HP just outdid Apple with its new HP EliteBoard G1a Next Gen AI PC

For obvious reasons, we here at Macworld don’t cover Windows PCs, except when there’s a PC that’s unique enough to make us wonder why Apple didn’t think of it. That just happened with the new HP EliteBoard G1a Next Gen AI PC, which was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show.

HP designed this PC so that the computer itself is housed within the keyboard. Yes, you read that correctly: the CPU, GPU, RAM, SSD, and all the other parts that make a computer a computer are in the keyboard. All you have to do is connect it to a USB-C display, and you’re all set. The EliteBoard has a 140W Thunderbolt 4 port, so it gets its power from the connected display. A wireless mouse is also included.

That’s pretty cool in and of itself. But HP takes it one step further by providing an option for a 32W internal battery. Why? So you can move the EliteBoard without shutting down the computer completely. That’s useful in production situations.

If you’re thinking, “That keyboard must be pretty dang thick,” well, it’s actually only 12mm, thinner than a lot of mechanical switch keyboards. Apple’s Magic Keyboard is 10.9mm at its thickest point, so the EliteBoard isn’t much bigger. And it only weighs 1.7 pounds (768 grams), less than a MacBook.

The one glaring issue with the EliteBoard is connectivity options. Since it has only one Thunderbolt 4 port, it relies on the display to provide a hub for connecting external storage devices, cameras, audio gear, etc. That means you need to make sure the display you pair with it has all the ports you need. It’s not a big deal in most general situations, but if, say, you have an elaborate audio setup to make music, your display may not have enough ports for all of your gear.

The EliteBoard is a cool idea that makes me wonder why Apple didn’t think of it, because it seems to be possible to make a Mac built into a keyboard. After all, if you open up an iMac, you’ll find a lot of empty space, and the logic board is basically a small strip along the bottom of the display. Seems like those parts can easily fit into the base of a keyboard. If thermal integrity is an issue, perhaps Apple could use an iPhone chip and sell it as a cheap desktop Mac. I’d buy it.

For now, we’ll have to settle for Windows. HP says the EliteBoard is “coming soon,” and hasn’t announced any pricing information.