Product Description

HP TX1220US Pavilion 12.1 in Notebook PC. For those who are always on the go and want advanced communication options plus fast access to their entertainment and applications, the HP Pavilion tx1200 series Entertainment Notebook PC provides the ideal convergence of these features with the latest mobile computing technologies. And it is light enough to take everywhere. Its screen twists 180 Degrees for presentations and DVD playback while traveling and folds flat for convenience. With an optional WWAN card, service and webcam, face to face ommunication is possible anywhere cell phone coverage is available. This 3.95 lb light notebook PC delivers the same screen resolution and performance as a 15.4 in system but weighs over 2 lbs less. Inviting more interaction and communication options than ever, the tx1200 is the perfect travel companion and more personal than ever. Turn your next instant message into a live video chat with the integrated 1.3 Mega pixel webcam, omnidirectional microphone and IM solution of your choice. Or, take still photos and short video clips that you can edit, email and upload to your favorite Web sites, such as YouTube and Facebook. A fingerprint reader offers advanced security by using individual fingerprints in lieu of standard passwords to access online accounts, such as banks and email. To set up access, each fingerprint is associated with a password through Verisoft Single Sign On /SSO stores user names and passwords to an unlimited number of sites and automatically enters logon credentials.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1084 in Personal Computers
• Brand: Hewlett-Packard
• Model: TX1220US
• Platform: Windows
• Dimensions: 1.52" h x 8.82" w x 6.30" l, 4.40 pounds
• CPU: AMD Turion 64 2.2 GHz
• Memory: 2000MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 200GB
• Processors: 2
• Display size: 12.1

Features

• Lightweight tablet PC with 180-degree swiveling 12.1-inch touchscreen and integrated 1.3-megapixel WebCam
• 2.2 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-64 processor, 200 GB hard drive, 2 GB RAM (max), LightScribe DVD-/+RW drive
• Connectivity: 3 USB, 1 VGA, 1 ExpressCard 34, 1 headphone, 2 microphone, 1 S/PDIF out, 5-in-1 memory card reader
• Quad-mode Wi-Fi LAN (802.11a/b/g/n), 10/100 Ethernet, Nvidia GeForce Go 6150 video card with up to 287 MB shared memory
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

Amazon.com Product Description
For multimedia mavens on the go, the HP Pavilion tx1220us tablet PC is light enough to take anywhere and is a great resource for showing presentations thanks to its 180-degree swiveling 12.1-inch touchscreen display. Weighing just 4.2 pounds, the tx1220us delivers the same screen resolution and performance as a 15.4-inch notebook, but weighs over 2 pounds less. This stylish notebook introduces HP Imprint--a durable high gloss finish with an exclusive inlaid design that also incorporates touch-sensitive media controls for easy and quick access.

Protect your system and online accounts with your unique fingerprint for advanced security and peace of mind. The integrated 1.3-megapixel WebCam (and integrated microphone) provides easy video conferencing via VoIP and video IM chats. Optimized for mobile performance, it's powered by the 2.2 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-64 dual-core processor, which offers 64-bit computing capability and higher throughput for simultaneous computing tasks. Other features include a 200 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM (max capacity), built-in quad-band Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11a/b/g/N), multi-format/dual-layer LightScribe DVD+/-RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard slot, and NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 video/graphics card.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: The 2.2 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-64 processor offers a dual-core architecture, which delivers additional computing resources to help expand your PC's capabilities by providing higher throughput and simultaneous computing--increasing your performance by up to 80 percent. You'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly thanks to the innovative Direct Connect Architecture. And it's designed to handle simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing with no degradation in performance. You'll enjoy long battery life thanks to the AMD PowerNow! power management technology, which delivers performance on demand and can extend system battery life up to 65 percent. And the AMD Digital Media XPress technology delivers stellar multimedia performance and playback on digital entertainment such as games, streaming video and audio, DVDs, and music.

