HP: This time it’s personal

It was an exciting time in Seoul, South Korea as HP, the world’s number one PC vendor, recently unveiled a brand new PC category as well as a fresh lineup of consumer desktops and notebooks for 2007.

The launch event also included a brand new handheld that will play a key part in transforming the way people connect, access and enjoy their digital content, devices, and services.

Held at the Dynasty Ballroom of the Hotel Shilla in Seoul, the HP Personal Systems Group Consumer regional press launch kicked off with a speech from Adrian Koch, SVP for HP Personal Systems Group, Asia-Pacific and Japan. "PCs are getting personal again," he proclaimed, with HP offering a diverse product line guaranteed to take lifestyle computing to the new era," he said.

Much of the evening’s excitement came from the introduction of the world’s first all-in-one computer, the HP Touchsmart PC. Touted as the flagship product of the launch, the HP Touchsmart PC is the first of its kind, an all-in-one touchscreen PC that optimizes the entertainment and productivity experience of the new Microsoft Windows Vista operating system — which also launched worldwide later in the week.

Other products included the HP Pavilion tx1000 Entertainment Notebook PC, the industry’s first consumer notebook PC specially optimized for Vista and on-the-go entertainment. The tx1000 features a touchscreen display, built-in mini-remote control, HP QuickPlay instant media viewing feature, and a screen that can swivel 180 degrees and folds flat for work or watching movies in tight travel spaces such as airplanes or trains.

HP also rolled out its latest iPAQ design, the HP iPAQ rw6828 Multimedia Messenger. Sporting a brand new titanium black color, the iPAQ rw6828 is perfect for the modern and sophisticated urbanite featuring GSM voice connectivity, GPRS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

Not to be outdone, HP’s Pavilion and Compaq Presario desktop PCs also basked in the limelight, sporting a brand new design.

"We are pleased to achieve a number of ‘firsts’ with today’s launch," said Koch. He added, "We have the first all-in-one touchscreen PC; the first entertainment consumer touchscreen notebook PC, and we are also the first region to go to market with the new industrial design for our family of HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario desktop PCs. This is definitely milestone setting, and demonstrates how the Asia-Pacific has emerged as one of the most important growth markets for HP Globally."

HP Touchsmart PC

This all-in-one touchscreen PC was specifically designed for quick transactions and entertainment in social spaces of the home for the family and individuals who value innovation in design and technology. And innovative, it is. The Touchsmart PC brings a unique experience with its touchscreen interface that displays quick and easy access to information, family schedules, TV, music, movies, and photos.

Using only a single power cord and integrated high-definition 19" wide-screen Brightview LCD display, the Touchsmart PC is best placed at most frequented spaces in the home such as the living room, family room, and even the kitchen.

At the touch of a button, the Touchsmart PC can seamlessly go from a regular PC interface to the HP Smartcentre, a customizable page with quick access to information and links to favorite applications at the touch of a finger. An HP Photosmart portable printer can be taken in and out from the back of the unit — when docked, documents and photos come out from right under the screen. It is also possible to navigate your applications without even having to use the keyboard or mouse.

The HP Touchsmart PC uses an AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core TL-52 processor with AMD PowerNow! technology. Its 19" wide-screen BrightView touchscreen, high-definition LCD display has a height and tilt adjustment. It also has an integrated 1.3-megapixel Webcam and microphone array. There is an integrated FM/TV tuner with high-performance 2.0 speakers. Built-in WLAN and Bluetooth provide wireless connectivity. A media card reader can accommodate a variety of the latest in portable memory storage and front A/V inputs means easy access to different media.

A SuperMulti-DVD burner with Lightscribe technology comes with the unit as well as the requisite 2.5" HP Pocket Media Drive bay for portable hard disk transfers. Rounding out the all-in-one package is a low-profile wireless keyboard with wireless mouse, stylus, and remote control.

"Looking at traditional PCs, they’re fixated on the office or the bedroom," said Ameer Karim, director for digital home product marketing of HP’s Consumer PC Global Business Unit. "We believe this gives you the flexibility of putting it in a variety of places becausse it doesn’t require much cable and connectivity. It’s all-enclosed and integrated in a very sleek design."

