Frankfurt, Germany – Hewlett-Packard Corp. released a new convertible tablet for enterprise users, the HP EliteBook Revolve, the first of its kind to run Windows 8.
The new device, unveiled on the third day of HP’s Discover conference, is an extension of the ElitePad tablet the company launched in October of this year. It has various features HP says will entice corporate buyers, notably its compatibility with x86 systems, docking capabilities and potential for more straightforward hardware maintenance. And since it can run both Windows 7 and Windows 8, companies making the transition will have an easier time deploying them in the workplace, HP says.
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Built from magnesium and Gorilla Glass, and Revolve has a 11.6-inch high-defition display and a 720p camera and is powered by 3rd-generation Intel i-series processors. The design of the device is intended to balance the “content creation” capabilities of a laptop and the ease of “content consumption” with a tablet, according to HP.
Like others in the EliteBook series, the Revolve will come bundled with enterprise management and policy software, allowing for remote wipes of sensitive data and geographical policy enforcement (i.e., allowing the device to be used only in prescribed zones).
Many tablets cannot readily be cracked open and tinkered with, but HP is attempting to make things a bit easier with the new devices. The tablet’s case can be removed with a relatively simple tool and snapped back on by hand. Meanwhile, since the internal hardware components are modular, they can be sent for repairs individually.
Along with the new convertible tablet, HP also released a 10-tablet multicharger for tablets today, which could appeal to organizations like schools and hospitals with employees who are frequently on the move.
The Revolve will be available in January 2013, but HP has not released pricing details yet.