  Each processing core has a 512 KB L2 cache (for a 1 MB total), and this processor can deliver up to a 1600 MHz system bus for lightning quick computing reflexes. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

• Hard Drive: The 200 GB Serial ATA hard drive is about double the average size for notebook PCs, however its 4200 RPM speed is a bit slower than current standard hard drives. It provides more than enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and video editing software. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (2 x 1 GB) maximizes the capacity for this notebook, providing excellent productivity and multimedia playback right out of the box. It also helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card.

• DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 2.4x DVD+R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, and 40x CD-ROM speeds.

  This LightScribe DVD+/-RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad. It also includes two quick-launch buttons (HP QuickPlay Music and DVD).

Screen, Video & Audio
The 12.1-inch LCD screen can swivel 180 degrees, providing optimal angles for viewing DVD movies and business presentations, and it folds flat for working in tight travel spaces such as airplanes or trains. It has a 1280 x 800-pixel resolution. Video is powered by the integrated Nvidia GeForce Go 6150 graphics/video card, which provides up to 559 MB of video memory shared with the system memory. It features NVidia's PureVideo technology--which provides great picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for video content--and full support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 for stunningly realistic cinematic effects for all DirectX-compatible applications.

The Altec Lansing speakers provide exceptional sound, and a pair of stereo earbud headphones with volume controls is included. You'll be able to privately share enjoyment of multimedia with a friend via the dual headphone jacks. One of the headphone jacks is also compatible with SPDIF digital audio output for home theater surround sound.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with this notebook's integrated quad-mode Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (though no standard PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. You get a good offering of connectivity options:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video port for connecting to a TV
• 1 ExpressCard 34
• 2 headphone jacks (1 with S/PDIF digital audio compatibility) and 1 microphone jack
• 1 notebook expansion port 3 (for use with the HP xb3000 Expansion Base or the HP Notebook QuickDock)
• 2 consumer IR (infrared)--1 on notebook, 1 on LCD panel
• 5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card)

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Includes Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial), Muvee Autoproducer Basic Edition, Roxio Creator 9 Basic, PC Recovery, HP PhotoSmart Essentials, and Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measure 8.8 x 12.05 x 1.52 inches and weigh 4.2 pounds.

Power
This notebook is powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which offers up to 2 hours of battery life (dependent upon computing conditions).

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Pavilion tx1220us tablet PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, IR remote control, earphones, and operating instructions. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 30 days from date of purchase.

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Customer Reviews

Works great and is really fast.
I wanted to purchase a laptop that had everything without settling... I quoted it around $3800 from Dell...forget that !!
The tx1220us from HP is a very nice Tablet PC. The screen is 12-in and is actually much more comfortable to work with than I thought it would be.
The features this unit has are the ones I wanted and I only settled on three (3) things:
1- Processor is AMD instead of Intel. I did my research and the Intel is substantially faster (10-30%), but this AMD is GREAT ... VERY fast. It doesn't feel like I settled at all.
2- Hard Disk is 5400rpm, but fast enough to watch videos. I don't do anything fancy...except LOTS of e-mail for work and recently watch DVD's.
3- Price. $3800 vs $1300 (I was willing to settle just fine on this point)

All the features I wanted that DO come with this machine...
1- Tablet PC (12-in screen)
2- Light, very light (compared to my clunky 9-lb 15.4in Inspiron 8200)
3- 2GB RAM
4- 200GB HDD
5- Bluetooth 2.0 (unbelievable how many modern machines come without it!)
6- WiFi 802.11 n/g/b/a (n is draft, but it's still n !)
7- Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000TX)
8- Fingerprint reader
9- DVD Quickplay (not as fast as I thought since computer needs to boot, but it works)
10- Remote control (not intuitive, but it works)
11- Built-in Webcam 1.3megapixels
12- Built-in Microphone
13- DVD Writer with Lightscribe (after you burn your DVD you can PRINT text and/or images on the DVD with the same drive built into the machine)
14- SD/MMC/XD/MS-Pro Card reader
15- PCI Express card slot
16- 3xUSB ports, 1x 56kbps Modem, 1xVGA port, 1xExpressPort34, Front Speaker/Line/Headphone jacks
17- 2-speakers
18- Nvidia Video/Graphics Card does NOT have built-in memory... it is shared. Haven't tried 2 screens yet, but moves very well sharing 128MB (max can be shared) with 1 screen.

