HP expanded their thin and light notebook lineup yesterday with the introduction of the new dv2z series. The dv2z has a starting price of $599, measures less than an inch thick, weighs around 3.81 pounds, and features a 12.1 inch diagonal mercury-free LED widescreen display.

The $599 base configuration comes with the following specs:

• Espresso black color
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• AMD Athlon Neo processor MV-40 clocked at 1.6GHz
• 1GB RAM
• 250GB 5400RPM SATA HDD
• ATI Radeon X1250 graphics
• 12.1 inch WXGA display (1280 x 800)
• Webcam
• Wi-Fi card
• 6 cell lithium ion battery

You can also opt for more powerful processor options including a new AMD Athlon Neo X2 Dual Core Processor (Model L335) clocked at 1.6GHz for $25 dollars more or the AMD Turion Neo X2 Dual Core Mobile Processor Model L625 clocked at 1.6GHz for an additional $75 dollars. (Note – if you do opt for the Turion Neo X2, HP requires that you update to Windows Vista Home Premium (which adds $30 dollars to the price) and to an ATI Mobility Radeon HD3410 (which adds $50 dollars to the price) – bringing the overall price to $754.99. Still not bad but something to remember if you want the more powerful Turion processor.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: HP Pavilion dv2z notebook, AMD Athlon Neo processor

A few days ago, I wrote about the newly announced HP Pavilion dv2 notebook – the first system to feature the new AMD Athlon Neo processor. Tonight I had a chance to look at the dv2 at the Digital Experience in the Mirage and I have to say – it’s one sweet ultra-portable notebook.

First, let me tell you what it’s not.  It will not compete directly with netbooks. It will fill that niche between low end, low power, inexpensive netbooks and high end, expensive ultra-portable notebooks. The dv2 and really the Athlon Neo processor is designed for people in need of an ultra-portable notebook with more power than a netbook and yet cheaper than your typical ultra-portable notebook (which can easily run into the 1000+ range).

It also isn’t a system with a long battery life. From what I was told, you can expect the dv2 to last approximately 3 hours – not great especially compared against Intel Atom based netbooks with six cell batteries. Then again – it’s a different class of systems too.

With that said, here are pictures of the new dv2 – and yes for those of you wondering, it does have Windows Vista installed. AND yes, the Neo is a 64 bit processor which means you can easily install Windows Vista 64 bit if you want. I also found out that the dv2 supports up to 4GB of RAM – very cool.

This system when it comes out could very well replace my current Sony Core 2 Duo – and fill that niche between high end desktops at home and netbooks on the road.

Here’s the black colored version of the dv2 with the optional external optical drive (which you can purchase with Blu-ray support too).

For those of you wondering what the dv2 is like compared to a netbook – here’s the 12 inch dv2 up against the 10 inch HP Mini

Technorati Tags: HP Pavilion dv2

HP announces two new thin and ultra-light portable systems – the HP Pavilion dv2 and HP Pavilion dv3 – as well as the successor to the HP Blackbird 002 – the HP Firebird with Voodoo DNA.

The HP Pavilion dv2 is the first notebook announced to support the newly introduced AMD Athlon Neo processor platform. The dv2 features the following specs:

• Measures just under 1 inch thick
• Weighs starting at 3.8 pounds
• Athlon Neo processor with discrete graphics
• Up to 500GB storage
• Magnesium casing
• 12.1 inch diagonal LED BrightView display
• Nearly full size keyboard
• Available in two striking finishes with match HP Imprint designs on the palm rest – Espresso and Moonlight
• Optional built-in WWAN
• Built-in HP Webcam
• Microphone
• Optional lightweight external optical disc drive with Blu-ray support
• Available in April with starting prices at $699

Meanwhile, the HP Pavilion dv3 is powered by an AMD Turion Ultra X2 notebook platform, weighs just 4.35 pounds, and comes with a 13.3 inch diagonal LED BrightView backlit display. Other specs include:

• Built-in slot-loading SuperMulti DVD drive
• 5 in 1 media card reader
• HP Mobile Remote control
• SRS Premium Sound
• Optional solid state drive
• Magnesium casing
• Available starting today with starting prices at $799

Finally, the new HP Firebird with Voodoo DNA features:

• Intel Core 2 Quad processor
• Dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S small form factor graphics cards in SLI configuration
• Hot-swappable 320GB dual hard drives
• Advanced thermal management system
• Windows Vista Home Premium OS 64 bit
• NVIDIA nForce 760S SLI MCP motherboard
• Up to 4GB RAM
• Two DIMM slots
• 350 watt external power adapter
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth
• Realtek 5.1 audio or Creative Audio Sound Blaster X-Fi Mini-PCIe module
• SPDIF out
• Microphone/headphone/line-out
• HDMI, dual link DVI
• 6x USB 2.0, 2x eSATA, 1x FireWire
• ExpressCard/54
• Available starting on Jan 9th with starting prices at $1799.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: HP, Pavilion dv2, Pavilion dv3, Firebird with Voodoo DNA

[Reprinted from NetbookTech] AMD took the wraps off their “Yukon” platform tonight with the introduction of the new Athlon Neo processor, ATI Radeon X1250 integrated graphics and optional ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 discrete graphics. With this new platform, AMD aims to claim the space between low-end netbooks and expensive ultra-portable notebook PCs – basically inexpensive 12 inch notebooks that are more powerful than netbooks yet cheaper than current ultra-portables often powered by the more powerful and more expensive Intel Core 2 Duo ULV processor.

According to Chris Cloran, corporate vice president, client division, AMD:

“In introducing the AMD ultrathin notebook platform, AMD enables balanced PC performance, including the option of advanced graphics and video for true HD entertainment, all in an affordable, ultrathin notebook, bringing consumers uncompromised mobility.”

AMD claims the Athlon Neo processor platform will enable:

• Smooth 1080p HD playback
• Realistic 3D graphics with the optional ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 Premium graphics
• HDMI and DVI outputs

Features of the Athlon Neo processor include:

• Processor package measuring 27 x 27 mm and a low profile of 2.5 mm
• AMD PowerNow! Technology – dynamically switches performance states (processor core voltage and operating frequency) based on processor performance requirements
• AMD Digital Media XPress with support for SSE, SSE2, SSE3 and MMX instructions
• 64 bit processor
• Compatible with Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Linux, and Windows Vista

The Athlon Neo processor will be available initially in a 1.6GHz model (Model number MV-40) manufactured on a 65nm process and featuring a 512MB L2 cache.

Should we expect to find the Athlon Neo processor in future netbook systems? That’s always a possibility but keep in mind that the Neo has a larger footprint (Neo’s 27 x 27 mm vs. the Atom’s 22 x 22 mm footprint) and thermal envelope (Neo’s 15 watt thermal envelope vs. the Atom’s 2.5 watt thermal envelope) than the Intel Atom processor making it a more ideal processor for larger platforms like the 12 inch ultra-portable notebook.

From a performance perspective, PC Magazine claims the Athlon Neo should deliver 2.5 times the performance of a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor and the Intel GMA 950 graphics platform. 

[Check out the press release]

Technorati Tags: AMD Athlon Neo processor, ultra-portable notebooks