The Price: $300

The Verdict: So far, man is it awesome... for a printer/scanner/copier/fax machine, that is.

I know printers. Like intimately. For a few years, I'd get the newest ones and run a double-blind print quality test. I got bored because Epson would always win. HP accused me of letting personal taste get in the way of objectivity, to which I replied, "Call me back when you get the color blue figured out." (My phone has yet to ring.)

Anyway, when I heard about Epson's total revamp of its all-in-one, I was happy and scared. Epson might have been the champ at photo quality, but its printers weren't always the easiest to use. Besides, they were often slower than Canons or HPs. But the Artisan could have traded in print quality to improve speed (an old HP trick). And besides, the Artisan has Wi-Fi, a sure sign of future tech-support calls.

Happily, my fears turned out to be nonsense: Setting up the printer was easy (though I did follow directions carefully, which is not my standard MO). The wizard worked great on the Mac, and I easily added the printer's wireless profile and drivers to another Mac and a Vista PC afterward with the same install disc, all printing without a hiccup. You might say "Big whup!" but trust me, wireless networking set-ups often don't work as billed, especially across both Macs and PCs.

The new touchscreen interface is great, giving you plenty of soft options in plain English, rather than a few choices in terse one-word buttons. As you can see in the shots below, there are fixed contextual touch buttons in addition to the LCD, making the interface even more flexible. I especially like that the fax dial-pad is hidden away, so that if you use it, great, but if you don't, you won't feel like you're wasting part of your purchase. Speaking of fax, the 800 has a document sheet feeder built right in, crucial for multi-page faxes and useful for copying and scanning too.The print quality was amazing, as I anticipated. What surprised me was how damn fast this bugger is. I could get a gorgeous borderless 4x6 in under 18 seconds, and of course it could manage larger sizes fairly speedily too, including the elusive 8x10. (HP once told me that 8x10, which it didn't support, wasn't in demand by photographers; Epson has always had an 8x10 option.)

The one thing you're still gonna hate about the printer is that each ink cartridge is still the size of a matchbook and damn if you won't burn through them all too fast. You get a second (BONUS!) black cartridge in the box, but all that tells me is that Epson is embarrassed about its ink addiction. Other printer makers will try harder to solve the ink-deficit problem—Kodak sells printers for more money and ink for less—but inevitably that solution comes at the cost of good hardware and high-quality prints. Go with Epson if you want the best pictures and, in this case, the best all around use, but remember that you will pay for that satisfaction in ink. [Epson]

Best Buy plans on expanding Blue Label to other product lines in the future, and they appear to be committed to using feedback to help customize these products to fit customer needs. That having been said, you can visit their community forums to get involved and share ideas for future products. In the meantime, both the HP and Toshiba laptops are now available for order in Best Buy stores and online. [Blue Label and BusinessWire]

The Price: $299

The Verdict: The Mediasmart Connect is a decent video player, Media Extender and photo viewer, but it doesn't shine in any area other than video quality. We compared the Mediasmart Connect to an Xbox 360, streaming the exact same episode of Entourage from the exact same Windows Home Server and the video quality was noticeably better on HP's unit. Great, except you wouldn't really notice the difference unless you had them side by side like we did.

One other problem we noticed is that browsing speed (browsing a folder file system) is pretty damn slow. Paging down takes upwards of seconds to refresh, forcing you to hold the down button one by one to save yourself from the delay. The same "page down" action on an Xbox 360 is near instantaneous, so we know it's not a server issue.

It does, however, have features that other extenders or media streamers don't. For one, there's the ability to aggregate videos from various networked sources, including DLNA-capable servers. Again, nothing spectacular, but it's a feature that's nice to have. 802.11n streaming (a/b/g are also there) is another nicety for people who hate wires. More bonuses are YouTube, Snapfish, CinemaNow and Live365, services you may or may not use and want on your set-top streamer.

Compared to the Xbox 360, both can act as Media Center Extenders, both can play back DivX and XviD files and work as a photo viewer, but only one can play a donkey-load of video games. On the other hand, the Mediasmart Connect does have on-board storage, which is great if you want to dump a bunch of videos onto it and delete them out of your BitTorrent folder on your PC.

At $299, it's hard to recommend the Mediasmart Connect over something like an Xbox 360 because of everything else the 360 can do. If extras like YouTube and CinemaNow (as well as media aggregation over all servers), built-in 802.11n wireless, DLNA compatibility and better video quality appeal to you, this may be your ticket to streaming video anywhere in your house. [HP]

"We're basically plugging into the larger businesses," he says. "Notebooks will be manufactured and handled in Asia where there's much broader distribution. I can't just snap my fingers and have [the Envy and Omen] in Russia, Dubai and other places where people are begging for them. To scale the business and stay true to the brand, we have to structure it accordingly." Regarding layoffs, he did acknowledge: "There are definitely going to be people impacted. With any change, we have to take that impact in stride and keep pressing forward."

Rahul also addressed the concerns that some gamers had that Voodoo had abandoned its core audience. He surprised us with an interesting statistic: 25% of the Voodoo customer base are gamers, he says. The other 75% are "fortunate people who love the style and the fact that our products are so different." On the matter of the sleek new Envy not being a gaming PC at all, he mentions that it's not the first time, and that the hot-selling 12-inch Envy had integrated graphics too.

He stresses that the crazy Omen desktop and the Blackbird are both solid gaming platform. He also says that he's interested in the new directions that DIY enthusiast gamers will soon be taking. "The DIY enthusiast market will change," he says. "They're going to focus on more efficient computing rather than speeds and feeds, to bring more value to the end than just framerates. The DIY market will evolve—that's an opportunity for us to look into."

We have no idea what that might mean. Could it be a line of Voodoo-branded accessories? Or simply designing systems themselves with more DIY tweakbility in mind, like the Blackbird? Your guess is as good, or actually probably better, than mine, so go ahead and guess.

Rahul understood our concerns, and replied with the following slightly ambiguous message:

HP is working on a plan to better leverage its existing resources to bring Voodoo products to market faster and make them more accessible to consumers. I can assure you that Voodoo employees and champions of the brand will continue to work on the conceptualization, design and development of Voodoo products.

