HP TouchSmart tm2 getting Core i3 and i5 this summer?
By Joanna Stern 
posted May 8th 2010 7:23AM
posted May 8th 2010 7:23AM
posted May 8th 2010 7:23AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Now that's a tablet done right.
@cdf74dc9
Isn't that the Bumptop desktop UI? I thought Google bought that.
@cdf74dc9
+1
@cdf74dc9
hell yeah we could use these in my hood they would be perfect yo!
@cdf74dc9
Exactly.
These (TM2, TX2 lines) are real tablets, that are meant for real work, and also double as amazing devices for playtime, unlike the iToys.
@cdf74dc9
Almost. It's a real tablet PC, no questions. Nothing compared to the tablet wannabes like the iPad.
However, sadly it's not done right, only almost. It's powerful, stylish, small, average battery life, WACOM pen input, WACOM capacitive touchscreen.
Sadly it has a poor display. A display the average notebook has with limited viewing angles. A tablet however, needs an AFFS+ panel, a panel with 180 degree viewing angles, used by Lenovo, Fujitsu, HP Compaq, because while writing you usually look from the side on the display.
@cdf74dc9
Well, the chiclet keyboard looks awesome, but the screen's got too much bezel, IMO....
But it looks good, nonetheless. I'd still rather get a HP Envy or Pavilion.
@TareG The bezel is pretty handy when holding it, and it makes it easier to use the stylus near the edges.
How about some customization options in Canada? I've been wanting to buy this bad boy since day one, but the inability to customize and add discrete graphics is a deal breaker up north. :(
@cdf74dc9
agreed! especially since it is running BumpTop
We got one for my boss when it first came out. The machine is great, except for the horrific touchpad. I still can't believe they think is its a good thing. I hated it, my boss hates it. We've had to make so many tweaks for it to just be barely usable. Is it that hard to include a switch in the drivers that "hey, anything below this area is just left mouse button or right mouse button, don't accidentally move the mouse around, scroll, zoom, or any of the other fucking wacky stuff you do when I might hover my finger near there"
@cdf74dc9
Personally, I like the Elitebook 2740p.
It looks a hell of lot sexier and more professional than the tm2 series and it already has Core i7 however the only problem is it's got Intel HD graphics... Yuck!
@cdf74dc9 Make it land on sub-600! I say they made this model very inviting already. Review. http://j.mp/touchsmarttm2-by-hp
@cdf74dc9 Very much agreed.
...and at first glance, your icon looks like an apple with teeth and a tongue, haha
I could actually see myself getting this tablet. The only thing I'm waiting to see is the build quality, since previous HP tablets (not sure which model) seemed a bit flimsy and plasticy, but with this aluminum build, my hopes are high. Tell me it's affordable and has amazing battery life, and I'll bite.
Yes, a ULV i5 tablet.
@N900
I totally agree - and am kicking myself for getting the current model yesterday
@M C I'm in the same position. I bought mine last friday. I'm going to call HP tommorow to ask them about the(unlikely) possibility of upgrading the components through them, and let them know that otherwise I'll be returning the laptop. Maybe I'll be able to get a confirmation on the processor upgrade. Either way, I planned on returning it because there's a sporadic problem with one of the speakers, but if there's a model coming out next month, I'll just wait for that.
I love the laptop itself though. It's feels uber solid. The touchpad is totally fine for me, after a little tweaking, but I use the touchscreen half the time anyways. It's true the viewing angles aren't amazing(particularly vertical ones, a problem when in portrait mode), but on the other hand it doesn't suffer from the graininess you notice on most tablet screens. It's definitely the best band-for-bank tablet there is, and overall the most pleasant computing experience I've ever had. The synergy of digitizer, capacative touch, and and actual mouse and keyboard is greater and much less convoluted than one would expect.
@napilopez
I bought mine used ($860 for the model with the 1.6 GHz and discrete graphics), so I can't really return it.
I did get a good deal, however, so I may resell and buy the new model if it looks like its worth it
As a Mac user and someone who likes the iPad, I can still say that this kind of device is missing from Apple's line. Nice job, HP.
I need to hackintosh that
@jeff181995
Good luck with that. I didn't think OSX supported touchscreen, let alone multi touchscreen.
@DazzlingD http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=modbook
terrrrrrrrific!
I'd love it without Win7 , Android , WebOs anything touch friendly
@Amd12 is your head in someones ass? its a computer for f... sake not your new hyped toy. if you hear about WebOS and android on all of the tech sites that doesnt mean they are god. there was just a post about that 5percent of us phone sales in the last three months were iphones and from the hype everybody thinks that they sell like 50%. even google thinks android is somehow wrong so they are working on chrome os but some idiot like you would love to wipe their ass with android labled toilet papers,wouldnt you?
