In the States, HP has announced the launch of the new HP iPAQ "Glisten" on the AT&T network.

Said to be a "feature-rich 3G world phone that meets the increasing demands of modern mobile professionals", the Glisten gets an AMOLED display.

Running Windows Mobile 6.5, the device boasts a touchscreen as well as a full QWERTY keyboard and five-way directional pad.

Other features and specs include Wi-Fi, GPS, a 3.1-megapixel cameraphone, a built-in speakerphone and Facebook preloaded.

The HP iPAQ Glisten is due to be available soon for $229.99 on a 2-year contract.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HP AT and T HP iPAQ Glisten OLED

HP iPAQ Glisten launches on AT&T originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:45:10 +0000

Here are the nominations for Best Laptop or Netbook in The Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009.

The following products were chosen because we feel they represent the best laptop and netbooks on sale in the last 12 months that are available in the UK.

The nominations are:

Apple MacBook Pro

Sony VAIO VGN-Z21ZN/X

Dell Adamo XPS

HP Envy

Toshiba NB200

Now in its 6th year, the Pocket-lint Gadget Awards, thought to be the longest running in the UK, pick the best gadgets and gizmos from the last year released in the UK.

Pocket-lint's vigorous vetting process means that all the gadgets up for nomination have to have been seen by a member of the Pocket-lint team (so far over 600) and have to have been available in the UK between December 2008 and December 2009.

The awards, voted by a panel of leading gadget journalists from around the world, including the staff from the Pocket-lint team, will decide the real must-have gadgets of the year, rather than those simply deemed cool or anticipated, being the definitive guide for consumers looking to buy gadgets.

Winners will be announced at an Awards evening in London on Monday 7 December.

If you would like to order tickets to the event please visit our awards event page.

Public voting will start on Wednesday 18 November.

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Related links:

• link - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009

Tags: Hardware Laptops Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Pocket-lint Awards Apple Sony Dell HP Toshiba

Best Laptops 2009 nominations originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:59:54 +0000

HP has announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase 3Com, said to be "a leading provider of networking switching, routing and security solutions".

HP will pay $2.7 billion for the company with the transaction expected to close in the first half of 2010.

In a press release, HP says the acquisition "will transform the networking industry and underscore HP's next-generation data center strategy built on the convergence of servers, storage, networking, management, facilities and services".

3Com is big in China, giving HP an in to a rapidly growing IT market, while the buy-out as a whole will mean HP will threaten Cisco's dominance in the networking market.

Tags: Hardware HP 3Com Acquisitions Biz

HP to acquire 3Com for $2.7 billion originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:23:20 +0000

HP?is to use tilt shift photography in a major campaign launching soon, the photographer behind the project has said.

Using the tilt-shift technique that makes real life shots look like they are actually a model village, videographer Keith Loutit's new work is a play on his previous tilt shift videos filmed in Sydney.

Called "Create Amazing", Loutit has built on his previous video shooting in Shanghai, New York, Santorini, London & Istanbul, with further set work in LA to give the video a more world view.

No word from HP as to when the adverts will be going live or when we can expect to see them.?

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UPDATE: The video seems to have been pulled, however you can enjoy more of Loutit's work here:?http://www.vimeo.com/keithloutit/videos

Read

Tags: Cameras HP Advertising Video

VIDEO: HP tilt shift "Create Amazing" ad - director's cut originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:51:21 +0000

Today's tech deal brings you word of an offer from Camera Phone Zone. These good folk are throwing in a half price compact photo printer with selected touch screen camera phones.

The photo printer itself comes in the form of the HP Photosmart A526, which produces 6 x 4 "high quality" borderless prints from a variety of memory cards, and has a 2.4-inch colour LCD screen.

This printer will be available for ?29.99 when bought with the following camera phones:

Samsung Genio Touch, 2-Megapixel: ?73.40 RRP

LG KS360, 2-Megapixel: ?73.40 RRP

Samsung Tocco Lite, 3-Megapixel: ?97.87 RRP

LG Viewty Lite Silver, 5-Megapixel: ?97.87 RRP

Follow the link to the Camera Phone Zone website for full details and we'll have another tech deal for you tomorrow.

