The original HP ENVY 14 Beats Edition laptop from HP was a beauty, but it was also a bit pricey. Fortunately, the new HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition laptop brings the Beats by Dr. Dre style and audio experience to the table, without costing you too much. The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition is mostly identical to the dm4, with a sharp black and red color scheme that echoes the Beats Audio brand.

This all black laptop is emblazoned with a red Beats logo on its cover, along with a matching black keyboard that is backlit in red. It also is covered with a soft-touch surface on the palm rest. HP has even preloaded the laptop with exclusive Beats wallpaper and a Beats microfiber sleeve. Unfortunately, this time around, Beats Solo headphones are not included with the laptop. However, there is a special optional Solo HD Headphones bundle available with an HP exclusive red design.

The dm4 line is touted as a multimedia powerhouse, with a 14” LED HD display and Beats Audio handling the high-fidelity, full-range sound, and they have even thrown in a subwoofer. The CPU will be powered by any one of Intel’s quad-core line of processors. The dm4 is also made for portability, with a thickness of 1” and a sleek design. Lugging it around won’t be a chore, either – the laptop weighs just under 4.5 pounds.

The HP dm4 Beats Edition will start at $899.99, and will be available in stores just before Christmas, on December 18th.

It’s taken a while for HP to finally unveil an ultrabook design, and one has finally arrived in the form of the HP Folio. The HP Folio follows the ultrabook formula with an ultra thin and lightweight design. Specifically, it’s measuring less than 18 millimeters thin and weighs just 3.3lbs. Design wise, it can be best described as industrial-chic.

The Folio sports a backlit keyboard, USB 3.0 and RJ-45 ports, along with a 128GB SSD, Dolby Advanced Audio, a HP TrueVision HD webcam, and multitouch gesture support. The laptop can also be configured with a TPM Embedded Security Chip that helps keep data in email and data on the hard drive secure. With features like this last one one, there is no doubt that the HP Folio has also been designed with business users in mind. This lightweight efficiency machine also promises to last throughout the work day, with battery life of up to 9 hours. 

The Folio runs on Intel’s latest quad-core processors, and features an HP CoolSense technology, an intelligent cooling system that should keep your machine from overheating during media-heavy presentations or heavy computations.  Being an ultrabook, the Folio is pretty reasonable priced, too, starting at $899. It might be just what the budding entrepreneur in your family needs this holiday season.

The TouchSmart 620 runs on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, and is powered by Intel’s latest Core processors. The display is in 16:9, and is capable of 1080p HD video. So far, there is no word on whether or not the machine will convert 2D images to 3D – as of now, it appears that it does not.

The TouchSmart 620 3D Edition takes full advantage of being a touch-screen device, adding easy tilt-and-swivel adjustment of the screen, and an easy-to-use app-based interface, that handles everything from standard Windows 7 fare to Internet staples like Facebook and Twitter. The wireless keyboard, which is Bluetooth enabled, folds away for easy and quick storage. If you want, the TouchSmart 620 can even be wall-mounted.

The PC also comes with HP’s powerful Beats Audio, which offers solid performance for low, high, and midrange notes. With Blu-Ray playback and the ability to pause, rewind, and record live TV, the TouchSmart 620 3D Edition looks to be an accessible, fun to use entertainment powerhouse in the home.

As of now, pricing and availability for the HP TouchSmart 620 3D Edition are unknown.

The new HP 2311gt is a 23” 3D monitor, but the real eye-opener is the price tag – this is probably one of the cheapest ways to get 3D technology into your home, without sacrificing quality.

The HP 2311gt is LED backlit, like most high-end monitors and televisions. HP is using its in-house Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology to reduce flicker and transform 2D images into 3D, with clarity and sharp color.

You can toggle between 2D mode and 3D mode at any time. In 2D mode, the 2311gt is capable of full HD in 1920 x 1080 resolution. In 3D mode, you will need to use HP’s lightweight glasses, which work with the 3D conversion software bundled with the monitor. The monitor comes with two pairs of 3D glasses.

If you aren’t one to watch media on your TV much anymore, or if you don’t have the money to spring for a 3DTV, the HP 2311gt looks like it should be an excellent way to get high-quality 3D into your home without breaking the bank. The 2311gt will retail for $299.

The key word (or two letters) there is PC. The Slate 2 isn’t running one of the many mobile OS currently available now, but on the 32-bit version of Windows 7. The main reason for that is the target audience – business professionals, and those who work in retail, health care, government, or education. Its primary purpose is to be a high-powered productivity device, something it achieves in a few ways.

The Slate 2 features an 8.9” multi-touch screen, and runs on an Intel Atom Z670 processor with mSATA SSM. The battery promises up to 6 hours of continuous use, which, for people who spend most of their time out in the field (ostensibly, who this device is to be marketed toward), might still be a little low.

Security features are another big way the Slate 2 differentiates itself from the rest of the tablet market. The Slate 2 has a TPM Embedded Security Chip, which protects data on the hard drive and can be controlled and made to increase secure user authentication, secure email accounts, and support protected digital certificate applications. BIOS support for Computrace Pro allows for remote deletion of any file.

