HP ProBook 4310s serves up a cornucopia of options for the configuration junkie within

It'd be difficult to term HP's new Mini 5101 netbook "exciting" but the new ProBook 4310s has promise -- or at least flexibility. Like its name suggests, the ProBook 4310s is for boring people who like to spend their days alternating between an Excel spreadsheet and Peggle, but the specs and looks hint at adventure. Basically, this 13.3-inch laptop can be whatever you'd like it to be, with a starting price of $799 and the whole gamut of options, from Celeron to Core 2 Duo, FreeDOS to Vista, DVD to Blu-ray, and integrated or discrete graphics (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 with 512MB of RAM and HyperMemory support). There's space for up to 8GB of RAM, EV-DO, ExpressCard 34, SD card, all sorts of hard drives -- if you can imagine a spec HP probably has an option for it inside this 1-inch thick, 4.34 pound shell. Even the screen is available in three different configurations -- it's nice to be reminded now and then that high design doesn't always have to kill choice. The 4310s will be available on July 20th.

[saveacoweatvegan @ Jun 24th 2009 12:07AM]

me likey. A LOT

[Quantumphysics @ Jun 24th 2009 12:41AM]

Looks fkin tough.

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 24th 2009 2:01AM]

Looks fkin thick.

What ever happend to beveled edges?

[Eh? @ Jun 29th 2009 4:29AM]

@Andrew

Yay! it has beveled edges so it must be uber thin! Oh wait, it's still just as thick....but it still has tiny edges, that totally makes it a thin laptop!

Give me a break.

[something clever @ Jun 24th 2009 12:13AM]

Every time I see an HP product that I might want to buy I think about it for a few second, and then remember being screwed with their self-expiring ink cartridge program. No need to break my boycott when other products can be had from manufacturers that haven't tried to scam me out of my money (yet).

[Grumpy old man @ Jun 24th 2009 12:18AM]

"it's nice to be reminded now and then that high design doesn't always have to kill choice"

I definitely agree. Also, nice swipe at Apple. ;)

[Gad Get @ Jun 24th 2009 1:35AM]

I am so sick of Engadget's blatant Apple favoritism!

What? Oh, I mean, I like Engadget's subtle digs at Apple.

[geekboi @ Jun 24th 2009 12:25AM]

"Even the screen is available in three different configurations" - Craptacular resolution, Craptacular resolution with added glare and even more Craptacular resolution. When will Laptop manufacturers wake up and leave 1999. >1024 lines is bloody useless already. Not a web page out there can display half the page at 720 lines. Get with it. If I wanted a small screen I'd buy a netbook at half the price and get the CPU power of 1999 to go with these BS displays.

Useless.

[darkmax @ Jun 24th 2009 12:54AM]

I think every respectable mobile computer manufacturer should give its customers a way to configure their device.... why is it so difficult?

[darkmax @ Jun 24th 2009 12:54AM]

oops.... didn't mean to post it under yours, geekboi

[radarskiy @ Jun 24th 2009 1:39AM]

">1024 lines is bloody useless already."

Less than 1024 lines on a 13.3" screen is bad enough... but they have 15.6" models with the same resolution! Why bother making a screen that big?

[nikster @ Jun 24th 2009 5:03AM]

@radarskiy: For old people with bad eyesight. No, really.

[TW @ Jun 24th 2009 12:48AM]

Errr, shouldn't that be 'junkie'? I had to read it twice. :)

[OLight @ Jun 24th 2009 9:02AM]

(nod)

[ajnauron @ Jun 24th 2009 1:10AM]

Looks like their new netbook, I like how more and more companies are moving toward flat keyboard keys to maximize typing surface area. Sony keyboards FTW.

[Lord Nibbler @ Jun 24th 2009 1:35AM]

*Homer Drool*
Nice... what is it with all these new laptops coming out when I'm not looking for a new one?

[Gad Get @ Jun 24th 2009 1:38AM]

They always do that, just to bug me!

[Al @ Jun 24th 2009 1:53AM]

This a very nice device, but I wish HP also gave us the same exact specs and stuff, in a smaller 12in device, with a weight that is under 3.7lbs. Or made this a 13.1in screen and made the device a bit smaller(so it could be close to the dimension of a 12in device, but have a slightly larger screen, kind of like the Z).

[Level 5 @ Jun 24th 2009 5:53AM]

Check out the HP DV2. It doesn't quite match the specs but it's 12" (no optical); and reasonably priced.

[Al @ Jun 24th 2009 11:36AM]

I already know about the DV2 as I can option it up with a dual core neo cpu, but its not good on the battery life, hence I asked for this one, which in a 12in model could be smaller than the DV2(as it has large bezel and some wasted space).

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 24th 2009 1:58AM]

I wonder what would've happened if someone clicked on that Mini 5101 link in the 60 seconds between 12:01AM and 12:02AM June 24th 2009.

[Gad Get @ Jun 24th 2009 3:14AM]

???

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 24th 2009 9:16AM]

This post links to a post that supposedly wasn't posted until a minute later.. ok whatever.

[Level 5 @ Jun 24th 2009 5:50AM]

The site lists the memory as DDR2. That makes me a little leary, I assume there's at least a DDR3 option somewhere maybe? DDR2 for the Celeron would be ok, but it's 09.. DDR3 for the C2D is a requirement in a new notebook for me.

[Bryan Mayland @ Jun 24th 2009 7:45AM]

Does any other manufacturer offer both DDR2 and DDR3 as options on the same model? No, because they require different mainboards. Think before you post! That said, the press release specifically touts DDR3 as a feature, so I assume the web site is just a typo.

[Seven @ Jun 25th 2009 6:07AM]

i remember seeing a configuration on a laptop that gave u the option to choose either DDR2 OR DDR3, cant remember what laptop it was, i want to say the new alienware *too lazy to check*

[dannyfanny90 @ Jun 24th 2009 8:38AM]

Alas, a cornucopia of love.

[OLight @ Jun 24th 2009 9:55AM]

The world is ending, THE END IS NIGH. Why?

HP is making a lappie I'm actually interested in. Love the consumer-optioned configuration, and it adds fuel to the fire from that article about the approaching disappearance of the netbook market, in that these are all laptops, just with varying capabilities and priorities.

Anyway, style, function, variability, and true portability; looks like that 6-year-old Satellite's days are numbered.

[bublik @ Jun 24th 2009 10:05AM]

looks a little bit like sony's lap tops...

[RAEGLATEM @ Jun 24th 2009 4:18PM]

Hmm... just as when i was finallizing on getting the Z7series from sony... HP releases this... now i gotta wait till july to see how much its gonna cost for a good configuration?

not to mention, IMHO HP < Sony when it comes to the build quality and components used.

[Kailie @ Jun 25th 2009 9:09AM]

Is there a reason I should be excited about this? It doesn't remoately meet my needs, or the needs of anyone I work with.

[Fitz Stewart @ Jun 25th 2009 12:15PM]

Just want the earbuds, but will take the Zune too!