Windows 7 Install window - are you ready?

Depending on how you acquire/receive Windows 7, either by downloading through Microsoft subscription services such as MSDN or TechNet or through a retail purchase on DVD, there are a number of ways you can get it installed on your PC. If you downloaded Windows 7, you can burn the ISO file, which is a replica of a disk image that contains the operating system to a blank DVD or you can install from the image itself by using a free utility such as CloneDrive or Daemon Tools that mounts the ISO file as a virtual disk. My installation was done from a physical DVD since that replicates a real world scenario, in a future post, I’ll take a look at burning the ISO file.

Note: Microsoft recently launched a special Student Upgrade program, which allows students with a valid .edu account to purchase Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional Upgrade versions for $30. You have a choice of downloading the operating system or purchasing it on physical DVD for $13. To learn more about the program, click here

Windows 7 Copying Temporary Files and Starting the Install Process.

Beginning Setup

To begin the installation, click the Install Now button on the Install Windows window. If the Install Windows does not appear on screen, click Start > Computer > open the Windows 7 dvd, and double click file Setup.exe then click Install Now. Setup will start copying temporary files that assist the installation of the operating system. If you have installed Windows Vista before, the procedure is pretty much identical. Please note, that I started my installation from within a running installation of Windows Vista SP1. If you are doing a clean install, you could also boot from your Windows 7 disk and proceed with installation just the same. If you are planning on upgrading from Windows Vista SP1, you must launch Windows 7 setup from within a running installation of Windows Vista SP1.

You have the option of obtaining necessary drivers and software patches before installing.

Before Windows 7 starts copying Windows files to disk, you can check Windows Update for any important files and hardware drivers that might make the installation go as smooth as possible. It is always recommended you do so to prevent unexpected problems with incompatible hardware and software. Next you accept the Windows 7 End User License Agreement.

Windows 7 provides multiple options for installing.

Choosing your installation:

You have multiple ways of Installing Windows 7, you can do an upgrade from an existing version/edition of Windows such as Windows Vista SP1. Custom Install features advanced options that allows you to select a partition that you have created to install the OS on. In addition to that you can choose to do a clean install of Windows 7 which will remove any data currently stored on the disk you plan to install Windows. In my case, I have created a dedicated partition to install Windows 7 on. Learn more about Windows 7 upgrade paths here

Phases that the Windows 7 installation goes through.

Installing Windows

Windows will now begin copying files and restart several times during installation. A clean Windows 7 Installation goes through a series of steps which include:

• Copying Windows files
• Expanding Windows files
• Installing Updates
• Completing installation

The time it takes will vary depending on certain factors such as the performance of your PC: Processor speed, memory and disk speed. I installed Windows 7 on a system with a Intel Core 2 Quad 2.5 GHz processor, 2 GBs of RAM. Installation took approximately 14 mins and 30 seconds. During this phase, Windows 7 will restart several times, apply registry settings and test your video hardware performance.

Post installation Task (OOBE)

Out of Box Experience (OOBE)

Once Windows 7 has completed installation, you are taken to the OOBE, which consist of post installation task such as setting up a user account, entering a product key for the edition of Windows 7 you installed, choosing your Time Zone and joining a network. After these quick task have been completed, Windows 7 applies settings and prepares to load the Desktop for the first time.

Startup and Log in Screen

There you have it, you have successfully installed Windows 7. The installation process will of course vary across many systems, but my experience so far installing the OS on two systems has been a smooth one. I have put together a list of things you should take into account before installing or upgrading to Windows 7.

• You have two choices, you can either upgrade from Windows Vista SP1 by launching setup from within Windows  and choose the upgrade option during the installation wizard; (Windows 7 requires that you have a minimum 16 GB’s of free disk space before upgrading). Note: Upgrades are not supported for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition at all; Windows 7 x64 requires a clean installation. Users of Windows Vista SP1 x64 can do in place upgrades to Windows 7 x64.
• Get Religion: Backup, Backup, Backup!As Murphy Law states, if it can go wrong, it will. Upgrading is a very complex process and there are often cases of failed upgrades from older versions of Windows. Causes can include, power outage during installation, hardware or application conflict. This is why you should always back up”, it’s better to be inconvenienced than having to start all over from scratch.
• If you are upgrading/clean install, disable any external or USB based devices you might have attached to the computer. Also, disable any Security software before launching setup and ensure that you meet the minimum system requirements for Windows 7.

  - 1 GHz processor (32-bit or 64-bit)

  - 1 GB of system memory (2 GBs for 64 bit)

  - 16 GBs of disk space (20 GBs for 64 bit) Windows 7 uses approximately 10.5 GBs of disk space.

  - DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB of memory (WDDM 1.0 or 1.1 driver) – this is important if you want Windows Aero Glass user experience.

  - DVD Drive

  - DVD Burner and Internet access (if you do a digital download Windows 7)

  - Technical know how to burn an ISO file to make an install DVD.

• You cannot uninstall Windows 7, if you need to use XP or Vista, you will have to reinstall it. If you are uncertain about upgrading to Windows 7, it’s always best to do a dual boot installation by installing Windows 7 on a logical partition or another hard disk. This option can be done during setup, simply click Custom (Advanced) and select the other partition you created to test Windows 7.
• Some of my devices and applications are not working, what should I do?If your Internet connection is working in Windows 7, I suggest you try obtaining the drivers through Windows Update. Click Start > All Programs > Windows Update > Turn on Windows Update. A list of available updates will then be downloaded, you will have the option to view them, do so and check off the appropriate drivers or software patches you need and click Install. You can also check the manufacturer’s website for patches, updated drivers or to simply find out about Windows 7 support for the particular product.For software, if you are running Windows 7 x64, certain types of applications will not work; these include Win16 applications and Win32 applications that use Win16 installers. You can also try running the application in Compatibility mode to see if it will work (full 32-bit application applications supported). Right click the programs executable > click Properties > Compatibility” tab > under Compatibility Mode” check the Run this application in compatibility mode for: box > click in the list box and choose a suitable version of Windows.

  Learn more: Windows XP Mode for Windows 7Certain applications might encounter problems with the User Account Control security component in Windows 7 because the application was designed to run with Administrative privileges. You can try a work around by, right clicking the applications executable and click Run as Administrator” on the context menu.

Resources:

Windows 7 Enterprise RTM 90 Trial Evaluation

Windows 7 editions

Windows 7 system requirement

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Purchase Windows 7 from the Microsoft Store

How to install Windows 7 is a post by Andre from Notebooks.com.

HP’s TouchSmart tx2 is the first consumer Tablet PC with a multi-touch display, which enables users to control the computer using gestures. The TouchSmart tx2 is available for order starting today for $1,149

.

The TouchSmart tx2 is an improvement over HP’s previous tablet, the Pavilion tx2500z. The tx2500z does include a touchscreen, but you can only use one finger at time. The new capacitive touch is a really big deal and if you’re considering a tx-series tablet you should ignore the tx2500z, which is still being offered by retailers and on HP’s Web site, and opt for the tx2.

Check out the below HP promo video to get a sense of what multi-touch means. If you’re an iPod Touch/iPhone owner you’ll feel right at home with the tx2. While in tablet mode you can write on the tx2′s display with the included digitizer.