Connectivity is enhanced with the HP Connection Manager, which controls Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and 3G connections from one place. There is also a front-facing camera for video conferencing. A 3 MP rear camera takes images and video. There are two USB ports, and HDMI port, and an SD card slot.

There are a few different cases available for the Slate 2, which is a lot more interesting than it sounds at first. One doubles as a stand and includes a small but comfortable Bluetooth keyboard, allowing for desktop-like use. Another, specifically for retailers, includes a magnetic stripe reader and barcode scanner.

The HP Slate Digital Pen is a stylus that works with the Slate 2, and should go great with the virtual Swype keyboard on the Slate itself.

If you’re an entertainment junkie or an avid gamer, this isn’t the tablet for you. The Slate 2 is designed for people who need real multitasking (that a lot of tablets can’t offer satisfactorily yet) and a full range of professional tools. In that sense, it’s more in competition with the BlackBerry PlayBook than the iPad, or any Android tablet you can find on the market. The HP Slate 2 Tablet will retail for $699, and should hit stores worldwide later this month.

In a move that strengthens ties between the company and failed Republican politicians, HP has brought in Meg Whitman as the new CEO, replacing the recently dismissed Léo Apotheker. Whitman takes over a company that is in an extreme state of flux – before his sudden removal, Apotheker announced that HP would look into spinning off or selling its PC arm to focus directly on business services and enterprise software. So, naturally, with his ouster, Whitman is going to come in with sweeping changes that will break from the suddenly unwanted old CEO’s vision.

Except not. HP, under Whitman, will reportedly stay the course, going through with its purchase of Autonomy, a UK-based enterprise software company that focuses on ‘smart’ search engine processing. Whitman has stated she will continue to look into shuttling off the PC arm, which is something of a non-committal answer. It’s starting to look pretty bad for the old technology giant, now with its fourth different CEO in seven years, falling behind in the PC market, and entering a market where it has very little experience. Disappointment also lingers over the company’s decision to discontinue WebOS devices, making HP’s purchase of Palm a huge loss, in terms of money and reputation.

There’s also a little concern about Whitman’s experience in the new enterprise service direction HP is taking. Specifically, her experience there is a lot like her voting record – almost non-existent. She had a pretty golden track record at consumer-driven eBay, though, so we’ll see how that pans out for her. If HP wanted a strong authority figure, there’s no doubt they got it. Now, they just need her to figure out what, exactly, HP even is now. Otherwise, she might find herself next in the line of fallen HP CEOs. And, thanks to a couple of dirty words, I’m not thinking she’s going to be able to fall back on politics, either.

Lenovo Takes the u300s Ultrabook to Fashion’s Night Out

Who says Lenovo is a stuffy computer company, apparently they know how to party with the best of them and that’s exactly what they did last week at Fashion’s Night Out. The Lenovo Connections Lounge at Saks Fifth Avenue offered shoppers the opportunity to check out the new u300s ultrabook in person. This ultrabook is skinny enough to be cat-walk friendly. Check out our hands-on photos with the u300s in the gallery below.

HP Reunites Project Runway Designers From the Past, Present, and Future

On top of the Empire Hotel, fashionistas and techies alike mixed and mingled with Project Runway designers from across all seasons, all the while being flanked by HP TouchSmart computers and pink HP netbooks surrounded by rhinestones, glitter and 6- inch Louboutin heels. The TouchSmart was the center of attraction as designers played with the computers on display to bring the creativity to life.

If you have been watching Project Runway, you know that HP’s partnership with the show has been going on for few seasons now.  This year Project Runway challenged designers to use HP TouchSmart computers to design custom fabric prints, and produce/edit video for use in their runway production, resulting in what the judges called, “one of the best runway shows.”

Vivienne Tam Integrates Monster’s iSport Immersion with Her New Yoga Line

Monster was very busy last week. They debuted the fashion-inspired Inspiration heapdhones on the roof of the Setai during a runway show. And just a few days later, Vivienne Tam integrated the iSport Immersion headphones into her new Fashion Yoga collection. During the presentation, 20 female yogis, wearing Tam’s new line, each wore a pair of the washable and sweat-proof iSport Immersion headphones, designed specifically for athletes and workout enthusiasts. Check out Vivienne Tam’s Collection here.

Norma  Kamali  Launches First Ever 3D Shopping Pages

One designer certainly made an impression in 3D last week and that was Norma Kamali. The famous designer launched the first ever 3D shopping pages alongside her spring 2012 collection.

If you were lucky enough to be at the show, it was like you were experiencing a high-fashion TRON movie. Guests were given NK 3D glasses with a Square Cat look, to watch the show on computers or the big screen.

Currently, the 8 minute 3D fashion film and 3D fashion game can be found on Norma Kamali’s site.  Over 15,000 special NK 3D glasses have been requested to date to see these new shopping pages.  But if you don’t have 3D glasses, no worries since there is a 2D version of the shopping pages available as well.