We can infer from this that the Voodoo brand will continue, and the Voodoo team will stay more or less intact, but that Voodoo may move into a more designy role here, and do less of the nuts-and-bolts assembly that it was doing before. That's my interpretation. As was the case a month ago when we inquired as to the health of Voodoo, Rahul directed us to his blog for further info. Thanks Rahul!

Other features include one-touch access to entertainment, video-upscaling to view standard DVDs in hi-def, a 55% wider viewing angle, a built-in bass subwoofer, an integrated fingerprint reader and... “lustrous sophistication with HP Fluid Imprint finish in titanium,” though I'm not really sure I see what's so lustrously sophisticated from the press photos. The HDX16 will drop in late September for $1299, while the HDX18 will cost you $1349.

The HP HDX Experience*
• HP MediaSmart for one-touch access to entertainment plus video-upscaling to view standard
DVDs in high-def.
• Platinum Support via direct line (866.408.5408) to speak with an HDX Specialist. (U.S. only)
• Project lustrous sophsitication with HP Fluid Imprint finish in titanium.
• Get a 55% wider viewing angle plus enhanced brightness, color intensity and clarity with the
18.0" diagonal HP Full HD Ultra BrightView Infinity display.(8)
• Experience thunderous audio with built-in HP Triple Bass Subwoofer.
• Immerse yourself in simulated surround sound with Dolby Home Theater.
• Get extra protection from accidental drops with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection.
• Simplify your password management with the integrated fingerprint reader.

Key Specifications
• Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor Technology featuring Intel® Core™2 Duo
Processor P8400 (2c)(3)(4b)
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit with Service
Pack 1 (1)(20a)
• 18.4" Diagonal High Definition (8) HP Ultra Brightview Infinity Display
(1920x1080p)
• NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT with up to 2302MB Total Available Graphics
Memory with 512MB dedicated
• 4096MB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 500GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive Dual HDD - 250GB + 250GB(SATA) (7)
• LightScribe Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Double
Layer (6d)(16a)(16c)(16d)
• Intel® WiFi Link 5100AGN & Bluetooth™(10)(10b)(10d)
Luxurious Style
Expanding on the elegance of the current line, the new HDX series is defined
by fluid, modern lines and metalized finishes with surprising innovations
inside and out. High-gloss HP Imprint finish in titanium and chrome now
encases all surfaces visible during normal use for greater durability, and a
sleeve is included for extra protection. The HDX series Fluid Imprint features
an flowing linear pattern that enhances the reflective qualities of the metallic
finish. The streamlined look is enhanced with a color-matched keyboard and
touchpad. And touch media controls light up and become visible only when
the system is powered on further enhancing the clean appearance. HP’s
mobile products have won coveted International Red Dot, iF and CES
Innovation design awards and been recognized by other leading design
institutions.
Extreme Entertainment
Extreme entertainment is at your fingertips with everything you need to enjoy
content in the highest-quality formats – and create your own
show. Introducing HP MediaSmart for access to DVDs, videos, photos, music,
karaoke, games(25), Internet(15) TV, and streamed or recorded TV at the touch
of a button.
• Watch standard DVDs in high definition with Video Upscaling.
• Connect to your HD TV via the HDMI port to view content from your HP
HDX notebook.
• Control playback with the HP ScrollSmart Remote Control.
• Edit and burn HD content with Cyberlink DVD Premium.
• Create movies complete with special effects fast with Muvee autoProducer
Premium.
• Enjoy thunderous audio enabled by the HP Triple Bass Subwoofer.
• Get simulated surround sound with Dolby Home Theater and Altec Lansing
speakers.
• Experience true immersion in 3D games with NVIDIA G9600 series
graphics and discrete video memory with DirectX 10 support.
Platinum-tier Support
• One-year limited hardware and software warranty with 24/7 phone
support
• Toll-free phone support during warranty via direct line to an HDX Specialist
in the U.S. @ 1.866.408.5408 and toll-free support in Canada @
1.800.HP.INVENT.
• Easy-to-use dashboard for system diagnostics and updates with preinstalled
HP Advisor
Designed to Captivate
For those who want the latest performance technologies enabling a premium
home cinema and computing experience, the HP HDX 18 delivers in an
elegant desktop-replacement design. Its reflective Fluid Imprint finish encases
leading-edge mobile architectures from Intel and NVIDIA. HP HDX notebook
PCs provide the options you need to connect, enjoy and experience peace of
mind.
• Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 Ultra Wide Display. Enjoy a viewing angle of
140 degrees (vs. standard 90) and significatnly enhanced brightness, color
and clarity with the HP Full HD Ultra BrightView Infinity display.(8)
• Connect(15) with the HP Webcam. Turn your next instant message into a live
video chat with the integrated webcam, omni directional microphone and
an IM solution. Optimized for low-light environments, it's great for
capturing short videos to share on your favorite social networking site.
Personalize your videos with included YouCam software.
• Enhanced security options. HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection locks
your hard drive into place when it senses abrupt motion to help prevent
data loss. The eSATA/USB Combo port enables fast backup to an external
hard drive. And the dual hard disk drives provide an easy back up option.
The integrated fingerprint reader offers greater security and ease-of-use by
associating passwords to your system and online accounts with unique
fingerprints.
• Personalized disc labels with LightScribe. Create custom laser-etched disc
labels right in the drive with LightScribe and preinstalled Cyberlink DVD
Premium. Just burn data on the disc, flip it over and burn the cover image
using any scanned image and/or text.(16a)
• Full-memory access. Windows® Vista®(1) 64-bit operating systems are able
to fully access system memory to support 3D games and complex
applications.
HP and the Environment
• Help conserve energy with this ENERGY
STAR® qualified and EPEATTM Silver
registered PC.
• Reuse or recycle your HDX series
packaging to help minimize waste.
• Please recycle your computer hardware
and printing supplies. HP recycling
services make responsible disposal easy.
Learn more about HP’s environmental
initiatives and recycling at:
www.hp.com/go/ecohighlights

Other new features include a drive bay for HP's Pocket Drive line of portable hard drives, Nvidia GeForce 9600M video card and a multi-color light that illuminates the space under the computer for the keyboard (previously it was just fluorescent white). Other than that, the technical specs and touchscreen technology remain the same, as does the general design. Also available is the IQ804, which lacks the Blu-ray drive and NVIDIA 9600M.