HP Pavilion tx1000 Entertainment Notebook PC

Targeted at a younger, more on-the-go crowd, the unique 12.1" wide twist and touchscreen of the tx1000 can be rotated 180 degrees for viewing movies and conducting a business or classroom presentation. The screen can twist, front to back, into a flat slate for quick scribbling or watching movies in a tight travel space. A configurable integrated Webcam and dual omni-directional microphones make video conferencing simple and enjoyable.

The tx1000 makes use of an AMD Turion 64x2 mobile technology which enables the notebook to handle multiple applications simultaneously without any hiccups. This also increases the battery life for longer work on the go.

A major highlight of the tx1000 is its integrated fingertip reader that allows users to log on to their notebook PC with a simple swipe of a finger. Multiple users can even make use of this function assigning individual fingerprints to user accounts and private files.

HP iPAQ rw6828 Multimedia Messenger

For the active mobile professional, the HP iPAQ rw6828 Multimedia Messenger handheld device will keep you entertained and productive while on the move.

Users can stay connected with a tri-band GSM voice connection, GPRS/EDGE, infrared, Wi-Fi (802.11b), and Bluetooth 1.2. With built-in Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition with messaging and security feature pack, users have access to a full suite of applications such as Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Impressive Philips LifeVibes 3D sound effects come out of dual-stereo speakers, while a two megapixel camera, FM radio, and PocketMusic MP3 player round out the entertainment package.

The titanium black HP iPAQ rw6828 is bundled with additional in-box accessories such as a 1GB mini-SD card with SD slot adaptor, battery, and stylus.

The tx1000 runs on a 416MHz Intel PXA272 processor with a 128MB flash ROM for persistent storage/64MB SDRAM main memory for running applications. The 240x320 (QVGA) pixels, 18-bit color TFT LCD with LED backlight and power save mode display is more than adequate an interface. A mini-USB interface can be used for data synching or charging. While on, the tx1000 can deliver 5.5 hours of continuous talk time or 280 hours of continuous standby time.

HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario: The new look of 2007

HP also introduced an all-new industrial design for its family of Pavilion and Compaq Presario desktop PCs, created with the vision of connecting consumers to lifestyle experiences through simplicity and innovation.

The HP Pavilion a5000 series has a glossy black finish, while the Compaq Presario SR5000 series features a silver finish. Strategically placed memory card readers are on top of the PCs for easy access and a HP Pocket Media Drive bay is available for additional storage. Select models of the HP Pavilion a5000 series have built-in high definition DVD players for high-def content.

The HP Pavilion Media Centre PC, HP Pavilion Slimline s3000 series PC and HP Pavilion v7000 series PC complement the new range of PCs in design and color. HP and Compaq branded wide-screen monitors are designed with integrated speakers and a low profile nesting keyboard bay that further streamlines the look. The keyboards can rest onto the base of the monitors as an added aesthetic. An innovative HP Easy Clip accessory allows people to personalize their monitors. Use them as document holders; photo or ornamental items can also be clipped on the edge of the monitor for easy access.

Julie McDonald, of the Consumer PC Global Business Unit of HP’s Personal Systems Group, explained the motivation for the sleek re-design of the Pavilion and Presario desktop PCs. "The visual that we wanted to have when we started this design was of a little black dress. What we were going for was timelessness. And whether you have a traditional or contemporary home, we wanted to make sure our product is going to fit in. Just like a little black dress. Timelessness and universality, that was the key design factor," she said.

Integrating your lifestyle

"HP is uniquely positioned as the only company that can credibly aim at delivering a comprehensive lifestyle computing experience to consumers," said Chin Hon Cheng, VP of HP’s Consumer Products and Mobile Business Group and Personal Systems Groups in the Asia-Pacific and Japan. "Bringing together best-of-breed technology as well as world-class industrial design, the new range will deliver to the demands of the style-conscious yet performance-hungry users in Asia," he said.

Making the computer personal again is the main thrust of HP, giving us a lifestyle experience like nothing before.