In what the company is calling the ‘consumerization of IT,’ HP is bringing a number of consumer features to its enterprise class ProBook 5330m notebook. Those consumer features include a stylish, slim design, HP Beats Audio, and a backlit keyboard with island-style keys.

HP ProBook 5330m Hands On Video

HP ProBook 5330m Features

The 5330m is no slouch under the hood with either a second-generation (Sandy Bridge) Intel Core i5 or i3 dual-core processor with Intel vPro technology.

The ProBook 5330m is the first enterprise-grade notebook to feature Beats Audio. With Beats, HP is enhancing the sound performance of the ProBook 5330m in both the audio port and the speakers.

The notebook is designed with FORGE elements, which was ported over from the recently announced EliteBook mobile workstations. The look includes a with a two-tone aluminum finish. The ProBook 5330m comes with a smaller 13.3-inch HD display and measures less than 1-inch thick. The machine weighs just 3.9 pounds.

HP ProBook 5330m Pricing and Availability

Starting at just $799, the ProBook 5330m will be available on May 9 in the U.S.

HP ProBook 5330m Gallery

HP ProBook 5330m Brings Consumer Features to the Enterprise (video) is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Notebooks.com.

On select HP notebooks with embedded 3G cards for mobile broadband access, including those with Qualcomm’s Gobi cards for GSM/HSPA/CDMA/EV-DO network access, HP will be pre-installing a connection manager that gives users access to HP DataPass, a pre-paid mobile broadband service for on the go connectivity. Rather than have enterprise and consumer customers sign up for expensive, long-term data plans, HP DataPass is a short-term solution for those who primarily rely on an Ethernet or WiFi connection for their wireless connections, but may occasionally travel and find themselves in need of a mobile broadband connection.

HP DataPass Hands On Video

Correction: In the video it is stated that HP is working directly with Sprint on DataPass.HP is purchasing wholesale Sprint data capacity through Peregrine, a third-party company.

The service piggybacks, for now, on Sprint’s 3G network, and HP says that it’s service is available only in the U.S. at this point, but the computer-maker is looking into expanding the service in other territories. The great thing about HP DataPass is users can either choose to use it, choose to use another carrier’s mobile broadband offerings–like those through AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint, or choose to ignore mobile broadband together if they don’t need it.

With many laptops now coming with the option for a Gobi chipset, users don’t need to choose which carrier they want their notebooks to work with. The Gobi chip allows users to choose if they want Verizon Wireless, Sprint, or AT&T service after the point of sale as it is compatible with all three carrier’s mobile broadband 3G networks.

With more laptops coming with embedded 3G modems, meaning you won’t need a MiFi or a USB dongle to connect to your carrier’s Internet, having an inexpensive, short-term option for mobile broadband access may mean that you’ll be more productive on the road on the off chance that you can’t find a free WiFi hotspot.

HP DataPass Pricing

Essentially, you can buy data by time periods–between 5 hours and 30 days–or by the bucket–between 75 MB to 1 GB–whichever expires first. The service is similar to a pre-paid cellular service. Here’s the pricing breakdown:

• $5.00: 75 MB or 5 hours of use
• $10.00: 150 MB or 3 days of use
• $20.00: 450 MB or 14 days of use
• $30.00: 1 GB or 30 days of use

In the enterprise market, the service will be great for users who may not otherwise get their manager’s approval for a $50-$80 monthly service for 2 years at a time. HP explains that in many companies, users who may not be as high up on the totem pole can still have access to mobile broadband access while traveling and would be more easily able to expense their data charges without being tied to an expensive monthly contract.

Connecting to the service is easy and seamless through HP’s connection manager. Additionally, when you run out of time or data through your purchased bucket, you can reload at any time.

HP DataPass Brings Pre-Paid Mobile Broadband to HP Notebooks (Video) is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Notebooks.com.

The West Point class of 2014 will once again be using Dell business class notebooks, specifically the Dell Latitude E6410, to get their work done in the classroom and in the field after graduation. In a release Dell announced that the academy had selected the Dell E6410 for the incoming class, the 10th class to receive a Dell notebook.

In addition to the durable and secure E6410 that is meant to last the entire four years a cadet is at the school, each cadet will be using a 22″ Dell E2210H monitor, dock and Lexmark printer to facilitate a better studying environment.

Unlike your traditional back to school laptop these E6410 notebooks are specifically designed to be durable and offer a secure computing environment that the students will use in the classroom and after they enter Army. The inclusion of a monitor and docking station is an important ingredient in an ergonomic computing environment and should help the cadets focus on their studies instead of a neck ache from laptop-itis.

Business class notebooks like the E6410 aren’t just for cadets. Consumers looking for a more durable machine with a longer life-cycle than the notebooks lining th shelves at Best Buy can also benefit from the more durable design and four to five year planned life span.

For more info on how business class notebooks are different from their consumer counterparts look at our past comparison of 10 Ways Business Netbooks are Different from Consumer Netbooks.

Dell Latitude E6410 Selected For West Point Plebe Class is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Even though Microsoft backed off of some of their early Windows 7 Starter edition limitations, such as the number of programs that can run at a certain time, the low cost version of Windows 7 shipping on most netbooks still has some drawbacks that consumers aren’t happy with.

The biggest limitations in Windows 7 Starter, as compared to the other editions of Windows 7, are;

• No desktop personalization
• No DVD playback
• No Multi-Monitor Support
• No Aero affects
• And others

A recent survey by Retrevo, which revealed that 21% of respondents were planning on purchasing a netbook this coming year, found that many consumers don’t understand the differences in Windows 7 editions.

Specifically, 46% didn’t know about the different versions of Windows 7, and 64% didn’t know that the Starter edition lacked the above features already found in Windows XP.

When asked if they would be disappointed with a netbook that couldn’t support these common, and expected these days, features; 56% said they would be dissatisfied with the experience!

Unfortunately most new netbooks are migrating to Windows 7 Starter edition, Retrevo found 23 out of 28 sold at Amazon shipped with Starter edition, which means consumers will end up paying more for these features.

This will either come about in the form of higher priced Windows 7 netbooks or by taking advantage of the ability to do an Anytime Upgrade in Windows 7. While paying more for a new netbook or dropping $80 on an Anytime Upgrade from Starter edition to Windows 7 Home aren’t appealing there is a silver lining. Users who just want a simple computer to use on the go, as a secondary computer, will be able to save $50 to $80 on their netbook purchase.

Majority Of Users Would Be Dissatisfied With Windows 7 Starter is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.