At the 2008 CES, I was given an opportunity to test a production HP Pavilion tx2000z Entertainment Tablet PC*.

What a delight!

The exclusive HP case is replicated here. Dubbed ‘Echo’ this black, high-gloss, imprinted finish is aesthetically pleasant, a departure from the mostly utilitarian choices out there.

It still has the same number of ports, the dual microphones, the webcam integrated into the lid, and that distinctive and most usable of touchpads.

This review unit came with Microsoft Windows Vista™ x64 installed with the full 4GB of RAM.

HP is listening
The change to an active digitizer is a sure sign of that. Over the late summer, HP asked for feedback from the community, and I am pleased that they incorporated that into this system, while keeping the price low. I commend HP for not resting on their laurels, and immediately coming out with an upgrade, knowing that competitors must have their copiers running full blast.

Since one of the most visible upgrades in the tx2000 series was the change to an active digitizer, I immediately opened up Microsoft Office OneNote in an attempt to see how well this system performs.

The use of an active digitizer optimizes the touchscreen user experience, allowing for better inking. As with all hybrid/convertible Tablet PCs, the tx2000’s touchscreen rotates 180 degrees for conversion to slate mode.

I was able to write, doodle, draw, and perform a variety of tasks that would have been somewhat laborious with its predecessor.

One of the design targets of this system is for use as an entertainment PC. There, this machine shines. The HP QuickPlay software, coupled with the included remote control offer access to a numerous combination of entertainment options, with the microphones, webcam, and media stored on the hard drive or integrated DVD drive – with LightScribe versions available.

An innovative feature of the extended battery in this system is the way it functions as a grip when the Tablet is in slate mode. Very nice.

While the tx2000 is developed as an entertainment Tablet PC, this system’s appeal goes well beyond that. I definitely see it as the ideal system for students, and other professionals with a requirement to acquire and save drawings, notes, and inking. Healthcare providers, realtors, and insurance agents immediately come to mind.

My thanks to Terri Stratton of TheTabletPC.net and Michael Reyes of HardwareGeeks.com for the use of their review units for this preview.

The HardwareGeeks.com review is here and you can find TheTabletPC.net’s review here.

I eagerly await my own review unit in order to test in our own usability scenarios, and bring the results of those tests to you.

*As I informed you of here, the tx2000 series units are the evolutionary upgrades to the class-defining HP tx1000 series which won both the SmallBizVista.com Editor’s Award, and the much-coveted HardwareGeeks.com Editor’s Choice Award.