X

Sprout by HP blends Windows 8 PC, projector and 3D scanner (pictures)

Part touch PC, part 3D-scanning appliance: what is the Sprout? See for yourself.

Scott Stein
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Scott Stein
hp-sprout-product-photos21.jpg
1 of 29 Sarah Tew / CNET

This is the Sprout by HP: a $1,899 Windows 8 PC coming to the US November 9. It also has a scanner and projected touch display underneath. Yes, it's funky.

hp-sprout-product-photos01.jpg
2 of 29 Sarah Tew

Taking a tour of Sprout: creative apps are projected in 1,024x768-pixel resolution on a 20-inch Touch Mat.

hp-sprout-product-photos02.jpg
3 of 29 Sarah Tew

A top Illuminator projector shows what you're looking at, while the capacitive mat offers seamless interaction.

hp-sprout-product-photos22.jpg
4 of 29 Sarah Tew

The Sprout Illuminator houses an XGA DLP projector, a 14-megapixel camera, and an Intel RealSense 3D camera with infrared and depth sensors. It also acts as a desk lamp.

hp-sprout-product-photos30.jpg
5 of 29 Sarah Tew

Sprout from the back. It's a standard Windows 8 Core i7 touchscreen PC with 1TB of storage and 8GB of RAM.

hp-sprout-product-photos24.jpg
6 of 29 Sarah Tew

The Touch Mat magnetically docks on the bottom, so you can easily detach it and use a keyboard and mouse instead.

hp-sprout-product-photos16.jpg
7 of 29 Sarah Tew

An Adonit Jot capacitive stylus comes included.

hp-sprout-product-photos25.jpg
8 of 29 Sarah Tew

You can use any capacitive stylus with the Sprout's mat.

hp-sprout-product-photos27.jpg
9 of 29 Sarah Tew

A look at the back ports and power connector.

hp-sprout-product-photos28.jpg
10 of 29 Sarah Tew

The Illuminator projector/camera stands above the center of the Sprout's attached monitor and is a permanent part of the Sprout's design, but it feels like an accessory that could eventually be sold separately for other Windows PCs.

hp-sprout-product-photos29.jpg
11 of 29 Sarah Tew

The Touch Mat's surface, designed in partnership with 3M, can be wiped clean and has a soft, matte feel.

hp-sprout-product-photos26.jpg
12 of 29 Sarah Tew

Standard USB ports on the side, so you can always plug in other PC accessories.

hp-sprout-product-photos23.jpg
13 of 29 Sarah Tew

The mat's thin and unobtrusive. You can detach it, or use it as a fancy desk cover with a keyboard on top when not in use.

hp-sprout-product-photos03.jpg
14 of 29 Sarah Tew

Sketching on the projected display using a stylus and HP's Create app.

hp-sprout-product-photos04.jpg
15 of 29 Sarah Tew

Tapping on a projected piano keyboard: 20-point multitouch feels fast and responsive, although the display projects on your fingers.

hp-sprout-product-photos05.jpg
16 of 29 Sarah Tew

Trying the Piano Time app with Brad Short, the inventor of Sprout.

hp-sprout-product-photos07.jpg
17 of 29 Sarah Tew

Pictures can be scanned from the bottom mat and added into applications automatically, like this sketch.

hp-sprout-product-photos08.jpg
18 of 29 Sarah Tew

Scanning a plastic potato.

hp-sprout-product-photos09.jpg
19 of 29 Sarah Tew

The potato scan ends up in 2D, but with shadowing that can be removed. A separate app does actual 3D scans.

hp-sprout-product-photos10.jpg
20 of 29 Sarah Tew

Collaborating on Sprout with other users, some on other Sprouts, and some on Windows tablets via HP MyRoom, which also runs on Windows and Android phones and, soon, iOS.

hp-sprout-product-photos11.jpg
21 of 29 Sarah Tew

Scanning a 3D frog mask into a collaborative sketch because, well, frog mask.

hp-sprout-product-photos12.jpg
22 of 29 Sarah Tew

3D scanning is possible with the 3D camera, but the software's in beta until early 2015.

hp-sprout-product-photos13.jpg
23 of 29 Sarah Tew

Playing with the 3D scanned shapes, which only capture the part that faces upward on the mat (for now).

hp-sprout-product-photos14.jpg
24 of 29 Sarah Tew

Light patterns are cast on the object to be 3D scanned.

hp-sprout-product-photos15.jpg
25 of 29 Sarah Tew

Next year, HP plans integration with 3D printers and full 3D scanning of objects via the Sprout platform.

hp-sprout-product-photos17.jpg
26 of 29 Sarah Tew

From the back, Sprout by HP looks like many other Windows 8 PCs...but with a large central arm.

hp-sprout-product-photos18.jpg
27 of 29 Sarah Tew

One of a handful of third-party apps: a painting/sticker art app by Crayola.

hp-sprout-product-photos19.jpg
28 of 29 Sarah Tew

Trying virtualized touch controls on the projected lower display via Gestureworks apps. I use it to play Teslagrad, and it works.

hp-sprout-product-photos20.jpg
29 of 29 Sarah Tew

Projected buttons may just be made of light, but the touch response works as well as a touchscreen or touchpad.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos