HP shows off new NZ range

HP showed off it's new consumer product range to journalists and retailers today in Auckland. The selection of laptops and all-in-one desktops will be in retail stores in three-to-six months, HP's spokesperson Jessica Rangi estimated.

There wasn't a huge amount of detail about specs available as yet: HP says that retailers will be able to choose from over 60 variants of it's new laptops and desktops, so instead they were split up into categories for our preview. You may see the new DV6 with a solid state drive or a hybrid drive, for example. As a result, we've included pictures and any specifications where they are new or help differentiate models.

One interesting aspect is that HP is avoiding Intel's "Ultrabook" terminology. HP says that because of the range of options they offer, which can include both AMD and Intel processors, they've opted to divide their laptop ranges into "laptops" and "thin and light". A number of the thin-and-light will meet the specification for Ultrabooks, but won't be marketed as such.


All-in-One desktops
HP showed us one 27-inch all-in-one, called the Omni 27, that is not touch-enabled, but the model we saw did feature a TV tuner card and Intel Core i5 graphics. The Omni 27 is expected to retail from $2,799, depending on features. It's stylish in design, with edge-to-edge glass, 25-degree tilt and metal stand.

HP says options for the Omni inlude Blu-ray drive and HP Pulse subwoofer to complement the Beats Audio that now seems to be standard on all HP models.



As well as the Omni, HP had two of the revised TouchSmart designs on show. These are smaller touchscreen all-in-ones; The Touchsmart 320 is 22 inches, and the Touchsmart 520 is 24-inches.

HP says there will also be a 3D version of the Touchsmart released.




Laptops
Many models within the latop range are new designs for model names we're familiar with, such as the dm1, Envy and dv6.

HP's new G-series laptops (below) add addtional colours -- blue and red, as well as the standard black. The G6 will now be available in 14 or 15.6 inch size, with number pad included. Prices for the G series laptops will start at $999.




Below is the dm4 Beats Edition (with red backlit keyboard). The style now has an aerofoil look to it, with curved rear chassis. The Beats Audio addition to every laptop was noticeable, but in this case, there's also wallpaper, Beats Audio logo on the lid, and a microfibre sleeve. It will retail from $1,499.






The new dv6 design, below left, is also now more areodynamic, with additional curves. On the right below is a slimmer dv6 that an HP spokesperson said may arrive in June. The new model now includes a speaker bar with Beats Audio integration. Prices for the dv range start from $1,299.





We were keen to see what the new top-of-the-line Envy would look like, and it's gone very MacBook Pro in styling, as you can see below. The lid will also be silver in the new model. From a brief time spent with the new model, the trackpad appears to have improved responsiveness, and the metal chassis is very solid indeed. It's available with Intel core i5 or Core i7 processors, and you can opt for solid state drives, 1GB dedicated graphics and other performance options. the price starts at $1,899 -- that's $1000 less than the Envy Spectre.





Thin and light

Thin and light covers a range that include the Envy Spectre we recently reviewed, and products that can't in any way be considered as Ultrabooks, such as the Mini 210 netbook ($549, pictured below in red, with the dm1)

HP says that its guide as to whether a laptop that fits into "thin and light" is that thin and light models lack an optical drive.





The Envy Spectre we won't mention here, except to say that it's essentially the thin and light equivalent of the Envy -- top of the line, with power and looks.