HP To Unveil Notebook Hybrids on Win7 Launch Day

PC maker Hewlett-Packard (HP) has unveiled a line of new notebook PCs designed with two things in mind: mobility and preparation for Microsoft's upcoming operating system (OS), Windows 7.

The latest additions to HP's line of notebooks includes the HP ProBook 5310m and the HP Pavilion dm3. Both boast powerful processors, ample memory, and HP says they'll be ready for Windows 7 when it's released on October 22, 2009.

HP Blends Notebook with Netbook

The HP ProBook 5310m lives up to its name by including dimensions optimized for mobility, making working on the road much easier. Unlike those gargantuan 15.4 inch models that have made HP a household name, the ProBook features a smaller 13.3 inch display. It's also less than an inch thick and weighs just 3.7 pounds, indicating that HP is making some effort to blend its popular netbook market with its larger and more powerful notebook options. (Source: crn.com)

Expect the ProBook to sport a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a pretty incredible seven hours of battery life. HP says it will also support a max of 320 GB of storage and 4 GB of DDR2 memory. Its price is expected to start at a somewhat reasonable $699.

Win7: Powerful PCs Required

If a $699 price tag sounds like a bit too taxing on the wallet, HP's Pavilion dm3 relaxes some features along with its price.

Starting at just $549, the dm3 is slightly heavier than the ProBook at 4.2 pounds and includes processor options like the 1.6G GHz AMD Neo X2 or the 1.3GHz Intel Pentium SU4100.

The memory and storage features accompanying these chips depend on which one you pick: take the AMD Neo X2 and you'll have the option of installing a 320 GB hard drive and 4 GB of DDR2 memory. Opt for the Intel and you can get 500 GB storage and 4 GB of DDR3 memory.

Both the ProBook and Pavilion launch on October 22, the same day as Microsoft's much-anticipated OS. (Source: itbusinessedge.com)