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HP announces Spectre One desktop, three other all-in-ones
Didn't you hear? All of HP's top-shelf product consumer products will henceforth have the word "Spectre" in the name. So, it makes sense that the company would expand beyond laptops and release a futuristic desktop bearing the same branding. Indeed, the company just announced the Spectre One, a 23.6-inch all-in-one with a skinny design and nice-to-have features like NFC. Though that aluminum frame and tilting 1080p display are pleasing to look at, the real story isn't what the Spectre One has, so much as what's missing. You see, in order to get the system down to 11.5mm thick, the design team had to forgo certain features you might otherwise expect -- features like a TV tuner, touchscreen and even an optical drive. It's a gamble, to be sure, but HP is betting that fashion-forward, tech-savvy users won't really mind. (The jury is out on whether a Windows 8 all-in-one without touch is a missed opportunity.) In any case, HP did include four USB ports (two of them 3.0), HDMI input, an Ethernet jack, Beats Audio and a memory card reader, with optional discrete graphics and SSDs. The components are also easily serviceable via a back door, if tinkering is your idea of fun. Lastly, the One ships with a keyboard, Magic Trackpad-style wireless touchpad and two NFC tags, which can be assigned to favorite websites. In addition to the Spectre One, HP also trotted out three other all-in-ones. At the mid-range, you'll find the Envy 20 and 23, which have 20- and 23-inch screens, respectively, with 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. Rounding out the list, the company announced the low-end Pavilion 20, another 1080p system. Put simply, the two Envy systems have touchscreens, Beats Audio and will be offered with Ivy Bridge processors only; the Pavilion is non-touch, and will be offered with both Intel and AMD chips. Whichever you choose, HP's old Magic Canvas UI for Windows is gone; in its place, the "Connected Suite," which includes a mix of desktop and mobile apps for sharing photos, streaming music and remote access. Though the mobile applications work with iOS and Android devices, you'll need a Windows 8 laptop on one end of the setup -- specifically, an HP PC. That's right: for now, at least, the software will only work on the company's own computers. The Envy 20, Envy 23 and Pavilion 20 will all be available on October 23rd, with the budget Pavilion going for $499 and the two Envys starting at $849 and $1,099, respectively. The Spectre One doesn't arrive until November 14th, but when it does it will cost $1,299.
HP unveils four new business and consumer all-in-ones with Ivy Bridge insides
HP announced a raft of new Ivy Bridge desktops back in April, but it had a few more all-in-ones up its sleeve. Today the company is unveiling a mix of business- and consumer-targeted machines: the Compaq Elite 8300, Compaq Pro 6300, Envy 23 and Pavilion 23. Let's tackle the business models first. Starting at $879, the 23-inch Compaq Elite 8300 is available with second- or third-gen Intel processors and integrated or discrete graphics options. A $929 configuration comes with a multitouch-enabled display. The Compaq Pro 6300, going for $799 and up, doesn't offer touch functionality, but it includes corporate-friendly security software via HP ProtectTools and, like the Elite 8300, can be configured with either Ivy Bridge or Sandy Bridge CPUs. The 6300 features a 21-inch LED-backlit display and an optional 2-megapixel webcam. The Compaq Elite 8300 will go on sale September 10th, while the 6300 will hit stores on September 3rd. On the home PC side of things, there's the $950 HP Envy 23, which sports a 23-inch 1080p screen and a free-standing design with edge-to-edge glass. Beats Audio is on board, and the model is available with Ivy Bridge or AMD trinity processors, up to 2TB of storage, an HDMI-in port, a Blu-ray drive and a TV tuner. Like the Envy 23, the $650 HP Pavilion 23 has a 23-inch 1080p panel and is configurable with up to a 2TB hard drive and either Intel (up to Core i5 Ivy Bridge) or AMD CPUs. Both models will go on sale August 5th. You know the drill: head past the break for the full press release and our hands-on photos.
