The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition adds Beats Audio to the portable dm4 14-inch notebook frame, but that’s not all that sets this special edition apart from the average dm4.

HP packs in a flash hard drive for faster resume from sleep, a high-resolution matte display that is easy to use outdoors and a beautiful black finish.

Who is the Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition for?

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition is a good fit for students and consumers looking for a portable stylish notebook. The high-resolution display is enormously helpful in comparing several documents or working in multiple windows at the same time, and thanks to the matte finish it is perfect for working from the park. Users listening for better sound form a notebook will enjoy Beats Audio paired with a decent pair of headphones.

Design

The dm4 Beats edition has a striking black and red design looks great, and the notebook is slim enough to go to class or to the cafe without a second thought.

The black metal lid adds to the overall durability of the notebook, but it attracts fingerprints and smudges quite easily. The big red Beats Logo dominates the lid so everyone around knows your computer has Beats Audio.

The notebook exhibits little flex around the corners and on the display, thanks to the metal lid. There is some flex on the middle of the notebook and in the keyboard, but overall the dm4 Beats edition feels sturdy.

Keyboard and Touchpad

For everything HP got right, the keyboard isn’t on the list. The keyboard is incredibly mushy, especially on the left side of the notebook. Combine this with flat keys and we have the makings for many typos.

The dm4 keyboard does offer good key spacing and placement, though the split arrow keys cause some errant cursor movement. The keyboard has red backlighting that looks great and makes it easier to work in low light conditions.

The touchpad on the dm4 Beats Edition is surprisingly good. I experienced no palm movement while typing long documents like this review. Users who prefer external mice will appreciate the ability to turn off the touchpad with a double tap in the upper left.

The touchpad was accurate and the smooth finish provides an excellent mousing surface. Two finger scrolling  was smooth even in troublesome text boxes.  I wish every Windows notebook mousepad was this good.

Display

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition uses a 1600 x 900 resolution 14-inch display with a matte finish that is amazing.

It’s tough to find a high-resolution display on a 14-inch consumer notebook, let alone one with a matte finish and a $800 price.

The 1600 x 900 resolution display is perfect for working on two documents side by side or surfing the web, controlling music and chatting without switching between windows.

Thanks to the matte display the dm4 Beats Edition is easy to use outdoors, even in the bright sun. I wrote this review on my patio in direct sunlight. I would prefer a slightly brighter display but the display was easy enough to see in the sun.

Features

Beats Audio – Beats Audio delivers higher quality notebook audio with 2 speakers and a subwoofer, and shines with headphones.

HP Launch Box – HP bundles a number of commonly used apps into a single Windows 7 Taskbar shortcut box.

HP SimplePass – Easily log into websites with a swipe of a finger or fast switch between different users.

HD Webcam – The TrueVision webcam delivers better than average images for Skype and Google Hangouts.

HP Premier Experience – Like the Lenovo Enhanced Experience, the HP Premier Experience includes a number of user experience improvements, highlighted in the video below.

Performance and Graphics

HP didn’t skimp on the Beats edition of the dm4, which ships with a 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 6GB RAM and a spacious tk hard drive that gets a boost in speed thanks to a small flash cache. This makes the notebook resume from sleep faster and provides other speed enhancements without the need for a small and expensive flash drive.

When it comes to working in multiple apps and listening to music or watching streaming video from Netflix or Hulu there was no slowing down.

The Integrated Intel graphics and 2.5GHz processor deliver enough power to use apps like Photoshop Elements and do light movie editing before sharing clips on YouTube.

The notebook uses integrated graphics, which limits the gaming potential, but doesn’t rule out gaming on the go. I wouldn’t suggest playing the latest Call of Duty games, but casual flash games and games like Portal 2 are perfectly suited for the dm4 Beats Edition.

Audio

The Beats Audio sounds good on the dm4′s speakers, but the audio really sparkles when paired with a good pair of headphones.

Listening to a bit of everything from Van Halen’s Hot for Teacher and Foster the People’s Pumped Up Kicks to Bruno Mars’ Lighters and a bit of Frank Sinatra was a delight with Beats Audio and my Nox Audio Scout headphones.

No matter which genre I’m listening to I was impressed with the clear audio. From the crisp sound of drums on Hot for Teacher to the floating piano and bass of Lighters it was clear that Beats Audio delivers a better audio experience than the average notebook and most gadgets for that matter.

Even with the volume at 60% music was loud enough to drown out any surrounding noises and deliver a great listening experience.

HP explains Beats Audio in the video below:

I’m not going to pretend to be an audiophile, but I love it when music sounds good and that’s an area where the dm4 Beats edition delivers.

