Today, HP unveiled its product range for Winter 2015, a diverse collection of devices firmly rooted on the cutting edge of computing. Between systems designed for cloud-based usage to high end gaming rigs, the company seems keen to establish itself as a leader in the ever-changing landscape of hardware manufacture.
HP Envy 34 all-in-one and Envy 32 display
HP announced a bevy of devices designed specifically for Windows 10, reportedly the product of close collaboration with Microsoft and Intel. Leading the charge is the HP Envy Curved All-in-one, which is being billed as the largest curved all-in-one in the world. Its 34-inch Technicolor Certified screen is certainly an enticing prospect, and support for Windows Hello is a wholly forward-thinking feature.
Customers will be able to opt for AMD Radeon R9 graphics rather than the stock integrated component on the 23.8-inch and 27-inch models. Meanwhile, the 34-inch variant can be fitted with NVIDIA GeForce 960A graphics. All three systems can be outfitted with a 128GB SSD and up to 16GB of memory, with base prices for the different sized systems ranging from $1000 to $1800.
The Envy line is also seeing a new dedicated media monitor. The Envy 32 Media Display boasts a 32-inch Quad HD screen, with 100-percent sRGB color space for accurate photo editing and AMD’s FreeSync technology to prevent any stuttering or tearing. The monitor will retail for $500, and will be also be available from October 18.
HP Envy notebook
Moving on to a more traditional device, the new HP Envy notebook looks set to be a potent blend of processing power and form factor. Its 6th Gen Intel Core processors provide plenty of muscle under the hood, but it’s still HP’s thinnest notebook ever at just 12.95 millimeters. It has a 13-inch display and offers either 1080p or 3,200 x 1,800 resolution.
Despite its small size, the new Envy notebook finds room for three USB 3.0 ports, a HDMI port and an SD card reader. A 3-cell 45 watt-hour Li-ion polymer battery allows for up to ten hours of battery life, which combined with its weight of less than three pounds makes the laptop a great choice for portable use. Prices will start at $850 when the device goes on sale on October 18.
HP Spectre x360 and x2
HP is also refreshing its Spectre line of convertibles. The limited edition 13-inch Spectre x360 features audio by Bang & Olufsen, an arresting Quad HD display and support for Windows 10 functionality like Continuum. The device will be made available on November 8 for $1,300.
Meanwhile, the Spectre x2 is being touted as the thinnest 2-in-1 PC that HP has ever made — it’s quite a remarkable device at just eight millimeters thin. A 6th Gen Intel Core M processor provides the power to run software on the go, and up to 512GB of SSD will ensure that the system is ultra-responsive.
This is a device that’s intended to make users more productive, so a robust keyboard is a core element of the package. The detachable 1.5 millimeter travel keyboard and “Precision Touchpad”offer all the functionality that you might expect from a desktop, but can easily be stowed away in a bag when you’re travelling. There’s even a smart kickstand designed to offer multiple viewing angles for different types of use.
A 12-inch Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 display makes this stand device stand out, but it’s just as capable when capturing images as it is displaying them. Three cameras mean you’re set for any photographic project, with an Intel RealSense Camera R200 capable of capturing 3D imagery being particularly notable. The Spectre x2 also goes on sale on November 8, with prices starting at $800.
HP Pavilion Gaming
HP hasn’t forgotten about gamers in and among these high-end devices. The new 15.6-inch HP Pavilion is a rig that any video game aficionado would be happy to call their own, with an IPS display boasting optional touch capabilities and plenty of raw power to run the latest releases.
Customers will have the option of a 6th Gen i5 or i7 processor to work in league with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 950M graphics unit. With up to 16GB of system memory and up to 2TB of hard drive space, this is a machine of considerable capabilities — and it will retail for $900 on November 8.
HP Stream
Lastly, there’s the HP Stream line of affordable cloud-based PCs. The new 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch models might not have the raw power of some of the company’s other offerings, but that really isn’t the priority here — instead, they’re low-cost, high-productivity devices that combine functionality with fun.
Attractive designs house a fanless design, with a high-efficiency Celeron processor and 32 GB of eMMC flash memory. There are plenty of extras included too, like a year’s subscription to Office 365 and 1TB of storage space on Microsoft’s OneDrive service.
The HP Stream line will be available from October 18, with the 11.6-inch model priced at $200 and the 13.3-inch model costing $230. The education-focussed HP Stream 11 Pro G2 will launch on October 12 for $250.
