Android laptops? Leaked HP Slatebook 14 runs Google OS on a Tegra SoC

14-inch device has a permanently-affixed touchscreen and mobile data connection.

Read the whole story

 

[fulgu]

is HP so desperate to show Microsoft how pissed they are?

that touch-optimized DJ-ing app on this machine hardly seems inspired marketing to me

 

[NulloModo]

Will anyone want an Android device that is permanently a laptop?

I suppose it will all come down to pricing. If it's priced like a Chromebook, perhaps. I can see a full implementation of Android being more flexible than ChromeOS in a laptop.

If it's priced more similarly to a full Windows laptop, then it becomes a much more niche product.

 

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Unless HP has done some heroic polishing (not an HP specialty) this is going to be...quite an experience.

At one point I did some experimenting with x86 android on a non-touchscreen device (it was there, and faster than the emulator) and there are a lot of weird niggling little places where sometimes mouse and keyboard are OK, sometimes they really expect the touchscreen to be touched, sometimes keyboard is fine but pointer events are expected to be touchscreen, and assorted variations on the theme.

Maybe they'll pull it together, and we'll have that product for keyboard die-hards who just can't wait to run Android; but I am not optimistic.

 

[Deleted member 1]

I'm not very awake but I think the article says touchscreen notebook.

 

[MattEvansC3]

I know Eric Schmidt said that Android and ChromeOS had clearly defined roles but surely allowing Android and Chrome to run on the same form factor just so you can have a touch and non-touch OS is going a bit far?

Its not even like they share the same ecosystem and its just going to make things worse for consumers because instead of just having to decide between touch or non-touch you now have to decide between entire platforms.

 

[MonkeyPaw]

Back when I had a Transformer TF700, I found I ended up mostly using it as a touchscreen laptop. At least for me, the issue with devices that can undock from the keyboard base (which often also offers additional ports and/or batteries) is that you don't know when you'll want the keyboard, so you end up almost never running in tablet-only mode. This design just forgoes that complexity, and it may end up being surprisingly useful, especially if it gets 10+ hours on a charge. Also, the full USB ports are handy for plugging in real controllers and playing emulators.

While Surface has it's drawbacks, I think it's the best design so far to run as a tablet, While still able to offer a physical keyboard. Sure, you can't use it on all surfaces, but it sets up quickly on desks and tables, and the keyboard protects the screen and can quickly fold out of the way for tablet use. I'm surprised no Android vendor has attempted to do a knock-off design.

 

[Joost]

MattEvansC3[/url]":15kqamsu][...]its just going to make things worse for consumers because instead of just having to decide between touch or non-touch you now have to decide between entire platforms.

Well, one might also say that choice is a good thing and that eventually consumers will vote with their feet. Or money, in this case. Either people are interested in such a system, they buy it, it becomes a success that others will copy (and the year of Linux on the desktop will come, of sorts), or people are not interested and the next thing we hear about it is that the laptop has been discontinued.

 

[Belzebuth]

They will sell hundreds of these!

On the upside, perhaps there will be better support for Android VMs as a result, for those of us testing various OS/browsers...

 

[jpcg]

Am I the only one that is concerned that this laptop uses a Tegra CPU? (I guess Tegra 4?) They used to be pretty bad compared to the competition; have they improved much? Depending on the resolution it might need to push quite some pixels (though 1280x720 seems more realistic).

 

[Cbatt]

Can't imagine anyone at HP would seriously think this is a good idea. Most be some sort of lab mock up done just for grins.

 

[TheColinous]

MattEvansC3[/url]":34p4whu9]
Its not even like they share the same ecosystem and its just going to make things worse for consumers because instead of just having to decide between touch or non-touch you now have to decide between entire platforms.

In this case it's an easy choice. It's an HP so quickly go to the nearest non-HP product. Seriously, I've had two, and both had serious heating issues and I had one of them in on warranty three times. I would never ever buy another HP in my life, and I certainly won't recommend one to anyone. Maybe if I really disliked that person...

 

[sluigi]

> Will anyone want an Android device that is permanently a laptop?

Actually, I own a Toshiba AC100 (AKA Dynabook, in Japan) which was probably the first laptop under Android (2.3 IIRC). No touchscreen, though, which made the use with android a bit awkward.

Nonetheless, it is (since I still use it) a good laptop under Linux, just a bit underpowered (only 512MB of RAM, and no real acceleration with Xorg, thank you NVidia). Its strongpoint: like some recent chrombook, it is lightweight (less than 1kg) and can live a while without a power-cord.