The Touchsmart IQ816 starts at $2100 and will ship on October 12, while the IQ804 starts at $1900 and will be available on September 21.

The next generation touch computer

The next-generation, touch-enabled PC combines a 25.5" diagonal hi-def27 widescreen with a powerful energy efficient Intel® CoreTM2 Duo28 processor in a single, integrated design. Includes HP Touchsmart software, webcam29, media card reader, and premium speakers for fast, easy access to photos, videos, music and applications. HP recommends Windows Vista® Home Premium.

Your digital life at your fingertips
•Touch-screen technology puts your digital life at your fingertips with fast, easy access to info, entertainment and social networks.29
•Next-generation HP TouchSmart software simplifies access to photos, videos, music and applications.
•Quick and easy touch access to your digital world.

The slim, stylish, next-generation PC
•Sleek, next-generation design combines a 25.5"
diagonal hi-def1 widescreen with a powerful energy
efficient Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo28 processor.
•Plug one power cord into the wall and you’re ready to go.
•Wireless keyboard and integrated WLAN30 offer a truly wireless experience.
•Low profile wireless keyboard stows away when not in use, freeing up valuable desk space.
•Colored HP Ambient Light lets you select a color lighting to set a mood, or see your keyboard in the dark.
•Sleek piano black design with elegant espresso side-panel highlights.

Watch your photos, movies and music come to life

•Next generation HP TouchSmart software brings a new
level of fun to your photos, videos and music.
•Watch your favorite shows on the integrated 25.5” diagonal hi-def27 widescreen–makes for amazing slideshows too!
•Enjoy high quality sound through the integrated premium stereo speakers.
•Watch and burn your personal videos with the built-in DVD burner.31
•Add an additional hard drive (HP Pocket Media Drive6) easily and without any tools.

HP is committed to behaving in an environmentally responsible manner

HP is committed to reducing our own environmental impact, as well as that of our customers, partners and suppliers. We do this by providing products and services that are environmentally sound throughout their lifecycle and by conducting our operations in an environmentally responsible manner.

•All HP TouchSmart IQ 800 series PCs have earned ENERGY STAR® and EPEAT silver qualifications.

•All HP TouchSmart IQ 800 series PCs use HP power management technology providing up to 45% energy savings compared to PCs without power management enabled.32

Award winning service and support (touchsmart) HP stands behind our products and protects your investment with award-winning service and support
available around the clock by phone, e-mail, and online.29

•Every TouchSmart PC comes with special HP Total Care.
- 24/7 service and support for the first year via our North America call center.
- Dedicated toll-free telephone support at 1866.408.5408 in English and Spanish in the United States or English and French in Canada.
- Real-time online chat.
- E-mail, usually answered within one hour.

•A desktop icon offers one-click access to online technical support, troubleshooting and downloads.

The Laser Gaming Mouse with Voodoo DNA is pictured above. Here's the more ho-hum Laser Mouse:

And here's the mysterious Vector Mouse:

Plug and Play Performance
• Customize your mouse for an effortless gaming experience personalized to the way you play

Features & Benefits:

• Keep up to 5 mouse setting profiles
• Five programmable buttons to store macros
• 8x faster than conventional mice. Delivers blazing speed and instant acceleration
• Polytetrafluoroethylene Gaming Feet. Large, frictionless feet for effortless smooth glide
• High resolution engine churns images at an astounding 6.4Mpixels/sec. Large sensor array and precision laser technology allow the HDX Laser Mouse to deliver best-in-class performance and tracking
• Gaming laser mouse with four on the fly selectable DPIs
• DPI=400/800/1600/2400 *
• 4 multi-color DPI settings
• Up to 35 inches/second **
• Up to 8G
• Up to 500 reports/second
• Full speed USB 2.0
• 5 programmable buttons
• 5 individual setting profiles
• 4 large Teflong feet, 3D racing rubber tire pattern scroll wheel

System Requirements:
• Genuine Windows Vista® or Genuine Windows® XP

Warranty and Support:
• One-year, worldwide parts-and-labor limited warranty
• 24x7 HP technical phone support during warranty period

What's in the Box:
• Laser mouse
• Documentation
• Software Driver
• 1 year limited warranty

Additional Information:
Questions about the HP HDX Laser Mouse?
Look us up online at www.hp.com

The battery lasts for 2 hours, or you can opt to use USB or AC power. HP also announced a 10-inch wood-accented digital photo frame that does all the same things as the smaller one, but also has Pictbridge capability, support for all the major flash formats, and MPEG video playback. In addition, it has a remote and stereo speakers.However, it looks like it's more your grandmother than anyone else.

Both frames are available now, with the 3.5-inch HP Digial Picture Frame selling for $60, and the 10-inch selling for $220.

HP has expanded its easy-to-use digital picture frame portfolio to help consumers show
off photos, create slide shows and play videos – with no computer needed. The picture
frames come in a variety of sizes, including a portable, 3.5-inch pocket frame and an
attractive 10-inch cherry wood-finish frame. The frames feature clock and calendar
options, support MP3 and other audio formats, and play music through stereo speakers.

A variety of interchangeable, double-matting options give HP frames a more professional
look and allow easy personalization. PictBridge functionality allows consumers to print
photos right from the digital picture frame.

HP denies funding such an operation, but Phil McKinney, the chief technology officer in HP's PC division, acknowledged that such conversations may have taken place below senior management levels. Still, he noted that such a project "makes no sense. For us it's about innovating on top of Vista."

