HP Blackbird 002 PC springs from nest
As previously leaked, HP has just launched its Blackbird 002 PC, the first team-produced product between HP and previously acquired VoodooPC. This high-end computer fits in the question mark of HP's foodproduct pyramid, one step below the VoodooPC luxury treatment.
The Blackbird 002 is a customizable, built to order system that offers customers a choice of Intel or AMD motherboards and processors. Options from graphics rivals ATI and Nvidia are also available. Buyers even pick between Vista and XP.
HP touts the user-upgradeable design as a main selling point; PCI cards, drives, and other parts can be swapped without tools, and the wiring elegantly runs though the back of the aluminum case to avoid tangles.
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Targeted to media makers, gamers, and tech enthusiasts, the system parts are overclockable. Base specs begin at $2,500 for an AMD A64X2 6000+ 3GHz processor, 256MB ATI RX630XT video card, 2GB DDR2-666 RAM, and a 500GB 7,200 RPM SATA drive.
The Blackbird 002 scales up to a liquid-cooled, factory-overclocked Intel QX6850 3GHz chip, dual Nvidia GeForce 8800 cards, and much more. Expect to pay about $6,500 for all of the extras.
The Blackbird 001 was an earlier HP project and the forbearer to this PC. The new VoodooPC team pointed out flaws in that computer, and HP decided to redesign it before launch.
The Blackbird 002 is now available for order -- you can get more details through HP.