The TouchSmart tx2′s interface is similar to the HP’s desktop TouchSmarts that I first played with back in June. I wondered when we’d see it on a tablet and am really happy that HP’s offering similar features in a mobile package.

I recommend the TouchSmart x2 as long as you’re certain you’ll use the tablet and touchscreen functionality. If you don’t plan on using the digitizer on a regular basis I recommend looking at a traditional notebook.

TouchSmart tx2 Display

The Touchsmart TX2′s 12.1-inch display (1280×800 pixels) is on the small side and I recommend using an external display if you’re going to use it for a long period of time. HP does sell several port replicators and docking solutions that are compatible with the TX2.

The display swivels 180-degrees and can fold down into tablet mode, making it easier to use with the digitizer and while standing.

TouchSmart tx2 Dimensions:

HP TouchSmart TX2 has a starting weight of 4.33 pounds with a standard 4-cell battery and the plastic weightsaver in place of the DVD/RW drive.

TouchSmart tx2 Battery Life

HP’s standard configuration for the TX2 seems to include a 6-cell battery, which will add a few ounces to the equation, but the extra juice is well worth it. The TX2 shares many of the same components with the tx2xxx series and battery life has been less than impressive on this series. When I carry my tx2000z I always carry an extra battery.

TouchSmart tx2 processor

The TouchSmart TX2 comes with AMD Turion processors. The base configuration includes an AMD Turion ZM 72 (2.1GHz/1MB) L2 Cache processor. I recommend spending the extra $75 to upgrade to the AMD Turion ZM 82 (2.2GHz/2MB L2 Cache) processor.

TouchsMart tx2 Memory

The TouchSmart TX2 comes with 3GB RAM standard, which is the most 32-bit Vista will recognize. If you opt the 64-bit version of Vista you can go nuts and order 8GB of memory for $725. Obviously loading up a $1,149 notebook with $725 worth of RAM doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The $75 4GB option is more than adequate.

HP TouchSmart tx2 Hard Drive

The TX2 comes with a 5400RPM drive with a choice of 160GB, 250GB, 320GB, 400GB or 500GB capacities.

HP TouchSmart TX2 Specifications:

HP TouchSmart TX2: First Consumer Multitouch Tablet (first thoughts, pricing, video demo) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

The Portégé A605 weighs in at 3.3 pounds, has a 12.1-inch display and is 1.18 inches thick. Toshiba managed to squeeze an optical drive into the Portégé A605. The ULV processor is one of the reasons the Portégé A605 can deliver a 6.9 hour battery life, which is very good for a consumer notebook.

The base price of the Portégé A605 is $1,399, which includes 3GB of memory, 250GB hard drive, a DVD burner, Windows Vista Ultimate, Web camand an Ultra-low voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Toshiba also included a few professional features like keyboard spill protection, hard drive protection and a fingerprint reader.

If battery life and portablility are a priority to you the Portégé A605 is probably worth a look.

Toshiba Portégé A605 Notebook Introduced is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

The 15-inch dv5t special edition is available starting at $949 and is decorated with the HP Renewal Imprint Finish, a design HP says is “inspired by new leaves on branches symbolizing rejuvenation and growth.” The Intel based dv5tse is available direct from HP and can be customized to order with a Blu-ray drive and up to a 400GB hard drive.





The 14-inch dv4t special edition notebook starts at $1,099 and is wrapped in HP’s Intensity imprint finish which has a wave theme. An AMD based version called the dv5z special edition will be available form at Best Buy for $1,099.





As always, HP’s done an excellent job in designing these special edition notebooks. Instead of just decorating the lid of the notebooks or slapping a special edition logo on the palm rest as some of its competitors do, HP’s covered just about every surface with the personalized designs. The pattern extends onto the front of the display, palm rest, trackpad and even the keyboard. HP’s finished off the look by manufacturing custom cases and mice to match the special edition notebooks.

The base configurations of the dv5tse and dv4tse include the infinity display and have faster processors than the base configurations of the standard models. Special edition dv5tse and dv4se carry a $150 premium compared to standard edition notebooks with identical specs.

dv5tse Product Page
dv4tse Product Page

I haven’t had a chance to spend any time with the dv4tse or dv5tse, but I’m sure they’ll be as impressive in person as previous special edition Pavilions like Asian Odyssey and the dv6885se, which I’ve been using on and off over the past several months.

The dv6885se special edition has a copper imprint finish called “Thrive” that looks great and always often draws compliments when its out in public. Like the latest special edition Pavilions, the dv6885se has an available matching mouse and case.  You can see a few snapshots I took of the Thrive special edition notebook in the bottom half of the below gallery.

HP dv4 and dv5 Pavilion Special Edition Notebooks Released is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

I’m really glad HP introduced a 13.3-inch notebook- until now the smallest standard notebook the company sold was the 14.1-inch dv4, if you wanted anything smaller from HP your only option was the tx2500-series convertible tablet.

The HP Pavilion dv3500t is now available direct from HP for as low as $899.

If you’re tired of breaking your back lugging around a heavy notebook you should definitely consider a 13.3-inch notebook like the dv3500t for your next notebook. With a full-size keyboard and decent-sized screen, the form factor is a happy medium between smaller notebooks that can feel cramped and mainstream notebooks.

The dv3500t weighs about four pounds and is relatively thin, making it a viable option for users that are always on the go or who travel frequently. A weight-saver is included so you can pop out the DVD burner to lighten your load.

The Pavilion dv3500t has a slick bronze imprint design HP calls “Intersect.” Like the rest of the HP Pavilion notebooks, the dv3500t’s imprint design covers the entire notebook, rather than just the lid as some of its competitors. The design looks great in person, but I can understand if not everyone admires it. It’s almost certain that HP will release other designs and colors.

It shares a lot of features and parts with other notebooks in the HP Pavilion lineup, but two features really caught my eye. For $25 extra the dv3500t can be configured with a back-lit keyboard for $25 and is something I wish HP would offer on all of its Pavilion notebooks. The back-lit keyboard adds a touch of class to the dv3500t and makes it a heck of a lot easier to punch at the keyboard in low-light situations. The other option I strongly suggest if your budget allows for it is the LED BrightView display, which is more power efficient and lighter-weight.

At $999, the dv3500t’s starting price is higher than many mainstream notebooks including the HP Pavilion dv4 and dv5. But it’s actually cheaper than comparably equipped dv4 and dv5 notebooks. Unlike the dv4 and dv5, the dv3500t comes standard with a 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS GPU for improved graphics performance, while similar graphics are about a $150 option on the bigger notebooks. The Pavilion dv3500t base configuration includes 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The dv3500t can be customized with up to 8GB of RAM (Windows Vista 64-bit OS required) and a 400GB hard drive.

The HP Pavilion dv3500t is now available direct from HP for as low as $899.

HP put together a very flashy promo for the dv3500t (below) that shows off a few of the dv3500t’s highlights.

The dv3500t comes standard with a DVD burner, fingerprint reader, webcam, and remote control. For more info, visit HPShopping.com.

HP Pavilion dv3500t: HP's First 13.3-inch Notebook is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

The 2530p feels extremely solid and I really like some of the features HP’s loaded into this thing. At the top of the 12.1-inch LED display is a 2MP Webcam that can be used to scan business cards into Outlook.

One thing I liked about the 2530p is how its extended batteries fit at the rear of the notebook without raking the base of the notebook.