So why do it? Well, it would obviously make HP less dependent on Windows, and if executed properly, a custom OS would make things a little easier on mainstream users. However, HP may have another motive: competition from Apple. HP fears that Apple might eventually make a budget MacBook—cutting deeply into their business. By moving to an open source operating system, they could drastically cut costs. Again, nothing has been confirmed at this point and Microsoft is working hard on updates and spending lots of money on advertising in an attempt to create a more positive impression with consumers. So, we will just have to wait and see what develops. [Businesweek via Electronista]

HP Breaks the 24-hour Battery Life Barrier

Customizable HP EliteBook delivers all-day power

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 8, 2008 – HP today announced an unprecedented milestone in mobile computing: up to 24 hours of continuous notebook operation on a single battery charge.

As measured by an industry-standard benchmark, the new HP EliteBook 6930p configured with an optional ultra-capacity battery delivered up to 24 hours of battery runtime.(1)

"All-day computing has been the holy grail of notebook computing," said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, HP. "With the HP EliteBook 6930p, customers no longer have to worry about their notebook battery running out before their work day is over.

Designed and tested to last, HP batteries benefit from a combination of HP engineering and energy-efficient notebook components such as Intel® solid-state hard drives (SSD) and mercury-free LED displays. For example, the highly efficient HP Illumi-Lite LED display boosts battery run time by up to 4 hours compared to traditional LCD displays, while the Intel SSD provides up to a 7 percent increase in battery life compared to traditional hard drives.

With up to 24 hours of battery life, business travelers can easily:

Use an HP EliteBook 6930p continuously on the world's longest scheduled commercial airline flight – linking Newark Liberty International Airport and Singapore Changi Airport – approximately 18 hours, 40 minutes.

Take more than 10 trips on the EuroStar train between London and Paris – approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes each direction – before recharging the battery.

Travel as a passenger by car from Maine to Florida using a notebook during the entire journey.
Solid state for mobile professionals

Inspired by aircraft construction and designed for style-conscious mobile professionals, HP EliteBook notebooks feature the latest mobile technologies.

In October, customers will be able to purchase an HP EliteBook with the new Intel high-performance SSDs – HP is a launch customer for new Intel X25-M and X18-M Mainstream SATA SSDs

In addition to helping achieve outstanding battery life, these new Intel SSDs provide greater durability and reliability as well as faster system responsiveness. Internal HP benchmarks show overall performance boosts of up to 57 percent on industry benchmarks, and data transfer rates almost six times faster than traditional hard disks.

"Intel architected its new line of high-performance solid-state drives specifically to bring a new level of performance and reliability to the computing platform and make significant impact to the way people use their PCs," said Randy Wilhelm, vice president and general manager, NAND Products Group, Intel. "The HP milestone is an example of the impact of this new level of performance that specifically delivers on lower power consumption for longer battery life."

EliteBook 6930 for mobile professionals

The initial ENERGY STAR®-qualified HP EliteBook 6930p configuration starts at only 4.7 pounds (2.1 kilograms). It features a 14.1-inch diagonal widescreen display and is available with an optional, mercury-free Illumi-Lite LED display.

The HP EliteBook 6930p is built for the corporate road warrior as it features a shock-resistant hard drive, enhanced display panel and spill-resistant keyboard to help defend data against bumps, drops and spills. It was designed to meet the tough MIL-STD 810F military-standard tests(2) that measure levels of environmental reliability and operation at extreme temperatures, while withstanding vibration and high humidity.

The inner magnesium shell of the notebook's HP DuraCase is equipped with a honeycomb pattern that is thermally bonded to anodized aluminum for a solid construction.

All HP notebooks are designed with the environment in mind, with energy-efficient features and select materials for easier recycling. For example, HP has set a goal to remove all mercury – a material commonly found in notebook screens – from its entire notebook line by the end of 2010.

[HP]

And since three of these messenger bags can fit in one larger shipping box, HP's shipping supply line sees a wider packaging reduction of 65% (though some of that savings is from other improved shipping methods). So it raised the question...would you be willing to buy a computer in a laptop bag? [PlanetArk via Treehugger]

Lenovo's X301 and HP's 2530p already use the new chips. The SL9400 and SL9300 running at 1.8Ghz and 1.6GHz, respectively, both have a 1066MHz FSB and appear to be the Core 2 Duo Low Voltage (LV) chips with a TDP of 17W, while the SU9400 and SU9300 are the ULV variants, clocked at 1.4GHz and 1.2GHz with a 10W TDP.

While the clock speeds of the LV chips are the same as the MBA's, the switch to the 45nm process and faster front-side bus should yield both performance gains and power savings. More importantly, their ready availability for all-comers could make the ultra-thin market a lot more interesting, though we're kind of afraid at this point of what Asus will do with them. [Ars Technica]

Here's your list of drive options: 80/120GB 1.8-inch SATA drive plus optical drive, dual 1.8-inch SATA, 120GB 2.5-inch 5400RPM, 160GB 2.5-inch 7200RPM with DriveGuard or 80GB SSD. So yeah, it's pretty flexible.

It also has all of the usual HP business stuff like a biz card reader, lots of security and encryption tools, and the trackpoint nipple if you don't like trackpads. Display is LED-backlit and you have a few different battery options. And hey, besides being touch, we're always sort of a sucker for brushed metal.

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 vPro™ 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® Core™ 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.

Whether you’re across the street or across the country, integrated HP Mobile Broadband, Gobi technology, 4 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ WLAN5 and Bluetooth® help you stay connected in more places. You also get the flexibility to add HP Mobile Broadband at a later date.

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. 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.

Built to protect. HP ProtectTools provides an array of multi-layered, customizable security solutions help defend your network, your applications, and your data.

