Final thoughts
The question we've posed ourselves is where does AMD's Puma platform make the most sense?
Puma provides a trade-off between substandard CPU performance, when compared to Intel's, that's compensated for by integrated graphics oomph that's better than ever before.
Looking towards the future, the lack of CPU speed, with respect to multimedia applications, could be mitigated by more GPU-run applications, but we'll need to see an extensive library of such programs before the Turion's shortcomings are hidden away.
HP has is just about right with the Pavilion TX2520, we feel, and leverages the on-board graphics - Radeon HD 3200 IGP - in a tablet notebook that has most of the bases covered. Tablets don't normally ship with discrete cards and the IGP makes a good fist at basic gaming and multimedia capabilities.
Rich in aesthetic appeal, the HP Pavilion TX2520 is a quality tablet PC that uses Puma's strengths well, particularly the on-board graphics. Yes, more CPU performance would be good, lagging, as it does, behind Intel's, but it's not a deal-breaker.
We'd like HP to implement better cooling that completely removes the possibility of burning exposed skin, and a screen with a better viewing angle would be appreciated, but there's still enough to like.
The perfect tablet-based notebook for around £699? No, but you should put it on your shortlist if you absolutely need one. We wait for Centrino 2-powered tablets to appear with much anticipation, and it's only then that definitive buying advice will be doled out.
Bottom line: a good-looking, warm-running laptop whose main selling point is better-than-average integrated graphics on a tablet PC.
HEXUS Awards
The basis of our recommendation lies with the advances made with respect to on-board graphics in a tablet notebook.
Hewlett Packard Pavilion TX2520EA
HEXUS Where2Buy
The HP Pavilion TX2520EA is available to buy for £699.99 at Dixons.co.uk
HEXUS Right2Reply
At HEXUS.net, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If HP or AMD chooses to respond, we'll publish its commentary here verbatim.
