How To Turn A (Was $99) now $79 Tablet Into A Workstation!
November 25, 14
- Posted in: Tech Talk by Kevin Quinn, Thee DocKtor

Okay, not really $99 in total, but the HP Stream 7 at $99 with Office 365 is an incredible deal. Indeed, this little PC, and it is a real PC, runs Windows 8.1, not Windows RT, or like an iPad, or like a Chromebook. No; this is a PC in a tablet's body.
Key Advantages of the HP Stream 7
- You can take it out of the office for many applications that run on handheld tablets i.e. an insurance adjuster reviewing an automobile accident claim can use it to take pictures and fill out the spreadsheet/form the company uses to provide and then cut a check like they might do today on an iPad.
- You can go home and use it for infotainment applications like using Miracast/WiDi to watch Netflix on their large format HDTV, you cannot on an iPad. All along it is very adequate for checking email, social networking, reading a book, and things the iPad is good at today.
- In summary, the Stream 7 is the form factor that enables displacing the iPad for many usages and applications but also can be docked to be a work machine. This is a real working PC, for work or home, at less than a Chromebook price.
How I Did It
Step 1 - Get a Universal Port Replicating Dock from Targus. While I prefer the ACP71, the ACP076 is adequate and Targus even has a bundle deal for it with a keyboard and mouse, BUS0375 for $149.99.Targus BUS0375 Universal Port Replicating Dock, Keyboard, and Mouse
Micro USB B Male to USB A Female Cable Data and USB B Female Power Cable
How You Can Do It
The combination of a PC and a Universal Port Replicating Dock greatly enhances productivity. It is great to have your email open on one screen while you are editing a spreadsheet on another. Don't expect a raise from your boss but you can build or suggest this class workstation for use at your company with the following components:- $99 HP Stream 7 http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-Stream-7-Signature-Edition-Tablet/productID.308781500?Icid=Homepage_Hero_1_HP7_111014
- $149 Targus USB3.0 Universal Docking Station, Mouse and Keyboard http://business.targus.com/universal-workstation-bundle-2
- $119 HP W2371d 23-Inch 1920x1080 Monitor, http://store.hp.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/us/en/pdp/accessories-88342--1/hp-w2371d-23-inch-diagonal-led-backlit-monitor
- $20 Micro USB Dongle for Data and Charging http://accessories.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=470-ABES
- $12 HP Compact Speakers http://store.hp.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/us/en/pdp/accessories-88342--1/hp-compact-20-speakers-p-br387aa-aba--1