Only enjoyed it for a couple of days (Aug-14-2007) but it has been a fun-filled couple of days.

The screen is not as BRIGHT as others, but it has something to do with the fact that it is a 'touchscreen' because it's a Tablet PC.

If you are concerned about the AMD processor speed or the screen size (12in) like I was... you can take the leap - so far I'm very glad I did. If I run into problems I will POST right away.

Overall a solid machine for the price
This laptop does a great job as an "entertainment laptop" - which is what HP is marketing is as.

The specs are fairly good for this price point, and the design is very modern and appealing. The unique mouse pad is, for me, better than those on other laptops, the speakers are wonderful, and the display smartly transitions from a laptop to a slate, with the screen automatically changing from landscape to portrait (though you can change this in the settings).

However, I bought this notebook for college, and, from an engineering student's perspective, this device does have some flaws. First of all, this laptop (with the 6 cell battery attached) is actually a little bit heavier than some of my friends' 15.4" HP/Compaq laptops with their (larger) batteries.

Second, the screen: If you're considering using a notebook to take notes, consider investing in a laptop with an active stylus (such as those using the WACOM digitalizer) and not a passive touch screen such as this one, as I find it very difficult to press hard and maintain even pressure while noting as fast as some professors talk for extend periods (anything more than 15 min and my wrist starts complaining). Therefore, I'll usually use the keyboard for lectures, though having the ability to quickly convert and input diagrams and charts have been very helpful. The extra pressure-sensing layer on top of the screen also noticeably reduces the brightness of the screen (I would say ~15% dimmer then comparable laptops without the touch screen) The screen also has a protective layer to prevent scratches that is *extremely* reflective and glossy - to the point where it is completely impractical to do any work outside on a sunny day or even sit near a window or under a strong source of light. Also, a 12" screen can really limit the amount of screen acreage, which is a negative if one likes to multi-task and have several windows opened and displayed at once. Again, HP is marketing this as an entertainment machine, and so wasn't designing this with the intention of long note-taking sessions or multitasking in a bright area.

Heat dissipation and battery life is average in my opinion, with a full charge and simple word-processing/editing yielding close to two and a half hours using HP's "recommended power plan", which further dims the display to 70% brightness.

I've also personally had an annoyance with AMD's speed step technology (which slows down the processor in order to save power) while using Firefox and iTunes (or any other audio player) simultaneously, in which the wide dynamic processor load Firefox can put on the processor outpaces the processor's ability to manage the clock speed, resulting in a very occasional slight stuttering of audio in iTunes (at least this is what I think is happening). HP support was rather scripted eventually instructed me to completely erase my hard drive and restore the laptop to its original settings, which still didn't seem to fix the problem.

There are some design flaws as well. My laptop arrived with one of the rubber footpads that it sits on shorter than the other three, making the laptop rest on only three foot pads and was thus wobbly when typing. This was resolved after waiting for more than a week for HP to overnight me a replacement footpad kit, essentially a bag filled with various assorted rubber sticky pads. The screen hinge does seem flimsy although it has held up very well for me and the glossy "impact finish" is a fingerprint magnet, although the included cotton cloth helps mitigate this issue. Finally, although the full sized keyboard on a 12" laptop is very appealing, the function buttons on the top have been fairly reduced and the right shift key was shorted in order to make room for the arrow keys, which can be an annoyance while typing multi-lined works, as instead of capitalizing a letter, one can hit the up arrow key and jump to the previous line.

Apart from the several problems that I personally see in this device, I view this notebook as a grand entertainment machine for the price and I am very satisfied with it. The touch screen, although more of a cool, used sparingly feature, is extremely handy at navigating the included windows media center and DVD menus when the nifty included remote is not in use.

