Hewlett-Packard has vowed that its latest move into the tablet market will be more memorable than its first. Just over a year ago the company yanked its webOS-based TouchPad after hardly pushing it out the factory door. At least it had the courage to admit the device was going nowhere.
This week HP announced the Windows 8-based ElitePad 900, not aimed at consumers but “at business and beyond.” It includes an integrated keyboard. However, buyers will have to wait until January. As this story from ComputerWorld U.S. points out, the company is still undecided on price.
The idea of a business tablet not aimed at consumers in an era of BYOD seems counter-intuitive. But in a press release HP says the unit will combine “the great style and user experience consumers demand with the features IT requires.”
It includes HP PageLift, software that is said to automatically trim, correctly light and orients a captured image of a whiteboard, or paper document for reading or sharing. It is supported by HP Client Management software.
Given the hesitation of organizations to embrace Cisco Systems’ Cius tablet or RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook one wonders if the ElitePad will succeed. So does HP — as the story points out between now and January there will be a lot of customer testing.