So, yes, sign me up for a brand new smartbook, with more power crunching CPU, more RAM and hopefully a better support under linux with NVidia than with the Tegra 2...

 

[FrisbeeFreek]

Convergence is a good thing imho. We are very close to the day where I plug my phone into a monitor via hdmi, pair a bluetooth keyboard & mouse, and have a fully enabled desktop. The ability to run all the apps in the Play store has great value simply because of the vast variety of tools that are available.

Most of the world (2nd & 3rd) don't have computers, but they are rapidly approaching saturation in smartphones. This is, honestly, no different that Microsoft's attempts to have a unified OS. Now I just need to find the One Ring to rule them all.

 

[PhilipStorry]

Quite a coincidence for me! I was just chatting with a colleague about this kind of thing this monring.

I have a larger screen Phone (Sony Xperia Z1) and an older HTC 7" Tablet, and I find that they're beginning to replace my netbook for some things. Not my PC - I use that for writing, gaming, development, all kinds of things - but my netbook use is light writig on the move, web browsing and email.

And despite knowing I can do all of that on my phone/tablet, I still wasn't expecting it to be replaced. I assumed that the experience would be too poor, but even Android 3 (Honeycomb) is just fine for that kind of light use.

So far it's just been finances that have stopped me from getting a 10" tablet to replace the netbook so far. (I can't quite commit to such a large expenditure when the netbook still works!)

But if this ships this year and is still available next year or the year after, when the netbook finally dies, then I'd be tempted. Very tempted...

 

[heartburnkid]

I've always had the feeling that Android would expand into full-sized systems eventually. It's the only phone OS right now that's designed as a general-purpose computing OS.

That said, I think that, once you get into systems like this, you really need to have a windowing system to make it useful. I know people have developed window systems for Android before, and I have to wonder if HP has something similar up their sleeves for this.

 

[RisingStone]

I've played around with Android x86 on a netbook, and if it had been a bit more polished, and more apps available for x86, I could see myself using it. I'm just surprised it's taking so long to see this concept fully integrated into a laptop.

 

[mattg]

sluigi[/url]":3ntou96b]> Will anyone want an Android device that is permanently a laptop?

Actually, I own a Toshiba AC100 (AKA Dynabook, in Japan) which was probably the first laptop under Android (2.3 IIRC). No touchscreen, though, which made the use with android a bit awkward.

Nonetheless, it is (since I still use it) a good laptop under Linux, just a bit underpowered (only 512MB of RAM, and no real acceleration with Xorg, thank you NVidia). Its strongpoint: like some recent chrombook, it is lightweight (less than 1kg) and can live a while without a power-cord.

So, yes, sign me up for a brand new smartbook, with more power crunching CPU, more RAM and hopefully a better support under linux with NVidia than with the Tegra 2...

If that's what you want, get a chromebook. Seriously. It's already running linux, so you don't need to worry about driver issues, and you can get into a full linux desktop really easily with crouton. It's the easiest linux install I've ever done.

 

[ECS]

heartburnkid[/url]":2re6qfno]I've always had the feeling that Android would expand into full-sized systems eventually. It's the only phone OS right now that's designed as a general-purpose computing OS.

That said, I think that, once you get into systems like this, you really need to have a windowing system to make it useful. I know people have developed window systems for Android before, and I have to wonder if HP has something similar up their sleeves for this.

Yep that was my first thought too. I love android but I wouldn't be interested in a laptop that could only display one window at a time. That's why I'd never consider an iPad as a laptop replacement (although I use my Dell venue pro 8 as a laptop replacement since it can show more than one window) and why I laugh at people painstakingly typing their term papers on an iPad, taking twice as long bc they have to switch to see their research, then switch back to type, then switch to see their research, etc. Samsung already has this ability in its phones and tablets although we would need a different implementation since you can't freely move the windows around.

The other thing I am wondering is whether hp is the best oem to be the one to introduce this to mkt. Generally I don't think it's a strength of theirs to manipulate android the way we really need it to be manipulated in order for this to work. That is I don't have confidence that they will think of all the things that need to be changed from traditional android, the more than one window issue just the start of a long list, and then come up with creative solutions. Nonetheless this is an exciting tidbit of news!