HP Pavilion tx1220us Notebook rocks!
Pros: digitalizes handwritten notes, onboard recording, webcam, wireless, easy connection to anything, touch screen, fun

Cons: arrow keys a bit off-center (mistake it for shift key often), optical drive a bit flimsy

Bells and whistles galore! Super-duper notebook! The pros are far more than what I listed and the cons are so minor it's barely worth even mentioning. I'm careful about lifting it from underneath on the left side because the optical drive is kind of weak...you can feel it press in. Also, when you open and close it, it feels a bit vulnerable.

The Vista OS is superb! Lots of newness and stimulating. Love the 'gadgets' column! The computer itself is awesome! Handwriting recognition is fantastic (regardless of the mixed reviews I read online about that...I had no problem with it at all). This was the main reason I bought this tablet PC, I wanted to cut down hours and hours of evaluation note taking. I used to have to retype my handwritten notes into the computer...now, those days are over! I do not find you have to apply much pressure on the screen at all when using the stylus or even your fingernail. The receptivity level is great! The note taker is cool...you jot down a note and record as well if you wish.

The additional side buttons on the monitor are great alternates for the regular function buttons. Has onboard recording features, built-in webcam, super easy internet hookup (I have home networking...not a problem going from XP to Vista). The keyboard is fine. My current laptop from Averatec has the same keyboard, sort of a tad wider, flatter key pads than normal. It's easy to get used to. The scroll arrow keys are positioned so that the up arrow is right next to the shift key...a bit close, which results in hitting the up arrow instead of the shift key...just check your typing to be certain the cursor remains in the right place.

The touch screen is way cool! It is so easy to get spoiled by this. And the touch sensor pad...it makes maneuvering almost effortless! Typically, I hate touch sensor pads because I strain my hands on them as they don't always allow for the necessary fluency/dexterity of the hands/fingers when moving around...I prefer using a scroll mouse. However, in this system, the sensor touch pad is a vented metal plate that is so much more sensitive to movement than the typical pad (I still have a back up mouse just in case I want to default to my old ways...it's still the easiest method). The finger swipe function is also a nice feature...it kind of makes it feel special. It's like a 'personalized' security system.

The open/close tab is in the front middle position of the lid and although you have to press in a bit more than you would think to open it, it's no problem. The overall look and design is classy yet not overly done. And the slight grainy appearance on the screen is not disruptive at all...the clarity/resolution is still great. And the little handheld remote...how clever is that?! Very!

This system comes with tons of memory, 2GB!! Probably because it has so many games and such on it already...it goes really fast while using it, which is what I like (until I start congesting it with software applications, that is!!). I also find that the computer does not run any hotter than my previous laptop (and that gets pretty dang hot). I think it's more related to where you are resting the thing while it's on...if you block the vents underneath, then it will run hot on any laptop (this happens a lot when I use it in bed and rest it on a pillow). I haven't used the battery yet and am usually conservative when I do (I seek out wall plug outlets, primarily) so I've not much to say yet about the battery life. My bet is it isn't optimal, like all the rest of them, but it's nice to know there is that, albeit brief, backup time that is allowed just in case there is no power outlet. I did insert the battery and it doesn't stick out very far at all as was mentioned in another review I read. It protrudes within a range of about an inch or so...no biggie at all! And it's lightweight...even with the battery in...so convenient.

There are many more features to explore on this computer and since I only bought this last week, I still have yet to discover them. I do find myself, however, continually excited about using it or playing with it! I was so reluctant at first to purchase this and did extensive research on it before doing so. I would up buying it with a $[...] rebate along with a free Canon printer (I've yet to use that but it will be more of a backup since I use the all-in-one's as my default printing system). I bought this unit last week and am still getting to know it. So, perhaps a review would be more fair a bit later on down the line, but for now this will do. Maybe I'll come back and edit. I am so glad I invested in this (so far, anyway)! For just over a thousand dollars, you get a lot of 'bang' for those bucks!! Love it!