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.

This week was one of the busiest we’ve seen in a while with 25 new notebooks or refreshed notebooks being announced this week from Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Sony.

The new notebooks ran the gamut from consumer devices to corporate work stations and range from $579 to $2,199 for the base models. There’s even a large color palate with shiny silver, electric orange and bead black. The one thing all of these notebooks have in common is that they come with the latest Intel 2nd Generation Core i Family of processors, commonly known as Sandy Bridge.

New MacBook Pros: The MacBook Pro (early 2011) refresh was perhaps one of the most anticipated releases of the year with big performance gains coming to all MacBook Pro models, including the 13″MaBook Pro which hadn’t seen a processor upgrade in some time. The new MacBook Pro notebooks use the latest Intel Sandy Bridge processors which have in some cases doubled performance.

The MacBook Pro models now ship with AMD GPU options and also with a Thunderbolt connector which carries DisplayPort and PCI Express data. The Thunderbolt port allows you to connect storage and display devices to the same connector and daisy chain them together while still deliver real world speed of close to 800MBps and claimed speeds of up to 10GBps. For more on Thunderbolt, check out our coverage, What is THunderBolt and What can it Do for You?

Sony VAIO C Series: Also gaining a Sandy Bridge processor this week is the Sony VAIO CB series of notebooks are available in an eye shattering Neon Orange and Neon Green, but are also available more subdued hues such as Bolt Black and Lightning White.

The VAIO C Series is composed of a two notebooks, the Sony VAIO CA, which is a 14″ notebook, and the Sony VAIO CB, which is a 15.4″ notebook. All notebooks in the VAIO C Series include backlit keyboards, Intel Wireless Display 2.0 and Sony Imagination Studio Suite 2 VAIO Edition which delivers an iLife-like suite of photo, video and multimedia tools.

The VAIO C Series starts at $880 and is available on March 13th.

Dell XPS 15 and XPS 17 3D: Fans of the Dell XPS line weren’t disappointed this week as Dell upgraded the processor options in the Dell XPS 15 and Dell XPS 17 notebooks to Sandy Bridge and announced the availability of a Full HD 3D screen on the Dell XPS 17 3D. When configured with the latest Core i7 processors the notebooks will also gain WiDi for wireless HD Streaming.

Other enhancements include support for NVIDIA GT500 series GPUs, Optimus on select models, a new chiclet style keyboard design and the inclusion of USB 3.0, a Skype Certified HD Webcam and JBL Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio.

The Dell XPS 15 starts at $1,069 and the Dell XPS 173D starts at $1,099. Additionally, we lost the Dell XPS 14 this week.

HP Elitebooks and ProBooks: HP updated the company’s business line of notebooks with the latest Sandy Bridge processors, improved durability and an incredibly long life battery.

The new notebooks look slimmer and sleeker thanks to a new design that really cleans up the look of the EliteBooks. Additionally the EliteBooks now have an aluminum hinge that runs the length of the chassis. Perhaps the biggest news is that the EliteBook 8460p can achieve 32 hours of battery life, giving new meaning to the term all day.

HP Elitebook 8460p Hands On:

You can see details, specs and video s of each of the new business notebooks from HP by clicking the links below.

• HP EliteBook 8460p
• HP EliteBook 8560p
• HP ProBook 6360b
• HP ProBook 6460b
• HP ProBook 6560b
• HP ProBook s Series including the ProBook 4230s, ProBook 4330s, ProBook 4430s, ProBook 4530s and ProBook 4730s.

The HP business notebooks start at $579 and go up to $1,099 for the base models.

Lenovo ThinkPad Spring Refresh: Lenovo also added the Intel Sandy Bridge processor to the ThinkPad line of notebooks including the very popular ThinkPad T420 which can achieve 15 hours of battery with the standard 9 cell and a total of 30 hours with  the optional slice battery option.

Lenovo ThinkPad 2011 Refresh Video Overview:

Some of the biggest improvements to the ThinkPad notebooks came in the form of usability enhancements such as improved video and voice calling, self aware and adaptive power management, all day battery life, common batteries and docks and improvements like Lenovo Instant Resume which puts your laptop to sleep, but retains your WiFi connection while you go from meeting room to meeting room.