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Tags: Phones Printers Photo printers HP HP Photosmart A526 Camera Phone Zone Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: Half price HP photo printer at Camera Phone Zone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The launch of Microsoft Windows 7 sees the first raft of touchscreen PCs come to market and the place they're coming fastest of all is in the all-in-one desktop space. It's easy to spend a lot on what are sometimes items of design and luxury rather than machines of multi-touch multimedia, so to help sort the sheep from the goats, here's five Windows 7-toting winners to look out for.

HP Touch Smart

Price

?900

Screen size

20"

CPU

AMD processor

RAM

4GB

Graphics

ATI Radeon

Storage

500GB

HP has announced two new models of its HP TouchSmart all-in-one PC but while the higher end 600 comes with a 23-inch screen, it's the more modest 300 unit where you'll find the value. Both variants run version 3.0 of HP's TouchSmart software. Its highlights include the TouchSmart Canvas, which will let you organise and edit photos by touch, and TouchSmart Live TV which gives you the sort of functions you'd expect from a PVR, with the ability to pause live TV and record from the EPG. There's no Blu-ray drive with the 300 but there's still Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a wireless keyboard and mouse. Naturally, it's HDMI port happy for all the Xboxes, PS3s and whatever other kinds of AV devices you want to add in. At ?900 it's well within the range of a normal person having a bit of a splurge.

Asus Eee Top ET2203

Price

?820

Screen size

21.6"

CPU

2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

RAM

4GB

Graphics

ATI Radeon 4570

Storage

500GB

The ET2203 is not the first time Asus has gone touchscreen with plenty of experience already in the stylish Eee Top range. This time, the company has launched a unit to go with Windows 7 and while cheaper than the HP model, it still manages to have a bigger screen and BD player to boot. It has HDMI-in ports, b/g/n wireless and an SRS sound card with two 3W speakers. There's also a webcam and wireless keyboard and mouse. What's missing here is the TV tuner functionality which might well be central to the positioning of machines like this but, if that's not a function you're after, then the Asus is a very good choice.

Dell Studio One 19

Price

?799

Screen size

19"

CPU

2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

RAM

3GB

Graphics

NVIDIA GeForce 9400

Storage

500GB

Aimed at the family's living room, or even kitchen, the Studio One 19 is made of aluminium, glass and fabric and comes in white, blue and grey. It's the cheapest of the lot, but only just, and it's actually been on the scene for a little while now. It does well in the graphics department and has a pacey CPU but there's no optional extras at that price in the shape of a Blu-ray drive and webcam. It also has the smallest screen and someone seems to have run off with a gig of memory too. It's hard to see why someone would opt for it ahead of either the HP or the Asus but expect to see a more competitive price to make you think a little longer in the weeks to come.

Sony Touch Vaio L Series PC/TV

?

Price

?1,399

Screen size

24-inch

CPU

2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Quad

RAM

4GB

Graphics

GeForce G210M 512MB

Storage

1TB

So, that's the affordable ones out of the way. If you really want to treat yourself, then the recently announced 24-inch Sony Vaio L all-in-one would certainly be a most enjoyable way to go. It has a Full HD, WUXGA 1920 x 1080 widescreen panel with a built-in TV tuner a huge bank of storage and, of course, Sony's Blu-ray support as well. The quad core processor is a very welcome step up in performance and power and, being a Vaio, it also looks damn good too. It comes with Sony's media gallery software and despite all the luxury features, is still relatively good value.

