Android Gamer: HP has your Google OS needs covered; new Chromebook 11 and 14-inch Android laptop

Starting with the less puzzling product, the update to HP’s Chromebook is fairly minor, but is at least keeping pace with the competition. Battery life sees a slight increase to 6.5 hours. Again there’s no shortage of comparable Chromebook options out there, but if you just have to make yours HP then this one will be available in July.

Moving on to the more intriguing of the two products, the HP SlateBook is running Android in a 14-inch touchscreen laptop and will run you $429 when it launches in the US on July 20th. If this sounds familiar, most of the details regarding the SlateBook leaked last month and the release confirms that those details were spot on.

In case you missed it then, the SlateBook features a 14-inch full HD touchscreen with an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor. At 3.7 pounds and 16mm it isn’t exactly the lightest or thinnest of laptops, but both are respectable figures.

Considering it is unlikely that a business user would be picking the SlateBook up the black and yellow color scheme seems like a solid choice to catch the attention of a younger audience. The integrated Beats speakers should help target that demographic as well (and in light of their acquisition by Apple it’s at least mildly entertaining to see an Android product carrying the Beats logo).

The SlateBook has a full compliment of ports befitting a laptop. That includes HDMI, 1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, a mic/heaphone jack and a microSD reader.

It is certainly the best Android laptop that I have seen to date, a far cry from what HP showed us a few years ago at CES, but whether this is the direction that consumers want to go in rather than a convertible tablet option is a big question mark.

Regardless I’m interested in trying to get my hands on one and see what a day on an Android laptop is like.

Show Press Release

HP Unveils Next-Generation PC Portfolio for Back-to-School Season

Unique Hybrid Designs and a Variety of Operating Systems Let Customers Work and Play the Way They Want to

PALO ALTO, CA–(Marketwired – Jun 1, 2014) – HP (NYSE: HPQ) today announced new milestones in the transformation of its consumer personal systems portfolio with a host of innovative form factors, and multiple operating system (OS) options, including a new notebook powered by Android.

Unique two-in-one PC designs, including two new 360° convertible PCs and a new detachable PC, give customers the performance and mobility they want and need. Additionally, HP’s new Chromebook introduces new colors and designs for customers who want a quick and easy way to complete everyday tasks, while HP’s new Android-based notebook makes popular Android apps available in a clamshell design.

“Customers have made it clear that they need devices that better adapt to work and play the way they do,” said Mike Nash, vice president, Product Management, Consumer Personal Systems, HP. “Today, we are announcing the next generation of laptops and two-in-one PCs, along with a new Chromebook that combine power, versatility and design for home and on the go.”

Next-generation form factors
HP is extending its lineup of touch convertible PCs with the new HP ENVY x360 and the next-generation HP Pavilion x360, both of which enable customers to switch easily from a notebook to a stand, tent or tablet.

The HP ENVY x360 is ideal for customers looking for a high-performance PC that bridges the gap between work and play. Featuring a powerful Intel® Core™ processor, 15.6-inch diagonal Full HD(1) 10-point touch screen display, and the HP Control Zone™ trackpad that transforms the Windows 8.1 experience,(2) the HP ENVY x360 is designed to tackle any task, while its unique hinge enables users to seamlessly shift to tablet or tent mode for watching videos or playing games.

The HP Pavilion x360 has a 13.3-inch diagonal touchscreen and is available in multiple colors for customers who want enhanced productivity and mobility at a value price. Built with the latest Intel or AMD processors, the HP Pavilion x360 keeps up with the most demanding tasks while delivering next-generation entertainment with a 10-point touch screen and Beats Audio™.

The evolution of the detachable PC
The HP Split x2 enables users to shift effortlessly from work to play by combining tablet portability with notebook productivity in a sleek, lightweight device. Feature packed with a powerful Intel Core processor, a 10-point touchscreen display and an ultra-quiet fanless design, the HP Split x2 combines power and portability with the Windows 8.1 OS. With an advanced hinge design and optional dual battery system — one battery in the base and one in the tablet — users can easily switch from notebook to tablet and back on this 13.3-inch detachable PC.

Expanding HP’s Chrome and Android portfolio
HP is also expanding its Chrome and Android offerings with the new HP Chromebook and the HP SlateBook.

The HP Chromebook is a thin notebook with an11.6-inch diagonal HD(1) display that enables customers to quickly connect to their favorite websites, online music and videos,(3) and tens of thousands of apps in the Chrome Web Store. The HP Chromebook is available in Snow White or Ocean Turquoise. Plus, up to six hours of battery life(4) makes the HP Chromebook PC an ideal companion for customers who want a stylish Chromebook at a great price.

The HP SlateBook is a sleek, lightweight Android-powered notebook that gives customers access to the more than 1 million Android apps and games on Google Play in a more productive form factor. Equipped with a 14-inch Full HD touch screen, this compact, 16-mm thin notebook provides up to nine hours of battery life.(5) An NVIDIA® Tegra® 4 mobile processor, plus integrated GeForce® graphics, means the notebook lets users keep up with tasks at the office, home or on the go.

Enhanced protection for consumers
HP SmartFriend now provides one-on-one assistance to help customers manage their privacy settings on social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter, protect themselves from phishing and other online scams, and prevent third parties from tracking their online activities.

Pricing and availability

The HP ENVY x360 is expected to be available in the United States on June 11 for a starting price of $679.99.
The HP Pavilion x360 is expected to be available in the United States with an AMD A8 processor on July 9 and with an Intel Core i3 processor on July 20 for starting prices of $629.99 and $599.99, respectively.
The HP Split x2 is expected to be available in the United States on June 29 for a starting price of $599.99.
The HP Chromebook is expected to be available in the United States in July for a starting price of $279.99.
The HP SlateBook is expected to be available in the United States on July 20 for a starting price of $429.99.