You can find more information, including specs, pricing, photos and videos of the new ThinkPad T, L and W lines by clicking on the links below.

• ThinkPad T420s – 14″ sub 4 pound ultraportable
• ThinkPad T420 – 14″ notebook with 15 hours of battery life
• ThinkPad T520 – 15″ notebook with long battery life
• ThinkPad L420 – 14″ entry level thinkPad notebook
• ThinkPad L520 – 15″ entry level  ThinkPad with high res screen options
• ThinkPad W520 – 15″ Mobile Workstation

The ThinkPad T, L and W Series will be available in March from with pricing for the T420s, T420, T520, L420, L520 and W520 starting at approximately $1,329, $779, $909, $719, $719 and $1329, respectively.

Stay tuned for a look at the latest tablets and smart phones that were announced this week.

Roundup of 25 New Sandy Bridge Notebooks: Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo & Sony is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

HP has updated the EliteBook and ProBook lines today with new offerings for corporate and business users. The HP Spring 2011 business notebook refresh includes the EliteBook B series, ProBook P series and ProBook S series which air aimed at both large and small businesses. The refresh brings a revamped design, focus on durability and the latest Sandy Bridge processors from Intel.

The HP EliteBook p, ProBook b and ProBook s upgrades deliver nine new HP business class notebooks for 2011. You can click the links below to see features, specs, photos and video of each of these new business notebooks from HP.

• HP EliteBook 8460p
• HP EliteBook 8560p
• HP ProBook 6360b
• HP ProBook 6460b
• HP ProBook 6560b
• HP ProBook s Series including the ProBook 4230s, ProBook 4330s, ProBook 4430s, ProBook 4530s and ProBook 4730s.

HP EliteBook and ProBook Update Specs:

Both the new EliteBook and the new ProBook models will come with the newest Sandy Bridge, or 2nd Generation Intel Core i, processors giving a performance boost to the business line. HP has also continued the use of USB 3.0 and has added new graphics options from AMD to select models. All of these business notebooks come with SRS Premium sound, following the recent trend of delivering a better sound experience in business notebooks.

HP EliteBook and ProBook Enhancements and Features:

The new HP EliteBook and HP ProBook models deliver on a collection of enhancements that add to the durability of the notebooks and to the look of the devices.

One of the first thing that users will notice are the new cleaner lines on the notebooks and the new tungsten and bead black colors which are part of the overall case design that offers more durability and protection of notebook components.

The new EliteBook models come with a larger touchpad that supports gestures and now comes with an island style keyboard and a cleaner look as the aluminum casing extends through the keyboard. Other enhancements include discrete LED lights so as not to bother users, one touch access to the components and HP DisplaySafe which protects your screen while the notebook is closed with a rubber ring.

Also improved for 2011 is the keyboard drainage hole which should deliver better protection from spills and a microfiber cover over vents to prevent dust build up. If dust does get in, you can access the components without a tool by opening the easy access panel.

The new ProBook s and ProBook p models also come with a metal casing standard all the way from the 13″ models up to the 17″ model.

HP EliteBook Easy Access Panel Video:

HP EliteBook p, ProBook b and ProBook s Pricing and availability:

The entire selection of HP EliteBooks and ProBooks will be available on March 15, direct from HP. The prices are as listed below.

• HP EliteBook 8460p – starts at $999
• HP EliteBook 8560p - starts at $1,099
• HP ProBook b Series – starts at $799
• HP ProBook s Series – starts at $579

HP EliteBook p and ProBook b and s Notebooks Spring 2011 Refresh Announced (Video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The HP ProBook 4520s is a very nice refresh of the 45xx line with a sturdy case, great keyboard, and some interesting extras. It is a mid-level business notebook available at a lower cost than the HP Elitebook line, but with more business features than the HP Pavilion or Compaq lines. While a very good notebook, it has room for improvement when it comes to the battery life and the touchpad.

The HP Probook 4520s we reviewed was running Windows 7 Professional 32-bit, has a 15.6″ display with a 720P HD resolution(1366×768), an Intel Core i5 M430 at 2.27GHz , integrated Intel graphics, 4 GB of RAM and a 320GB 7200RPM hard drive. The Probook 4520 can be configured with many hardware options ranging from an Intel Core i3 processor up to the Core i7 and supports up to 8GB RAM. The hard drive size also ranges from 250 to 500GB and the notebook can be configured with an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4350 with 512 MB of dedicated video RAM too.