 

[Katana314]

Congratulations, HP/Android. For all that you've made fun of the shoddy Windows 8 UI, you're about to see for yourself just how difficult it is to make an intuitive hybrid OS that still gives people everything they want.
Say what you like about Windows 8, or stay on W7 if you prefer, but this is one area that Windows 8 is undeniably ahead of the others thus far.

 

[MatthiasF]

jpcg[/url]":11ipkx4b]Am I the only one that is concerned that this laptop uses a Tegra CPU? (I guess Tegra 4?) They used to be pretty bad compared to the competition; have they improved much? Depending on the resolution it might need to push quite some pixels (though 1280x720 seems more realistic).

Tegra 4 is pretty nice. Seen it in three devices, including Nvidia's Tegra Note 7 inch tablet.

Very smooth and decent frame rates in heavy 3D usage.

Nvidia has a new SoC coming out (K1), which I doubt is going to be in this HP laptop but should be an even bigger improvement over the Tegra.

I wish AMD was making an effort in the tablet market, just to bring some competition and keep prices honest, but I think they are resting on their laurels after the console wins.

 

[PhilipStorry]

Katana314[/url]":3gehs0d8]Congratulations, HP/Android. For all that you've made fun of the shoddy Windows 8 UI, you're about to see for yourself just how difficult it is to make an intuitive hybrid OS that still gives people everything they want.
Say what you like about Windows 8, or stay on W7 if you prefer, but this is one area that Windows 8 is undeniably ahead of the others thus far.

I must be missing something...

Android will work reasonably well here precisely because it isn't hybrid. It's designed for touch as its primary input mechanism, and all applications ever released for it have had that assumption.

By comparison, Windows 8's problem is that it is a hybrid - designed for touch (in the new interface) or for keyboard/mouse (in the classic desktop). Apps that work under the classic desktop often don't work very well under touch control, and apps that are built for touch can feel clunky when you're using a keyboard and mouse.
And by all accounts, the effect is made worse simply because you are forced to switch between the two modes, which subconsciously reminds you of any deficiencies of the mode in your current circumstances. You never quite get in the groove with Windows 8, because the OS itself keeps bouncing you out of the groove...

This HP machine is basically a tablet with a permanently affixed bluetooth keyboard (sans bluetooth). That hardware form might just count as hybrid, but I struggle to see what about the software counts - it's just Android, and will always work as "just Android".

This doesn't face the problems that Windows 8 has precisely because it doesn't have the legacy issues that define Windows 8's problematic split-personality...

 

[PhilGil]

I'd really like to see Google build a native Android stack for Chrome OS. Chrome OS with the ability to run Android apps would be pretty compelling for a lot of users.

 

[Terabitman]

Will anyone want an Android device that is permanently a laptop?

I don't see the utility because Android works best in most cases as a tablet. Sure keyboards are nice for word processing, E-Mail, etc. but most apps are designed for touch, and having to reach over that keyboard all the time will be uncomfortable.

 

[solomonrex]

MonkeyPaw[/url]"zmokulj]Back when I had a Transformer TF700, I found I ended up mostly using it as a touchscreen laptop. At least for me, the issue with devices that can undock from the keyboard base (which often also offers additional ports and/or batteries) is that you don't know when you'll want the keyboard, so you end up almost never running in tablet-only mode. This design just forgoes that complexity, and it may end up being surprisingly useful, especially if it gets 10+ hours on a charge. Also, the full USB ports are handy for plugging in real controllers and playing emulators.

While Surface has it's drawbacks, I think it's the best design so far to run as a tablet, While still able to offer a physical keyboard. Sure, you can't use it on all surfaces, but it sets up quickly on desks and tables, and the keyboard protects the screen and can quickly fold out of the way for tablet use. I'm surprised no Android vendor has attempted to do a knock-off design.

Doesn't every android tablet with a bt keyboard work the same? And isn't that one of the popular ipad arrangements? I mean, I don't want to discount the kickstand, but many keyboards and cases have a stand built-in, so...

 

[solomonrex]

PhilipStorry[/url]":3o9jjh5e]

Katana314[/url]":3o9jjh5e]Congratulations, HP/Android. For all that you've made fun of the shoddy Windows 8 UI, you're about to see for yourself just how difficult it is to make an intuitive hybrid OS that still gives people everything they want.
Say what you like about Windows 8, or stay on W7 if you prefer, but this is one area that Windows 8 is undeniably ahead of the others thus far.

I must be missing something...

