When I first saw pictures of the new HP Pavilions launched here today, I wasn’t surprised to see more sleek, shiny models to follow the recent trend in skinny laptops. Nope, not even the one-inch-thin girth, attractive as it is, fired up my imagination.
Rather, it’s the price. The new HP Pavilion dv2 entertainment lappies start from just S$1,299 – a “surprisingly affordable” offer, says HP.
For once, I have to agree with a press release – slim just hasn’t been cheap for full-fledged laptops (not counting low-power Netbooks).
Usually, for a slim, ultraportable model with a 12- or 13-inch screen, we’re looking prices over S$2,000. Think of Lenovo’s X200 series or Sony’s Vaio Z, and you get the idea.
How does HP keep the costs low? The key is by using AMD’s new Athlon Neo MV-40 processor, which many have touted as an “Atom killer”, in reference to Intel’s madly sucessful chip used in current Netbooks.
What AMD’s chip promises is more horsepower, for example, in handling HD video (yeah, take that, Netbook!). Yet, its price is lower than the cheapest of Intel’s current Centrino 2-based chips. In other words, it fits right in the frame of someone looking for something between a Netbook and a really expensive ultraportable.
To boost performance nicely, AMD’s chip can be paired with integrated graphics (Radeon X1250) or the beefier Mobility Radeon HD3410 for more heavy lifting in 3D graphics. Not sure if you can do many games on that, but at least the discrete HD3410 graphics should handle your HD videos and maybe some games that don’t demand so much 3D performance.
The good news is that HP’s new Pavilions are just the start, being the first to take advantage of the new AMD technologies. On paper, at least, they look impressive for the price.
S$1,299 for a 12-incher that weighs 1.64kg and comes in sexy white or black – that’s a nice little market that just hasn’t been served til now.
Well, guess what, I actually went down to Sim Lim Square yesterday with my sister-in-law, and she bought one of these nice shiny lappies! Only thing I don’t like is the touchpad, which is too shiny and a little “sticky” and less smooth than matt-looking ones. Go finger it and you’ll know what I mean.
Nice…. I really like the design and a price you can swallow compared to others in it’s class. Hopefully I’ll catch one on sale, I rarely venture outside the sub $500 laptop market.
I do have have birthday cumming up maybe I’ll pitch this family & friends 🙂