Data Input

For three weeks, I’ve used only the 4520s for my mobile computing and was quite impressed with the notebook. From the moment I first booted it up and started using it I really liked the keyboard. It has an island or chiclet style black keyboard. There is a full number pad and all the keys are in the right place, as you would expect. In my experience, long writing sessions didn’t make me wish I was back at my desktop. I’m not a fan of notebook keyboards with full number pads because they put you off-centered from the screen, but that is a personal preference rather than a weakness.

The HP 4520s keyboard is very good

While the 4520s has a great keyboard, the touchpad is spacious but also a little annoying. I like the double tap on/off feature that turns the touchpad on and off with a quick double tap in a user defined region. The default is in the upper left corner but you can change this in the Synaptics settings; a little light shines when the touchpad is off.

Tapping on the touchpad provides a small bounce that can be annoying and the bottom portion of the touchpad, where the buttons are, required too much of a push to register a click. I would rather have separate buttons than this clickable touchpad. The entire touchpad including the buttons is once surface. I solved this by plugging in a notebook mouse, which I also use on my own personal notebook. I would not want to use the touchpad for too long.

Case

The 4520s case is sturdy and attractive without being flashy. It has a dark black brushed aluminum feel with brown trim.  The hinges are tight without being hard to open and close. The wrist rest area does have a little give to it, but it is not a problem.The bezel around the display is glossy and does attract fingerprints, but most people don’t grab that area of the case with their oily fingers. The area around the keys has the same material and in some light actually reflects overhead light which can be distracting. But for the most part the case feels like it is solid and will not break easily. The top of the cover doesn’t have a button or any way to easily grab the cover to open the notebook, but you can get your finger under it to open it up which took some getting used to.

Multimedia

Business users will be taking the 4520s on the road for writing, number crunching and doing presentation. But they also will want to watch a movie on a plane or in a hotel and viewing demo videos is another important function of a business notebook. The 4520s handles all of those tasks without a problem. One of the first times I used the notebook was during a recent trip I took with members of my church. We took some time out to watch the live stream of our church’s worship service over the Internet. I pulled out the 4520s and to watch the stream and the video looked good on the matte screen. I also noticed that the speakers were much louder than most notebook computers. It filled the restaurant we were in with sound. This would make the 4520s a great solution for showing a video in a conference room hooked up to a projector. You would not need external speakers unless the room was auditorium sized.

The HP Matte screen makes viewing in very bright settings easy

Later I also watched a Hulu video and enjoyed it. The display is bright and viewable from wide angles. One of the things I really love is that it is a matte screen instead of a glossy screen. Glossy screens look nice in the right lighting, but most mobile users will have some sunlight shining on the the display which can make it hard to use. A matte screen, like the one on the 4520s, does not show fingerprints and is not as reflective making the display much more viewable under bright light than a glossy screen.

Despite only having Intel’s integrated graphics solution, the video looked very nice with no lag or tearing. I didn’t test it with any games knowing that the machine was not made with that in mind. But if you wanted to you could get the ATI HD4350 option and enjoy some games.

QuickWeb and QuickLook

Boot times are a real issue with most Windows notebook computers. The HP 4520s boots up in about 75-85 seconds but was more like 90-100 seconds before it would respond to user input. Shutdown was a quick 15 seconds. But what if you need to quickly get online to check something out on the web before a meeting or to check the time of an appointment? If you don’t have a smartphone, then your notebook computer will be the only way to get at the information you need.

HP has a feature called QuickWeb. You press the F6 button (it has a little globe symbol on it) and it loads a fast booting web browser interface. It only took about 20 seconds from the time I pushed the button to the time it fully loaded the HP home page.

HP’s QuickWeb boots to a fully loaded browser in 20 seconds

Similarly there is QuickLook, which is the same thing as QuickWeb but instead it shows you your Microsoft Outlook data so you can check appointment times or tasks you need to complete. It also loads as quickly as QuickWeb. You will have to configure both of these entering your Wi-Fi network password and in Outlook you will have to set it up with your information. But after that first time it is very fast.

I really like these features. Getting online quickly is a real plus in many situations and HP’s solution works very well.