Android will work reasonably well here precisely because it isn't hybrid. It's designed for touch as its primary input mechanism, and all applications ever released for it have had that assumption.

By comparison, Windows 8's problem is that it is a hybrid - designed for touch (in the new interface) or for keyboard/mouse (in the classic desktop). Apps that work under the classic desktop often don't work very well under touch control, and apps that are built for touch can feel clunky when you're using a keyboard and mouse.
And by all accounts, the effect is made worse simply because you are forced to switch between the two modes, which subconsciously reminds you of any deficiencies of the mode in your current circumstances. You never quite get in the groove with Windows 8, because the OS itself keeps bouncing you out of the groove...

This HP machine is basically a tablet with a permanently affixed bluetooth keyboard (sans bluetooth). That hardware form might just count as hybrid, but I struggle to see what about the software counts - it's just Android, and will always work as "just Android".

This doesn't face the problems that Windows 8 has precisely because it doesn't have the legacy issues that define Windows 8's problematic split-personality...

Not that I think this will sell, but to your point, every webpage is a kbm application. Of course, websites that detect this as a mobile device always would be a big usability issue.

 

[kliu0x52]

Imagine all the fun you'll have with getting timely OS updates from HP.

 

[ewelch]

Once again, a computer company flings crap up against the wall to see if it will stick. Leave it to dilettante HP to do this nonsense.

This makes as much sense as shoving a full-blown OS onto a tablet or phone. Not going to work - well. And the sales so far of Windows 8 "tablets" have pretty much proven that. Who would believe going to other way works as well? How much does an operating system cost? Apple is proving it doesn't have to cost anything when it's hardware you're selling.

 

[Blue Adept]

Will anyone want an Android device that is permanently a laptop?

Yes, I've been suspecting that this is a coming thing (Linux-systems based off Android toolchain rather than gcc).

 

[obarthelemy]

PhilipStorry[/url]":eprpaai8]

Katana314[/url]":eprpaai8]Congratulations, HP/Android. For all that you've made fun of the shoddy Windows 8 UI, you're about to see for yourself just how difficult it is to make an intuitive hybrid OS that still gives people everything they want.
Say what you like about Windows 8, or stay on W7 if you prefer, but this is one area that Windows 8 is undeniably ahead of the others thus far.

I must be missing something...

Android will work reasonably well here precisely because it isn't hybrid. It's designed for touch as its primary input mechanism, and all applications ever released for it have had that assumption.

By comparison, Windows 8's problem is that it is a hybrid - designed for touch (in the new interface) or for keyboard/mouse (in the classic desktop). Apps that work under the classic desktop often don't work very well under touch control, and apps that are built for touch can feel clunky when you're using a keyboard and mouse.
And by all accounts, the effect is made worse simply because you are forced to switch between the two modes, which subconsciously reminds you of any deficiencies of the mode in your current circumstances. You never quite get in the groove with Windows 8, because the OS itself keeps bouncing you out of the groove...

This HP machine is basically a tablet with a permanently affixed bluetooth keyboard (sans bluetooth). That hardware form might just count as hybrid, but I struggle to see what about the software counts - it's just Android, and will always work as "just Android".

This doesn't face the problems that Windows 8 has precisely because it doesn't have the legacy issues that define Windows 8's problematic split-personality...

I have an Android desktop PC (a Minix X5), and it's proof that Android *is* hybrid: I use it without any touch input at all, just a keyboard and mouse. It works quite well, my main gripe is lack of easy zoom control (should be shift+mousewheel or somesuch) and keyboard short cuts. Frankly, as a dumb PC for web, skype, mail, social, and a few games (there's issues there too, some are happy with the landscape + no sensors + gamepad or kbms + resolution... but quite a few games aren't.
The great advantage is ease of use: the home key always takes you to your home page, back takes you back a step, only one app at a time... the tech-challenged love it.

 

[keltor]

MonkeyPaw[/url]":3p9u96xm]Back when I had a Transformer TF700, I found I ended up mostly using it as a touchscreen laptop. At least for me, the issue with devices that can undock from the keyboard base (which often also offers additional ports and/or batteries) is that you don't know when you'll want the keyboard, so you end up almost never running in tablet-only mode. This design just forgoes that complexity, and it may end up being surprisingly useful, especially if it gets 10+ hours on a charge. Also, the full USB ports are handy for plugging in real controllers and playing emulators.