Medion Touch

Price

?2,000

Screen size

24"

CPU

Intel CoreTM2 Quad Q9000

RAM

4GB

Graphics

NVIDIA GeForce GT240M graphics card

Storage

1TB

Surprisingly, it's Medion that has taken a slight leave of its senses by coming up with the most expensive of these Windows 7 all-in-ones. The 24-inch Touch X9613 is designed as a wall mounted unit to be used as an always connected secondary screen for the family home. On the surface it has a similar spec to the Vaio but it's packed with features including twin DVB-T/DVB-S tuners, a full Dolby Surround sound bar and HDMI-in and outputs. It's a technological statement from the company normally associated with budget PCs but it'd certainly be a fun statement to be a part of. It? features voice control, has a wireless mouse and keyboard and an RF remote. It also happens to look pretty swish too.

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Related links:

• News - HP TouchSmart PC
• PHOTOS - Getting the touch on the Medion X9613 all-in-one
• News - Dell Studio One 19 launches in UK
• News - PHOTOS: Asus Eee Top ET2203

Tags: Hardware All-in-one PCs HP HP TouchSmart PC Sony Vaio Windows 7 Dell Studio One 19 Dell Sony Asus Asus Eee Top ET2203 Medion Medion Touch X9613 Features

Five touchscreen Windows 7 PCs to look out for originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:40:18 +0100

According to HP Media Test Expert, Thom Brown, the cost of printing has come down 30% in the last three years. The average user will get through 3.8 ink cartridges each year which works out as a cost of $6 per month. It's a good way of rationalising it but 30% or no 30% it still feels like bill shock every time we have to we have to play the replacement game.? The real trouble is that few of us ever thinks of the purchase of a printer as a subscription or a model with significant running costs. So, for those who can't take the pain at the checkout, Pocket-lint went over to HP's ink factory in Dublin to find out exactly where all that money goes.

The process of printing is like dropping grapes into a bucket from the top of a 30 story building at speeds of 50km/h and at intervals of 30,000 times a second. We're asking those cartridges to make single dots on a page from 32 separate super-heated vapour explosions but yet be cool enough by the time they arrive to be dried and in good condition. And all of that through a nozzle just one third the breadth of a human hair. If the droplets are not the exact right shape, the lines on the documents on the photographs will become blurred and raggedy, the contrast poor and the images far from sharp. And if the results aren't good, then the consumer will blame the printer manufacturer, so it's small wonder that they put so much into the production of the cartridges.

There's a holy trinity of printing between the machine, the paper and the ink cartridge but out of them all it's arguably the cartridge that's the hardest working of them all. The ink comes into contact with both the machine side of things as well as the paper too. The paper itself is specialised to some degree with a choice between porous and swellable technologies - you can ask us about that one another time - but the cartridge has become such a piece of work that more often than not these days, it's even the place where you'll find the actually printing head which was previously always found in the machine.

The engineering and assembly that goes into each cartridge is certainly more than you'd expect especially when standing there with your bill shock face. As well as the tiny nozzle, each one contains a sponge and a filter as well as the ink. The sponge is there to ensure that every last drop of ink is soaked up from the cartridge container but is not so greedy that it starves the nozzle. The filter is 7 microns in size and is designed to block whatever impurities that may have got in there that could clog up the nozzle and ruin the drop flow.

The cartridges are filled in a vacuum to make sure they're up to the brim and, once done, the lids are placed on top and ultra-sonically vibrated against the main body until the two heat up and fuse together. The heads themselves are made from an incredibly thin film and held down by the inert and rather pricey metal Palladium to make sure that they're perfectly in place. Each cartridge also has its own unique ID chip to make sure it's gone through all the quality control and, if there is a problem, it can be traced back to a particular batch.

But of course, it's not just the plastics where all the money goes. A huge amount of the expense is concerned with the ink itself. Each new ink takes around 3-5 years to develop. The fluid dynamics are selecting for viscosity, anti-smudge factors, quick drying and colour permanence to last years of exposure to light. The droplets are examined under electron microscopy for size, shape and speed to make sure they'll give that perfect image reproduction when required.