HP Protect Security

If you have ever used special biometric security features like finger print readers then you know they make logging onto your computer when booting much easier and actually more secure as no one will be watching you type in your password. The 4520s has a very good webcam that will take a series of pictures of your face and then use that to log you into your user account by simply turning on the camera and looking” at your face.

I tested to make sure that it in fact would only log in with my face by having one of my sons who look a little bit like me sit in front of the notebook while it tried to log on with the camera. It fortunately failed. Unfortunately, as you will see in my video review above, the camera doesn’t always work in low light.

Other security tools include the Disk Sanitizer which will destroy your data if you ever sell your notebook or give it away. SpareKey will give you access to your notebook if you forget your password by asking a series of questions. The notebook is also equipped with Drive Encryption which will encrypt your data so that only you can view it without authorization. These are important tools in the enterprise sector where this business notebook will most likely be used.

Battery Life

The HP 4520s promises up to 5 hours of battery life with the 6-cell. To test this, first I used the notebook on battery power just as  I would normally work. I plugged in my wireless Logitech mouse’s receiver and dimmed the screen to about 75%. I turned on Wi-Fi but turned Bluetooth off. Sadly I only got about two and half hours. After contacting HP about it they said that is within expected parameters under those conditions. Without the mouse and with a dimmer screen I got just under four hours, long enough for a morning of computing but not good enough for all day. There is an optional 9-cell battery which should offer a couple more hours according to HP.

Conclusion

After using the HP 4520s for a few weeks, I would wholeheartedly recommend this notebook to someone who wanted a computer for basic business tasks and some watching video and even light gaming, video and photo editing. It is powerful enough for all of the things I normally do with a notebook, including document creation/editing, presentations, web surfing, and watching movies.  I also do some basic video and photo editing and it worked well for that too. It is not as portable as smaller notebooks, so you will want to remember that this is not a tool for a real road warrior who needs something lighter with longer battery life. If you put your notebook on a desk and occasionally take it with you, then you will be happy with the 4520s. If you are constantly working on the go, then look for something smaller with a longer battery life.

The model I reviewed starts at $799 making it a very good value. Other configurations are available starting at $719 with a smaller hard drive and slower Core i3 processor or for $879 with a larger hard drive and Core i7 processor. A very basic model starts at $549.

Specifications

HP Pavilion dv6z Detailed Specs:

HP ProBook 4520s Review: Good Business Class Notebook for Daily Use is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

People looking to buy a new computer often ask me “What’s the best notebook?” My answer to that question is simple: There isn’t a best notebook. Instead of looking for the ‘best’ notebook, individuals and organizations should find the right tool for the job.

The FBI is an example of an organization that’s chosen the right tool for the job. As illustrated in this photo at Yahoo.com, the FBI is using Panasonic ToughBook CF-30′s to investigate the recent attempted car bombing attack in Times Square.  If you’re collecting evidence in the field that may result in catching terrorists or saving lives, a rugged notebook like the CF-30 is probably the ‘best’ notebook for you. Tougbooks can handle a ton of abuse and are some of the  most reliable machines out there. In the case of the FBI, a damaged notebook could cost lives.

But Toughbooks aren’t the right tool for most people. ToughBooks are very expensive, have small hard drives and are very thick. They’re utilitarian and lack many of the entertainment features you’ll find on PCs that are 80% cheaper. FBI agents like the one in the probably don’t care too much about playing video games or editing HD movies in stressful situations.

This weekend a friend asked me what the best notebook on the market is for his wife. I asked them what she’d be using it for and he jokingly said “To find good deals on clothes and purses.” She laughed at the statement, but went on to tell me she really wants a notebook with an anti-glare display, that’s highly reliable and is more fashionable than a ThinkPad.  I recommended that she look into one of the many business notebooks that have color options, such as the Dell Latitude line and HP ProBooks.

I’ve found my new MacBook Pro to be the best notebook I’ve used for editing photos on the go. For me, it’s long battery life, suite of multimedia applications, anti-glare display and powerful Intel Core i7 processor are the right mix when I’m dealing with thousands of photos. My MacBook Pro isn’t nearly as durable as the ToughBook pictured above, but the worst thing that would happen if I dropped my MacBook Pro is that people would have to wait a little while to see photos shot that day.