Battery Life

I tested the HP Pavilion dm4 beats edition with the Laptop Magazine battery test, which simulates web browsing with the screen set at 40% and the notebook lasted 5 hours and 52 minutes.

Even under a full load, with the screen at full brightness, multiple Chrome Windows open and music at full blast the Pavilion dm4 lasted a respectable 4 hours. That’s great considering I paid no attention to activities that drain the battery.

The Bottom Line

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition delivers great sound and performance with an elegant design.

Despite the keyboard issues and integrated graphics performance the HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition offers a lot of value.

The HP software extras and great price combine to offer a wonderful package.

Gallery

Specs

HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Building on the HP ENVY Spectre brand announced at CES 2012, the new HP ENVY Spectre XT is a smaller ENVY Ultrabook with a friendlier $999 price.

Like the rest of the HP ENVY notebooks, the ENVY Spectre XT, focuses on the look and feel of the notebook. HP focuses on the aesthetics, but doesn’t forget about power, including third generation Intel processors.

The Spectre XT has an all-metal chassis with a slim bezel that helps keep the size of the notebook in check. The Spectre XT is 14.5 mm thick and weighs in at 3.07 pounds.

HP ENVY Spectre XT Hands On Video

Check out our hands on with the ENVY Spectre XT for a closer look at the Spectre XT features.

HP ENVY Spectre XT Specs

The ENVY Spectre XT will ship with third generation Intel Core i processor options and the latest integrated Intel HD graphics options. The XT has a 13.3-inch display.

The HP ENVY Spectre XT includes a 128GB SSD drive for speedy access to apps and startup. The size seems small for users coming from a standard hard drive, but the speed is a good tradeoff for most users.

HP ENVY Spectre XT Features

The ENVY Spectre XT includes a number of consumer friendly features designed to enhance the user experience.

• Beats Audio – HP boasts that Beats Audio allows users to hear music the way the artist intended thanks to a collaboration with Dr. Dre.
• CoolSense – With CoolSense, the Spectre XT knows when to adjust performance and fan settings to keep the XT cool.
• HP ImagePad – The mousepad on the Spectre XT supports multifinger gesture navigation, which HP claims is precise.
• HP TrueVision Webcam – The XT delivers an HD video chat experience thanks to this HD webcam which should deliver sharp images in Google+ Hangouts and Skype.
• Backlit Keyboard – Oddly an option and not a standard, the backlit keyboard simplifies working in dimly lit situations.
• Software – Included with the XT are full versions of Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements.
• Anti-Theft – The Spectre XT includes a year of Absolute Data Protect.

ENVY Spectre XT Battery Life

HP rates the ENVY Spectre XT battery life at 8 hours. PC manufacturers are better at measuring real world battery life, but the Spectre XT will likely clock in shorter under real world conditions.

ENVY Spectre XT Price and Release Date

HP is releasing the ENVY Spectre XT on June 3rd with a $999.99 starting price.

HP Envy Spectre XT Specs

HP ENVY Spectre XT Gallery

HP ENVY Spectre XT Hands On Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

HP is going all in on Ultrabooks this spring with the introduction of the HP ENVY SleekBook and the ENVY Ultrabook.

Both of these ENVY notebooks include 14-inch and 15-inch configurations, and attractive starting prices.

The HP ENVY Sleekbook starts at $599,while the HP ENVY Ultrabook starts at $749.

HP ENVY Sleekbook & ENVY Ultrabook Specs

HP’s Envy Sleekbook 15.6-inch size will only come with AMD APU processors and discrete graphics with a 320GB hard drive, which is why the notebook starts at $599. The 14-inch model will be available with 2nd gen and 3rd Gen Intel Core i Processors and a 500GB hard drive.

The HP ENVY Ultrabook will ship with 2nd and 3rd gen Intel Core i processors and a 500GB hard drive with a 32GB mSATA Cache for faster boots and access to frequently used programs.

Both of these notebooks are slim, measuring 19.8mm thick and starting weights of 4 pounds.

HP ENVY Sleekbook & ENVY Ultrabook Features

Even though the new Sleekbook starts at $599, all the new ENVY Sleekbooks and Ultrabooks come with a collection of features expected in the ENVy line.

• Beats Audio – Listen to music the way artists want you to hear it with this premium audio solution from HP and Dr. Dre. This is the first time Beats Audio is available in large screen notebooks, and includes a subwoofer.
• HP CoolSense – CoolSense knows when the notebook is getting to hot and can sense when it is on a lap or on a table to adjust fans and processor usage to keep the notebook from overheating.
• ProtectSmart – ProtectSmart locks the hard drive when it senses a fall, in an attempt to save the hard drive and your data.
• HP TrueVision HD webcam – The HD webcam should deliver a better than average video chat experience in Skype and Google+ Hangouts.