It's small wonder that manufacturers like HP recommend using their ink cartridges and no one else's when it's time to change them over. Sure, a significant part of their business is the ink cartridge money spinner but it's easy to see how a refill of their specially engineered hardware could produce some very patchy results. The new ink is not going to have the same viscosity which will give a dramatically different performance but, more than anything else, the cartridges simply aren't designed to last for a second life cycle. Many of the parts such as the delicate filters and nozzles might well have worn out. HP describes refills like second hand cars. There's just no guarantee that they'll run properly.

Thankfully, you can buy into a printer type and system where new cartridges cost less. You can make the choice whether you'd rather spend more on the outlay or pay higher running costs but, for now at least, shelling out for new cartridges is a part of life. From an eco point of view, companies like HP are crying out for us to send back the empties so that they can recycle them. 70% of the new ones are made from the plastic of the old. But, until they run a decent incentive schemes to help with further ink purchases, it seems unlikely that many people will bother.

So, until then, you'll just have to remember these facts the next time your printer runs dry and it's time to stump up the cash again. You won't like it and it's still not cheap but at least you'll have a better idea of where the money is going.

Related links:

• Feature - How to buy the right printer for you
• Review - Dell 1320C printer review
• News - Polaroid re-launch announced

Tags: Hardware Printers HP Photo printers How to Features Ink cartridges

Why is printing so bloody expensive? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:08:40 +0100

Printers aren't the sexiest of gadgets. We know this. But the fact remains that more and more people are choosing to print out their digital photos as well as using the things for letters, contracts and other documents. So, if you want to know how to avoid the pricey ink trap and make sure you're getting the most beautiful snaps for your frames then read on.

Rule 1: Work out how much you'll use it

This is both the hardest thing to figure out and also the most important at the same time. In fact, if you get this bit sussed, you're pretty much home already. The trouble is that it's hard thing to estimate because it's not worth paying attention to while you do it. In fact, you're most likely only going find out the answer after it's too late and you've already made your purchase. So, as dull as it might sound, if you can have a good estimate at this now, it'll save you a fair bit of money and trouble in the long run.

Rule 2: Cheaper printers have more expensive ink

You might have only paid ?30 for the hardware in some sale or other but chances are that a cheap printer will cost you more in ink cartridges over time whereas replacements on a more expensive piece of kit will work out better as time goes on. So, based on the calculation of how many pages you think you'll be printing each month, you'll have some idea of how often you'll get through cartridges. Lots of brands these days say on the packaging just how many sheets they'd expect you to get out of them. Combine that with your printing frequency and you'll have some idea of how much you'd expect to pay in refills over each year. Factor in the initial cost of the machine and you'll see at what point it might be worth going for a higher spec printer.

Rule 3: How long do you intend to keep your printer for?

The majority of printers these days - certainly those towards the bottom end of the market - are actually quite future proof as far as performance goes. The reason is that most of the important technology is in the cartridges which house the print heads themselves. So, each time you change the ink, you're effectively buying whatever new printing upgrade the manufacturer has been working on even if your machine is three years out of date. The exception here is that some printers have permanent or semi-permanent heads - that is to say that to some degree the print head technology is in-built, so bear in mind that these other machines might not last quite so long. On the plus side, their ink replacement is considerably cheaper, so they're an excellent option for those who can't stomach the cartridge game.

Rule 4: Lasers are not necessarily the best

Most home user probably would opt for an ink jet anyway but even if you really want to spend some cash or you're a small business trying to make the right choice, don't just presume that you'll get more for your money with a laser printer. The major advantage of them is that they're fast but if you only print a couple of sheets at a time then remember that a laser printer will have to warm-up first before it goes into action. They've got significant;y quicker at this over the years but many ink jets will beat the less high tech laser models over a page or two. On the other hand, if you're going to be calling for 20 sheets at a time, then a laser's probably the right call.

Another issue is that lasers won't necessarily offer more accurate colours over all parts of the spectrum as a high end ink jet might. So, if printing photos is the reason for your purchase then make sure to read the reviews carefully if you really are sold on the idea of these bigger, faster machines. On the cartridge side, you won't have to shell out for a new one quite so often but you will be looking at a fair old wedge when you do. Quite a good compromise if you're unsure of which type to go for are often the prosumer type ink jet machines often referred to with names like office jet and such. They're generally quicker and more economic with the ink provided you use them on a regular basis.

