HP has just unveiled its Pavilion Wave and Elite Slice PCs, proving that there’s still a lot of potential for progress in the desktop computer market. The two products aren’t going to shock you with incredible specs or brand new technologies, though; what makes them special is in the way they fit around your work space.

The Pavilion Wave, for one, has a tall triangular physique surrounded with woven fabric and an integrated speaker on top for 360-degree audio production. By making it tall, the unique PC takes up as little space as possible, without compromising the internals. The 6th-generation Intel Core i3 or i5 processor (no mention of 7th-generation Kaby Lake CPUs here), up to 2TB of hard disk storage and 16GB of RAM, as well as the choice of a dedicated AMD graphics card prove that there’s no need to worry about performance.

Around the Pavilion Wave is a complete set of physical connectivity ports, ranging from high-speed USB and Ethernet ports for data, to HDMI and an audio jack for outputting content. What needs a special mention are the two microphones that support Microsoft’s Cortana. By talking to the personal assistant, several tasks such as searching online and setting reminders can be accomplished hands-free.

The second, and possibly more noteworthy HP product, is the modular Elite Slice. We understand that PCs have been modular for decades, but this stackable computer doesn’t require messy cables or any DIY know-how. By snapping on modules for features like wireless charging, an optical disc drive, or Bang & Olufsen speakers, you can choose how much to bring when taking the unit out. Sadly, the number of modules are limited at the moment, which is the case with a lot of modular gadgets just starting out.

As implied earlier, the Elite Slice is all about portability and space management. The PC weighs only 3.21 pounds, and can be powered through a USB 3.1 cable. The downside is that you’re forced to rely on the integrated graphics chip, but you have the choice of purchasing a 6th-generation Intel Core i7 processor to take up the slack. The variety of options apply to the storage and memory as well, wherein you can install up to 32GB of RAM and high-speed SSD flash storage. Ports include two USB Type-C ports (one for power, and the other for video outputs), two full-sized USB ports, and a complete set of audio-visual sockets.

Thankfully, HP was able to keep the costs to a minimum. The Pavilion Wave has a starting price of $549 and will be available beginning September 23, while the Elite Slice will retail for $699 when it comes out some time this month.

[irp posts=”11673″ name=”HP’s new line puts premium on office productivity”]