HP's first 2005 laptop lineup
We're not sure how so many new HP laptops slipped under our radar, but we've got a lot of ground to cover, so we're just going to get down to it. As expected, the theme is definitely wireless, with huge emphasis on our favorite growing trend—the widescreen laptop display—and a good deal of weight placed on another trend we're not too fond of, the desktop replacement. But make no mistake about it, while these machines are aimed at the business market, they're looking right down the barrel of Dell's gun, and should prove to be more than a little attractive to the informed consumer.
The HP Compaq nx9600 will be the powerhouse laptop, and will be based on the Sonoma chipset, but not be Centrino—it will utilize Pentium 4 540-570 CPUs. It can be configured with 40-100GB drives (both 5400 and 7200rpm), have up to 2GB 400MHz DDR2 SDRAM, DVD±RW burner, 16:10 17-inch WXGA+ (1440 x 900) or WSXGA+ BrightView (1680 x 1050) LCD, ATI Mobility Radeon X300 (64MB) or X600 (128MB), 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, ExpressCard/54 slot, 6-in-1 media reader, four USB 2.0 ports, 1394, and S-video. You'll be carrying a 9.3-pound 2 x 15.67 x 11.14-inch behemoth, though.
Click on to read about the nc8230, 6220, 6230, 6110, 6120, nc4200, and some new docking station-type accessories.
The nc8230 is their new widescreen thin-and-light, which can be configured with a Pentium M 730-770, up to 2GB of 400 or 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM, 40-80GB drives, 2x DVD?RW, 15.4-inch WXGA (1200 x 800), WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050), or WUXGA (1920 x 1200) LCDs with an ambient light sensor, ATI Mobility Radeon X600 (64 or 128MB), 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, Smart Card and SD slots, 3 USB 2.0 ports, S-video, and 1394, all in an impressively small 5.7-pound 1.1 (at front) x 14.0 x 10.4-inch box. This is the one to watch out for, people.
The 6220/6230 is their new 4:3 screen thin-and-light, which can be configured with a Celeron M 370 or a Pentium M 730-770, up to 2GB of 400 or 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM, 40-80GB drives, 2x DVD?RW, 14.1-inch SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) or XGA (1024 x 768), Intel GMA 900 or ATI Mobility Radeon X300 (32 or 64MB), 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, Smart Card and SD slots, 3 USB 2.0 ports, and S-video in a downright miniscule 4.83-pound 1.04 (at front) x 12.4 x 10.1-inch package. For a standard aspect ratio, this machine is pretty exciting in terms of size and features, no doubt.
The 6110/6120 is their 4:3 mid-range model, which can be configured with a Celeron M 370 or a Pentium M 730-770, 2GB of 400 or 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM, 40-80GB drives, 8x DVD?RW, Intel GMA 900 graphics, 15.0-inch XGA or SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) LCD, 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, 2 or 4 USB 2.0 (on the 6120/6110, respectively, 1394, and S-video (6120 only) in a decent but not outstanding 6.1-pound 1.4 (at front) x 12.9 (w) x 10.5-inch form factor.
HP?s also got a non-tablet version of their 4200-series, the nc4200. This machine, like it?s tablet sibling, can be configured with a Celeron M 370 or a Pentium M 730-770, up to 2GB of 400 or 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM, 40-80GB drives, 2x DVD?RW, 12.1-inch XGA display, Intel GMA 900 graphics, 802.11a/b/g, Gigabit Ethernet, Smart Card and SD slots, 3 USB 2.0 ports, and S-video in a 3.9-pound 1.19 (at front) x 11.22 x 9.25-inch box, even smaller than its convertible-tablet version, the tc4200.
These machines can also be used with HP?s line of docking accessories, including the HP Docking Station, Advanced Docking Station (which has 6 USB ports, a MultiBay II slot, and an ExpressCard), HP Adjustable Notebook Stand (which takes a cue from Dell?s D-View series), HP Monitor Stand, HP External MultiBay II, and the HP Travel Battery (which fits with their docking equipment, too).