Rule 5: Use the right refills

One option to make you're ongoing printer use cheaper is to go for non-brand printer cartridge replacements or even have your empties filled back up again. By all means give this a crack but bear in mind that you're rolling the dice here. A printer cartridge is a very fine tuned and specific piece of kit and only those produced by your hardware manufacturer are designed to get the best results from your machine. Some non-brand replacements are reliable but many aren't. Of 2,000 people surveyed by HP who had tried alternative cartridges, 50% of them said they were unsatisfied and wouldn't try it again. Now, it might be that the other 50% chose a better label but it could also be that pot luck.

The ones to be most careful of are the refill services. Ink cartridges contain quite a few subtle parts which will very often be worn out by the end of their natural cycles. Trying to squeeze a second batch of ink out them might well cause lower quality results, leaks or a total failure. Even if your refill or non-brand cartridge does print accurately, tests have also shown that most of them have ink with 50% less permanence than the ones specifically built for your machine. That is to say that their printed colours will fade far quicker over time.

Another thing to keep your eyes out for are extra large cartridges and printer packs. It's just a question of a buying in bulk mentality. These deals will offer you a lower cost per page but just make sure that you're going to use them up within the best before dates.

Rule 6: Use the right paper

There's a holy trinity of printing between the machine, the ink and the paper and if any one of them is out, there's a chance that you won't get good results. Fortunately you don't have to be quite as specific with paper as you do with the ink and there'll be a number of brands which your printer manufacturer recommends. Photo quality paper is the one to pay most attention to. If you are going to print your snaps, then you'll be peeved if they're anything less than what you can get down the shops so, it's not really a place to scrimp. That said, they often come in grades equivalent to “good”, “better” and “best” so try a few and see which reaches the right price/quality point for you. One piece of advice for all printing is to make sure that your paper is 80gsm thick or over – if you require your documents to have an aesthetic value, that is.

Rule 7: A printer is a subscription

Most dissatisfaction over printers is caused by the bill shock of the cartridges. The problem is that people just aren't in the right mind set when they buy them. You've got to see the purchase of a printer much like a mobile phone where there's an initial outlay to consider as well as an equal, if not more significant, running cost. Pick the subscription model that suits you the best. Are you happy paying little and often or would you prefer to shell out in bursts? You might consider a cheaper printer more like a 12 month contract where as a better model you'll need to keep for a longer period of time to really reap the economic benefits.

Rule 8: Do you need a printer at all?

Of course, the ultimate PAYG model is not to buy a printer at all. There's plenty of web services and high street shops which provide very reasonable and guaranteed quality photo printing services. Then you've no need to worry about an initial outlay or storing another piece of hardware at all. If you just need the odd document off the line, then there's almost an internet cafe on every corner that'll churn them out at 10p per sheet. In the long run, it'll probably work out more expensive but if you really don't need a printer that often, then it's probably best not to buy one at all.

Related links:

• News - Kodak ESP 3250 and 5250 printers unveiled
• News - Daily Tech Deal: Canon Selphy printer with Bluetooth adapter
• Buy - Help choosing a printer

Tags: Hardware Printers HP Photo printers How to Features Ink cartridges

How to buy the right printer for you originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:53:15 +0100

As part of a wider range refresh with the release of Windows 7, HP has also announced two new consumer-aimed PCs and a monitor.

HP's first non-touch consumer all-in-one desktop PC, the HP Pavilion MS200 gets a 18.5-inch, 16:9 widescreen display, an AMD dual-core processor, optional Nvidia discrete graphics and HP Media Smart software.

Features include stereo speakers, a built-in webcam and microphone and Wi-Fi. It will go on sale mid-November for ?499.

