Focus on Virtual Reality: HP to Release Sprout Pro in February, Retailing at $2199

While it may seem to many that it was just yesterday HP was announcing their entry into the 3D market, as well as promoting their immersive new desktop PC called Sprout that offers an entire, integrated 3D ecosystem–a new release is already here, in the form of the Sprout Pro.

While speculation may abound regarding HP on numerous levels–from massive reorganization to what they are actually going to produce in terms of industrial 3D printing, to whether they might buy Stratasys–one thing is certain: users are enjoying the desktop Sprout, and we’ve seen some pretty cool, and complex innovations happening, along with dynamic new partnerships such as that with Dremel, as they work further to expand their capabilities for users with options like the Dremel 3D Idea Builder.

With the Pro, users will be able to enjoy all the same features of the previous, convenient all-in-one desktop, most especially the touch-sensitive mat and the utilitarian arm extending out from the PC monitor. Now though, HP is focusing heavily on a newer and hotter market and integrating it into the Sprout, via virtual and augmented reality with headsets and their 23.6-inch Zvr monitor, allowing one to modify objects in 3D with a stylus-like pointer and 3D glasses. This comes, of course, on the heels of many contemporary tech titans delving into VR also, like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.

Like so many other 3D printing manufacturers, they will also be targeting the educational system and relying on students to come up with some interesting designs and uses for the machines.

The blending of worlds is a logical choice for the Sprout system, as that’s part of its allure already, allowing for incredible versatility and the blending of PC, 3D scanning, and 3D printing, and more. The touch mat even offers elimination of the traditional keyboard, allowing one to use it with virtual keys projected on the surface by the extending arm, responsible for such duties and much more. Use of the mat has completely revolutionized scanning as well, allowing for items to be entered in 3D on the mat with simple turning, coloring, and cropping as needed.

With Sprout Pro, either Autodesk’s Meshmixer or Microsoft’s 3D Builder software can be used for exporting of images which can then be 3D printed. From the Pro, they can also be used in digital design, as well as being converted into .obj files if the users are interested in designing games or 3D worlds, delving into virtual reality.

The Pro offers the following specs:

• Intel’s latest Core i7 processor, code-named Skylake
• Nvidia GeForce GT 945A graphics processor
• 1TB of storage
• 8GB of DDR4 memory
• 802.11ac wifi
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Two USB 3.0 ports
• HDMI 1.4 slot
• Ethernet port

With this latest release and all of the additional tools being provided for users in terms of fabrication from beginning to end, HP continues to march forward in creating a full-range 3D printing, scanning, and design system. As the system is so new, it will be interesting to see what they continue to expand and surprise us all with. This latest release ships next month and retails starting at $2199. We should expect to see it in hundreds of schools as well. Are you interested in trying the Sprout Pro? Discuss in the Sprout Pro 3D Printer forum over at 3DPB.com.