@Amd12
The high-end graphics/handwriting apps this product is aimed at isn't available for those platforms and probably never will be. It's not just some computer with a touchscreen, it's a full Wacom active digitzer on there.
@Amd12 also i should note that windows 7 is pretty much finger friendly on a 12 inch tablet
@arash wohoo Tough guy , who cares about sales %? or market shares? god like stuff you can like & lick as long as you wish spare the smartazz bla-bla for later time. just IMO Windows 7 isn`t the Touchy OS yet .
@Amd12
"imo" noone cares about your opinion...
amash is correct, windows 7 was built with capacative multitouch in mind
Ahhh... so much love. What a joy to read.
@Amd12 Yeah, Windows 7 is actually very touch friendly. You just have to learn about what it's capable of. Here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBtEhQqS1dw
@CommentsTroll
Have they actually returned to WACOM digitizers? I thought the TX2500 was the last to use the WACOM digitizer, and that the subsequent models used an Ntrig digitizer that was incompatible with photoshop. Just because it has a den enabled digitizer does not mean it is WACOM and does not guarantee program compatibility.
@New Reformation Yes, they did return to WACOM. It's Wacom's new multi-touch capacitive screen with digitizer. The TX2 had the Ntrig, but they're back to Wacom and it's great. Doesn't have as much pressure sensitivity as the expensive Wacom's, but that's okay.
@Amd12 You really haven't used Windows 7 then on something like a Latitude XT or XT2.. have you! Increase the DPI to 125% and it's perfect.
Posting this from my own tm2. Great laptop. Of course it's too late for me but it's good to hear that the product line is continuing.
@talkingwalnut I'm also posting this from my existing tm2. Such a great Tablet. The capacitive multitouch and Wacom screen is great with Windows 7.
@talkingwalnut
I am currently using a Tx2, the latest hp tablet before the tm2.I had the chance to get he tm2 when my older tx1 died under my best buy warranty, but i was not willing to give up the dvd drive and more powerful amd processor. I would really like to get my hands on the hp 2740 with the i7...then i would give up the dvd drive.
Still a bit pricey for a 12.1 convertible tablet. This thing shouldn't cost more than $1200 fully loaded, especially if HP wants this to be an alternative to the iPad.
@cray
They don't. This is not a toy, it is a product aimed at graphics professionals.
@cray
lmao @ alternative to the ipad. Thats the stupidest thing I've read today.
@cray
I'm at the moment just looking for this kind of tablet notebook that I can use for light graphics work and drawing and actually tm2 is the only one in this category with this low price. If you want about similarly equipped tablet notebook from e.g. Lenovo, Toshiba or HP's own EliteBook tablets the prices approximately double from the getgo. And actually most expensive models don't even seem to have dedicated graphics cards in them, but tm2 has an option for ATI HD 4550.
So I'm really looking forward to i3/i5-bump to his model :) What would make me really really happy would be if they changed the display from glossy to matte, and bumped the brightness up so I could use it outdoors, but as it is, those are the trade-offs for a cheaper price and I'll just have to get used to them.
And mind you, I'm from Europe so there might be more tablet notebook in this price category elsewhere.
@CommentsTroll I am well aware that the iPad is a toy compared to a laptop or a netbook. I was speaking purely on basis of marketing. This new Tm2 has been remodeled to reflect the design queues from HP's ENVY line, which itself is from Apple's style.
So with that being said, potential iPad buyers might take a glance at this new Tm2 as stylish alternative. The problem I see is the price is too much compared to the iPad.
@cray
Let marketing be left for apple, computing for everybody else.
HP Germany told me 999€, although they could not tell me for i3 or i5 series ... :o
I hope i5.
I guess thats a fair deal :)
Compared to other tablets
Bah, just look at the screen.
It's a bloody mirror...
@Avaron
I'm thinking they may not have had too much choice there with both capacitive touchscreen and active Wacom digitizer integrated into same screen. Perhaps it would've just become too dim with a matte finish?
@Avaron I have one, and it's not really any worse than other laptops, it's just a rubbish photo Engadget uses. If you use it with a bright window right behind you, then no, you wont see anything.
But the backlighting is pretty strong, so it's not usually a problem at all.
Oh crap. Looking at that laptop, I just realized all future Palm-related products are doomed.
You see that little design on the right palm rest? Yeah, Palm never had a chance.
@bill cant fart
lol wth are you talking about?
at first i thought it was an ipad mounted on something