The HP Pavilion Elite HPE PC is described as an "affordable, compact desktop PC with the speed and performance needed for power-intensive gaming and multimedia content creation". ?

It boasts Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and Nvidia GTX 260 graphics in a race car red "merlot" chassis. The HPE PC will be in shops from 22 October priced from ?799.99.

A new "high-end" consumer monitor, the HP 2509m, has also been announced. The new monitor features a 25-inch, 16:9 Full HD display with BrightView tech, a 60,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 3ms response time and VGA, DVI-D and HDMI connectivity.

With HP's tilt and swivel "Helium" stand, the HP 2509m will be available from December with a street price of ?249.99.

Tags: Hardware HP Desktop PCs All-in-one PCs Monitors

HP Pavilion MS200, Elite HPE PCs announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:20:16 +0100

HP confirmed today rumours first started at the end of last month, announcing the launch of the HP Pavilion dv8 Entertainment Notebook PC.

The 18.4-inch, full high-definition, ultra-widescreen, ultra BrightView display with built-in TV tuner, Blu-ray disk reader and subwoofer monster, which is sure to be described as the SUV of the laptop world, will be available in a scratch-proof liquid metallic surface in the chic HP Espresso Imprint pattern.

Inside the machine will offer an Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 230M graphics card with 1GB DDR3 SDRAM, as well as the DDR3 memory.

Furthermore, HP is saying that the new laptop will come with a new HP Long-Life battery that offers up to a 1000 recharges and is "an improvement of three to five times over conventional lithium-ion batteries".

The HP Pavilion dv8 Entertainment Notebook PC will be available from 22 October and cost ?1299.99 inc. VAT.

In addition to the new dv8, HP also announced several technology updates to its current HP Pavilion dv6 and dv7 Entertainment Notebook PCs. Both the mid-size 15.6-inch dv6 and the larger 17.3-inch dv7 will offer users the choice of either the new Intel Core i7 processor or the latest AMD Turion II ultra Dual Core processor. Nvidia graphics and DDR3 SDRAM will be available on select dv6 and dv7 models.

The HP Pavilion dv7 Entertainment Notebook PC will cost ?599.99 inc. VAT and the dv6 ?449.99 inc. VAT. Both will launch on 22 October in time for the Windows 7 launch.

Tags: Hardware Laptops HP Intel Nvidia HP Pavilion dv8 HP Pavilion dv6 HP Pavilion dv7

HP Pavilion dv8 laptop confirmed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:39:36 +0100

HP is continuing its stead move into the world of home servers with the launch of yet another; the HP MediaSmart Server EX490.

This time, users will get a faster, leaner, more useful device with support for Mac, iPhone and the ability to convert video for watching around the home.

Based on the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform, the updated HP MediaSmart Server promises a shiny new user interface via a web browser.

The HP MediaSmart Server EX490 also features a new media collector, which allows users to collect media by computer, media type or file location.

According to HP "The server automatically collects and organises media files across Macs and PCs and streams it across a home network and the Internet."

iPod touch and iPhone users will also be able to access content on the stored drives via a downloadable (free) app called MediaSmart Server iStream.

Available from 15 October, the HP MediaSmart Server EX490 with 1TB of hard disk storage is ?429.

Tags: Hardware Storage HP HP MediaSmart Server EX490

HP MediaSmart Server EX490 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:12:35 +0100

HP has announced two new models of its HP TouchSmart all-in-one PC. Both models – along with the HP Pavilion dv3 touch – will run version 3.0 of HP's TouchSmart software.

New highlights of the software include the TouchSmart Canvas, which will let you organise and edit photos by touch and TouchSmart Live TV which gives you the sort of functions you'd expect from a PVR, with the ability to pause live TV and record from the EPG.

The HP TouchSmart 600 will feature a 23-inch Full HD display, with Nvidia GeForce graphics, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB RAM and 1TB hard drive.

As a fully featured PC the TouchSmart 600 will come with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a Blu-ray drive and a wireless keyboard and mouse.

