HP debuts new sleek, refined ProBook Standard series; targets SMBs, starts $719
Hewlett-Packard on Monday debuted its new ProBook S-series, a sleek family of notebooks powered by Intel Core chips and targeting small and mid-size businesses.
The new HP ProBook Standard lineup includes four new models that combine a high-performance interior with a sophisticated exterior: The ProBook 4320s (13.3-inch), ProBook 4420s (14-inch), ProBook 4520s (15.6-inch) and ProBook 4720s (17.3-inch).
Sophisticated exterior, that is, thanks to an all-new, matte brushed aluminum shell (in "caviar" or "bordeaux") that seems right at home in first-class. It also lends the laptops some structural rigidity, too.
The systems offer multiple wireless technologies, face recognition for security, optional fingerprint reader, multimedia controls and the ArcSoft TotalMedia Suite, which allows for the playback and editing of audio and video files without requiring any expensive software from a certain company whose name rhymes with "Nairobi."
Most interestingly, the new ProBooks come with a feature called "HP DayStarter," which displays the upcoming 12 hours of your Microsoft Outlook calendar and a battery life meter as the system boots Windows 7. It's a nice touch of productivity that could eliminate the requisite morning coffee trip as your computer starts up.
Finally, for IT professionals, the new ProBooks come with Central Management for HP ProtectTools, which allows for remote functionality so IT folks can deploy and manage security policies across an entire business, with user and user type management, monitoring and auditing capability, and recover access.
Full specs:
- OS: Windows 7 Professional/Home Premium/Home Basic/Starter; Windows Vista Business/Home Basic; SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11; FreeDOS; Red Flag Linux
- CPU: Intel Core i3, i5 or i7
- Chipset: Mobile Intel HM57
- Memory: 1GB/2GB/4GB (up to 8GB) DDR3 SDRAM 1066/1333 MHz
- Storage: 250GB/320GB/500GB 7200rpm SATA HDD with HP 3D DriveGuard
- Optical Drive: 12.7mm SATA: Blu-ray DVD+/-RW SuperMulti; DVD+/- SuperMulti; DVD-ROM
- Display, ProBook 4320s: 13.3-inch LED-backlit HD (1366x768)
- Display, ProBook 4420s: 14.0-inch LED-backlit HD (1366x768)
- Display, ProBook 4520s: 15.6-inch LED backlit HD (1366x768)
- Display, ProBook 4720s: 17.3-inch LED backlit HD (1600x900)
- Graphics: Integrated Intel HD graphics; Discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4350 (512MB video memory)
- A/V: HD audio, stereo speakers, line in/out, integrated digital microphone
- Optional 2-megapixel webcam
- Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g/n, b/g/n or b/g; Bluetooth 2.1; optional HP EV-DO/HSPA Mobile Broadband
- Realtek Ethernet (10/100/1000 NIC)
- Ports: 1 ExpressCard/34 slot, media card reader, 3 USB 2.0; 1 eSATA/USB 2.0 combo, VGA, HDMI, RJ-45 ethernet
- Input: Full-size keyboard (numeric keyboard on 4520s and 4720s), ClickPad with gesture support
- Software: Skype, WinZip, Corel Home Office
- Security: Optional fingerprint sensor, face recognition, drive encryption, file santizer, lock slot, McAfee Security Solution
- Dimensions: 1.07 inches thick (front), 12.72 inches wide, 8.98 inches deep
- Weight, ProBook 4320s: 4.74 lbs (4.45 lbs without optical drive)
- Weight, ProBook 4420s: 5.0 lbs (4.71 lbs without optical drive)
- Weight, ProBook 4520s: 5.5 lbs (5.26 lbs without optical drive)
- Weight, ProBook 4720s: 6.8 lbs (6.51 lbs without optical drive)
- Battery: 6-cell (47WHr) or 9-cell (93WHr)
The HP ProBook s-series starts at $719 and will be available this month.
The company also says it's offering businesses zero percent vendor-direct financing plans for new EliteBook and ProBook lines through HP Financial Services.