Operating system Preinstalled:
Genuine Windows Vista® Business
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic
Genuine Windows Vista® Business with downgrade to Windows® XP Professional custom installed
FreeDOS

Supported:
Genuine Windows Vista Enterprise
Certified:
SuSe Linux Enterprise Desktop 10

Processor Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage2 or Low Voltage
Chipset Mobile Intel® GS45 Express Chipset ICH9M-Enhanced (supports Intel® Centrino® 2 with vPro™ technology)11

Memory DDR2 SDRAM, 800 MHz, two slots supporting dual channel memory,15 1024/2048/4096 MB SODIMMs, up to 8192 MB total

Internal storage7 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

Removable media Fixed 9.5 mm SATA optical drive (available only with 1.8-inch hard drive): DVD+/–RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe,DVD-ROM

Display 12.1-inch diagonal Illumi-Lite WXGA (1280 × 800)

Graphics Mobile Intel GMA X4500 HD, up to 384 MB of shared system memory

Audio High Definition Audio, integrated speaker, stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, integrated dual-microphone array

Wireless support 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; Bluetooth™ 2.0, HP Wireless Assistant

Communications Intel Gigabit Network Connection9 (10/100/1000 NIC), 56K v.92 modem

Expansion slots 1 ExpressCard/54 slot, Secure Digital slot

Ports and connectors 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

Input devices Full-sized keyboard, enhanced dual pointing devices (touchpad and pointstick) with scroll zone, optional 2 MP Webcam with Business Card Reader Software

Manageability Intel® Centrino® 2 with vPro technology capable,11 HP Recovery Manager, HP Client Manager Software, HP Client Configuration Management Agent

Security 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

Dimensions (h × w × d) 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

Weight Starting at: 3.19 lb / 1.45 kg (weight will vary by configuration)

Power 9-cell (83 WHr), 6-cell (55 WHr), or 3-cell (31 WHr) Lithium-Ion battery, 65W HP Smart AC Adapter, HP Fast Charge10

Expansion solutions12 HP 2400/2500 Ultra-Light Docking Station, External MultiBay II, HP Monitor Stand, HP Adjustable Notebook Stand
Warranty 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.

[HP]

Operating system Preinstalled:
Genuine Windows Vista® Business
Genuine Windows Vista® Business with
downgrade to Windows® XP Tablet Edition custom installed
FreeDOS
Supported:
Genuine Windows Vista Enterprise
Certified:
SuSe Linux Enterprise Desktop 10

Processor Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage or Low Voltage2

Chipset Mobile Intel® GS45 Express Chipset ICH9M-Enhanced (supports Intel® Centrino® 2 with vPro™ technology)11

Memory 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)

Internal storage 80/120 GB 5400 rpm 1.8-inch SATA hard drive (with HP 3D DriveGuard); 80 GB Solid State Drive

Removable media Optional fixed 7-mm DVD+/—RW SuperMulti DL Drive available for HP 2700 Ultra-Slim Expansion Base

Display 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)

Graphics Mobile Intel GMA X4500 HD, up to 384 MB of shared system memory

Audio High Definition Audio, integrated speaker, stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, integrated dual-microphone array

Wireless support 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; Bluetooth™ 2.0, HP Wireless Assistant

Communications Intel Gigabit Network Connection9 (10/100/1000 NIC), 56K v.92 modem

Expansion slots 1 ExpressCard/54 slot, Secure Digital slot

Ports and connectors 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

Input devices 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

Manageability Intel® Centrino® 2 with vPro technology capable,11 HP Recovery Manager (Windows Vista only), HP Client Manager Software, HP Client Configuration Management Agent Security 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

Dimensions (h × w × d) 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

Weight Starting at: 3.74 lb / 1.70 kg (weight will vary by configuration)

Power 6-cell (44 WHr), optional HP 2700 Ultra-Slim Battery,12 65W HP Smart AC Adapter, HP Fast Charge10

Expansion solutions11 HP 2700 Ultra-Slim Expansion Base, HP External MultiBay II

Warranty Limited 3-year,1-year and 90-day warranty options available depending on country, 1-year limited warranty on primary battery.

[HP]

Mac's marketshare is up two percent from last year, claiming 8.5 percent of the overall market (Dell comfortably holds 31.9 percent to HP's 25.3 percent). To take home the bronze, Apple slipped past Acer by 65,000 units. While it won't move out of third anytime soon, you definitely can't deny Mac's got the mojo right now. [AppleInsider]

This is expensive even by MacBook standards, whose $200 cost to upgrade to black at least includes a bigger HDD. To top off the already complicated configuration/pricing scheme, once you get your specs picked out, you have to request a quote from an Voodoo customer service rep. I get the feeling owning a Voodoo Envy is supposed to be a privilege in their eyes. [Voodoo]

Nvidia doesn't say which cards are affected, but it seems to be ones in the 8M series (which are now previous gen). The fix—a new driver that kicks in the cooling fans sooner, rather than later—is being distributed direct to notebook makers. So, if you've got a new Nvidia driver waiting for you from Dell or whoever made your laptop, congrats, you win! [WSJ, PC World]

Microsoft:

In addition to Microsoft technology we are already familiar with like Surface, Home Server, Vista, the Zune , Xbox 360 and the like (the home of the future is still running the 360?), there are a number of future technologies installed in the home that were inspired by innovations from their prototyping lab:

•Magic Mirror: A mirror projects different clothes, accessories and hairstyles onto each family member’s image when they stand before it. The clothes not only morph to the contours of the body, but also sway as the person in front of the mirror moves.

•Kitchen of Your Dreams: The kitchen recognizes ingredients as a family member sets them on the counter, suggesting recipes for those items and providing instructions once a recipe is selected.

•Story Time: Visit the child’s room to be transported to Neverland. Read “Peter Pan” aloud to absorb a full multimedia experience, as cues in the story set off lights, sounds, colors and video.

HP:

In the kitchen, HP has their TouchSmart PC keeping things organized and the iPAQ 510 Voice Messenger is available to make calls. In the living room the aforementioned iPAQ is connected to the Surface table to transfer and display photos. They can also be transferred wirelessly to any number of HP digital photo frames in the house as well as to the MediaSmart TV.

As for Life|ware, they provided much of the RFID technology and media center solutions that tied all of the technology together.

To get the full scoop on the home of the semi-present, hit the following press releases. [HP and Microsoft and Life|ware and Disney via Hemagazine]

HP Introduces HP Blackbird 002 Exhilaration Edition

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 16, 2008 – HP today announced the release of the HP Blackbird 002 Exhilaration Edition, built for the ultimate PC gaming and performance computing experience.