Like the rest of the EliteBook line, the 2530p has an ultradurable case that’s scratch resistant.

The EliteBook 2530p will start at $1599.

HP EliteBook 2530p – Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: HP EliteBook 2530p

HP EliteBook 2530p Notebook PC LIGHTEN YOUR WORKLOAD. Smallest and lightest HP Business Notebook PC HP recommends Windows Vista® Business With a starting weight of just 3.19 lb /1.45 kg, the HP EliteBook 2530p Notebook PC meets the military standard MIL-STD 810F for tests including dust and high temperature17 and keeps you going without weighing you down. Keeps the ultra mobile—ultra-productive Strengthen security measures and remotely monitor, diagnose, and repair PCs over the network with Intel® Centrino® 2 with vProâ„¢ technology.11 The HP EliteBook 2530p also gives you flexible solutions that work best for you: 1.8-inch or 2.5-inch hard drive, and Intel® Coreâ„¢ 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage2 (ULV) or Low Voltage (LV) processor. With two memory slots, you can increase your system’s performance, enabling a quicker boot-up and the ability to run multiple programs simultaneously. Empower your business Benefit from the mercury-free, 12.1-inch diagonal widescreen HP Illumi-Lite LED display which is lighter and more energy-efficient than standard CCFL display technology. The HP EliteBook 2530p also offers three flexible battery solutions for lightest weight configurations or all-day computing.18 Enjoy wireless in more places Whether you’re across the street or across the country, integrated HP Mobile Broadband, Gobi technology, 4 Wi-Fi CERTIFIEDâ„¢ WLAN5 and Bluetooth® help you stay connected in more places. You also get the flexibility to add HP Mobile Broadband at a later date. HP Professional Innovations help you focus on your business Built to last. Enhanced reliability features such as HP DuraCase, HP DuraKeys, HP DuraFinish, and HP 3D DriveGuard give you a durable device so your notebook can go the distance.17 Built to simplify. Boost your productivity while maximizing ease of use. The 2 MP Webcam with Business Card Reader software means you will never forget a name, e-mail or phone number. The webcam is also perfect for video, web conferencing, and VoIP.19 Built to protect. HP ProtectTools provides an array of multi-layered, customizable security solutions help defend your network, your applications, and your data. HP eliteBook 2530p Notebook PC HP recommends Windows Vista® Business Operating system Preinstalled: Genuine Windows Vista® Business 321 Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic1 Genuine Windows Vista® Business with downgrade to Windows® XP Professional custom installed1,13 FreeDOS Supported: Genuine Windows Vista Enterprise Certified: SuSe Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 Processor Chipset Memory Internal storage7 Removable media Display Graphics Audio Wireless support4,5,6 Communications Expansion slots Ports and connectors Input devices Manageability Security 8, 14 Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage (1.2 GHz, 3MB L2 cache)2 or Low Voltage (up to 1.86 GHz, 6 MB L2 cache) Mobile Intel® GS45 Express Chipset ICH9M-Enhanced (supports Intel® Centrino® 2 with vProâ„¢ technology)11 DDR2 SDRAM, 800 MHz, two slots supporting dual channel memory,15 1024/2048/4096 MB SODIMMs, up to 8192 MB total 80/120 GB 5400 rpm1.8-inch SATA hard drive, 120 GB 5400 rpm 2.5-inch SATA hard drive, or 160 GB 7200 rpm 2.5-inch SATA hard drive (with HP 3D DriveGuard); 80 GB Solid State Drive Fixed 9.5 mm SATA optical drive (available only with 1.8-inch hard drive): DVD+/ RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe,3 DVD-ROM 12.1-inch diagonal Illumi-Lite WXGA (1280 × 800) Mobile Intel GMA X4500 HD, up to 384 MB of shared system memory High Definition Audio, integrated speaker, stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, integrated dual-microphone array Optional HP un2400 EV-DO/HSPA Mobile Broadband Module (requires mobile network operator service); Intel 802.11a/b/g/draft-n, Broadcom 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n, a/b/g; Bluetoothâ„¢ 2.0, HP Wireless Assistant Intel Gigabit Network Connection9 (10/100/1000 NIC), 56K v.92 modem 1 ExpressCard/54 slot, Secure Digital slot 2 USB 2.0 ports (third USB available with 2.5-inch hard drive), VGA, stereo microphone in, stereo headphone/line out, 1394a, power connector, RJ-11/modem, RJ-45/ethernet, docking connector for HP 2400/2500 Ultra-Light Docking Station Full-sized keyboard, enhanced dual pointing devices (touchpad and pointstick) with scroll zone, optional 2 MP Webcam12 with Business Card Reader Software Intel® Centrino® 2 with vPro technology capable,11 HP Recovery Manager, HP Client Manager Software, HP Client Configuration Management Agent Standard: HP ProtectTools, TPM Embedded Security Chip 1.2, Enhanced Pre-Boot Security, HP Spare Key, HP Disk Sanitizer, Enhanced Drive Lock, HP Fingerprint Sensor, Drive Encryption for HP ProtectTools, Credential Manager for HP ProtectTools, File Sanitizer for HP ProtectTools Optional: Smart Card Reader,12 Kensington lock, HP Privacy Filter, McAfee Security Solution16 0.99 in (at front) x 11.11 in x 8.44 in / 25.2 mm (at front) x 282.3 mm x 214.3 mm Starting at: 3.19 lb / 1.45 kg (weight will vary by configuration) 9-cell (83 WHr), 6-cell (55 WHr), or 3-cell (31 WHr) Lithium-Ion battery, 65W HP Smart AC Adapter, HP Fast Charge10 HP 2400/2500 Ultra-Light Docking Station, External MultiBay II, HP Monitor Stand, HP Adjustable Notebook Stand Limited 3-year,1-year and 90-day warranty options available depending on country, 1-year limited warranty on primary battery. Optional HP Care Pack Services are extended service contracts which go beyond your standard warranties. For more details visit: http://www.hp.com/go/lookuptool. Dimensions (h × w × d) Weight Power Expansion solutions12 Warranty HP EliteBook 2530p Notebook PC HP recommends Windows Vista® Business HP Night Light 2 MP Webcam with Business Card Reader software (optional) 12.1-inch diagonal widescreen HP Illumi-Lite LED display Touch-sensitive controls HP DuraKeys Dual-pointing devices (touchpad with scroll zone and pointstick) HP DuraFinish HP Fingerprint Sensor HP eliteBook 2530p Notebook PC HP recommends Windows Vista® Business 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Certain Windows Vista product features require advanced or additional hardware. See www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/hardwarereqs.mspx and www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx for details. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine which features of Windows Vista will run on your computer. To download the tool, visit www.windowsvista.com/upgradeadvisor. Du
al Core is a new technology d
esigned to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. 64-bit computing on Intel architecture requires a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, operating system, device drivers and applications enabled for Intel® 64 architecture. Processors will not operate (including 32-bit operation) without an Intel 64 architecture-enabled BIOS. Performance will vary depending on your hardware and software configurations. See www.intel.com/info/em64t for more information. Do not copy copy-right protected materials. Double Layer discs can store more data than single layer discs. Double-layer discs burned with this drive may not be compatible with many existing single-layer DVD drives and players. LightScribe creates a monochrome image. LightScribe media required and sold separately. Note that DVD-RAM cannot read or write to 2.6 GB Single Sided/5.2 GB Double Sided Version 1.0 media. Wireless broadband and Gobi technology use requires separately purchased service contract. Check with service provider for availability and coverage in your area. Available in select countries only. WiFi access point and Internet service required and not included. Availability of public wireless access points limited. The specifications for the 802.11n WLAN are draft specifications and are not final. If the final specifications differ from the draft specifications, it may affect the ability of the notebook to communicate with other 802.11n WLAN devices. For hard drives, GB = 1 billion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. Up to 8 GB (for XP) and 10 GB (for Vista) of system disk is reserved for the system recovery software. Shared video memory (UMA) uses part of the total system memory for video performance. System memory dedicated to video performance is not available for other use by programs. The term “10/100/1000″ or “Gigabit” Ethernet indicates compliance with IEEE standard 802.3ab for Gigabit Ethernet, and does not connote actual operating speed of 1 Gb/sec. For high speed transmission, connection to a Gigabit Ethernet server and network infrastructure is required. Fast Charge technology recharges your battery up to 90% within 90 minutes when the system is off. Fast Charge does not apply to 9-cell battery. Select models only. Some functionality of Intel Centrino Pro and vPro, such as Intel Active management technology and Intel Virtualization technology, requires additional 3rd party software in order to run. Availability of future “virtual appliances” applications for Centrino Pro and vPro technology is dependant on 3rd party software providers. Compatibility with future “virtual appliances” and Microsoft Windows Vista operating system is yet to be determined. Sold separately or purchased as an optional feature. Windows Vista Business disk may be included for future upgrade if desired. To qualify for this downgrade an end user must be a business (including governmental or educational institutions) and is expected to order at least 25 customer systems with the same custom image. HD content required to view HD images. Dual Channel is only supported when the system is configured with DDR2 symmetric memory (ie: 2×256). 60 day trial period. Internet access required to receive updates. First update included. Subscription required for updates thereafter. This McAfee Total Protection for Small Business software is licensed to you by McAfee under the terms of the McAfee end user license agreement which can be read at www.mcafee.com. Testing was not intended to demonstrate fitness for DOD contracts requirements or for military use. Test results are not a guarantee of future performance under these test conditions. Battery life will vary depending on the product model, configuration, loaded applications, features, & power management settings. The maximum capacity of the battery will decrease with time and usage.’ Wireless Internet and VoIP require separately purchased service contracts. © 2008 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. Bluetooth is a trademark of its proprietor and used by Hewlett-Packard Company under license. Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Windows Vista is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries Intel and Core are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. To learn more, visit www.hp.com September 2008

