When is a keyboard like HP’s EliteBoard G1a worth paying R25,000 (HK$12,000) for? When it’s an entire computer as well as a wireless keyboard. Well, not ‘entire’. You’ll have to supply your own screen and mouse.
HP unveiled its newest typing hardware at this year’s CES conference, and it’s finally gone on sale (in Hong Kong and Japan). The bonkers pricing is actually a pre-order special for the base model of the G1a — there are others — with the regular price of HK$13,900 sitting closer to the R30,000 mark.
Head of the EliteBoard G1a
The main reason for HP’s off-the-wall price is the keyboard’s internals. Besides being a human interface device, it also packs in a full set of computer components. These, amazingly, can be specced up to entirely useful levels and beyond. The most expensive version of the EliteBoard G1a clocks in at around R60,000 (HK$28,000) and features an AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro chipset, 32GB of DDR5-5600 RAM, and a 2TB SSD.
For most normal folks looking to try something new, the basic model is probably more sensible. The combination of an AMD Ryzen AI 5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage more than halves the price… but you’d still manage to do better for less if you bought an actual laptop. Plus, you’d get a screen. But how will you wow the others typing on their laptops in the coffee shop with your technical superiority?
Each model includes a 32Wh battery, a 65W wired charger, and a couple of USB-C ports for peripheral connection. One of these is dedicated to video, so that’s where you’ll plug in your monitor. Oh, and Windows 11 Pro is also included.
The HP EliteBoard G1a doesn’t qualify as tech you desperately need. It does look like it’d be fun to take for a spin. The initial announcement from HP said they’d get as far as Europe and the US. This appears to be the start of the rollout. If they ever make it here, we’ll let you know.