The system, developed by the company's Voodoo business unit, is among the first to offer the newly released NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 GPU-based graphics cards with DirectX 10 support in an NVIDIA SLI configuration, along with the NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra MCP-based motherboard, DDR3 memory from Corsair, a liquid-cooled Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9770(1), Windows Vista® Ultimate 64-bit edition(2) and more.

Available for order today, the HP Blackbird 002 Exhilaration Edition balances the performance of its next-generation component suite with stable high-performance gaming and computing. Each Exhilaration Edition system includes a Voodoo keyboard and mouse, as well as special edition SkinIt skins.

"Since its unveiling last year, HP Blackbird 002 has been recognized as one of the best designed gaming and performance systems available," said Rahul Sood, chief technology officer, HP Voodoo Business Unit. "With the HP Blackbird 002 Exhilaration Edition, we have made an incredible machine even better by leveraging the very latest in next generation components and conducting exhaustive tests to ensure that our customers enjoy a stable and immersive high-performance computing experience. We are also excited by the prospect that this system will accelerate more than just gaming applications through Visual Computing. We are so excited about this machine that I am personally signing every Exhilaration Edition Blackbird on behalf of our entire team."

The HP Blackbird 002 Exhilaration Edition includes:

· Liquid-Cooled Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core Processor QX9770(1) – With a core speed of 3.2 GHz, a 2 MB L2 Cache and a 1,600 MHz Front Side Bus, the Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9770 is the heartbeat of the system. Experience games the way they were meant to be played, and run multimedia applications without breaking a sweat. With Intel's 45nm CPU coupled with HP Voodoo's liquid-cooling solution, users have power and performance at their disposal.

· NVIDIA Nforce 790i Ultra – The nForce 790i motherboard is Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core ready and designed to work and play well with the latest generation of Intel CPUs. It features full support for dual channel DDR3 1600MHz memory and beyond. And even though it arrives factory tuned for performance, the performance BIOS allows for complete end-user configuration.

· NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 graphics cards in SLI – The Blackbird Exhilaration Edition features dual liquid-cooled GeForce GTX 280 Gpus, each with 240 multi-threaded processing cores.

· Corsair 1,600 MHZ DDR3 memory – Corsair 1,600 MHz DDR3 memory, upgradeable to 4 GB(3), lets the Blackbird run the most demanding applications and games smoothly.

· Creative Audio Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtremegamer FATAL1TY Professional – True 7.1 digital sound that was developed specifically for gamers. X-RAM provides earth-shattering quality and performance enhancement for games with X-RAM support.

· Super Multi BLU-RAY disc and HD DVD-ROM drive- The Blackbird's Super Multi Blu-Ray Disc and HD-DVD-ROM(4) drive gives users an expansive range of high-definition playback options. Users can enjoy next-generation media without sacrificing support for the titles already in their collection. Play BD-DVDs, HD-DVDs, DVDs, and CDs, and burn CDs and DVDs(5), all on a single optical drive.

· Windows Vista Ultimate– To support the high performance needs of its users, the Blackbird includes Windows Vista Ultimate, the most complete edition of Windows.

HP Blackbird 002 Exhilaration Edition can be ordered on the new Voodoo DNA website www.hp.com/voodoodna.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world's largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $110.4 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2008. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

[HP]

Also, it doesn't look like you have a whole lot of maneuverability inside the case, at least from the pics—granted, if you're spending that kind of coin on a build-to-order PC, I don't know how much tooling around inside you'd be doing anyway. [Pocket Link]

Introducing Voodoo Omen

The Voodoo Omen is a machine that takes personalization to new heights. Rich with innovation and unmatched in design, Voodoo Omen is for the discerning technology lover who equally appreciates sophisticated styling and performance computing. And because each Voodoo Omen is built using a personalized, co-creation process, every owner of a Voodoo Omen becomes an architect and a designer.

The Omen's clean lines and square edges give its exterior a classic look. Consumers then add the finishing touches via personalization options that include high-quality Voodoo Allure paint finishes, laser engraving and custom side panels in materials such as glass, leather and wood - all of which contribute to making the Voodoo Omen a signature showpiece for each individual owner.

While its exterior design hints at its Voodoo heritage, the Voodoo Omen is completely redesigned.. Elements of this quiet, high-performance system such as the quad radiator and integrated copper cooling pipes, built directly into the Voodoo Omen chassis, make the Voodoo Omen stand out from the crowd. Vertical thermal diffusion cooling, developed by turning the motherboard 90 degrees to allow air to flow naturally throughout the machine.

Performance and innovation
• Vertical thermal diffusion - The Omen fully optimizes the natural power of convection currents by turning the motherboard 90 degrees, which allows air to naturally flow from bottom to top. This innovative approach to thermal management offers maximum cooling and quiet acoustics.
• Auxiliary LCD - A 7-inch full auxiliary LCD is built into the Omen chassis. This screen acts as a fully functional secondary display that can be used to show game stats, movies,music videos or other additional information users need at work or play.
• Quad radiator - This is one of the first systems to feature a quad radiator for maximum cooling and performance and unbelievably quiet acoustics.
• Tool-less architecture -The Omen has tool-less architecture on components such as hard drives and video cards.
• Industry standard components - The Omen is built using only the best industry-standard components to ensure ultimate performance and longevity.
• Integrated copper cooling pipes - Unlike any other system in the industry, copper cooling pipes are built directly into the aluminum Omen chassis, cutting interior clutter and improving air flow.
• Quick-release connectors - The self-sealing, anti-leak liquid cooling system allows for hassle-free component upgrades
• Interior lighting - Battery-powered interior lighting gives users visibility to upgrade components when the system is powered off.
Design and personalization
• Classic Voodoo style - The clean lines and square edges of the Omen set the standard for the sophisticated look that will define all Voodoo-branded devices.
• All-aluminum chassis -The sophisticated all-aluminum chassis adds to the Omen's durability and cooling capabilities.
• Top-loading cables - The rotated motherboard allows cables to be plugged into the system under a removable top panel. This gives users easier access to the cable board and contributes to the clean system design.
• Removable panels - For easy access to the interior of the system, the Omen comes equipped with tool-less side panels that completely detach using latches hidden under the top panel. The side panel is a thick square plate of aluminum with a flat, smooth surface unblemished by handles, rivets or screws.
• Extensive high-quality Voodoo Allure paint finishes - A palette of 14 color choices is available, including six new Voodoo Allure colors.
• Laser engraving - Choose from eight Voodoo Ink design options and eight Voodoo Iconograph patterns.
• Custom side panels - Customers will soon be able to develop custom side-panels from a variety of materials usually associated with luxury apparel and furniture such as glass, leather and wood.
• RGB accent lighting - Select one of 16 million different colors in real time through software run from the auxiliary display. LED lights are inside the unit at the top and below the chassis to accent, but not overwhelm, the design of the machine.
Security
• The Omen includes Voodoo's Fuel Essential software suite: Roxio, Cyberlink PowerDVD, AVG Professional Anti-Virus and PCDoctor.
Pricing and availability
• Pricing ranges from $6,500 to $20,000, depending on configuration.
• Current Voodoo customers will receive a private invitation to be among the first to order a customized Omen.

