HP TouchSmart tm2 gains Core i5 CPU option, a whole new level of respect

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? Or when a rumor plays out perfectly? We're looking at a case of the latter here today, as HP's oh-so-lovable 12-inch TouchSmart tm2 is now available to order with a Core i5 processor. Just months after gaining Core i3 support, the convertible tablet can now be ordered with a 1.2GHz Core i5-430UM (capable of hitting 1.73GHz with Turbo Boost). Said CPU can be paired with integrated Intel graphics or with a discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5450, and 4GB of DDR3 RAM is standard on either configuration. Hit the links below to investigate further, but be sure to keep your plastic far, far away unless you're kosher with impulse buys of a rather significant caliber.

[meph Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:26PM]

Soo want this model but we cannot get it in Australia. :(
We only have the old core 2 duo model at $2000!! What a rip off!

[Jive Turkey Posted Jul 22nd 2010 4:29AM]

@meph I'm with you buddy. Need to find a way to get this bad boy in Australia. That tx2 on the hp.com.au has been "no longer for sale" for months! (years even?)

[Bozster Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:36PM]

This thing blows the socks out of iPad.. unlike iPad it actually works as a real laptop.. I have Lenovo S3-10t now and even though I love it, it has quite a few issues.. this thing with i5 CPU, capacitive screen and snappy performance and solid battery life is perfect for being my sketch book for design and stuff plus I can actually do some coding on it and do other real typing stuff.. I love it!

If it's under $1000 I'm getting one definitely as it is a full blown laptop plus a touch screen. Awesome.

[Shiloh Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:43PM]

@Bozster you can get one with an i5 for a little under $1,000 with switchable graphics. Keep in mind that it's a low voltage cpu.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&series_name=tm2t_series&a1=Category&v1=Ultra-Portable

[plenaghan88 Posted Jul 22nd 2010 4:54AM]

@Heatlesssun
+1. i have the tx2500z (so its starting to get a little old now) but its still powerful enough to run rather big and complex programs i need for uni, such as matlab or quartus, with respectable performance. and taking notes on it is fantastic, what with the wacom digitiser and onenote.
as a student, i couldn't recommend a device like this enough. When my current one dies i will certainly be getting a new one...one of these with the i5 perhaps

[ryn456 Posted Jul 22nd 2010 2:50PM]

Haha finaly! Iv been waiting for this, the im getting this thing to go to school with. hope it works out well ill be pissed if i spend 800 bucks on stuff that never helps me.