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The ElitePad 1000 G2 isn't designed to replace your laptop, but it gives it a go to. The tablet's Intel Atom processor and smaller screen make it more suitable as a companion device (a very good one at that when paired with a HP Expansion Jacket) for business users who need extra portability and battery life on the move.
We liked
The tablet itself has stellar build quality, which is reinforced further by well-built expansion jackets that make you confident you could sling the device into a bag without worrying about its wellfare. Its battery life will get you through most of the day, but the option of a battery expansion jacket means that you could go for days, rather than hours. Pairing the expansion jacket with a dock gives you a fully-fledged desktop setup with a wide selection of ports that can be thrown into a bag and taken on the road.
Its Intel Atom processor packs a punch and is more than adequate for every day desktop tasks - from browsing the internet to using Windows 8.1 apps and working on documents - but its modest integrated graphics chip means you won't be undertaking any complex multimedia-editing tasks. The ElitePad's well-lit display looks superb and packs a roomy resolution, offering superb viewing angles and decent outdoor readability.
HP has also made sure to focus on the business card by installing a mandatory TPM and including its security software suite off-the-bat. Fast wireless, the latest version of Bluetooth and LTE cover all bases as far as communication goes.
We disliked
At almost eight hours, battery life is more than adequate, but unless you opt for the aforementioned battery expansion jacket, you won't be able to go a full day without finding a power outlet, which may be important for travelling business users. Without the jacket, port selection is poor, but can be exanded using a jacket or docking station - at an extra cost.
At £586 for the entry-level 64GB model, the ElitePad 1000 G2 is also expensive for the amount of storage onboard compared to rivals such as the Lenovo ThinkPad 10, which starts at £329 (around $490, or AUS$520) for 64GB eMMC storage, especially after you've added on the cost of accessories.
Final verdict
The ElitePad 1000 G2 is certainly a big upgrade from the ElitePad 900 that went before it, with beefier internals and a superior display, which make it a far more attractive option even before factoring in accessories.
However, it's still highly reliant on those expansion jackets, and for every advantage that they bring, more often than not there's an associated disadvantage - whether it's added bulk, cost, the fact that you could lose them and having to carry them around.
If none of that bothers you, and you have the deep pockets to match, the ElitePad 1000 G2 offers the best combination of portability, battery life, power and flexibility that can be found in a business tablet today.