CHASSIS
• Strengthened aluminum construction
• Hover suspended box design
• Easy removable side and top panels
• Built-in USB driven 7" Widescreen display
Resolution: 800x480
• Dimensions
Width (cm): 19.05 = 7.5 inches
Length (cm): 58.42 = 23 inches
Height (cm): 55.88 = 22 inches
Weight starting at: ~45Kg =~100 lbs.
LIQUID COOLING
• Liquid coolant options: red, blue, green, purple and orange
POWER SUPPLY
• 1150W air cooled
• 1300W liquid cooled
MOTHERBOARDS
• ASUS Striker Extreme II (NVIDIA 790i)
PROCESSOR
• Intel® Core™ 2 Micro architecture, overclockable, liquid cooled
• Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme Quad-Core 3.20GHz QX9770
12 MB of L2 cache; 1600 MHz FSB
• Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme Quad-Core 3.00GHz QX9650
12 MB of L2 cache; 1333 MHz FSB
MEMORY
• Four DIMM slots supporting up to 8 GB of main memory, overclockable
2, 4, or 8GB 1600 MHz CORSAIR PC-14400 DDR3 SDRAM
GRAPHICS AND DISPLAYS
• Supports both NVIDIA® SLI™ and ATI CrossFireX™, liquid cooled
NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 ULTRA with 768MB of GDDR3 SDRAM
ATI Radeon™HD3870 series
• Includes support for next generation NVIDIA and ATI graphics cards
STORAGE
• Flexible RAID capabilities (0, 1)
• Up to 6, no carrier, tool-less drive bays
Options:
• Up to 3 independent Serial ATA Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
(Up to 3 TB of internal storage using drives with the following capacities):
Seagate 500 GB SATA @ 7200 rpm
Seagate 750 GB SATA @ 7200 rpm
Seagate 1 TB SATA @ 7200 rpm
Western Digital Raptor 160 GB 10,000 rpm
Western Digital VelociRaptor 300 GB 10,000 rpm
STORAGE (cont.)
Options (cont.):
• Up to 6 Solid State Drives (SSD)
(Up to 384 GB of internal storage using drives with the following capacities):
Samsung 64 GB SLC
• One or two super multi-drive, slim slots with Lightscribe (DVD+/-R/RW+/-DL)
Writes DVD-R discs at up to 16x speed
Writes DVD+R DL discs at up to 4x speed
Reads DVDs at up to 8x speed
Writes CD-R discs at up to 40x speed
Writes CD-RW discs at up to 24x speed
Reads CDs at up to 24x speed
• Optional upgrade for one or two slot Blu-Ray drive
Writes BD-R discs at up to 2x speed
Writes BD-RE discs at up to 2x speed
Reads BDs at up to 2x speed
Writes DVD RAM discs at up to 5x speed
Writes DVD+/-R discs at up to 8x speed (SL) and 2x speed (DL)
Reads DVD+/-R discs at up to 8x speed (SL) and 6x speed (DL)
Writes DVD+/-RW discs at up to 4x speed
Reads DVD+/-RW discs at up to 6x speed
Writes CD-R, CD-RW discs at up to 8x speed
Reads CDs at up to 24x speed
AUDIO AND PERIPHERALS
• Onboard Hi-Definition audio
• Creative Audio Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeGamer
• Creative Audio Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional
• Includes Voodoo Razer Keyboard and Mouse
CONNECTIONS
• Hidden top panel I/O ports (motherboard dependent)
• 1 x PS/2 Keyboard
• 2 x External SATA
• 1 x IEEE 1394a
• 2 x LAN(RJ45) port
• 6 x USB 2.0/1.1
• 1 x Clr CMOS switch
• 1 x Optical + 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Output1 x onboard LED switch
OS
• Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Ultimate 64-bit SP1
• Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium 64-bit SP1
VOODOO FUEL ESSENTIALS SOFTWARE
• Security
Grisoft AVG Professional (1 year base standard)
Grisoft AVG Professional (2 year upgrade available)
Grisoft AVG Internet Security (2 year license available)
PC Doctor
• Roxio 9.0
• CyberLink PowerDirector
• CyberLink Power2Go
• CyberLink DVD Play
• CyberLink Label Print
PRODUCTIVITY
• Microsoft® Office Pro 2007
• Microsoft® Office Small Business Edition 2007
• Microsoft® Office Basic 2007
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCS
• Genuine Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Installation DVD
• Driver and Applications Recovery DVD

The insides of the TouchSmart also include 4 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 9300 M GS HD graphics card, ATSC Tuner, Webcam, Bluetooth 2.0, Firewire and an 8x DVD burner. It also comes packaged with a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as a VIsta Media Center remote. There's also an ambient light at the bottom of the computer which glows so you can see your keyboard in the dark.

