HP Unveils Windows 8-Friendly Touch PCs

Hewlett-Packard, which has been slow to get behind Microsoft's new touch-friendly version of Windows, has finally signaled its support with the introduction Monday of a range of all-in-one systems geared for Windows 8.

The Envy 23 and 20 TouchSmart PCs, which boast 23-inch and 20-inch displays, respectively, take full advantage of Windows 8's ability to recognize touch input from 10 fingers at once. They also feature solid-state drives, up to 3 terabytes of storage, Beats Audio, HP TrueVision HD Web cams, and HP Connected Music.

The Envy 23 and 20 start at $999 and $799. Buyers can also add options like Intel Express Cache, which enables fast boot-up and application starts.

Also new from HP is the SpectreONE AiO PC, which sports an ultra-slim chassis and a 23.6-inch, full-glass HD display. The system comes with a wireless track pad that allows users to mimic touch gestures like swipe and tap. For gamers and multimedia enthusiasts, there's a 1-GB Nvidia graphics card, a total of five USB ports, and Beats Audio.

[Learn 8 Key Differences Between Windows 8 And Windows RT.]

"The SpectreONE design is art as well as a powerful entertainment hub," said James Mouton, senior VP and general manager for HP's global PC unit. Mouton said HP has sold 5 million all-in-one PCs to date. The elegant SpectreOne won't come cheap. It starts at $1,299.

HP Envy

HP is also refreshing its line of more budget-friendly Pavilion systems for Windows 8, which Microsoft plans for general release on Oct. 26.

The Pavilion 20 Ai0, starting at $499, is equipped with an HP TrueVision Web cam, and services like HP Connected Remote, Connected Photo, and Connected Music. It does not support touch.

The systems mark HP's first entries designed specifically for Windows 8, which hides the classic Windows desktop behind a touch interface that Microsoft developed under the name Metro. As on Windows Phone, Metro dispenses with icons and instead gives users access to apps and information through Live Tiles, blocks of screen real-estate that feed live updates to the home screen.

HP has said it has no plans to produce a consumer tablet that runs Windows RT, the version of Windows 8 designed to run in systems powered by ARM-based chips, but it will eventually produce business tablets that run Windows 8 Professional.

The Envy and Pavilion systems are expected to go on sale in the U.S. in October, while the SpectreOne should hit stores in November.