IT Pro Verdict
The longest-lasting Windows 8 tablet to-date, the ElitePad 1000 can power through the day with two battery packs.
Pros
- +
Long battery life; Expandable jackets; Pay-as-you-go 4G; Bundled with enterprise features
Cons
- -
Mediocre display and performance; Jackets make it bulky
HP's ElitePad 1000 is distinguishable fromcompeting Windows 8 devices thanks to its range of clip-on 'Jackets' and outstanding battery life.
Designed for enterprise deployment, the Windows 8.1 Pro tablet ships with aTrusted Platform Module (TPM), drive encryption and a password manager.HP also throws in Absolute Data Protection software so IT admins can manage, lock and wipe devices out-of-the-box.
Build quality on the tablet is top notch - the single piece of Aluminium has minimal amounts of flex. With an initial weight of 680g and 9.2mm thickness, it's doesn't feel much bulkier than consumer devices like the iPad Air (469g, 7.5mm). But the weight does pile on quickly when you add accessories.The Jackets
Although touted as extras by HP, purchasing at least one Jacket is recommended especially if you want to get the maximum possible battery life.
There are three Jackets offered. We tested out an Expansion Jacket (below) which has 2 x full sized USB ports, a HDMI connector and SD card slot as well as space for a second battery. In exchange for the 450g of bulk (Jacket + 2nd battery) added to the device, you get an additional 6 hours of usage.
A Productivity Jacket has a cover with an integrated keyboard is eye-watering expensive at 186. Not only does it add native typing input, you get 2 x USB ports and an SD card slot.
Should you want to use the tablet as a desktop replacement too, a docking station is available for 98. This adds 3 x USB ports, along with HDMI, VGA and Ethernet connectivity.
Battery life
This is by far the biggest strength of the ElitePad. HP touts up to 20 hours of usage on a single charge when using two packs concurrently.
In our Iron Man test (75 per cent brightness + Wi-Fi off) the ElitePad 1000 managed to loop a video for 14 hours and 41 minutes. It's the only Windows tablet to surpass the iPad Air in our tests - although it did require two batteries to do this.
