HWMonitor Portable for Windows

1/3

A couple of weeks ago, we released a new Intel scanner called the Hewlett-Packard Monitor Portable, and while the device is only a lower end portable keyboard with one USB port, it does represent quite a major advancement in the Portable PC world. The first generation of Portable PCs, such as the iHub and the ROOMP portable weren't especially impressive in terms of security and did nothing to resolve the lack of portability. The new scanner from HP is different. In this review I'll go over some of the features and benefits of the device, as well as a couple of potential drawbacks, and conclude with my opinion of the product.

One of the biggest advantages of the HP Monitor Portable is the hardware based thermal monitor. This feature is similar to that found on many of the latest generation mobile phones and tablets - dual chip thermal sensor sensors on the motherboard detect thermal imbalances in the CPU and other integrated components and send an automatic notification to the operating system. When the temperatures start exceeding threshold values, the device will send an automatic wakeup message, which will halt the system and attempt to correct the situation. The dual core processors in most of today's portable computers are also capable of providing their own software load Balancing, which allow the computer to more intelligently run two programs simultaneously, or prioritize tasks that may run a higher risk of causing system crashes. The lack of hardware-based software load balancing in the older generation of handhelds and tablets was one of the reasons that these devices fell out of favor - all it would take was for one of the applications to cause the system to crash, and the device was useless. The new scanner on the HP Monitor Portable eliminates this entirely by utilizing on-board processing circuitry and real time CPUID technology to enforce software balances, even when multiple applications are running at the same time.

Another advantage of the new scanner is the support for up to three new Intel CPUID devices. The new Intel CPUID technology is made possible through the use of on-board ROMs and the on-demand execution of code from the PC's main memory. This means that the user will not need to purchase extra devices, but can enjoy the benefits of Intel's multi-tasking ability with the mobility of a tablet. It is clear that the future of handheld technology is headed back to Intel's new generation of devices.