The tiny, reversible new USB standard is quickly spreading through the tech industry, and HP is the latest company to put it in a product. It’s unveiling a new version of the Pavilion x2 today that can be charged over USB Type-C. HP isn’t trying to lean on USB-C’s versatility the same way that Apple is with the MacBook, though — the Pavilion x2 is an entry-level hybrid laptop with plenty of other ports, including USB 2.0 so that you can easily use accessories.

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When was the last time you were this excited for a connection standard?

Still, it’s good to see the standard continue to spread so quickly, as the port’s small size and versatility could eventually simplify our current cable nightmare. HP is part of the group that developed the USB-C standard, so it’s no surprise that it came on board. But given that the first devices were only unveiled three months ago, this is a fairly fast turnaround. That means it’s likely to start popping up on additional devices in the near future.

Outside of USB-C, the new Pavilion x2 is more or less what you’d expect from the recurring HP line. One of the changes that HP is most excited about is that when you remove this model’s keyboard, the tablet looks a good bit like a tablet, not just a disconnected and bulky computer display. It’s not perfect — it’s a little chunky and lopsided and has a big connector on it that makes it clear you aren’t holding a dedicated tablet — but it doesn’t look all that far from something HTC might make. The device has a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, 32GB of storage, and a quad-core Intel Atom processor. It’s certainly limited, but it feels and looks relatively nice for a $299.99 hybrid device. It goes on sale July 21st.

HP is also announcing three Envy laptops today: a 14-inch model, a 15.6-inch model, and an enormous 17.3-inch model. There’s no exciting connectivity news here, but the three laptops are meant to fill out HP’s back-to-school line. Prices start at $699.99, and they should be in stores starting next month.

Source: The Verge