HP EliteBook 2530p Announced (video) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

]]> http://notebooks.com/2008/08/18/hp-elitebook-2530p-announced-video/feed/ 18 http://notebooks.com/2008/08/17/hp-2730p-hp-tablet-updated-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hp-2730p-hp-tablet-updated-video http://notebooks.com/2008/08/17/hp-2730p-hp-tablet-updated-video/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:09:28 +0000 Xavier Lanier http://www.notebooks.com/?p=2415 HP's officially introduced the 2730p business tablet in the U.S. The 2730p improves on the 2710p, with faster processors and more friendly user controls. HP's Kyle Thorton gives a quick demo of the 2730p in the following video.

HP 2730p: HP Tablet Updated (video) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

]]> HP’s officially introduced the EliteBook 2730p business tablet in the U.S. The 2730p improves on the 2710p, with faster processors and more friendly user controls. HP’s Kyle Thornton gives a quick demo of the 2730p in the following video.

The 2710p was introduced last year and while it had several innovative features, some users complained about its lack of a touchpad and jog dial. The 2730p has both and a system that makes it harder to lose your stylus.

You can now chose between an Intel Core 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage (1.2GHz 3MB L2 cache)processor or a much speedier Intel Core 2 Duo Low Voltage processor (1.83GHz, 6MB L2 cache).

The 2730p can be configured with either an 80GB or 120GB hard drive. An 80GB solid state drive is also available.

The 2730p still utilizes the slice battery and docking solution as the 2710p, which you can see in the below video.

The HP 2730p is available with Windows Vista Business edition and with a downgrade to Windows XP Tablet Edition.

Full 2730p specs:

HP EliteBook 2730p – Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: HP EliteBook 2730p

