HP gives laptop a Touchsmart interface

HP has launched a portable version of its Touchsmart desktop range supporting multi-touch control similar to that on Apple's iPhones.

The HP Touchsmart tx2 tablet convertible allows music, files and pictures to be navigated using natural gestures rather than the standard point-and-click.

The tx2 screen twists round to allow it to be used with the built-in keyboard like a standard notebook.

HP's elegant Touchsmart desktop range includes 22in and 25.5in all-in-one models designed for the living room.

Asus last month launched a kind of poor man's version. The Eee Top 1602 has a 15.6in widescreen monitor, packing a mic and a 1.3megapixel camera for video calls, and costs just £449 (inc Vat). It has yet to be reviewed so we don't know how well the touch interface compares.

It could be argued that any touch interface is of wider and more convenient use on a horizontal tablet than on an upright screen. But the Touchsmart interface is versatile, allowing you for instance to manipulate as well as navigate images.

The tx2, which uses an AMD Turion dual-core processor and ATI Radeon HD3200 graphics, comes with an infra-red remote that tucks into the Express Card slot.

Prices start at £799 (inc Vat), but you are out of luck if you want one for Christmas: they become available in January.