlook, i e and/or firefox, live messenger and utorrent as my main programs, as well as wmp for media.
my question is: how does the tx2051 compare to the 2710p with respect to the apps mentioned above? (i would really like to go paperless next semester, and am trying to find the best fit for a tablet considering portability as a main factor.)

[Todd]

By the way, I got a tx2000 a couple weeks ago with a similar deal to the one above posted by Iron-Hide. So if anyone missed the coupon, I bet the deal runs again.

As far as my usage: The heat is not a problem, the weight is OK; its certainly not impossible to carry around, but it isn't 'light' after a while. I got the 2.4 GHz model w/ 2GB Ram and it is fast. The screen does have a lot of glare.

[Iron-Hide]

Todd, are with happy with the Machine?
Any "buyer's remorse"?

And my question posted earlier still stands....which OS is the better OS for Tablets - XP Tablet edition or Vista Home Premium?

[Todd]

Yep - Still happy with it. I prefer Vista because the handwriting recognition and TIP are better.

[Iron-Hide]

Todd, thanks for the input.

This is my first tablet, so i am eager to dive into the world of inking & being able to jot down notes straight into the machine instead of my usual route - pad & pencil and THEN transfer it into the Computer!
Vista does seem to be the preferred OS for Tablets, unfortunately it is just too much of a resource hog fro the UMPC market.

Thanks again, can't wait for mine to arrive!

[dEEkAy]

hia JK

well i'm about to buy this one but i saw that there's a tx2140
are there any differences between the tx2051 2050eg models except bluetooth and fingerprint reader?
i mean the display, are there any differences ?

well actually im a german and living in bavaria
the tx2050eg ships without fingerprint reader and bluetooth and the 2140 does (for germans)

hope you can help me a bit cause i dont know which one i should buy

[dEEkAy]

hia JK

well i'm about to buy this one but i saw that there's a tx2140
are there any differences between the tx2051 2050eg models except bluetooth and fingerprint reader?
i mean the display, are there any differences ?

well actually im a german and living in bavaria
the tx2050eg ships without fingerprint reader and bluetooth and the 2140 does (for germans)

hope you can help me a bit cause i dont know which one i should buy

[James Kendrick]

dEEkay, I'm not familiar with the 2140. Typically the 2000 series would be different than the 2100 series but it could just be different in Germany.

[dEEkAy]

oh what a fast reply, thx for that

well was worth a try =)
as far as i know the american models of the tx2000 differ from the german ones as they don't have a fingerprint reader or bluetooth (the german ones)

only thing i noticed on the 2140 is that it has 3 gb ram (667 mhz) and bluetooth/fingerprint...

i got another question
can you turn off the touch screen entirely ? or don't you even need to turn it off cause in ur vid u said it turns off automaticaly when the pen approaches the screen

im asking cause i had a tablet that had only a touch screen and no digitizer and i had trouble writing on it so i sent it back, right now im waiting for my money to come back and then imma buy that 2140

im pretty new to the tablet pc scene

[James Kendrick]

You don't need to turn the touch off as it turns off automatically. Inking is a real joy on the tx.

[dEEkAy]

Thx for ur help JK

looks like imma just buy that 2140 and take a closer look at it

oh and sorry for that double-post up ahead
had some trouble with firefox 3beta5 and noscript addon

keep up ur good work

[Drew Vogel]

From a conversation with HP today, the TX2051 is not available in the United States. They offered instead the TX2120us, which looks to be similar.

James... Any thoughts on the TX2120us?

[James Kendrick]

Drew, the tx2120 on CDW looks to have nearly the same configuration as the unit I am evaluating for $1199.

[Drew Vogel]

Thanks for the info, James! I certainly hope HP decides to release the TX2051 in the States... Seems surprising to me that it hasn't been.

I'm primarily interested in the dual digitizer, strong processor (able to run Vista 64-bit Premium), 4 gigs, big HD; I've got to verify if the TX2120 has all that...

[Omi sonic]

James do you know if the TX2120 has a digitizer at all or not?

[Dan]

Hi, I was just wondering what you thought of the black levels on the screen. I like watching movies on my laptop, and hate when the image is washed out. I like this laptop but a washed-out image would be a deal-breaker.

[cresshead [steve g]]

hi thanks for the video review that finally nailed it for me to go and buy the u.k. version from amazon.co.uk

HP Pavilion TX2130EA Notebook laptop, AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-60, 12.1" TFT, 2GB RAM, 250GB Hard-Drive, DVD±RW, NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150, WiFi, Bluetooth, Windows Vista Home Premium

i find it to be excellent..i use it for zbrush, toon boom and art rage they all work really well on it.

the build quality is excellent and the extra's you get for the price is just amazing..2 batteries!...

[TimJDav86]

I would also like to shout out a difference people need to look out for. The HP tx1000, the older model looks very much like the tx2000...but do not get it!

I had 2 TX1000's that were replaced by best buy for the same problem. The pen silo was always breaking. After a few clicks the pen would not come out of the silo at all! The TX1000 does not have a active digitizer, it only has the capacitive...which I will also note actually works just fine, but the tx2000, as JK said, is a joy to use, where as the TX1000, was just "ok" It also only comes in up to 2gb's of ram and 2.1 ghz duo proc. I believe.

I paid $1,050 for the tx1000 and when they replaced it with the tx2000 a week later the tx2000 was $999! Man, what a week difference in technology makes!

[Vincent Shaw]

Get this at Sam's Club and CostCo for about $900 right now, several models, including the HP TX2517CL.

HP TX2510US for $1065
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=403078&pCatg=5680

HP TX2517cl for $899
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=401549&pCatg=5680