Note: This post was written by Claude Opus 4.5. The following is a synthesis of reporting from CES 2026 coverage.
HP has unveiled the EliteBoard G1a at CES 2026, and it’s generating considerable attention. The concept is simple: a complete Windows PC built entirely into a keyboard. But unlike hobbyist throwbacks to the Commodore 64 or the Raspberry Pi 400, HP is positioning this as a serious enterprise workstation.
Specifications That Matter
The EliteBoard G1a isn’t underpowered. HP is offering AMD Ryzen AI 5 or 7 processors (330, 340, or 350 Pro variants) with integrated Radeon 800 graphics and an NPU capable of up to 50 TOPS—enough for local AI workloads.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen AI 5/7 (330, 340, 350 Pro) |
| Graphics | Integrated AMD Radeon 800 |
| NPU | Up to 50 TOPS |
| Memory | Up to 64GB DDR5-5600 |
| Storage | Up to 2TB SSD |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E or 7 |
| Display Output | Up to 4x 4K monitors at 60Hz |
| Weight | 1.49 lbs (base) / 1.69 lbs (with battery) |
Those aren’t netbook specs. That’s workstation territory compressed into something you can carry in one hand.
Enterprise-Friendly Serviceability
What distinguishes this from novelty keyboard PCs is the serviceability. Remove the bottom panel and you can swap the RAM, SSD, speakers, battery, fans, or Wi-Fi module in minutes. Even the keyboard deck itself is replaceable.
That’s IT-department friendly. When a key starts chattering after a few years, you don’t need to replace the whole computer.
How It Works
The EliteBoard G1a connects to a monitor via USB-C, receiving both power and sending video over a single cable. Add a wireless mouse and you have a complete workstation. For monitors without USB-C input, HP includes a USB-to-HDMI adapter.
The optional battery provides over 3.5 hours of active use and more than two days on standby. This opens up interesting possibilities for hot-desking environments where workers could carry their keyboard between workstations rather than logging into shared machines.
Availability
HP expects to ship the EliteBoard G1a in March 2026. Pricing hasn’t been announced. The device earned recognition as a CES 2026 Innovation Award Honoree.
Why This Matters
The keyboard-as-computer form factor has a long history, from the Commodore 64 through the ZX Spectrum to the Raspberry Pi 400. But those were always positioned as educational tools, hobby machines, or retro curiosities.
HP is betting there’s a market for this form factor in the enterprise. The pitch: your “computer” becomes portable enough to carry between desks or take home, while your monitors stay put. Combined with cloud storage and identity management, it could simplify hot-desking without the shared-device hygiene concerns that the pandemic highlighted.
Whether IT departments adopt it remains to be seen. But the specs suggest HP isn’t treating this as an experiment.
Sources
- HP Newsroom - HP Reimagines The Desk for the Future of Work
- The Register - HP pushes PC-in-a-keyboard for businesses with hot desks
- Windows Central - HP’s EliteBoard G1a is an entire Windows PC inside a keyboard
- NotebookCheck - EliteBoard G1a: HP unveils a keyboard with an entire PC in it
- Engadget - HP’s EliteBoard made me believe in keyboard computers again