If you’re in the market for a notebook you should consider what the best notebook for you. Don’t worry about finding the best notebook out there. You’re just as likely to find a unicorn.

The Right Notebook for the Job is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

HP is announcing a new line of business notebooks. Included in this announcement is the HP ProBook S series of notebook computers. With these notebooks HP is taking significant departures from previous designs.

The Bordeaux Color Option

One of the new S series notebooks is the HP ProBook 4425s Notebook PC. It is a 14-inch computer with AMD’s Phenom II Quad or Triple Core processors, the Turion/Athlon Dual Core processors or the V-Series single core processor. The stylish 4425s also has AMD’s VISION Pro branding, meaning it is a good solution for business use including web surfing, email, office document editing, listening to music and viewing videos and photos. You could also play some casual games. The 4425s will come with multimedia functionality via the ArcSoft TotalMedia Suite for doing editing and playing video. The multi-media controls” are also now a part of the keyboard, which makes it easier to operate.

The HDMI port allows you to hook up your notebook to an external display carrying both the HD video and audio. With 1366×768 resolution you can also get 720p HD right on the computer itself.

The Caviar Color Option

This is primarily a business notebook, meaning battery life is important. HP Power Assistant gives battery information so users view and monitor battery consumption. With either a 6 cell or the optional 9 cell battery, you will have plenty of power. To protect your mission-critical information HP is providing security both in software and also features like HP 3D DriveGuard, which kicks in if the notebook is dropped. The accelerometer detects the drop and parks or freezes the hard drive so you won’t lose data.

If you need to get access to the web quick, then you can use the HP QuickLook 3 feature. It allows you to access email and PIM information within seconds of hitting the button. HP QuickWeb does the same giving access to the Internet in seconds even from the off position.

There are two colors available. The Caviar color is a dark almost black finish while the Bordeaux has a touch of red in it. The color isn’t the only thing new. There are no more plastic cases. They now have a metallic etched design. It has been four years since HP made this big a change in their cases. The clickable trackpad has gestures built in.

These new notebooks will start at an affordable $619.

Mike Hockey from HP describes the S series below:

Here are the detailed specs for the HP 4425s Notebook PC:

HP’s New ProBook 4425s Notebook PC Announced is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

HP introduced two new affordable business notebooks today. The ProBook 6445b and ProBook 6545b offer a lot of the durability and management features found in more expensive business systems at a reduced cost.

The two notebooks are pretty similar except that the 6445b has a 14″ display and the 6545b has a 15″ display. They can be configured with up to 4GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD and a Blu-ray Disc drive.

The new ProBooks have new AMD processors that are more efficient than those found on previous HP Probook b-series notebooks. The company claims battery life has improved by 60 percent for up to 8 hours and 15 minutes of use on a single charge.

Here’s an HP video that highlights the benefits of the b-series ProBooks.

HP’s Jeremy Brody showed me the two new notebooks at a recent meeting. They are the first HP notebooks that have drain holes to protect against spills.

The new b-series ProBooks will be available when Windows 7 launches on October 22. They will be available at HP’s online store and resellers for $799 and up.

HP Introduces ProBook 6445b and ProBook 6545b (video) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

HP announced a new, affordable mobile thin client today. The HP 4410t is based off of the recently released ProBook series and is designed with security in mind. Mobile thin clients look just like any other notebook, but lack local storage devices. Instead, they connect to a server to access files and applications.

The HP 4410t has a 14″ widescreen LED display  and weighs in at 4.3 pounds.

Losses of customer databases, social security numbers, healthcare records and credit card information can cost companies millions. Yet, many organizations allow their employees to carry gigabytes of this information wherever they go. Remove the hard drive and you pretty much eliminate the risk of losing valuable data.

As a computer enthusiast, a mobile thin client is the last device in the world I’d want to get on the first day of a new job. But thin clients are exactly what I’d want my health insurance agent or accountant to carry.

Last year, HP introduced mobile thin clients based off its Elitebook line, which is much more expensive than the ProBook line. The new 4410t will start at just $549, making it much more reasonable to outfit employees with thin clients.

