Hands-on with the HP SlateBook X2

Text and photos by Corey Herscu

The SlateBook X2, to be known going forward as the X2, is one tough puppy that I just couldn't find a good place for in my rounds.

Doubling as a stand-alone tablet and Android-powered laptop, the idea sounded great at first; issue is: I couldn't quite find a comfortable place for it. Why? Let's take a more in-depth look at the hybrid tablet.

Powered by a super quick Tegra 4 chip, the experience is fluid and real, competing with some of the big boys in the netbook market (think ASUS and Windows-powered options).

Downside is that HP's Android 4.2.2 Android play is clouded with bloatware which takes away from the experience itself.

The keyboard and trackpad were my least favorite part of this unit. The physical keys, unlike the Logitech Ultrathin we previously covered, seemed tight, cramped and uncomfortable.

Don't get me wrong, they are usable - it just takes that time investment to do so. In terms of the trackpad, same idea; great once the user has adjusted to it. 

In terms of button placement, I found it strange that HP would choose to put the power toggle and volume rocker on the back of the X2.

Aside from taking 10-minutes to figure out how to turn the device on (I am used to a power button being on the top or side), each time I grasped the tablet, my fingers would hit and change the volume level on whatever I was currently doing. This is something that frustrated me more and more in the weeks that I played with the unit. 

For a sub-$500 price, the X2 is great for those who need powerful portability on a budget and are willing to forgo a bit of comfort and familiarity to achieve it.