HP said to launch touchscreen laptop and 10-inch netbook by end of year

We already know that HP has its sights on touchscreen technology as it re-invents its product portfolio over the next 18 16 months or so. HP has already demonstrated a flair for touchscreen PCs with its TouchSmart desktops. It's now being reported by The Wall Street Journal that HP plans to have a consumer oriented, touch-screen laptop (not just another convertible tablet, apparently) ready by the end of the year according to the WSJ's ever omniscient "people familiar with the matter." HP's said to be getting help from the uber-boutique design-house, Frog Design, to help develop the new software (which certainly needs some tweaking) and hardware. Sources also claim that HP is on track to release a touch-screen cellphone into Europe (through US carriers sometime "next year or so") and new 10-inch netbook before the end of the year. Maybe then HP can stop riding ASUS so hard, eh?

[Pretol @ Oct 16th 2008 3:34AM]

I like touchscreens

[ngamer007 @ Oct 16th 2008 3:40AM]

Thanks for the insight. (Y)

[Jonathan @ Oct 16th 2008 4:06AM]

actually they already have touchscreen laptops, there was one at best buy when i went in the other day. i asked about the touchsmart and the salesman walked me over to a laptop later from hp, it looked like a convertible tablet, but i could use my fingers for everything just like their desktop touchsmart. pretty cool actually

[404 @ Oct 16th 2008 4:30AM]

FTA: "(not just another convertible tablet, apparently)"

Engadget know that. And they mentioned that. Apparently, this is going to be something mildly different. Tablets aren't exactly what you'd call mainstream machines, hence why they're rather more expensive for the hardware you get: the market is comparatively titchy.

[digitallysick @ Oct 16th 2008 3:56AM]

How about a touchscreen tablet netbook thanks

[Sarig @ Oct 16th 2008 10:29AM]

They're called UMPC's, and cost real money.

[L @ Oct 16th 2008 4:04AM]

I hope they'll something else than that C7 CPU in their next-gen netbook...


And yeah, a cheapo touchscreen netbook slate would be nice.

[Kola @ Oct 16th 2008 7:23AM]

Good news so far.

[Arbert @ Oct 16th 2008 4:09AM]

frog design isn't boutique > they design disposable razors, hand vacuums and cheese graters

[crsh @ Oct 16th 2008 12:56PM]

And of course the 80s/early 90s Macs.

[Poom @ Oct 16th 2008 4:28AM]

touchscreen laptop would be cool and all, but what's really the benefit over tablets other than no pen needed??? Well, I hope there'll be multi-touch at least.

[burnblue @ Oct 16th 2008 5:06AM]

What's the difference between these and the convertible tablets? I don't get it. Do you mean they'll be adding more touchsmart software UI on there?

[Ian @ Oct 16th 2008 5:56AM]

I'm probably the only one that hopes they stick in a new VIA Nano processor into their new netbook. I also hope they keep the current design, screen resolution, and keyboard, and at around the same price as the current unit. Sure, it's expensive, but you're actually getting a superior machine in the process, so it's worth the extra money.

[BOGRASH @ Oct 16th 2008 8:16AM]

hp are one of the few companies outside of apple to really get design right. they often trump sony in this area. ignore the cheap glossy plastic crap such as the tx range and head straight for the 2730p tablet to see how well they nailed it. the mini note was nice too but clearly crippled. if they refresh it with a 10 or maybe 12 inch screen and put at least an atom inside, it could fly high. i'm interested to see where they take touch, given that business users voted strongly against it on the 2730p. this phone should be interesting too - android?

[iofthestorm @ Oct 16th 2008 3:55PM]

The tx2000 series is pretty good for the price, and the tx2500 series is awesome with the integrated HD 3200. The build quality isn't that great but for the price it's great. Posted from a tx2000. If I had the money I would definitely have gone with a Thinkpad X61t though.

[jberger @ Oct 16th 2008 9:40AM]

The touchsmart implementation on the desktops uses an infrared sense system instead of a screen overlay like the convertable tablets. The other half of the system is the touch smart software package which adds gestures and touch control in addition to a number of new applications with touch integrated. The software portion will not work on the HP laptops due to the differences in screen sensing today, according to the HP reps I've spoken with. Currently, it also requires Vista 64 to work, so it really limits the software and peripherals available for the system.

I have one of the convertible HP tablets with touchscreen so adding the new software is not much of a stretch for the existing laptop line. I doubt they will use the same screen technology as the desktops since it adds about 1 to 2 MM of depth to the screen. Maybe this is just an adaptation of the software to work with a conventional laptop touchscreen.

[novel @ Oct 16th 2008 9:42AM]

so pointless, why the hell do people need touchscreen on a netbook

HP had a 12.1" touchscreen notebook and that was one of the worst notebooks around

[BB Sting @ Oct 16th 2008 12:20PM]

they just want to say they got to market first(regardless of what Apple currently has up it's sleeve)

[_rav @ Oct 16th 2008 1:58PM]

Touchscreen and just laptop, not a tablet? Whats the point of that?
If u cant fit a trackpad in, just stick to the trackpoint... or make a proper 10inch tablet. Then I'd have one.

[HP Laptop Accessories @ Nov 3rd 2008 1:11AM]

Good news, I like touch screen.

Have a look to more Laptop Accessories of....
HP

[thatrotierkid @ Dec 8th 2008 11:18PM]

http://www.deathball.net/notpron/stuff/mus2.mp3