The screen of the Touchsmart isn't touch sensitive; it's actually a beam of light in front of the screen that recognizes where your finger is when you break the plane of the light beam. The interface, which is all developed within Vista, can be customized in many ways, allowing you to pick from a variety of content to be displayed on the home screen. There's also a finger painting app, photo browsing and editing app, music player, movie player, RSS aggregator and calendar.

The design of the computer is another noticeable upgrade, which takes the Touchsmart from utilitarian device to something you actually want in the house. The folded design is supposed to resemble a messenger bag, and it doesn't look half bad. The HP Touchsmart IQ506 is expected to hit stores July 13 for $1500. A TV Tuner-less IQ504 will also be available for $1300

HP Redefines Home Computing, Putting the Digital Lifestyle at People's Fingertips with New TouchSmart PCs

BERLIN, June 10, 2008 - HP today unveiled a new generation of all-in-one PCs that change the way people interact with their computers by making digital entertainment a truly compelling, hands-on experience.
The new HP TouchSmart family of PCs features HP software designed specifically for touch. A finger tapped or swept across the high-resolution screen delivers quick access to information, entertainment and social networks. Without using a keyboard or mouse, consumers can play music and create playlists, zoom in or out of photos, and quickly check the weather or watch TV.

HP TouchSmart PCs are designed to resemble the lines of a messenger bag and to fit wherever life happens, whether in the living room to entertain friends, in the den as a social hub, or in the home office. The simple yet sleek design and natural user interface adds style and elegance anywhere it is placed.
"Our engineers have created a fun, engaging and simple touch experience for the home that nobody else offers today," said John Cook, vice president of marketing, Worldwide Consumer PC Business, HP. "We're changing personal computing from just feeds and speeds to an experience influenced by consumer trends and design that anticipates customer's needs. The HP TouchSmart PC is all about reinventing the personal computer experience."

Digital entertainment at the touch of a finger
HP TouchSmart IQ500 series PC software brings a new level of enjoyment to photos, videos and music by making it easier for people to access and interact with their media. For example, consumers can browse a music collection by album art in a tiled fashion or fan view. People can crop, edit and share photos as well as upload them directly to HYPERLINK "http://www.snapfish.com" Snapfish from HP without the need to use a keyboard or mouse.

Consumers also can watch and record their favorite TV shows,(1) burn personal videos with the built-in DVD burner,(2) upload videos they create directly to YouTube,(3) and enjoy high-quality sound with the integrated premium stereo speakers. The built-in webcam and microphone help users keep in touch with friends and family anywhere they have Internet access through video chat and conference.(3)
"The introduction of a touch computer with such a strong focus on digital entertainment opens the door to an entirely new way for consumers to engage with their content," said Stephen Baker, vice president, industry analysis, The NPD Group. "HP TouchSmart PCs will allow people to interact with their photos, videos, music and games in unique ways, plus they do everything that you'd expect from a traditional PC."

The stylish next-generation PC
Requiring only one cord to set up and power the system, HP TouchSmart PCs combine a 22-inch diagonal, high-definition,(4) widescreen display with a powerful, energy-efficient Intel Core 2 Duo processor(5) in a single, integrated design. The sleek, piano-black finish with elegant espresso side-panel highlights makes a TouchSmart PC an attractive addition to any room in the home.
The low-profile wireless keyboard and integrated WLAN(6) offer a truly wireless experience, and the adjustable screen tilts up and down for maximum viewing comfort. The HP Ambient Light lets consumers set a mood and see the keyboard in the dark.

In addition, the HP TouchSmart PCs are ENERGY STAR qualified and come in new packaging that greatly reduces plastic foam cushioning materials. Other features include 4 gigabytes of memory,(7) a media card reader and a large-capacity, high-speed hard drive.
HP's touch heritage

The HP TouchSmart PC is a culmination of 25 years of HP touch technology design and development, which was first brought to market in 1983 with the introduction of the HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-THdG5gVTw" HP 150 PC, a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_150" touchscreen computer that was well ahead of its time.
Today, HP uses touch technology in a variety of products, including the HYPERLINK "http://www.hp.com/go/ipaq"HP iPAQ rx5900 Travel Companion, HYPERLINK "http://laptop.hp.com/" HP Pavilion tx2500 Tablet Notebook PC, select HYPERLINK "http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/printer/everyday/1/storefronts/CC975A%2523B1H" HP Photosmart printers and HYPERLINK "http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/382087-382087-64283-3181050-3181048-3182543.html" HP business monitors.

The first-generation HP TouchSmart PC was delivered more than 17 months ago as the industry's first touch-based, all-in-one consumer PC. Today's announcement of the HP TouchSmart IQ504 and IQ506 PCs delivers fun and exciting ways for consumers to use touch as never before seen in an all-in-one consumer PC.

Pricing and availability
Prices for the base model HP TouchSmart IQ504 PC and the TV-tuner equipped IQ506 PC are expected to start at $1,299 and $1499, respectively.(8) Customers can shop for the new TouchSmart PCs by calling +1 800 230 5752, via chat, online or at retail outlets nationwide. Models are expected to be available in retail outlets on July 13. More information is available at HYPERLINK "http://www.hp.com/touchsmart" www.hp.com/touchsmart.

The HP TouchSmart PCs were introduced today at the HP HYPERLINK "http://www.hp.com/personal" Connecting Your World event in Berlin. More information about the products announced at the event is available in an online press kit at HYPERLINK "http://www.hp.com/go/connectingyourworld2008" www.hp.com/go/connectingyourworld2008.

The dv5 has a 15.4" display, along with 4 USBs and an NVIDIA graphics card. Available this month, the minimum on this notebook is $700 for AMD, $900 for Intel.

The top-of-the-line dv7 has a 17" display, multi-channel audio with subwoofer, 4 USBs, ATI and NVIDIA graphics cards, and a hard drive up to 640GB. It'll start at $950 for AMD and $1230 for an Intel chip when it's out in July.

The Pavilions also have LightScribe laser etching for CD/DVD-Rs, and accelerometers inside that stop the hard drive