Available in USA, Soon to be available in the UK. Call GEEX on 0121 285 0098 for more Information

The close of August 2016 saw the unveiling of the new HP Elite Slice and the HP Pavilion Wave desktop, bringing the modular concept to desktops. The most publicized feature of these two new desktops is the ability to snap on additional devices without having to install new software, purchase new hardware or worrying about the technicalities. So no more engineer visits for installation of new components.
Though complete specifications are still awaited, here is a first Glance at the latest from Hewlett Packard.

The Semantics

The HP Elite Slice has unique and intriguing name. Rather than simply call it a modular PC, HP elected to give it a more exotic name of Elite Slice. The name presumably reflects its generation as well as capability – Elite because it comes in the era of the GenX where DIY is preferable to calling in service and the fact that it brings a new concept to the world of desktops. Slice because of its ability to “slice” components in a way that you can easily snap them on and off.

The Outside

The Wave Pavilion comes in a unique triangular tower cabinet covered with woven fabric which is “engineered for acoustic transmission” which means it is sensitive to sound. There is a parabolic reflector and a speaker on the top. The Elite Slice unit is 6.5 x 6.5 x 1.38 inches in dimension with a weight of 2.31 lbs. It has a USB port, a Display Port and HDMI. The Desktop comes in the standard HP colours with copper accents. The desktop is modular and can be connected using a 3.1 USB cable. HP has also promised a QuadHD display which can also be connected with a 3.1 USB cable.

The Inside

The new HP gadgets come with greater than ever capacity to accommodate the snap on components without much upgradation. The Wave Pavilion has a quad core processor with 2TB hard disk, 16GB DDR memory, and 128 GB SSD. You can also add on a Radeon R9 M470 for some gaming if you wish. The Slice is powered by a 35W quad core i7-6700T CPU, has 512 GB storage, and an 802.11ac, Gigabit, USB, DisplayPort, and HDMI.

Oh and it can charge your phone too.

The Modularity

The most unique and the most publicised feature of the new desktop is its modularity, that is, its ability to stack on capabilities based on need. You can add on audio with Bang and Olufsen speakers. The cover can charge the device wirelessly and the collaboration cover is great for conference calls. You can also add on an ODD (Optical Disk Drive) if you need to port a large amount of data.

The Meeting Room

HP has also announced the HP Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms; – we at Geex have dubbed it The Meeting Room (MR). This is a device that combines the Slice, the Collaboration Cover, and the Audio Module to facilitate video calling for meetings with a single touch. What this means for you is that your conferences are easier even from distant geographical locations.

The Pricing

All three devices are expected to be available come September. The Wave Pavilion has an expected price range of $529.99 USD while the cost estimate for the Elite Slice is $699. The Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms is estimated at $949 a pop.

Summing Up

Says Brett Howes of Anandtech, “I think it would be hard to dispute that HP has really turned a corner, with some innovative designs that stand out from the desktop crowd.” And we agree! As with anything new though the pricing is high. It remains to be seen how businesses adopt and adapt to this new concept in desktops. Stay tuned for more on this in forth coming blogs.