ENVY Sleekbook & ENVY Ultrabook Battery Life

The HP ENVY Sleekbook models claim up to 9 hours of battery life. The 15.6-inch Ultrabook also claims 9 hours of battery life, but the 14-inch ENVY Ultrabook is limited to 8 hours.

These stats will likely shrink by 20% in the real world as users crank up the screen brightness and use resource intensive programs, but that should still deliver 6-7 hours of battery life.

ENVY Sleekbook & Ultrabook Price and Release Date

The HP ENVY Ultrabook models will be available on May 9th, as will the 14-inch Sleekbook. The 15.6-inch Sleekbook will not arrive until JUne 20th.

• HP ENVY SleekBook 14″ – $699
• HP ENVY SleekBook 15.6″ – $599
• HP ENVY Ultrabook 14″ – $749
• HP ENVY Ultrabook 15.6″ – $799

HP ENVY SleekBook & Ultrabook Gallery

HP ENVY Sleekbook & ENVY Ultrabook Announced is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Building on the success of the HP Folio Ultrabook that straddles the consumer and professional line, HP has embraced the business Ultrabook with the new HP Elitebook Folio 9470m.

The HP EliteBook Folio 9470m is an attractive jump up from the new HP Elitebook 2170p’s 11 inch display, without sacrificing the size and weight. The Elitebook Folio 9470m is 3.5 pounds.

Business travelers will appreciate the 18.95 mm thick frame, long battery life thanks to an optional slice battery and backlit keyboard, as well as the ability to dock the Elitebook Folio in the office to quickly connect to external monitors and accessories.

Unlike many ultraportables and ultrabooks, the Elitebook Folio includes a full complement of ports including, three USB 3.0 ports, DisplayPort, Ethernet and VGA. The EliteBook Folio also comes with an option for 3G and 4G LTE embedded connectivity.

The EliteBook Folio 9470m will use the latest Intel 3rd generation processors and is capable of handling up to 16GB of RAM. HP offers a variety of storage options including the ability to install a Flash Cache for faster boots and access to often used programs.

The Elitebook Folio won’t be sold on the shelves of Best Buy when it is released in October, as it is aimed at companies who place a high value on the reliability of notebooks. Consumers who need a notebook that can last four years of college would be wise to look into the EliteBook Folio when it launches.

HP EliteBook Folio 9470m Specs

HP EliteBook Folio: Business Ultrabook with Docking & Slice Battery is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

HP EliteBook w-series mobile workstations offer top of the line performance in a mobile package. With performance meeting or exceeding dedicated desktop solutions, these notebooks are found in the hands of specialized employees performing mission critical work out in the field.

The HP EliteBook Mobile Workstations feature certified graphics, and the latest Intel 3rd generation Intel Core i processors for performance and reliability with third-party applications. The EliteBook w-series comes in three distinct sizes, the 17-inch 8770w, the 15-inch  8570w and the 14 -inch 8470w.

These notebooks will most often be found in use by financial traders, engineers, designers, and architects in mechanical CAD. Creative professionals who work with video, post production and 3D animation also favor these powerful mobile workstations.

Check out the video below to find out what’s new in the EliteBook w-series Mobil Workstations for 2012, and learn how professionals use these notebooks in the real world.

All of the HP EliteBook w-series Mobile Workstations meet MIL-STD-810G testing for dust, vibration, shock, altitude, drop, high temperature, low temperature and temperature shock, and come with a business rugged design.

The EliteBook Mobile Workstations all come with removable batteries and support external battery packs to provide power when away from outlets. Each of these notebooks can use the same family of HP docks and accessories across the entire EliteBook w-series line.

The 15.6 inch and 17-inch notebooks come with DreamColor capability, which allows the user to see what the content will look like on the display of the end-user right on the notebook’s 17 inch display, an important feature for creative professionals.

The EliteBook w-series Mobile Workstations support up to three hard drives with the optical bay removed so that the notebook is able top run mirroring and striping for data redundancy.

The HP EliteBook w-series Mobile Workstations will arrive this summer on HP.com and through authorized resellers.

HP EliteBook w-series Mobile Workstations Are Ready for Action (Video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

THE HP Pavilion dv sereis of notebooks occupy HP’s middle ground, a step up form the Pavilion g sereis, but lacking the premium finish found on the ENVY notebooks.

Because the HP Pavilion dv notebooks take up this middle ground, they offer a range of sizes and prices to satisfy the needs and budget of the average consumer.