An HDMI port gives you to option of connecting an Xbox 360 or PS3, to use the TouchSmart as you would a regular HD TV.

The smaller TouchSmart 300 has a 20-inch HD-Ready display, will come with an AMD processor and ATI Radeon graphics, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, Wi-FI and Windows 7.

The HP TouchSmart 600 will cost you ?1199.99 and the 300 will cost you ?899.99.

The updated Pavilion dv3 now comes with Windows 7, with a new HP Imprint finish - Modern Vintage - and a matching slip case. The new HP Pavilion dv3 will cost you ?799.

Tags: Hardware All-in-one PCs HP HP TouchSmart PC HP Pavilion dv3

HP updates TouchSmart PCs originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:08:17 +0100

HP is to release a limited edition version of its new HP Envy 15 laptop in the US, the company has confirmed.

Called the HP ENVY 15 Beats limited edition notebook PC, the new model will be a collaboration with rapper Dr Dre, his Beats Electronics company and HP engineers.

"We found that most PCs downgrade sound to unacceptable levels and when you reduce it further to a limited platform, like an mp3, the music doesn’t stand a chance. If music is an emotion, if it sounds better, then the emotion is better" said Jimmy Iovine from Beats on the announcement.

The HP ENVY 15 Beats limited edition notebook PC will feature a Beats sound system and sport a piano black, high-gloss finish rather than the silver finish of the original model (photos), and come with a signature Beats design as found in the Beats by Dr. Dre line of headphones.

It also comes with Native Instrument's Traktor LE software and Audio 2 DJ Traktor LE software with Audio 2 DJ multichannel splitter so you can get mixing out of the box.

Those who sign up for the deal will also get a pair of Beats by Dr. Dre Studio High-Definition Headphones thrown in.

The HP ENVY 15 Beats limited edition is expected to be available in the United States on 22 October with a starting price of $2299.

Read

Tags: Hardware Laptops HP Envy 15 HP Beats HP ENVY 15 Beats Limited Edition Audio

Groove is in the laptop: HP ENVY 15 Beats limited edition model announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:41:41 +0100

In light of the Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy saying that the worst of the recession is over for the UK economy - reporting a 1% rise in pre-tax profit for the company in the first half of the financial year - our tech deal today points you in the direction of some discounts on selected laptops from the retail behemoth.

Although the majority of the laptops seem to be coming from Acer, the pick being the Acer T4200 with 4GB RAM, 420GB hard drive for ?429, there's also a decent discount on the HP Compaq CQ61 for ?359 coming with 2GB RAM, 320GB hard drive and a 15.6-inch screen.

With a choice of just ten laptops it's not the greatest selection but still worth a quick rummage if you're in the market as all of them come with free delivery.

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Related links:

• Shop - Tesco.com

Tags: Hardware Laptops Tesco Acer HP Packard Bell Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: Discounts on laptops at Tesco.com originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0100

HP are reported to be offering free music downloads with new laptops that consumers buy. In a move that echos Nokia's questionable Comes With Music service, anyone that buys a new laptop will a scratchcard thrown in with a PIN number on it.

You can then visit a dedicated website and register that PIN number to gain access to a catalogue provided by Universal Music where you can pick up to 1000 tracks to download. Good luck playing those on your iPod though, it looks like they come with DRM that'll limit you to a year's listening. At the end of that year, you can pick 120 to keep.

The offer seems to be limited to Asia (though not Japan), and will be available on HP notebooks from 24 October. Sandy Monteiro, Universal Music Group's Asian VP of Digital, remarked: "We are keen to explore such deals to get consumers familiar with the new environment and using devices like computers and mobile phones to listen to music. It incentivises them to learn to enjoy music via devices other than traditional hardware".

Parellel to that deal, customers buying HP laptops after that date will also get access to 12 videgames from Wild Tangent. It's not clear what the games are.

Read

Related links:

• News - HP Pavilion DM1 sneaks out

Tags: Hardware Laptops HP Music downloads

HP offers music with laptops originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:56:19 +0100