I spoke with Jeff Malm of Noodles Inc. last year about how his organization uses HP’s mobile thin clients and he was very satisfied. The company’s area managers used to have desktop thin clients,  which meant they spent a lot of time tied to their desks. He considered traditional notebooks, but decided against them because of cost, maintenance and potential security issues. He said he no longer really worries about one of his managers losing a thin client because he knows none of the company’s sensitive information will fall into the wrong hands. In terms of maintenance, his team can update the virtual machines without any downtime.

In an HP media release, Malm was quoted as saying: These reliable and secure mobile devices allow our area managers to spend more quality time face to face with our growing team of restaurant managers. The area managers also enjoy the enhanced user experience, while IT benefits from the cost-efficiency savings.”

HP bundles a number of remote management tools with its thin clients that allow IT managers to easily mange the thin clients.

To learn more about HP thin clients, visit HP’s Thin Client page.

Here’s a video with an explanation of the new ProBook series. The ProBook in this video is a 15″ model, which is larger than the HP 4410t.

HP 4410t Mobile Thin Client Introduced is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

HP (HPQ)introduced a new line of affordable notebooks aimed at value-concious business users. The HP ProBook series will come in three sizes and start at just $529. I got a chance to sit down with Sarah Bussell, HP’s business notebook product manager to take a look at the ProBook lineup and shot a quick video.

The HP ProBook series doesn’t have a lot of the high-end features found in HP’s EliteBook line, but small businesses will get everything most users need  along with a hint of style.

The ProBook S-series notebooks will be available in black and merlot. The black version is glossy, while the merlot version has a matte finish. The merlot color scheme is attractive and offers a hint of style without trying to grab too much attention.

Business users will appreciate the 15.6″ ProBook’s keyboard layout, which includes a numeric keypad.

The HP ProBook will be available in three sizes:

HP ProBook 4410s and HP ProBook 4415s — Feature a 14-inch diagonal 16:9 HD widescreen LED backlight display, optional HP Mobile Broadband connectivity with built-in Gobi technology or standard Wi-Fi certified and optional integrated Bluetooth wireless technology. Incorporates an HDMI port to connect to HD displays, and include Intel (4410s) or AMD (4415s) processors.

HP ProBook 4510s and HP ProBook 4515s — Offer a 15.6-inch diagonal 16:9 HD widescreen LED backlight display and optional HP Mobile Broadband connectivity with built-in Gobi technology or standard Wi-Fi certified and optional integrated Bluetooth wireless technology. The notebooks include a choice of Intel (4510s) or AMD (4515s) processors and choice of discrete or UMA graphics.

HP ProBook 4710s — Features a 17.3-inch diagonal HD widescreen display, the largest of the lineup. For more graphics-intensive environments, the notebook includes the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330, with up to 512 megabytes of GDDR2 for video memory. It also features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors.

Press release from HP:

Blending Business Chic with Affordability, HP Unveils HP ProBook Notebook PC Line

HP today announced a new brand of affordable notebook PCs that merge business functionality with sophisticated design to stand out from the crowd.

The HP ProBook series joins the award-winning HP EliteBook series to form one of the most versatile business notebook portfolios in the industry. Inspired by minimalism, the design of the new HP ProBook series combines matte and glossy surfaces while stripping out the extraneous, leaving only a stylish and clean look.

Distinguished by a choice of merlot or glossy noir finishes, a unique keyboard design and a set of professional innovations previously found only on higher-priced models, the HP ProBook series delivers HP’s best combination of business features, functionality and value.

The stunning HP ProBook s-series delivers exceptional style and aggressive pricing that will captivate small and medium business users,” said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. But it’s not just about good looks or low cost, the HP ProBooks deliver the right blend of features and professional innovations to provide a great user experience.”

The standard series (s-series) of the new HP ProBook models incorporate a mercury-free design, and features high-definition (HD)(1) LED backlit displays in a choice of 14-inch, 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch diagonal widescreen sizes.

The keyboard’s innovative layout provides a visually open and spacious keyboard with keys raised from the surface. Usability is the same as with traditional keyboards and the raised surface means fewer places for dirt and dust to hide making it easy to clean and more maintenance free than ever before.

Select HP ProBook models incorporate the latest in wireless connectivity with HP Mobile Broadband. Built-in Qualcomm Gobi technology enables HP notebooks to use a single module, the HP un2400, to support multiple mobile broadband network technologies and mobile operators.(2) This increases users’ international roaming options and offers greater choice and flexibility in choosing a mobile data plan.