HP EliteBook 2730p Notebook PC PRODUCTIVITY WITH A TWIST. Ultra-thin convertible tablet in an innovative design HP recommends Windows Vista® Business Starting at only 3.7 lb /1.7 kg and 1.11 in/28.2 mm thin, the HP EliteBook 2730p Notebook PC offers you the functionality of a notebook plus the flexibility of a tablet. Redefining what you can do on the go New low-voltage processors and 5400 RPM drives increase system performance in a lightweight package. Easily scroll through documents and web pages with the new jog dial and the enhanced dual pointing devices. The 2 MP Webcam12 with Business Card Reader software means you will never forget a name, e-mail or phone number. Use the HP 2700 Ultra-Slim Expansion Base with integrated DVD+/-RW drive as a docking station in the office, or take it with you while on the go. Whether you’re across the street or across the country, integrated HP Mobile Broadband,4 Gobi technology,4 Wi-Fi CERTIFIEDâ„¢ WLAN5 and Bluetooth® help you stay connected in more places. You also get the flexibility to add HP Mobile Broadband at a later date. Unique widescreen display and writing surface Benefit from the mercury-free, 12.1-inch diagonal widescreen HP Illumi-Lite LED display which is lighter and more energy-efficient than standard CCFL display technology. Work better in bright light conditions with the optional outdoor view display. The chemically-strengthened glass top will not wear down with repetitive use and resists the effects of “pooling.” HP Professional Innovations help you focus on your business Built to last. Enhanced reliability features including HP DuraKeys, HP 3D DriveGuard, and full magnesium alloy chassis give you a durable device that has been tested and meets the military standard MIL-STD 810F for tests including dust, altitude and high temperature.17 Built to simplify. Boost your productivity while maximizing ease of use. HP QuickLook 2 allows you to access email, calendar, task and contact information in seconds at the touch of a button from off without having to wait for your system to boot up.18 Built to protect. An array of multi-layered, customizable security solutions help defend your network, your applications, and your data. HP eliteBook 2730p Notebook PC HP recommends Windows Vista® Business Operating system Preinstalled: Genuine Windows Vista® Business 321 Genuine Windows Vista® Business with downgrade to Windows® XP Tablet Edition custom installed1,13 FreeDOS Supported: Genuine Windows Vista Enterprise Certified: SuSe Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 Processor Chipset Memory Internal storage7 Removable media Display Graphics8, 14 Audio Wireless support4,5,6 Communications Expansion slots Ports and connectors Input devices Manageability Security Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage (up to 1.2 GHz, 3 MB L2 cache) or Low Voltage (up to 1.86 GHz, 6 MB L2 cache)2 Mobile Intel® GS45 Express Chipset ICH9M-Enhanced (supports Intel® Centrino® 2 with vProâ„¢ technology)11 DDR2 SDRAM, 800 MHz, two slots supporting dual channel memory,15 1024/2048/4096 MB SODIMMs, up to 8192 MB total (systems with ULV processors run at a maximum of 667 MHz with 800 MHz memory modules) 80/120 GB 5400 rpm 1.8-inch SATA hard drive (with HP 3D DriveGuard); 80 GB Solid State Drive Optional fixed 7-mm DVD+/–RW SuperMulti DL Drive available for HP 2700 Ultra-Slim Expansion Base 12.1-inch diagonal Illumi-Lite WXGA with Digitizer (1280 × 800), 12.1-inch diagonal Illumi-Lite WXGA with Digitizer and Outdoor View (1280 × 800) Mobile Intel GMA X4500 HD, up to 384 MB of shared system memory High Definition Audio, integrated speaker, stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, integrated dual-microphone array Optional HP un2400 EV-DO/HSPA Mobile Broadband Module (requires mobile network operator service); Intel 802.11a/b/g/draft-n, Broadcom 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n; Bluetoothâ„¢ 2.0, HP Wireless Assistant Intel Gigabit Network Connection9 (10/100/1000 NIC), 56K v.92 modem 1 ExpressCard/54 slot, Secure Digital slot 2 USB 2.0 ports, VGA, stereo microphone in, stereo headphone/line out, 1394a, power connector, RJ-11/modem, RJ-45/ethernet, docking connector for HP 2700 Ultra-Slim Expansion Base Full-sized keyboard, enhanced dual pointing devices (touchpad and pointstick) with scroll zone, digital eraser pen, Jog dial, optional 2 MP Webcam12 with Business Card Reader Software Intel® Centrino® 2 with vPro technology capable,11 HP Recovery Manager (Windows Vista only), HP Client Manager Software, HP Client Configuration Management Agent Standard: HP ProtectTools, TPM Embedded Security Chip 1.2, Enhanced Pre-Boot Security, HP Spare Key, HP Disk Sanitizer, Enhanced Drive Lock, HP Fingerprint Sensor, Drive Encryption for HP ProtectTools, Credential Manager for HP ProtectTools, File Sanitizer for HP ProtectTools Optional: Smart Card Reader,12 Kensington lock, HP Privacy Filter, McAfee Security Solution16 1.11 in (at front) x 11.24 in x 8.35 in / 28.2 mm (at front) x 290.0 mm x 212.0 mm Starting at: 3.74 lb / 1.70 kg (weight will vary by configuration) 6-cell (44 WHr), optional HP 2700 Ultra-Slim Battery,12 65W HP Smart AC Adapter, HP Fast Charge10 HP 2700 Ultra-Slim Expansion Base, HP External MultiBay II Limited 3-year,1-year and 90-day warranty options available depending on country, 1-year limited warranty on primary battery. HP Care Pack Services extend service contracts which go beyond your standard warranties. For more details visit: http://www.hp.com/go/lookuptool. Dimensions (h × w × d) Weight Power Expansion solutions11 Warranty HP EliteBook 2730p Notebook PC HP recommends Windows Vista® Business 2 MP Webcam (optional) HP Night Light 12.1-inch diagonal display with chemically-strengthened glass top 95% full-size, user-friendly QWERTY keyboard with HP DuraKeys Convertible hinge Pen & holder ExpressCard/54 slot Touchpad with scroll zone HP EliteBook 2730p Notebook PC HP recommends Windows Vista® Business 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Certain Windows Vista product features require advanced or additional hardware. See www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/hardwarereqs.mspx and www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx for details. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine which features of Windows Vista will run on your computer. To download the tool, visit www.windowsvista.com/upgradeadvisor. Dual Core is a new technol
ogy designed to improv
e performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. 64-bit computing on Intel architecture requires a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, operating system, device drivers and applications enabled for Intel® 64 architecture. Processors will not operate (including 32-bit operation) without an Intel 64 architecture-enabled BIOS. Performance will vary depending on your hardware and software configurations. See www.intel.com/info/em64t for more information. Do not copy copy-right protected materials. Double Layer discs can store more data than single layer discs. Double-layer discs burned with this drive may not be compatible with many existing single-layer DVD drives and players. LightScribe creates a monochrome image. LightScribe media required and sold separately. Note that DVD-RAM cannot read or write to 2.6 GB Single Sided/5.2 GB Double Sided Version 1.0 media. Wireless access point required and is not included. Wireless broadband and Gobi technology use requires separately purchased service contract. Check with service provider for availability and coverage in your area. Available in select countries only. WiFi access point and Internet service required and not included. Availability of public wireless access points limited. The specifications for the 802.11n WLAN are draft specifications and are not final. If the final specifications differ from the draft specifications, it may affect the ability of the notebook to communicate with other 802.11n WLAN devices. For hard drives, GB = 1 billion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. Up to 8 GB (for XP) and 10 GB (for Vista) of system disk is reserved for the system recovery software. Shared video memory (UMA) uses part of the total system memory for video performance. System memory dedicated to video performance is not available for other use by programs. The term “10/100/1000″ or “Gigabit” Ethernet indicates compliance with IEEE standard 802.3ab for Gigabit Ethernet, and does not connote actual operating speed of 1 Gb/sec. For high speed transmission, connection to a Gigabit Ethernet server and network infrastructure is required. Fast Charge technology recharges your battery up to 90% within 90 minutes when the system is off. Fast Charge does not apply to Ultra-Slim battery. Select models only. Some functionality of Intel Centrino Pro and vPro, such as Intel Active management technology and Intel Virtualization technology, requires additional 3rd party software in order to run. Availability of future “virtual appliances” applications for Centrino Pro and vPro technology is dependant on 3rd party software providers. Compatibility with future “virtual appliances” and Microsoft Windows Vista operating system is yet to be determined. Sold separately or purchased as an optional feature. Windows Vista Business disk may be included for future upgrade if desired. To qualify for this downgrade an end user must be a business (including governmental or educational institutions) and is expected to order at least 25 customer systems with the same custom image. Dual Channel is only supported when the system is configured with DDR2 symmetric memory (ie: 2×256). 60 day trial period. Internet access required to receive updates. First update included. Subscription required for updates thereafter. This McAfee Total Protection for Small Business software is licensed to you by McAfee under the terms of the McAfee end user license agreement which can be read at www.mcafee.com. From sleep mode. Time will vary depending on configuration and state. Testing was not intended to demonstrate fitness for DOD contracts requirements or for military use. Test results are not a guarantee of future performance under these test conditions. HP QuickLook 2 is accessible when the notebook is off or in hibernation from Windows XP of Vista. Timings may vary depending on the system configuration. © 2008 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. Bluetooth is a trademark of its proprietor and used by Hewlett-Packard Company under license. Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Windows Vista is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Intel and Core are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. To learn more, visit www.hp.com September 2008

HP 2730p: HP Tablet Updated (video) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

]]> http://notebooks.com/2008/08/17/hp-2730p-hp-tablet-updated-video/feed/ 33 http://notebooks.com/2008/08/12/hp-elitebook-8730w-dreamcolor-goes-mobile-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hp-elitebook-8730w-dreamcolor-goes-mobile-video http://notebooks.com/2008/08/12/hp-elitebook-8730w-dreamcolor-goes-mobile-video/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:21:18 +0000 Xavier Lanier http://www.notebooks.com/?p=2399 HP's new EliteBook 8730w is a performance powerhouse with a drop-dead gorgeous 17-inch display. The DreamColor display (optional) is capable of 16,000,000 colors and is incredibly life-like compared to standard business notebook fare.

