HP Announces New Notebooks, Netbooks

Starting today and continuing over the next few months, HP will be introducing new Pavilion and Envy notebooks and new Mini don't-call-them-netbooks. The Pavilion and Minis could appeal to many business travelers.First up is an upgraded Pavilion dm3 slim laptop. The biggest advance here is the inclusion of CoolSense technology, a combination of hardware and software methods of keeping the notebook cool no matter where it's used. On the hardware side, heat-generating components have been moved away from the user, and the vents have been repositioned to channel hot air away from the bottom of the unit. Those design changes have been combined with Thermal Assistant software that detects whether the device is sitting on a desk or something soft and adjusts its cooling mode accordingly. Aside from those enhancements, the Pavilion dm3 also gets soft-touch surfaces in matte black and an optional backlit keyboard. The 13-inch notebook, available now, starts at $550.

Next are two new HP Minis. Previously, HP has marketed the Mini line, with their 10.1-inch screens, as "netbooks." But that word is nowhere to be found in the current announcements, possibly signaling a new marketing tack from HP. (Are netbooks too 2008?) Of the new models, the Mini 210 is going for stylish, with five designer colors available, such as lavender frost and luminous rose.The Intel Atom-based device claims more than 10-hours of battery life from an extended battery that fits completely within the Mini's case. It also boasts a "nearly full-sized" keyboard, and the QuickWeb feature is supposed to get you online in seconds without having to wait for the Windows OS to finish booting up. It's available now starting at $330.

The Mini 5103 will be available on September 17 and will feature a new Atom dual-core processor that, the company claims, trades a 20 percent performance boost for a mer 15 minutes lost of battery life. It also supports DDR3 memory and comes with a 7200 RPM hard disk and, optionally, an SSD drive. It has a touch screen and "95 percent of a full-size spill-resistant keyboard with HP DuraKeys" that should cut down on visible wear. Other options include integrated mobile broadband and GPS. It will start at $399.

The company also announced two new notebooks in the Envy line, sporting features of less obvious business utility. The Envy 17 3D delivers a 3D image with the help of wireless Active Shutter 3D glasses. It supports Blu-Ray and comes with 3D highlights of the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. It should be out by the holidays, with pricing not yet set.

And the Envy 14 Beats Edition incorporates Beats Audio, sound technology developed with the help of Dr. Dre. Intended for the music enthusiast, it uses Intel Core i5 processors and an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 graphics processor. Sold with a set of headphones from Monster Audio, the Envy 14 is available now starting at $1,250.