(click image for larger view) HP EliteBook 2530p The 12-inch EliteBook 2530p is HP's lightest notebook at slightly more than 3 pounds.

Hewlett-Packard on Monday introduced three ultraportable computers, comprising a highly durable notebook, a tablet PC, and a "value-priced" machine.

Two of the computers fall under HP's EliteBook business brand and the other is a Compaq notebook. The EliteBooks include optional solid-state hard drives, Intel Core 2 Duo ultra-low-voltage processors, support for multiple wireless technologies, and other features geared toward businesspeople who spend lots of time on the road.

The rugged EliteBook 2530p is built with a brushed anodized aluminum exterior casing combined with a magnesium alloy chassis that meets the requirements of several military-standard durability tests for extreme temperature, dust, and humidity, HP said.

The 2530p is also HP's smallest and lightest notebook. The computer weighs just a tad more than 3 pounds and has a 12-inch LED display. The machine is available with a choice of a 1.8-inch hard drive with a built-in optical drive or a higher-capacity 2.5-inch drive.

The EliteBook 2730p is a thin, pen-based tablet that can be converted into a lightweight notebook. At 3.7 pounds, the machine is slightly heavier than the 2530p but is only an inch thick. It comes with an integrated DVD drive and optional battery accessory that extends power life to a total of 12 hours, according to HP.

The EliteBooks have Qualcomm's dual-3G Gobi chipset built in. The technology supports wireless carriers that use either EV-DO or HSPA networks. In addition, HP software makes it possible to access e-mail, calendar, task, and contact information without having to boot the operating system.

The Compaq 2230s notebook is the least expensive of the three products. The notebook weighs about 4 pounds and has a 12-inch LCD display. The computer has built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless support.

All three notebooks have HP technology that encodes information on the hard drive, so the data is unreadable if the computer is lost or stolen. In addition, the machines have built-in technology for deleting files, folders, and personally identifiable information for easy preparation of a notebook for recycling.

The EliteBook 2530p and 2730p are scheduled to be available by early September. Prices start at $1,499 and $1,670, respectively. The Compaq 2230s has already shipped. Pricing starts at $999.

HP introduced the latest notebooks nearly a week after unveiling two mobile workstations for creative professionals, the EliteBook 8730w and the 8530w. Prices start at $1,699 and $1,499, respectively.