HP EliteBook 8730w: DreamColor Goes Mobile (video) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

]]> HP’s new EliteBook 8730w is a performance powerhouse with a drop-dead gorgeous 17-inch display. The DreamColor display (optional) is capable of 16,000,000 colors and is incredibly life-like compared to standard business notebook fare.

HP’s Jeremy Brody showed me a fully loaded 8730w last week and I was very impressed with the new display. In the below videos you can clearly see how much better the DreamColor display is than the EliteBook’s standard display.

The EliteBook 8730w will be available at the end of August for under $1,699 in its base configuration, which has a relatively tame Intel processors, an ATI Mobitilty FireGL V5725 GPU with 256 MB of video memory and 2GB of RAM.

Those with bigger budgets can spec the 8730w out with the DreamColor display, Blu-ray disc burner, Intel Quad-Core Extreme processors, NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M with 1 GB of video memory, a 320GB hard drive and up to 8GB of RAM. A second 320GB hard drive can be substituted for the optical drive. All of the extras can push the price of the 8730w over the $5,500 mark.

Like the rest of the EliteBook line the 8730w feels extremely solid and durable thanks to its magnesium chassis, DuraCase and DuraFinish, which makes the notebook scratch resistant.

HP EliteBook 8730p Specifications (click top-right corner to enlarge):

HP EliteBook 8730w – Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: HP EliteBook 8730w

HP EliteBook 8730w Mobile Workstation POWER TO PERFORM. Most powerful HP Mobile Workstation. HP recommends Windows Vista® Business The HP EliteBook 8730w Mobile Workstation helps you tackle the most demanding applications and keeps you mobile. Contains highly graphic material Get the broadest color support, richest visual quality, and consistently accurate results with the optional HP DreamColor display. ISV-certified workstation graphics with up to 1 GB of VRAM support OpenGL, and DirectX-10 gives you fast, precise rendering capabilities. Dual Link DVI gives you support (through optional docking) for ultrahigh resolution monitors and the eSATA port provides fast connection to an external storage device. Top performance in the office and beyond Enjoy new levels of performance with Intel® Coreâ„¢2 Extreme and quad-core mobile processors2 capable of working in a true 64-bit computing environment and 8 GB of memory capacity.17 Remotely monitor, diagnose, and repair PCs over the network with Intel® Centrino® 2 with vProâ„¢ technology.9 Easily upgrade or replace your optical with an optional secondary hard drive with the Upgrade Bay with Dual HDD Support. Having an optional second hard drive installed allows RAID 1 Mirroring or RAID 0 Striping. Full-sized keyboard with separate numeric keypad delivers desktop equivalent functionality. Work in high-definition Record, rewrite and playback high-definition (HD) video with the optional Blu-ray R/RE DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive.3, 16 The convenient HDMI port allows you to connect to HDTVs and displays.12 HP Professional Innovations help you focus on your business Built to last. Enhanced reliability features such as HP DuraCase, HP DuraKeys and HP 3D DriveGuard give you a durable device that has been tested and meets the military standard MILSTD 810F for tests including dust and altitude15 Built to simplify. Boost your productivity while maximizing ease of use. The 2 MP Webcam with Business Card Reader software means you will never forget a name, e-mail or phone number and is perfect for video, web conferencing, and VoIP.18 Built to protect. An array of multi-layered, customizable security solutions help defend your network, your applications and your data. HP EliteBook 8730w Mobile Workstation HP recommends Windows Vista® Business Operating system Preinstalled: Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate 321 Genuine Windows Vista® Business 321 Genuine Windows Vista® Business 641 Genuine Windows Vista® Business with downgrade to Windows® XP Professional custom installed 1,11 FreeDOS Supported: Genuine Windows XP Professional 32/64 Certified: SuSe Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 Processor2 Chipset Memory Internal Storage6 Upgrade Bay 3 Display Graphics Audio Wireless support4, 5 Communications Expansion slots Ports and connectors Input device Manageability Intel® Coreâ„¢2 Duo (up to 3.06 GHz, 6 MB L2 cache) or Intel Coreâ„¢2 quad-core mobile processors Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset ICH9M-Enhanced (supports Intel® Centrino® 2 with vProâ„¢ technology)9 DDR2 SDRAM, 800 MHz, two slots supporting dual channel memory,13 1024/2048/4096 MB SODIMMs, up to 8192 MB total 160/250 GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD, 160/250/320 GB 7200 rpm SATA HDD (with HP 3D DriveGuard Fixed 12.7-mm SATA optical drive or 9.5 mm second hard drive: Blu-ray R/RE DVD+/ RW SuperMulti DL,16 DVD+/ RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe,3 DVD-ROM; 250 GB 5400 rpm HDD, 320 GB 7200 rpm HDD WSXGA+ WVA (1680 x 1050), or WUXGA WVA (1920 x 1200), or WUXGA RGB LED WVA (1920 x 1200) (LED panel is DreamColor Panel available only with NVIDIA graphics) NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M with 1 GB of video memory, NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M with 512 MB of video memory, or ATI Mobitilty FireGL V5725 with 256 MB of video memory High Definition Audio, stereo speakers, stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, integrated dual-microphone array Intel 802.11a/b/g/draft-n; Bluetoothâ„¢ 2.0, HP Wireless Assistant Intel Gigabit Network Connection7 (10/100/1000 NIC), 56K v.92 modem 1 ExpressCard/54 slot, Media Card Reader 4 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, eSATA, VGA, stereo microphone in, stereo headphone/line out, 1394a, power connector, RJ11/modem, RJ-45/ethernet, docking connector, secondary battery connector Full-sized keyboard with separate numeric keypad, enhanced dual pointing devices (touchpad and pointstick) with scroll zone, optional 2 MP Webcam12 with Business Card Reader Software Intel® Centrino® 2 with vPro technology capable,9 HP Recovery Manager (Windows Vista only), HP Client Manager Software, HP Client Configuration Management Agent, HP OpenView PC Configuration Management Solutions, HP Performance Tuning Framework Standard: HP ProtectTools, TPM Embedded Security Chip 1.2, HP Fingerprint Sensor, Enhanced Pre-Boot Security, HP Spare Key, HP Disk Sanitizer, Enhanced Drive Lock, Drive Encryption for HP ProtectTools, Credential Manager for HP ProtectTools, File Sanitizer for HP ProtectTools , integrated Smart Card Reader;10 Optional: Kensington lock, HP Privacy Filter, McAfee Security Solution14 1.3 in (at front) x 15.5 in x 11.1 in Starting at: 7.6 lb (weight will vary by configuration) 8-cell (73 WHr) Lithium-Ion battery, optional HP (52 WHr) Extended Life Battery,10 optional HP (95 WHr) Ultra-Capacity Battery,12 150W or 120W HP Smart AC Adapter, HP Fast Charge8 HP Advanced Docking Station, HP Docking Station, HP Monitor Stand, HP Adjustable Notebook Stand Limited 3-year warranty with additional warranty options available, 1-year limited warranty on primary battery. Optional HP Care Pack Services are extended service contracts which go beyond your standard warranties. For more details visit: http://www.hp.com/go/lookuptool Security Dimensions (h × w × d) Weight Power Expansion Solutions10 Warranty HP EliteBook 8730w Mobile Workstation HP recommends Windows Vista® Business 2 MP Webcam (optional) 17.0-inch diagonal display Touch-sensitive controls Numeric keypad Full-size keyboard with HP DuraKeys HP Fingerprint Sensor HDMI port ExpressCard/54 slot Touchpad with scroll zone HP DuraFinish Media Card Reader HP EliteBook 8730w Mobile Workstation HP recommends Windows Vista® Business 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Certain Windows Vista product features require advanced or additional hardware. See www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/hardwarereqs.mspx and www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capabl
e.mspx for details. Windows
Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine which features of Windows Vista will run on your computer. To download the tool, visit www.windowsvista.com/upgradeadvisor. Dual/Quad Core is a new technology designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. 64-bit computing on Intel architecture requires a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, operating system, device drivers and applications enabled for Intel® 64 architecture. Processors will not operate (including 32-bit operation) without an Intel 64 architecture-enabled BIOS. Performance will vary depending on your hardware and software configurations. See www.intel.com/info/em64t for more information. Do not copy copy-right protected materials. Double Layer discs can store more data than single layer discs. Double-layer discs burned with this drive may not be compatible with many existing single-layer DVD drives and players. LightScribe creates a monochrome image. LightScribe media required and sold separately. Note that DVD-RAM cannot read or write to 2.6 GB Single Sided/5.2 GB Double Sided Version 1.0 media.. WiFi access point and Internet service required and not included. Availability of public wireless access points limited. The specifications for the 802.11n WLAN are draft specifications and are not final. If the final specifications differ from the draft specifications, it may affect the ability of the notebook to communicate with other 802.11n WLAN devices. For hard drives, GB = 1 billion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. Up to 8 GB (for XP) and 10 GB (for Vista) of system disk is reserved for the system recovery software. The term “10/100/1000″ or “Gigabit” Ethernet indicates compliance with IEEE standard 802.3ab for Gigabit Ethernet, and does not connote actual operating speed of 1 Gb/sec. For high speed transmission, connection to a Gigabit Ethernet server and network infrastructure is required. Fast Charge technology recharges your battery up to 90% within 90 minutes when the system is off. Fast Charge does not apply to 12-cell UltraCapacity battery. Select models only. Some functionality of Intel Centrino Pro and vPro, such as Intel Active management technology and Intel Virtualization technology, requires additional 3rd party software in order to run. Availability of future “virtual appliances” applications for Centrino Pro and vPro technology is dependant on 3rd party software providers. Compatibility with future “virtual appliances” and Microsoft Windows Vista operating system is yet to be determined. Sold separately or purchased as an optional feature. Windows Vista Business disk may be included for future upgrade if desired. To qualify for this downgrade an end user must be a business (including governmental or educational institutions) and is expected to order at least 25 customer systems with the same custom image. HD content required to view HD images. Dual Channel is only supported when the system is configured with DDR2 symmetric memory (ie: 2×256). 60 day trial period. Internet access required to receive updates. First update included. Subscription required for updates thereafter. This McAfee Total Protection for Small Business software is licensed to you by McAfee under the terms of the McAfee end user license agreement which can be read at www.mcafee.com. Testing was not intended to demonstrate fitness for DOD contracts requirements or for military use. Test results are not a guarantee of future performance under these test conditions. As Blu-Ray is a new format containing new technologies, certain disc, digital connection, compatibility and/or performance issues may arise, and do not constitute defects in the product. Flawless playback on all systems is not guaranteed. In order for some Blu-ray titles to play, they may require a DVI or HDMI digital connection and your display may require HDCP support. This Blu-ray drive does not support writing to ultra-high speed CDRW media (16X to 32X advertised performance). HD-DVD movies cannot be played on this Notebook PC. Maximum memory capacities assume 64-bit operating systems. Microsoft® Windows® XP (32-bit) supports 4GB (with Microsoft 32-bit, the amount of usable memory will be dependent upon your system configuration. It may be less than 4GB); 32-bit Linux can support up to 8GB Wireless, internet, and VoIP require separately purchased service contract © 2008 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. Bluetooth is a trademark of its proprietor and used by Hewlett-Packard Company under license. Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Windows Vista is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. . Intel and Core are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. To learn more, visit www.hp.com August 2008

