HP rolls out trio of Pavilion desktop PCs; starts at $299.99

Hewlett-Packard is paying some more attention to its Pavilion consumer desktop collection, and these PCs have been slimmed down considerably.

Starting with the smallest, the Slimline s5 series (pictured right) is "less than half" the size of a conventional PC tower. With a $329 starting price tag (and the fact that this computer is directed at non-business/enterprise consumers), don't expect more than than the basic specs. However, there are plenty of customizable options, including choices between Intel and AMD processors.

Next up on the spec spectrum is the Pavilion P7 series (pictured above). While it's definitely larger than the s5, it comes with a smaller starting price tag of $299. This machine is ideal for users who need a little more graphics support with an integrated graphics card and built-in support for multi-channel surround sound. Buyers also have the choice between Intel and AMD processors on this machine.

Finally, there is the HP Pavilion HPE h8 series (pictured below), which starts at $599. If you're looking for a computer for a home office or other more intense computing purposes (i.e. gaming), this is the machine to pick out of these three options. Consumers can choose from Intel Core i7 or AMD Phenom processors as well as NVIDIA and ATI graphics cards. Additionally, the HPE h8 series desktops can support up to two monitors simultaneously with up to 24GB of RAM and up to three hard drives onboard.

There are a number of similar threads running throughout all three of these new Pavilion models. Along with Beats Audio technology (which also popped up on a number of the new HP laptops and netbooks), HP has integrated its signature LinkUp program that permits users to access files wirelessly from a laptop on their Pavilion desktops on the same home network. That could come in handy for home office set-ups or larger households with multiple computers.

Both the HP Pavilion p7 and HPE h8 series will be launched first on May 18, followed by the Slimline s5 series on June 15.

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