Android-Powered HP Slate21 PC Boasts 21.5-Inch Touchscreen

HP has announced the HP Slate21, an all-in-one (AiO) Android-powered device with a mammoth 21.5-inch touchscreen designed for social sharing and cloud content.

The PC runs Android version 4.2 Jelly Bean, is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 4 quad-core processor and includes 8GB of internal memory which can be supplemented via the MicroSD card slot or through an external hard drive or flash storage through a USB port.

The HP Slate21 will be available in the UK from 1 October at a starting price of £369, a figure which HP believes makes it an attractive entry-level product and could entice emerging markets.

HP Slate21 announced

It sees the “connected screen” as the next big thing and says that although it has produced similar products using Windows 8, the ability to use Android apps designed for tablets, will make standard tasks such as TV streaming much easier.

The HP Slate21 supports up to five different accounts, each with access to their own files and Google services, and HP envisages that the PC could replace “one or two” mobile devices currently used for sharing content with others.

“Customers are looking for technology that simplifies their lives while keeping them connected to the entertainment they enjoy and the content they need,” says Louis Perrin, director, consumer products, Printing and Personal Systems Group, HP. “The HP Slate21 allows families to easily access content through the cloud and enjoy it together on a large, interactive screen.”

It has, however, had to make some changes to the Android software to make it more suited for a PC. Splashop2 software enables users to work with Windows PCs on a home network, while it has added additional languages for physical keyboards and some USB drivers.

HP admitted that it had been aggressive with the pricing and that it believed it was a cut above rival devices that were more expensive and used “slower” dual-core processors.

Last week, Samsung unveiled the Ativ Q tablet – a device that was capable of using both the Windows 8 and Android operating systems.

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