HP EliteBook 8730w: DreamColor Goes Mobile (video) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

]]> http://notebooks.com/2008/08/12/hp-elitebook-8730w-dreamcolor-goes-mobile-video/feed/ 17 http://notebooks.com/2008/08/11/thinkpad-w700-lenovo-intros-biggest-thinkpad-yet-videos/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thinkpad-w700-lenovo-intros-biggest-thinkpad-yet-videos http://notebooks.com/2008/08/11/thinkpad-w700-lenovo-intros-biggest-thinkpad-yet-videos/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:02:39 +0000 Xavier Lanier http://www.notebooks.com/?p=2395 Lenovo's making a serious first-splash into the mobile workstation market with the ThinkPad W700, a 17-inch workstation that can be configured with an integrated Wacom digitizer and an integrated color calibration system. The ThinkPad W700 is an impressive piece of engineering and offers the notebook market some much-needed innovation.

ThinkPad W700: Lenovo Intros Biggest ThinkPad Yet (videos) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

]]> Lenovo’s making a serious first-splash into the mobile workstation market with the ThinkPad W700, a 17-inch workstation that can be configured with an integrated Wacom digitizer and an integrated color calibration system. The ThinkPad W700 is an impressive piece of engineering and offers the notebook market some much-needed innovation.

update: the Lenovo ThinkPad W700 is now available for order direct from Lenovo

The ThinkPad W700 can be loaded with Intel Extreme Quad-Core processors, 8GB of RAM, an NVIDIA Quadro M3700 GPU with 1GB of VRAM and optional triple 320GB hard drives for up to 960GB in capacity.

I met with Tom Ribble, Director of ThinkPad Marketing, to talk about the ThinkPad W700 and to check out the industry’s first notebook that features an integrated Wacom digitizer and color calibrator in its palm rest.

Overview of the W700

The ThinkPad W700′s 17-inch display has a resolution of 1920×1200 (WUXGA), is extremely bright (400-nit) and is capable of showing 72% of the color gamut. Combined with the Wacom digitizer and color calibrator, the W700 may just be the perfect workstation for engineers, photographers and design professionals. Lenovo’s ThinkPad W700 isn’t the slimmest 17-inch notebook, but it’s packed with so many features that users won’t have to lug around a single accessory except for an AC adapter.

Lenovo’s offering a full selection of drives to fill the W700′s two drive bays. For maximum capacity, the W700 can be configured with 5400RPM drives (250GB or 320GB). If you need more speed you can order 7200RPM drives (160GB or 200GB) or Solid State Drives (64GB, 80GB or 128GB). You can mix and match any of these drives, or if two isn’t enough you can swap out the optical drive for a third hard drive or SSD.

The ThinkPad W700 has a ton of ports and plugs, including five USB ports, Display Port, DVI, VGA, 7-in-1 memory card reader and several others.

Check out the videos below for demos of the ThinkPad W700′s Wacom digitizer and color calibration:

Demo of the W700′s Wacom digitizer w/PhotoShop

Demo of the W700′s built-in color calibration

The ThinkPad W700 weighs 8.3-pounds in its base configuration and is very thick compared to other 17-inch notebooks with similar components. But the W700 doesn’t feel as heavy as it looks.

