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HP was one of the first computer manufacturers to step into the tablet PC market in 2003 with the Compaq TC1000 hybrid model. Fast forward four years and we're now leap years ahead of what was offered back then with the new HP Compaq 2710p.

At only 3.7 lbs this is one notebook PC that is perfect for the road warrior and or mobile professional. Featuring up to a 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo low-voltage processor, and up to 2GB of RAM, the 2710p isn't the fastest notebook, but it certainly does the job. With the added Ultra-Slim Expansion Base and Battery, the 2710p can give you all-day battery life, depending on how you use it. The 12.1-inch LCD screen is LED backlit which is great for viewing both indoors and outdoors, although the 1280x800 screen resolution made text and menus extremely small on the screen. On top of the display, you'll find a 2-megapixel webcam, and a keyboard light, perfect for the airplane. All of this combined with the slick silver design makes for a great ultraportable.

Just like most ultraportables in the market today, there is no trackpad, but rather a pointing stick in the center of the keyboard. This worked well, but after using trackpad-based notebooks for years, it's kind of hard to get used to. Below this on the keyboard is a biometric fingerprint reader for extra security (logging onto websites and Windows, etc). The tablet screen performed pretty good, and picked up the stylus accurately. The keyboard was also pretty spacious and solid when typing.

In performance tests, the 2710p was a speed demon, and faster than we expected from a low-voltage CPU and 4200rpm hard drive. The integrated X3100 graphics chipset from Intel wasn't made for gaming, but certainly handles Vista's Aero user interface well. The battery life was also very excellent, even with the added DVD player, the system still managed to get around 4.2 hours of battery life, and with the added battery slice, managed to get about 7 to 8 hours.

The HP Compaq 2710p tablet PC starts at $1599, with the high-end model priced at $2,299, which includes the expansion base ($300 separately) but not the extra battery slice (an extra $180). Overall, if you're a road warrior looking for the best tablet PC on the market, and don't use 3D-intensive applications, by all means go for the 2710p.

Pros

• Decent performance with ULV processor.
• All-day battery life with battery slice.
• Bright indoor and outdoor 12.1-inch screen.
• Built-in webcam and keyboard light.
• Solid keyboard.

Cons

• Price adds up quickly.
• No trackpad.

Final Verdict
4 out of 5 stars.

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