HP's TouchSmart tm2 gets exhaustively unboxed on video

We heard that HP's recently unveiled TouchSmart tm2 tablet would begin shipping immediately, and given that said "unveiling" happened just last week, well... you know we couldn't lay off the first unboxing video that we've seen. One particular user decided to bless us (or harass us, depending on perspective) with five full minutes of YouTube footage dedicated to the device's unwrapping, which even includes a breathtaking view of the owners manual being glanced right over in favor of that whole "jumping right in" thing. Be sure to hit up the More Coverage link below if you're a to-be owner -- already lots of chatter going on from folks who just landed one of their own.

[Thanks, Mike and Andy]

See more video at our hub!

[NoOrdinaryMSFT Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:26AM]

tm2 = touch me 2 LOL

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 28th 2010 2:49AM]

@NoOrdinaryMSFT i voted u down

[DaveBach Posted Jan 28th 2010 3:17AM]

@NoOrdinaryMSFT

engadget = every no-good apple device gets excessive threads

[doboy Posted Jan 28th 2010 7:38PM]

@cherryboom

Sorry, did you guys read the editorial on the iPad?

[Peytral Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:26AM]

It's probably gonna overheat and die right after warranty just like the tx2000's
ASUS FTW

[Anatidae Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:38AM]

@Peytral Actually, on notebook review word is it stays room temp, even under heavy load. Benchmarks on the 3D side of things are way faster but the CPU is slightly slower than the tx2. Overall though, the reported experience is far better.

After the iPud, I mean iPad, I am seriously considering the tm2 now. I am not too sure on HP's Slate... they better release specs soon. But I am thinking that the tm2 is far thicker - but offers a physical keyboard which is just really useful.

[redman12 Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:41AM]

@Peytral that's pretty much happened to my TX1000, HP reliability went kaput.

[husher Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:47AM]

@Peytral your avy looks naughty

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:48AM]

@Peytral Depends. My A8Js (2007) fell apart on me before half a year was up - cracks between hinges, screen nubs off. And it's not the only A8Js with the same problems. On the other hand, my 1000H is going strong.

Asus is getting better but it depends on model to model still, I'm certain.

[daftrok Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:56AM]

@Peytral
That's because it was running on Turions. This generation is running on low voltage core 2 duos as well as a less power hungry OS. Not to mention that it doesn't have a DVD drive (saves power), it has an LED display and a more efficient graphics card. Times are a changin', oh sweet and lovely blonde avatar.

[patlennas88 Posted Jan 28th 2010 2:45AM]

@Peytral
Im pretty sure the overheating and dying of the tx1000's were due to Nvidia graphics cards...these use ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4550

[renewellie Posted Jan 28th 2010 3:05AM]

@Peytral HP's new Envy laptops, including the controversial unibutton touchpad and lovable aluminum build, and seems decently thinner, lighter and stronger than the tx2. Details: http://bit.ly/hp-touchsmart-tm2-details

[Eternity Posted Jan 28th 2010 3:17AM]

@Peytral
The Lenovo X200 is another solid tablet that probably has superior quality than this. Lenovo + ASUS are top quality manufacturers.

[Ducman69 Posted Jan 28th 2010 3:33AM]

@Peytral I'm starting to think that Engadget's timing on the TX2000 nvidia issue right before this launch wasn't a coincidence.

After all, its not like many laptops didn't have issues w/ Nvidia chips at the time of the TX2000's release, including many Macs (and no, I'm not just talking about the over-application of thermal paste that plagued Macs for a few years).

[Ducman69 Posted Jan 28th 2010 3:34AM]

@husher his avi looks 12 years old... don't make me call Chris Hanson.

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 28th 2010 4:24AM]

@Eternity It's also substantially more expensive - the X200 Tablet starts at ~$1800 USD in my market, the TM2 probably $1000 USD. I figure they should offer a CULV X200 Tablet to fit costs, keep the IPS screen though.

[Jimbob Posted Jan 28th 2010 5:18AM]

@Peytral

My HP TX2 is still going strong even though i've dropped it 7-8 times from a fair height! I'm on third power supply though as it always seems to land on the power supplly plug and bend it off Grrr

[Eternity Posted Jan 28th 2010 7:56AM]

@YpoCaramel
They already do offer it with a CULV processor clocking in at 1.83ghz or less if you are concerned with battery life. If you know where to look online you can get it for $1300.

[MioTheGreat Posted Jan 28th 2010 10:37AM]

@Peytral They are no longer using nVidia graphics and AMD processors.

This machine uses a Core 2 Duo and AMD graphics.

[niZmo Posted Jan 28th 2010 12:30PM]

@husher aha yea she's pretty hot

[dweezilb Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:22PM]

@YpoCaramel Ditto the A8j - the bezel around my screen came apart after six months of light use. I'll never buy another ASUS.

[jol Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:26AM]

This is a tablet worth buying.

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:53AM]

@jol Agreed. But HP can learn from Apple in one area - IPS screen, not TN for the viewing angles.

But then again, the IPS screen is probably half the reason why the iPad is expensive as heck.

[patlennas88 Posted Jan 28th 2010 2:48AM]

@YpoCaramel
true fact. ips monitors are awesome, just got a dell one for my desktop, quality is amazing...but yeah it was pretty pricey.
Maybe they should just add the option, I'm sure that wouldnt be too hard?