While Surface has it's drawbacks, I think it's the best design so far to run as a tablet, While still able to offer a physical keyboard. Sure, you can't use it on all surfaces, but it sets up quickly on desks and tables, and the keyboard protects the screen and can quickly fold out of the way for tablet use. I'm surprised no Android vendor has attempted to do a knock-off design.

Two huge problems with Surface, one it's not all that difficult to get "stuck" in desktop mode (And yes, I mean regular arm Surface) and the other is that the apps and their general design is terrible and look like my 5 year designed them with a box of crayola crayons. Everytime I meet with people from Microsoft they are all showing off their phone and talking it up, but then when I see it and it looks so cartoony, I cannot help but shiver. There's clearly some disconnect there because they don't seem to get what I (and others) are talking about.

 

[gijames1225]

It's a shame that Linux has no mindshare. Either this with an ARM version of Debian/Ubuntu or an Atom based version would be great, and a four or five hundred dollar small form factor laptop with 10+ hours of battery life would be great would be a wonderful alternative to the current dualism of sub $800 machines that a huge and have poor battery life or the ultrabooks that cost a lot more.

 

[zuviel]

At <$300, I can see a small potential niche for this, but anything more and it has to compete with more flexible x86 Windows laptops.

Even at a sub-$200 price point a used laptop is going to make more sense for most purposes.

 

[johnseeking]

Will this thing have an accelerometer? GPS antenna? Microphone? I'd put every other device I own on craigslist NOW if all three of these are yes.

YES HP has a poor track record with quality issues, but how hard would they have to work to screw up Android running on a SOC?

If this sucker is sub-$300, I'm down for one. Maybe two.

 

[gijames1225]

keltor[/url]":15pahqbb]

MonkeyPaw[/url]":15pahqbb]Back when I had a Transformer TF700, I found I ended up mostly using it as a touchscreen laptop. At least for me, the issue with devices that can undock from the keyboard base (which often also offers additional ports and/or batteries) is that you don't know when you'll want the keyboard, so you end up almost never running in tablet-only mode. This design just forgoes that complexity, and it may end up being surprisingly useful, especially if it gets 10+ hours on a charge. Also, the full USB ports are handy for plugging in real controllers and playing emulators.

While Surface has it's drawbacks, I think it's the best design so far to run as a tablet, While still able to offer a physical keyboard. Sure, you can't use it on all surfaces, but it sets up quickly on desks and tables, and the keyboard protects the screen and can quickly fold out of the way for tablet use. I'm surprised no Android vendor has attempted to do a knock-off design.

Two huge problems with Surface, one it's not all that difficult to get "stuck" in desktop mode (And yes, I mean regular arm Surface) and the other is that the apps and their general design is terrible and look like my 5 year designed them with a box of crayola crayons. Everytime I meet with people from Microsoft they are all showing off their phone and talking it up, but then when I see it and it looks so cartoony, I cannot help but shiver. There's clearly some disconnect there because they don't seem to get what I (and others) are talking about.

Regarding design language, there is a lot more of a divide than it just being universally judged an ugly operating system. I personally find the modern language to look great, better than either Android or iOS (which both seem to be taking serious cues visually from Microsoft with there latest releases), but I still don't use Windows 8 because you are correct in noting it's way too much of a half-finished hybrid at this point with the two interfaces both getting in the way of the other.

 

[Phd99b]

There's one and only one question that would determine whether I'd be interested. How much local storage does it have? If it relies on the cloud for storage, then I have no use for it.

 

[Viewer]

Will anyone want an Android device that is permanently a laptop?

Yes!!!

... not running Android 4.2 though. I'd want more bleeding edge software.

I'd like to do some document writing and maybe some light programming with a light laptop running a light-weight OS like Android.

 

[Kasoroth]

jpcg[/url]":il6aqug1]Am I the only one that is concerned that this laptop uses a Tegra CPU? (I guess Tegra 4?) They used to be pretty bad compared to the competition; have they improved much? Depending on the resolution it might need to push quite some pixels (though 1280x720 seems more realistic).

The video says it's 1080p. Even Tegra 3 can run 1080p reasonably well (TF700 is 1920x1200, Ouya is 1080p, both have Tegra 3), but I'd assume they're using something newer than that.

 

[ichbinkgod]

Belzebuth[/url]":3dv8zql4]...perhaps there will be better support for Android VMs as a result, for those of us testing various OS/browsers...

I couldn't agree more.