The HP TouchPad is the company’s latest effort to grab a piece of the growing tablet market. And although it’s roughly the same size as the current leader (the Apple iPad), it has significantly different hardware. Depending on whom you ask, the HP TouchPad is either dead on arrival or a more productive alternative to the iPad.

Full teardown gallery: Cracking Open the HP TouchPad

We got our hands on the HP TouchPad early. And as soon as Jason Hiner was finished with his review, I couldn’t resist cracking it open. In this special TR Dojo episode, I give you a run of tablet’s technical specifications, show you the hardware inside, and explain why it’s built more like a PC than an iPad.

Cracking Open analysis:

  1. It’s much easier to disassemble than the Apple iPad 2, but not as easy as the Motorola XOOM.
  2. HP used standard Phillips screws inside the case and most of the internal components can be removed and replaced. Provided you can find replacement parts.
  3. The display and digitizer are separate components. This lets you replace one without the other.

But along with these significant positives, there are also a few negatives.

  1. The battery can be replaced, but you must remove the main PCB to do so.
  2. The battery is also attached to the case with adhesive.

Overall, the HP TouchPad is a tablet that’s built more like a PC than an iPad. Which is good if you want to repair the device, but it also means that the components require a larger case.

Internal hardware and chips:

Our HP TouchPad test unit had the following hardware components:

More HP TouchPad information:

Update 12/19/2011: This post originally appeared in our TR Dojo blog.