HP has updated the Pavilion dv4, dv6 and dv7 notebooks for Spring 2012 with the latest Intel Core i3 third generation processors and optional NVIDIA graphics processors for better gaming and entertainment.

HP Pavilion dv4, dv6 and dv7 Hands On Video

HP Pavilion dv4, dv6, and dv7 Specs

The HP Pavilion notebooks can be configured with the latest Intel Core i 3rd generation processors, large hard drive options and the ability to add on NVIDA graphics upgrades. No speciific GPU models have been announced.

HP Pavilion dv4, dv6, and dv7 Features

• Beats Audio – Listen to music the way artists want you to hear it with this premium audio solution from HP and Dr. Dre. The speakerbar is integrated with the display to project sound at the user instead of towards a table or lap..
• HP CoolSense – CoolSense knows when the notebook is getting to hot and can sense when it is on a lap or on a table to adjust cooling, fans and performance to keep the notebook from overheating.
• ProtectSmart – If the m6 is dropped, ProtectSmart will lock the hard drive to prevent damage from impact.
• HP SimplePass – Swipe a finger on the built-in fingerprint reader to switch between users and to login to secure websites without typing complex passwords.

HP Pavilion dv4, dv6, and dv7 Price and Availability

The HP Pavilion dv notebooks will arrive in on June 20th in a variety of new colors.

The HP Pavilion dv6 and dv7 have a metal finish and come in midnight black. The HP Pavilion dv4 is available in midnight black, black licorice, linen white and carmine red.

• HP Pavilion dv4 – $549
• HP Pavilion dv6 – $579
• HP Pavilion dv7 – $799

HP Pavilion dv4, dv6 & dv7 Gallery

HP Pavilion dv4, dv6 & dv7 Hands On Spring 2012 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The HP Pavilion g series notebooks occupy the shelves of Walmart and Staples, but despite the low price these notebooks offer good build quality and a high overall value to budget notebook shoppers.

The Hp Pavilion g6 starts at $479 and the g7 starts at $549, but often drop closer to the $400 price point in stores and on sale. The Pavilion g6 and g7 notebooks are typically found on sale year round, and especially during the back to school season.

The HP Pavilion g6 has a 15.6 inch display and the Pavilion g7 has a 17.3 inch display, but for the most part these notebooks share specs and looks.

If you’re on a very tight budget and need a basic computer, the HP Pavilion g series is a go to notebook. The Pavilion g series can handle basic web browsing and document editing, but users looking to play games and for a better entertainment options should consider the HP ENVY Sleekbook at $599 or the HP Pavilion dv4 which starts at $549.99.

The HP Pavilion g6 and G7 notebooks will come in a variety of configurations that vary from store to store. When shopping the Pavilion g6 or g7 models, look for an Intel Core i processor at the minimum.

Poor build quality is a common problem with budget notebooks, but the HP Pavilion g6 and g7 , but this is not a problem for the Pavilion g series. When we reviewed the HP Pavilion g6 last year, the sturdy build quality impressed, with little flex throughout the notebook.

The style and design of the new Pavilion g6 and g7 notebooks hasn’t changed much from the video below.

When possible, we recommend upgrading to a Pavilion dv series notebook, but the Pavilion g series are a good option for a second family computer for kids to use.

HP Pavilion g6 & Pavilion g7 Budget Notebooks Refreshed for Spring 2012 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

HP ProBook b and ProBook s notebooks offer a range of features suited for small to medium-sized businesses, including consumer favored features and finishes and business ready security and reliability with the latest specs.

The new HP ProBook s series and ProBook b-series notebooks will arrive in June. HP has not announced the price for the next generation of ProBook notebooks, but they should start around $500-$600, cheaper than the EliteBook business notebooks.

The ProBook notebooks come in a variety of configurations with the latest Intel third generation Core i processors and AMD processor options. The ProBook b-series offers discrete or integrated graphics options, including AMD EyeFinity to power up to four displays. The ProBook s-series notebooks include switchable graphics that adjust to maximize battery life. Business travelers will appreciate the 3G and 4G LTE connectivity options available on the ProBook b-series.

Watch as HP highlights the new features for the 2012 SPring update to the HP ProBook s-series notebooks.

The Probook notebooks are available in multiple sizes, ranging from 13.3-inches to 17.3-inches.