[Lundmark Posted Jan 28th 2010 4:05AM]

@jol

Pretty sure it's not. I've beenworking for a while wit the TX1000 series and it truly is one of the worst laptops ever built in terms of both software and hardware. This doesn't seem to improve in many areas at all, namely a worthless touchscreen, a GUI too small for fingers and a build quality like a tents. Oh, and if it truly doesn't suck, it'd be the first HP product ever with a touchscreen implementation that actually works. (Check out their horrible TouchSmart desktops for example which are truly dreadful.)

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 28th 2010 4:27AM]

@patlennas88 No, it's just that most people wouldn't recognize the difference, so it'd just confuse them. Apparently the X200 Tablet has an IPS screen too.

[Mike10010100 Posted Jan 28th 2010 5:58AM]

@Lundmark

I have a Touchsmart desktop. It's a great kitchen PC that records half of my TV shows so that I can watch them during dinner, sitting around, whenever. I like the touch screen, and it's very fun to access the web from it.

I can't wait to get the tm2! They supposedly improved the build quality 20x by copying some methods from their envy line. Capacitive Wacom touchsreen is nothing to sneeze at. I fail to see why you hate it so much.

[Vdek Posted Jan 28th 2010 7:42AM]

@Lundmark

Actually they improved the touch screen significantly, the new tm2 uses a Wacom digitizer compared to the crappy N-Trig in the tx2000z.

[Jehryan Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:29AM]

YES PPL THE WAIT IS OVER THE JESUS TABLET IS HERE!!!!

[enGadget iGadget Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:30AM]

Can't Engadget put a feature to up/downrank whole articles (as well as the writers who wrote them? I want to downrank that Laura June)? I want to downrank those iPad articles to oblivion.

[Laura June Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:35AM]

@enGadget iGadget WHYY NOOOO.

[enGadget iGadget Posted Jan 28th 2010 2:06AM]

@Laura June

Thanks for affirming that you know you'll be downranked by your own readers if you had a up/downrank button beside your posts.

[yulebellow Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:33AM]

Nice to be back to normal...by the way I heard Apple is going to release a tablet device thats going to change the way we view computing forever, just a rumor though.

[Laura June Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:36AM]

@yulebellow HA!

[Abe Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:36AM]

@yulebellow

We've already got Hitler's reaction to the iPad, and I'm going to warn you, it isn't pretty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnT0zp8Ya4

[Laura June Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:39AM]

@Abe I will never tire of this meme. Never.

[Gigaflop Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:17PM]

@yulebellow I have some juicy rumors about the iPad 2 that we need at least 50 engadget posts about. We're already late! There hasn't been much ipad news today. Engadget, you're FALLING behind!

[operation northwoods Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:33AM]

After that stupid ipad without flash, I'm looking forward to the new slate HD is launching this year with windows 7.

[Alan Strangis Posted Jan 28th 2010 10:27AM]

@cherryboom: that's not it at all. Saying 'best web experience EVAR' on a device that doesn't support Flash is just stupid. Just about every other tablet and smartbook maker at CES was able to do it.

It's only Apple that avoids Flash because it can be used as a trojan horse to get games and video to your device without being funneled through iTunes.

But have fun in your walled garden.

[bighap Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:36AM]

Finally, a non iMaxiPad article.

[logic thinker Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:43AM]

What's hp?

[Keanedi Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:45AM]

everything looks great, beside the glossy screen :|... kinda hate it

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 28th 2010 2:17AM]

@Keanedi Glossy, TN and probably only around 200nits of brightness. Usable indoors, but not ideal for a mobile device.

[Sarig Posted Jan 28th 2010 10:07AM]

@Keanedi

Yeah, uh, I missed something the last half decade or something. Why did everyone start putting mirror-like screens on laptops?

[MBN Posted Jan 28th 2010 11:31AM]

@Keanedi Agreed. My HP TC1100 has a matte screen that is unbelievably smudge-resistant. I rarely use cleaner except for times like the other day when I spilled yogurt or it. I usually go weeks without cleaning it. It has a damn near 180° viewing angle. I'm writing on it now with the pen, and am leaving no palm prints.

Also, this finish provides friction similar to pen on paper. Those new glossy screens would be to slick for natural writing.

Why can't HP keep with what works?

[Apple Fan Posted Jan 28th 2010 2:00AM]

now THIS is more like it.

[manIK Posted Jan 28th 2010 2:01AM]

Looks like they accidentally replaced the compact makeup kit with a keyboard.

[sonicyoof Posted Jan 28th 2010 2:14AM]

This reminds me of something... something... revolutionary. And white. Gosh, if only I had more exposure to that something I'd be able to name it right now.

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 28th 2010 2:16AM]

@sonicyoof Why would you? This is 4.7lbs, that is 1.5lbs. This has a keyboard, that doesn't. This starts $1000, that at $500.

[tc4101 Posted Jan 28th 2010 3:52AM]

@YpoCaramel this you can actually do productive stuff on. the other you just get numb hand after 15minutes use trying to hold it up with 2 hands all day long. unless you start whacking off to get the blood flowing thru your hand