In addition to Microsoft® Windows® operating system offerings, select HP ProBook s-series models will offer Novell SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 preinstalled. SuSE Linux is an easy-to-use open source operating system that gives users the connectivity, usability and features they expect.

HP Professional Innovations included on the ProBook s-series include HP QuickLook 2 software, which provides access to e-mail, calendar, task and contact information within seconds at the touch of a button.(3) The HP SpareKey feature addresses the hassle of forgotten passwords by using a sequence of three predetermined personal identification questions to gain immediate entry into the system.(4) For added data security, File Sanitizer for HP Protect Tools permanently deletes individual files, folders and personally identifiable information from the notebook, which also allows customers to recycle the notebook with confidence that their business data has been removed.

Designed for recyclability, the ProBook s-series has been engineered for reduced impact on the environment by eliminating or reducing substances of concern, using fewer resources and reducing energy consumption.

The entire HP ProBook portfolio holds an Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT®) silver rating and is ENERGY STAR® qualified for energy savings. HP ProBook models configured with the Microsoft Windows operating system include a power management capability to save energy by automatically switching the PC into a low-power mode after a period of inactivity. Energy-saving HP Smart AC Adapters allow the notebooks to automatically make power adjustments as needed. Additionally, more than 90 percent of HP notebook PCs (by weight) are recyclable or recoverable (do not go to a landfill).

Infusing style into everyday business

The HP ProBook s-series includes:

HP ProBook 4410s and HP ProBook 4415s Feature a 14-inch diagonal 16:9 HD widescreen LED backlight display, integrated optical drive with Blu-ray option(5) and choice of ATI Mobility Radeonâ„¢ HD 4330 or Intel® GMA X4500 HD graphics controller. Wireless connectivity includes standard Wi-Fi certified WLAN(6) and optional integrated Bluetooth® wireless technology.(5) The notebooks also incorporate an HDMI port to connect to HD displays, and include Intel (4410s) or AMD (4415s) processors to offer a variety of options for mobility and longer battery life.

HP ProBook 4510s and HP ProBook 4515s Offer a 15.6-inch diagonal 16:9 HD widescreen LED backlight display. Customers can select the optional HP Mobile Broadband connectivity with built-in Gobi technology,(2) while standard Wi-Fi certified WLAN(6) and optional integrated Bluetooth wireless technology(5) round out the wireless connectivity technologies. They also feature an integrated numeric keypad. The notebooks include a choice of Intel (4510s) or AMD (4515s) processors to meet high demands for performance and connectivity and choice of discrete or UMA graphics. There is also an integrated numeric keypad on the 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch models.

HP ProBook 4710s Features a 17.3-inch diagonal HD widescreen display, the largest of the lineup. For more graphics-intensive environments, the notebook includes the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330, with up to 512 megabytes of GDDR2 for video memory. It also features the latest Intel Coreâ„¢ 2 Duo processors. Wireless connectivity includes standard Wi-Fi certified WLAN(6) and optional integrated Bluetooth wireless technology.(5) The notebook incorporates a HDMI port to connect to HD displays, as well as an integrated numeric keypad.

The HP USB 2.0 Docking Station is a compatible accessory for the HP ProBook s-series. In just one step, users are connected to their keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer and other accessories, and they are able to get video, audio, network connectivity and up to four universal serial bus (USB) connected devices working at the same time.

Pricing and availability(7)

Estimated starting U.S. street pricing begins at $529. Notebook availability varies by region. Merlot color option is available only on 14-inch and 15.6-inch models and is expected to be available in June. The HP USB 2.0 Docking Station is available now for $139.

HP is extending its recently announced zero percent financing promotions that make it simple and affordable for small businesses to continue investing in the technology that can help them increase efficiency and grow their businesses. Offered through HP Financial Services, the company’s asset management services and leasing subsidiary, the two promotions provide customers the choice to either lease or own products.

More information about the HP ProBook s-series product specifications, images and other HP mobility solutions is available in an online press kit at http://www.hp.com/go/mobility2009 or at http://www.hp.com/personal.

HP ProBook Notebooks Introduced (video) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.