HP Pavilion tx1080ea

At first glance, the tx1080ea looks eminently portable, with a headline weight of 2.1kg. But it's slightly more complicated than that, since HP also bundles a spare battery. Combined, the small and large batteries ran for a total of 4hrs 30mins under light use (1hr 47mins and 2hrs 43mins respectively). Under intensive use, the larger battery ran for 1hr 51mins, while the lighter battery powered the tx1080ea for just 1hr 11mins. The obvious side effect to the extra battery is a significantly heavier laptop. With the bigger battery taking it up to 2.2kg, take both, plus the power adapter, and you're looking at 2.9kg.

So while HP has proven its mastery of the touchscreen hardware in concept with the IQ770, we simply can't say the same here. Rather than wonderful design and an innovative interface, we're faced with compromises and frustrations.

That said, we do genuinely like the tx1080ea's hardware, and although the screen isn't perfect, the average person won't encounter any serious problems. The TV tuner, Media Center and remote control are all useful additions, and while the touchscreen isn't really all that useful, we like the form factor, which is perfect for entertainment on the move. And the touchscreen doesn't add a significant amount to the price either - £1,021 for a small entertainment laptop is still competitive. It may not break the mould quite as spectacularly as the IQ770, but there's plenty here to like.

Author: Dave Stevenson