HP shares the Pavilion Wave specs below.
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While this is a standard Windows 10 desktop in many ways, it’s nearly more of an audio device than a computer.
Sound output is projected out the top of the triangular tower, and a parabolic reflector disk sits at the top to angle sound outwards in 360 degrees. On the outside, it has a triangular shape nearly completely covered by a lovely acoustic fabric speaker grille. In a demonstration the audio module surprised us; not only was its stereo separation far better than we’d have expected from a 6.5 inch box, the microphones were also able to pick up voices from a distance of several metres. Due to this combo, customers don’t need to purchase a competing digital assistant speaker after all.
The triangular design houses three main zones for components: the motherboard on one side, the hard drive on the second side and thermals on the third side. HP claims that the volume of its reimagined PC occupies roughly the same volume as a gallon of milk.
Up to 6th Generation Intel Core i7 35-watt processors for the performance to easily handle productivity and collaboration needs. Two base models will offer Intel integrated graphics, while the top end configuration will add discrete AMD-powered graphics.
Speaking of speakerphones, HP is also selling a special variant of the Elite Slice with the added “for Meeting Rooms” moniker. To make sure your newly stacked Slice doesn’t slide off an unexpectedly slick surface, there’s the Vesa Plate, which has small textured feet to keep everything in place. Users can attach the Wireless Charging Cover, the Audio Module, or the Optical Disc Drive module. One of those factors is that consumer homes today are 40 square feet smaller than just a year prior, and office space has shrunk by nearly a half, from 227 square feet per person to 125 square feet today. The slim computer borrows heavily from the HP Spectre x360 motif, serving up plenty of black soft-touch finish with gorgeous copper accents.
Keeping the Elite Slice cool is a “unique” 360-degree dual fan pipe ring, pulling the heat away from the processor. Consumers can configure the system how they like on the HP website, including swapping out the Core i5 CPU for a faster Core i7, but that will raise the price of the PC. And finally, as younger users enter the PC market, design is going to matter more and more.
On the memory and storage front, this PC provides two memory slots supporting up to 32GB of DDR4 memory clocked at 2,133MHz.
HP Elite Slice is a module system.
Thanks to its myriad of ports, the Slice can support up two 4K displays.
Available this September, the HP Elite Slice will start at $699 (about £530, AU$930) while a fully loaded Meeting Room version (with a Collaboration Cover, Audio Module and Intel Unite Software) will be priced at $949 (about £725, AU$1,263). At first glance, this latter model excludes the FreeDOS 2.0 operating system option as well as the two Intel Core i3 processor options. For now though, let us know what you think of the HP Pavilion Wave and HP Elite Slice. Available starting in September, the bundle will deliver the one-touch Skype for Business Solution, flawless for meeting rooms. “The 360 degree Multi-directional Reflective Audio delivers a crisp audio profile at all frequencies with the speaker centered in the device for incredible sound whether in mid, high or low ranges”, says HP.
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HP isn’t detailing the sound system itself, other than that it was tuned by Bang & Olufsen, but we know all about what you can find inside the Wave.
