When HP and AMD pitched the idea of a laptop with price and capabilities between those of netbooks and regular notebooks, I was intrigued. Although many have been seduced by the netbook’s siren song, I’ve always been put off by their micro keyboards and tiny, low-res screens. Yet do I really need to lug my MacBook Pro everywhere I go when I’m just planning on editing a couple posts and checking my email?
The dv2 is HP’s answer to this dilemma. Almost as small as a netbook, and almost as powerful as a regular laptop, they said it would be the best of both worlds. Of course, the risk was that it would have the worst of both worlds instead. That turns out not to be the case, and the dv2 is a smart little machine — but it’s still far from perfect.
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Costco has a pretty enticing deal for those of you looking for a home media server. You can get the HP EX485 750GB MediaSmart Windows Home Server for $547.99 which includes an extra 500GB Western Digital SATA drive for a grand total of 1.25 terabytes.
I remember the HP Blackbird as being pretty much the zenith of custom computer-building. Its second-to-none specs and stunning design put it ahead of everyone else — although its was monumentally expensive. The Firebird is a sort of companion piece to the Blackbird: quieter, more compact, less powerful but still potent, and significantly less expensive. We got the latest version, the 803, to test out. Is it a good deal or is it style over substance?
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HP is really taking the Windows Home Server thing seriously, eh? The company first launched WHS systems over a year and a half ago and we are already on the second generation. This time around though, HP is launching the MediaSmart LX195, which comes in at a lower price, but does sacrifice a bit to get there. That’s fine with me though.
Leaked info about this server appeared a few weeks ago and everything seems right one. What we have here is a single 640GB HDD, encased in a non-expandable case. The LX195 maintains Gigabit Ethernet and four rear panel USB ports just like its big brothers, but the CPU drops down from a 2.0GHz 64-bit Celeron to a 1.6GHz Atom. Plus, it only sports 1GB of RAM. But the unit comes in at $390 and runs Windows Home Server.
Business types take notice, HP has a new line of notebooks that will not impress your associates with a radical design, but should get the job done. The ProBook S-Series combines modern specs with good, clean lines at affordable prices. Kind of like what the Lenovo/IBM ThinkPads have been doing for years- well, except for the affordable part.
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It kind of looks like the dv2 that Devin has for review, but it’s slightly chunkier, if only a smidge. The dv3t (wth does the ‘t’ stand for?) is now available from HP with a starting price of $799. The 13.3-inch notebook measures in at 1.25 inches thick and weighs in at 4.93 lbs and is being marketed as an entertainment notebook with its 16:9 HD (1280×800) screen.
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The Blu-ray drive that will be coming with the HP dv2 “ultra-slim” notebook is looking really nice. It’s shiny, gorgeous, and incredibly thin. I thought I better get some pictures of this sexy accessory up so you guys know how HP rolls with this new stylish line of not-netbooks-but-not-notebooks.
Click on through for a couple more pictures. Sexy time!
It seems that HP has an upcoming MediaSmart Server that’s a tad different than the current models. Specific details aren’t available just yet besides what is shown by the pic. But, we’re mighty good at speculating based on a couple of images.
You’ve seen the second commercial from Microsoft’s Laptop Hunters series, right? You know, the one where G-diddy picks up the HP HDX 16 over a MacBook Pro. I won’t get into the PC vs Mac argument, but Giampaolo chose poorly because he didn’t know what he actually wanted.
If you’re ready to jump head first into the pool of netbooks then consider HP’s Mini 1000 line. They’re comparably priced and spec’d out to compete with the rest of the lot, but if you’re still a little uneasy about the whole thing then read on for a list of pros and cons for the machine I’ve been lusting over since last year.
We told you it was coming, and put our hands on it at CES, and now HP has released the Pavilion Dv2. Hitting that potential sweet spot between the netbook and normal high end laptops, this HP appears to have quite a bit going for it.
Credit to HP for trying something different. That “something,” as it were, is a new scheme called MagCloud that brings the cost of printing glossy magazines down to 20 cents per page. That works out to $20 per 100-page magazine. Free speech so long as you own a printing press, right?
This is completely off topic, but earlier today I was wondering if Google would eventually turn into Skynet. In case you’re wondering, I just got hooked on the Terminator television series.
Anyway, the WSJ is reporting that HP is currently testing out Google’s Android platform for a possible netbook. They haven’t committed to an Android-based netbook, but HP’s Satjiv Chahil, VP of the PC division, confirmed that the company is currently testing the OS.
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When it came to light that Dell was offering their Mini 10 with a HD display, I immediately thought about the HP 2140. It was supposed to ship with a high res display back in mid-February, but never did. And Dell’s Mini 10 wouldn’t be shipping with the 1366×768 display for another two weeks so I pinged HP to see what the deal was. Maybe there was a delay or quality issues with the 10-inch displays. Well, I just heard back from HP and it looks like high res displays will appear for the 2140 starting on April 1. Let’s see if Dell actually starts shipping their HD display Mini 10 in two weeks.
Lauren AKA the girl from the Windows commercial is really Lauren De Long, a SAG-eligble actor with special skills including cheerleading, stage combat, and ear prompting. Giz and TechFlash tracked her down and she informed them that she is under NDA for her involvement in Microsoft’s laptop taste test. So she wasn’t an average girl picked up off the street, BangBus style [Editor's Note: DO NOT DO A SEARCH ON THIS], to purchase a laptop for the Redmond marketing department. Who knew?
Hell hath no fury like a fanboi scorned so a number of sites have already offered Ms. De Long a great MacBook in place of the poorly reviewed HP she purchased.
Verizon recently confirmed that it’d be selling a discounted netbook in order to push its data plans, and it appears from a spreadsheet leaked to BGR that the inaugural device will be the from the HP Mini 1000 series.
Boston-Power announced earlier today that their line of Sonata Li-ion batteries for 18 HP notebooks (about 70 percent of HP’s lineup) are now available directly from HP. The Sonata batteries were the first to be Nordic Ecolabeled, which essentially means they pollute less by being high capacity, longer lasting and having the “smallest amounts of detrimental heavy metals.” They boast a three lifespan and HP is backing that up by providing a three-year warranty, which is the only one in the market to do so. It’s available now for the following models for $150.
Hewlett Packard isn’t doing so well like ever other consumer electronic company. Profit and sales are down, blah, blah, blah. You know the drill. Anyway, instead of laying off the 20,000 people like the financials indicate, the company is issuing company wide pay cuts starting at the top.
Attention, HP Mini 1000 owners. It looks like HP has a six-cell battery for the netbook available from its parts Web site. The battery (part number 517581-001) is actually for the Mini 1000 CTO, but should with every shapes and size of the Mini 1000.
I’m not going to lie to you. I raised an eyebrow at this when I heard about it, but now I see that a headphone rack on your case would actually be quite handy. The only impractical thing about this particular one is that it only fits on HP’s Blackbird. That’s one way to limit your market; the Blackbird doesn’t appear to be on sale any more, and HP invites you to call a phone number to “learn more.”