Lenovo will begin selling the ThinkPad W700 in September with a base price of $2,978. High-end options will push the price north of $5,000.

Lenovo Unleashes PC Beast on Mobile Workstation Market with ThinkPad W700
Delivers Industry’s First Built-in Digitizer and Color Calibrator Along with Ultimate Power, Multimedia and Display Technologies

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC August 12, 2008: Lenovo today introduced the ThinkPad W700, a 17-inch widescreen mobile workstation engineered with game-changing technologies and innovations to exceed the demands of the most data and graphics-intensive users. Lenovo brings the industry’s first built-in digitizer and color calibrator to a mobile workstation and combines these innovations with first-in-market technologies such as new NVIDIA® Quadro FX mobile graphics and supporting the upcoming Intel® mobile quad core processor. Other features such as optional dual hard drives with RAID configurations, up to 8 GB of high speed DDR3 memory, a range of wireless connectivity options and excellent multimedia capabilities including an optional Blu-rayâ„¢ DVD burner/player make the ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation the standard-bearer for power and performance in a mobile workstation.

“Lenovo has engineered a new breed of mobile workstation with the ThinkPad W700,” said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president, Notebook Business Unit, Lenovo. “No other PC manufacturer has a mobile workstation that delivers the sheer power, performance and cutting-edge innovation that Lenovo has packed into the ThinkPad W700. The ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation flat out delivers the command performance our customers demand at the desk as well as in the field.”

According to IDC, the compound annual growth rate for the worldwide mobile workstation market has been more than 60 percent per year since 2002.1The ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation extends Lenovo’s commitment to workstation users, complementing Lenovo’s W500 mobile workstation and ThinkStation S10 and D10 workstations. As workers in fields such as digital content creation, computer-aided design and manufacturing, digital photography and science fields including the oil and gas industries become increasingly mobile, they are demanding the full-featured performance of a desktop workstation in a mobile workstation.

First-in-Industry Engineered Innovation
The ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation takes customer driven innovation to a new level with an optional built-in palm rest digitizer and color calibrator. Lenovo and Intel collaborated to integrate the color calibrator and digitizer into the ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation. Designed for digital content creators and users, the mobile workstation’s digitizer helps them easily configure an image, either mapping it to the entire screen or to an area defined by the user. High performance users, especially digital photographers, will benefit from models with the built-in color calibrator as color continues to play an important role in their work. The calibrator automatically adjusts the display’s color in up to half the time of many external calibrators and with higher accuracy, resulting in the most accurate, true-to-life images in an integrated package. Together with the upcoming Intel® mobile quad core processor, multimedia designers and animators now have outstanding quad-core processor performance and true color replication that is critical for realistic digital creations and workflow efficiencies.

Super-Charged Performance Unleashed
Supporting the latest Intel processor technologies including the upcoming mobile quad core processor, the mobile workstation can be configured with up to 8 GB of memory with an additional 2 GB of Intel Turbo Memory. Lenovo also offers models with Intel® vProâ„¢ technology for complete manageability. The mobile workstation can be equipped with dual internal hard drives, including solid state drive storage. The ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation offers both the NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 2700M and 3700M Open GL graphics processors with up to 1 GB of dedicated video memory for exceptional graphics performance in a 17-inch mobile workstation. The hard drives can be configured for RAID 0 to help users access and save their data faster than traditional disk-writing methods, or users can choose RAID 1 for mirrored data redundancy.

The mobile workstation includes WiFi wireless connectivity. Additionally, users can connect to other devices wirelessly using mobile workstation models featuring Bluetooth and ultra wideband technology. Models supporting WiMAX will be available later this year.

New Heights in Display Technology and Multimedia Excellence
As the company’s first product with a 17-inch display, the ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation delivers an unparalleled viewing experience with a combination of leading technologies. Its optional 400-nit WUXGA display provides up to twice the brightness of earlier ThinkPad mobile workstation models, and the 72 percent wide color gamut provides more than 50 percent greater color intensity. The high resolution, extreme brightness and wide color gamut coupled with the NVIDIA Quadro FX MXM graphics solution results in a user experience unequalled in a mobile workstation today. For external connectivity, the ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation provides support for Dual Link DVI, Display Port and VGA. A 7-in-1 multicard reader, and five USB ports give users flexibility in transferring and accessing digital content. Additionally, the workstation comes with an optional compact flash reader and Blu-rayâ„¢ DVD burner/player. An optional mini-dock extends the mobile workstation’s capabilities with eSATA and digital audio ports as well as convenient cabling for power, external monitors and peripherals.

Packed for extreme performance, the mobile workstation also features BIOS/port disablement and an optional fingerprint reader, a smartcard reader and hard drives with full-disk encryption. It will carry more than 20 certifications from independent software vendors.

“Our engineers use Lenovo ThinkStation workstations to help them design the next-generation Williams – Toyota FW31 race cars, aiming to make them faster and more agile, with greater performance than the competition,” said Chris Taylor, IT manager, AT&T Williams. “We’re
thrilled to see Lenovo deliver the workstation performance we’ve come to rely on – now in a mobile, portable solution.”

Pricing and Availability
The ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation will be available beginning in September with models starting at $2,978. It is available through Lenovo Business Partners and www.lenovo.com.

ThinkPad W700: Lenovo Intros Biggest ThinkPad Yet (videos) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

]]> http://notebooks.com/2008/08/11/thinkpad-w700-lenovo-intros-biggest-thinkpad-yet-videos/feed/ 51 http://notebooks.com/2008/07/30/dell-inspiron-13-affordable-13-inch-notebook/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dell-inspiron-13-affordable-13-inch-notebook http://notebooks.com/2008/07/30/dell-inspiron-13-affordable-13-inch-notebook/#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:37:35 +0000 Xavier Lanier http://www.notebooks.com/?p=2365 Dell's expanding its line of consumer notebooks with the Inspiron 13, an affordable 13-inch notebook that will start at just $699. The Dell Inspiron 13 weighs just under five pounds and is a welcome addition to the Inspiron lineup.

Dell Inspiron 13, Affordable 13-inch Notebook is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

]]> Dell’s expanding its line of consumer notebooks with the Inspiron 13, an affordable 13-inch notebook that will start at just $699. The Dell Inspiron 13 weighs just under five pounds and is a welcome addition to the Inspiron lineup.

The Dell Inspiron 13 will initially be available in a glossy blue finish and marketed to students and others looking for something smaller than usual.

Dell’s not telling us how much RAM, how big of a hard drive or what processors will be inside the Inspiron 13 just yet. Wal-mart will sell a special configuration of the Inspiron 13 starting for $699 on August 3rd. You’ll be able to build a Dell Inspiron 13 to order at Dell’s online store later in August.

The Inspiron 13 will come with a 13-inch high definition display, capacitive touch media buttons, 8-in-1 media card reader and a slot-loading DVD drive. Bluetooth, an integrated webcam and mobile broadband will be optional.

The Dell Inspiron 13 will not be a powerhouse or as sleek as other 13-inch notebooks, but it should be more than sufficient for basic computing needs. Those looking for a more powerful 13-inch notebooks should take a look at the Dell XPS M1330.

Dell Inspiron 13, Affordable 13-inch Notebook is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

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