HP EliteBooks go light and slim 19/08/2008

HP has released details of its smallest laptops to date, with the HP EliteBook 2530p weighing just 1.5kg. The body is made from aluminium as well as magnesium-alloy to make it lightweight but tough. It has been engineered to pass several military-standard durability tests such as extreme temperature, dust and humidity. This is the smallest laptop in the EliteBook lineup to sport a built-in DVD rewriter. To keep things compact, it has a 12.1-inch LED screen, which should help preserve battery life.

Details about specific configurations and pricing is to be revealed closer to launch at the end of September, but HP informs us the systems will be offered with Intel Core 2 Duo Ultra-Low Voltage and Low Voltage variants. Other key features will be Solid State Disc hard drives and built-in wireless broadband. A shock-resistant hard drive and spill-resistant keyboard, standard with the HP EliteBook series, help defend data against bumps, drops and spills.

Elsewhere, the HP EliteBook 2730p is a lightweight Tablet PC weighing in at just 1.7kg. The clamshell design measures just 26mm in depth when in slate mode, to help keep weight and size to a minimum. Features include a webcam and HP NightLight to improve visibility when using the tablet in poorly lit locations.

Both machines include HP ProtectTools Security Manager and Drive Encryption for HP ProtectTools, which encodes information on the hard drive to make sensitive information unreadable if the laptop is lost or stolen. File Sanitiser permanently, which permanently deletes files, folders and identifiable information is also built-in as standard.

The notebooks feature HP Mobile Broadband with built-in Gobi technology from Qualcomm and use a single module, the HP un2400, to support multiple mobile broadband network technologies and mobile operators. This increases users’ international roaming options and offers greater choice and flexibility in choosing a mobile data plan.

All three machines include HP ProtectTools Security Manager and Drive Encryption for HP ProtectTools, which encodes information on the hard drive to make sensitive information unreadable if the laptop is lost or stolen. File Sanitiser, which permanently deletes files, folders and identifiable information is also built-in as standard.

The HP EliteBook 2530p and HP EliteBook 2730p are expected to be available by late September, 2008 at an estimated street price of €1499 and €1699 respectively.

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