HP releases new range of consumer notebooks (+ full gallery)

HP Pavilion dm4 Beats

HP has introduced its latest range of consumer notebooks that include a new Ultrabook, the HP Pavilion dm4 Beats and HP Envy notebook PC.

Aimed for first home office or small business usage, the Ultrabook – named the HP Folio, features a thin and light design, security options and a responsive solid-state hard drive with 128 GB of storage.

According to HP, the HP Folio delivers up to 9.0 hours of battery life and a wide array of ports, including Ethernet, RJ-45 and USB 3.0.

Measuring less than 0.75-inch thin and utilising an ultra slim 13.3-inch diagonal HD BrightView display, the HP Folio weighs 1.5kg.

Powered by the latest Intel Core processors, it also includes Intel Rapid Start technology, a backlit keyboard, HP CoolSense technology, an HP Imagepad, HP TrueVision HD Webcam and Dolby Advanced Audio.

Users who need a desktop-like environment or additional audio, video, network and USB connectivity can connect the HP Folio to the HP USB 2.0 dock.

HP has expanded its ultraportable consumer notebook PC portfolio with the thin and light HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition.

It includes the latest Intel Core processors, Beats Audio and 14-inch diagonal HD LED display.

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition aims to offer an enriched listening experience with Beats Audio and delivers the signature black and red Beats Audio design.

The black exterior carries a red Beats logo and a black keyboard that is backlit in red. It boasts a 1-inch thin profile in front and 14-inch diagonal HD LED display.

Weighing about 2kg and offering up to seven hours of battery life, the HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition features the latest Intel Core processors with optional AMD Radeon HD discrete graphics.

Available in a brushed aluminium dark umber, the Pavilion dm4 also includes optional Intel Smart Response Technology, two subwoofers, Beats Audio, HP TrueVision HD Webcam, HP CoolSense and HP SimplePass with fingerprint reader.

HP has also redesigned the HP Envy notebook PC to feature a geometric design.

The notebook sports an all-metal chassis with rounded edges in a classic black and silver finish, and accented by subtle red details.

In the company’s continuous drive to deepen user experience, it now features a Radiance Backlit keyboard that provides illumination using individual LEDs dedicated to each keycap.

The keyboard also works with an advanced proximity sensor to illuminate when it detects a user approaching the notebook and deactivate after the user leaves.

With six built-in speakers, two subwoofers and a new aluminium analog volume dial, it aims to heighten user audio experience with Beats Audio.

Its other features include: an optional Intel Quad Core, AMD Mobility Radeon, HD graphic processors, up to 6.5 hours of battery life, optional 3x3 wireless technology, optional Radiance Full HD Infinity display, HDMI and full-size DisplayPort, HP CoolSense technology, and HP ImagePad.

The notebook also includes two full years of preinstalled Norton Internet Security and a dedicated concierge phone line for technical support.

The HP Folio is available from December with a starting price of $1199, the HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition will be available from early January 2012 at $999 and the HP Envy notebook PC is expected to be available from mid-December at a starting price of $1699.

HP recently announced a 3-year software and services contract with the Country Fire Authority (CFA) in Victoria, Australia. HP will provide the IT solutions for CFA’s warning system in preparation for the 2012 bushfire season.

It announced a global partnership with ShoreTel, which will provide it with its ShoreTel Mobility solution. According to the company, the partnership enables ShoreTel Mobility to be part of HP’s fixed mobile convergence solution portfolio as a reseller of the ShoreTel Mobility solution.

HP also signed a seven-year infrastructure and applications services agreement with Elders Australia. Under the agreement, Elders will use Cloud technology to cost effectively deploy its enterprise technology refresh program – Project Connect.

DreamWorks deployed HP Converged Infrastructure as the technology backbone behind the new movie, Puss in Boots. DreamWorks Animation utilised everything from HP desktop workstations to HP networking products to HP digital rendering resources accessed via the Cloud in producing the movie.