HP readies Windows 7 laptops and 11.6-inch Netbook 
SINGAPORE--At the rate vendors are announcing their Windows 7 machines, by the time Windows 7 actually hits retail shelves, we'll probably already know what we want to get. At a press event on Sentosa island, HP showcased a range of new thin-and-light and midsized machines which will be running on the new operating system. At the same time, the Palo Alto company demonstrated its first 11.6-inch Netbook.
The thin-and-light category is populated by the new Pavilion dm3, ProBook 5310m and HP Envy 13, all with 13-inch displays. The US$799 Pavilion dm3 is a consumer-level machine with a choice of AMD Neo or Intel Core 2 Solo processors.
This unit can also be equipped with either comes with a choice between an ATI Mobility Radeon or Nvidia GeForce graphics chip. To keep its metal chassis slim and light (1.91kg), the Pavilion dm3 does away with an integrated optical drive.
The 1.7kg Envy 13 is a premium-class notebook that sports a metal chassis and switchable ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330 discrete graphics, with a starting price of US$1,699. Unfortunately, in order to maintain its slim form, this laptop does not come with a built-in optical drive (much like the MacBook Air which it resembles). And, like the Apple machine, the Envy also has a trackpad that doubles as a clicker, though the software can detect the difference between left and right clicks. An optional Slim Fit battery docks at the bottom of the unit to give an impressive battery life of up to 18.25 hours without adding too much bulk to the machine.
The ProBook 5310m is an affordable business machine with strong security features and a brushed aluminum chassis. Equipped with QuickLook 3, the user can access emails and calendar details without having to boot into Windows. This model starts at US$899 with the Windows 7 operating system.
Those who need a larger 15.6-inch screen will be better served by the Envy 15 with a starting price of US$1,899. Like the Envy 13, the Envy 15 is a slim, midsized laptop weighing 2.35kg that comes with a solid metal chassis and high-end ATI Mobility Radeon HD4830 graphics. It also has a single-button trackpad, though this model will sport the new Core i7 chip instead of the Core 2 Duo processors.
In the smaller screen size category we have two units the US$499 Mini 311 Netbook and US$699 Pavilion dm1. Though both come with 11.6-inch displays, the Mini 311 sports an Atom processor on an Ion platform, while the latter uses a more powerful Intel Celeron or Pentium Dual-Core chip. While the Netbook's Ion chipset is capable of processing high-definition video, the anemic Atom processor still stutters with HD streaming videos from sites such as YouTube. The Pavilion dm1, however, should have no such issue since its integrated GMA 4500MHD is also HD-capable.
The Mini 311 comes with Windows XP preinstalled, while the Pavilion dm1 sports Windows 7.
Last, but not least, a special Studio Tord Boontje edition HP Mini was showcased at the event. Based on the same specs and chassis as the HP Mini 110, this model is the first to sport the HP Imprint 3D technology that gives depth to the design on the top cover. Starting at US$549, it comes bundled with a six-cell battery and HP QuickSync that syncs data with your laptop or desktop easily.
New products
| Model name |
In a nutshell |
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Wow factor: The first 11.6-inch Netbook from HP comes with the Ion platform that is capable of handling HD videos.
Specifications:
- Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor
- 11.6-inch display
- 1GB RAM
- 160GB HDD
- Integrated graphics
- Windows XP or Windows 7
- 1.36kg
Expected: September 2009
Price: US$499
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Wow factor: Based on the HP Mini 110, this model sports the new HP Imprint 3D technology that gives a visual depth to the design.
Specifications:
- Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor
- 10.1-inch display
- 1GB RAM
- 160GB HDD
- Integrated graphics
- Windows XP or Windows 7
- 1.06kg
Expected: September 2009 (Windows XP)/October 2009 (Windows 7)
Price: US$549 (Windows XP)/US$599 (Windows 7)
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Wow factor: An 11.6-inch portable at an affordable price, this laptop's Celeron or Pentium Dual-Core chip may not win any speed awards, but it's much more powerful than an Atom processor.
Specifications:
- Intel Celeron or Pentium Dual-Core processor
- 11.6-inch display
- 1GB RAM
- 160GB HDD
- Integrated graphics
- Windows 7
- 1.36kg
Expected: October 2009
Price: S$699 (US$514.64)
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Wow factor: An affordable entertainment machine with a solid metal chassis, itsheds the built-in optical drive.
Specifications:
- Intel Core 2 Duo processor
- 13.3-inch display
- 2GB RAM
- 160GB HDD
- Integrated or ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330/HD3200 graphics
- Windows 7
- 1.91kg
Expected: October 2009
Price: S$799 (US$588.27)
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Wow factor: Targeting the business crowd, this inexpensive laptop sports strong security features in a brushed aluminum body.
Specifications:
- Intel Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Solo processor
- 13.3-inch display
- 2GB RAM
- 160GB HDD
- Integrated graphics
- Windows 7
- 1.72kg
Expected: October 2009
Price: S$899 (US$661.89)
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Wow factor: A premium notebook with a sleek metal body and trackpad that doubles as a mouse button like Apple MacBooks.
Specifications:
- Intel LV or ULV Core 2 Duo processor
- 13.1-inch display
- 2GB RAM
- 160GB HDD
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD graphics
- Windows 7
- 1.7kg
Expected: October 2009
Price: S$1,699 (US$1,250.89)
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Wow factor: A larger version of the Envy 13 with a more powerful graphics card and optional optical drive.
Specifications:
- Intel Core i7 processor
- 15.6-inch display
- 2GB RAM
- 160GB HDD
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD4830 graphics
- Windows 7
- 2.35kg
Expected: October 2009
Price: S$1,899 (US$1,398.14)
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Tags:
Netbook,
Intel Core 2 Duo,
Microsoft Windows 7,
Laptop Computer,
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