The Probook s-series is available in the following sizes,

• ProBook 4340s – 13.3-inch diagonal
• ProBook 4440s – 14.0-inch diagonal
• ProBook 4545s – 14.0-inch diagonal (AMD)
• ProBook 4540s – 15.6-inch diagonal
• ProBook 4545s – 15.6-inch diagonal (AMD)
• ProBook 4740s – 17.3-inch diagonal

The Probook b-sereis notebooks come in the following models and sizes,

• ProBook 6470b – 14.0-inch diagonal
• ProBook 6570b  – 15.6-inch diagonal

The HP ProBook b-series and ProBook s-series notebooks are durable notebooks, meant for small businesses that need notebooks to last years. The bead blast aluminum display and magnesium reinforced ABS design of the b-series should hold up to the abuses business notebooks take, better than a consumer notebook from a big box store. The s-series notebooks include a brushed aluminum finish and a spill resistant keyboard.

No prices are announced for the HP ProBook s-series and b-series yet, but the notebooks will be available from HP.com and authorized resellers in June.

HP ProBook s-series & ProBook b-series Hands On Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

HP’s Pavilion notebooks aren’t known as thin and light, but the new HP Pavilion dm6 brings thin to the Pavilion notebook line.

HP describes the Pavilion m6 as a thinner notebook for users who aren’t ready to step up to an ultrabook just yet.

The slimmer Pavilion m6 has a 15.6 inch display wrapped inside a brushed aluminum finish and plenty of consumer requested features.

HP Pavilion m6 Hands On Video

HP Pavilion m6 Specs

The HP pavilion m6 comes with AMD or third generation Intel Core i processor options and discrete graphics options for users that need more new power. HP didn’t provide specifics, but claims the m6 will come with large hard drive storage options.

We expect full specs when the notebook arrives on the market this summer.

HP Pavilion m6 Features

The HP Pavilion m6 packs in many consumer requested features like premium audio and more.

• Beats Audio – Listen to music the way artists want you to hear it with this premium audio solution from HP and Dr. Dre. The m6 includes a subwoofer.
• HP CoolSense – CoolSense knows when the notebook is getting to hot and can sense when it is on a lap or on a table to adjust cooling, fans and performance to keep the notebook from overheating.
• ProtectSmart – If the m6 is dropped, ProtectSmart will lock the hard drive to prevent damage from impact.
• SimplePass – When equipped with a fingerprint reader users can swipe their finger to login to online accounts using HP SimplePass
• Backlit keyboard – Opt for the optional backlit keyboard for a better experience working in dim locations.

HP Pavilion m6 Battery Life

HP rates the Pavilion m6 battery life at up to 8 hours. In the real world, this number will likely drop by a few hours as users crank up screen brightness.

HP Pavilion m6 Price and Release Date

HP hasn’t announced the price of the Pavilion m6, but it will be available this summer at Best Buy and HP.

HP Pavilion m6 Gallery

HP Pavilion m6 Hands On Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

HP’s new EliteBook 2170p should please just about any business traveler. Weighing in at just 2.89 pounds, this 11.6″ enterprise notebook weighs in at about half the weight of typical 14″ corporate notebooks

The EliteBook 2170p is just over an inch thick, which is relatively thick compared to the latest consumer notebooks or ultrabooks, but there’s good reason for that.Like the entire HP EliteBook P series, the 2170p is built with a durable aluminium and magnesium exterior. HP designed the EliteBook 2170p to meet military specification 810G, which means it can stand up to drops and other hazards. As a semi-rugged machine, the 2170p won’t quit on users when it falls off of an airport x-ray conveyor belt or when a flight attendent spills a little water on it.

It is compatible with EliteBook accessories, including power adapters and docking stations. This is important in corporate environments where IT managers standardize their technology as much as possible. This makes it more affordable to mobilize workers who want to ditch their 14″ and 15″ notebooks.

The EliteBook 2170p comes with  a 4-cell battery that can last for up to nine hours on a single charge. HP will offer a 6-cell battery that will last 50% longer. Battery stamina will vary in the real world, where users multitask and run their screens at full brightness. Aluminum Magnesium,

The EliteBook 2170p is loaded with security features. It comes with a TPM module, SmartCard reader and a fingerprint scanner to keep information secure. It has a Kensington lock slot to tether the notebook when its left alone.

The HP EliteBook 2170P is available with up to 16GB of RAM and with various sizes of hard drives or SSDs, including self encrypting models for enhanced security. The optional 720P HD webcam is a recommended upgrade for users that need to stay in touch while working remotely.

HP’s Elitebook line is primarily used by companies and government agencies that put an emphasis on reliability and durability. You won’t find EliteBooks at your local big-box store, but you can order them direct from HP.com and authorized resellers.

HP EliteBook 2170P Specs

HP EliteBook 2170p: 11-Inch Ultraportable is Ready to Fly is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.