Teen Vogue Haute Spot

The Teen Vogue Haute Spot at Lincoln Center offered young fashionistas the opportunity to enjoy their own blogger lounge, while getting free make-overs and even meeting celebrities like Shay Mitchell of “Pretty Little Liars”, Pia Toscano of “American Idol” and designers Jill Stuart, Erin Fetherston and Phillip Lim.

For some other random Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week tech goodies check out the gallery below:

For the rest of our Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week coverage, you can head on over here.

Tinie Tempah is burning through the charts, and tonight HP offered us an opportunity to sit down with Tempah to talk about his music and his inspirations. But what does HP have to do with a chart topping artist like Tempeh you ask? HP is becoming very passionate about sound. As a matter of fact, most of HP’s newest consumer PCs come with Beats Audio, and this is why they got involved with Artist#Talk.

Artist #Talk is a new series of interviews with music artists being done with music blogger, Arjan Writes. Tonight Arjan performed his first ever Artist#Talk interview by using an HP TouchSmart throughout the whole interview process. For example, as Tinie discussed his different hits, Arjan used the TouchSmart’s touchscreen to pull up and play the tracks out loud for everyone to hear. But before the interview even started, HP made sure to mention that despite all the rumors, they have no plans to leave the PC business. They say that they are as committed as ever to keep pushing out computers for consumers.

During the Artist #Talk interview, Tinie discussed his rise to stardom, and where his passion for music came from. We also learned that Tinie isn’t just a music artist, but he is also a music blogger. He used his Milk&2sugar’s blog to help promote his music when he was just starting out. Tinie also mentioned that he is hard at work trying to convince Adele to collaborate on a track with him, but he hasn’t gotten a yes – yet. That would be a collaboration to die for!

Check out the videos below for the full interview:

The latest Spring and Summer fashions aren’t the only things that designer Marchesa is showing off at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Marchesa and HP have teamed up to design and produce a special limited edition laptop that is covered in special patterns made of Swarovski crystals.

We’ve seen many companies come out with special edition laptops covered in Swarovski crystals, but usually these  laptops are all about the bling. On the other hand, this limited edition laptop is so much more with its intricate patterns. Available in white or black, these limited edition laptops will be auctioned off by HP, with proceeds going to charity.

HP has not yet decided which charities will be apart of the auction, but one thing is for sure  – these laptops are very beautiful, and very unique, so they are likely to earn a pretty penny for some good causes.

HP is having a very busy week and their latest is an upgrade to the HP Pavilion dm1. We had reviewed the prior generation earlier this year and were left with a very happy surprise with its affordability, great multi-tasking abilities and efficient battery life.

The latest version of the dm1 certainly doesn’t deviate from those star qualities, it just enhances those features a bit more. The Pavilion dm1 is still affordable, packs in 11.5 hours of battery life, and has an extremely stylish body that any gal or guy would love. The dm1 comes in either a gloss finish or HP soft-touch imprint design. The soft touch exterior is like nothing you have ever seen before. It will not wear aware or attract finger prints. You will just want to keep petting the dm1 all day because of how soft it feels and how attractive it looks.

Another nice touch is the inclusion of the Beats Audio technology which really shines when you plug a pair of headphones in. The external speakers themselves are just average and really don;t take advantage of the Beats Audio sound.

The 11.6” high-definition (HD) LED display was bright and sharp and it never seemed like I was looking at a small screen. There is also a built-in HP TrueVision HD webcam which captures quality images even in low-light conditions.

The HP Pavilion dm1 does comes loaded with Windows 7, as do all PC’s now, but HP has taken it upon themselves to customize that experience with the better organized HP Premier Experience. The HP Launch box is just one of those HP Premier Experience features that gives you access to all your favorite apps, faster and easier and in all one spot. Giving you a unique Windows 7 experience only HP could deliver. You can also shut your computer down or boot it up faster. HP has tweaked Windows 7 for the busy consumer who needs to get in and get out fast, without having to stumble around trying to find apps in different folders.

So what is running this beauty of a beast? Consumers will have several options of processors this go around. Typically the dm1 has been the flagship model for the AMD Fusion processor but this latest version will give consumers the choice of either the latest integrated AMD E-Series Accelerated Processing Units or an Intel 2nd Generation Core processor. AMD models include AMD Radeon HD discrete-class graphics to enable crisper and more vivid video playback.

From our brief time with the dm1, it felt great in our hands and the chiclet keyboard  made it a delight to type on. The notebook powered on and off instantly without hesitation and the inclusion of the HP Launch Box while a nice feature, it is hard to determine how many folks will actually use it.

The soft touch exterior was truly a delight for the eyes and hands and it has matching accessories to boot. The dm1 is only 1 – inch thick and weighs 3.52 pounds. Perfect for the fashionistas everywhere or those always on the run who need a petite powerhouse by their side, but on a budget.

The HP Pavilion dm1 is expected to retail from $449.99 to $499.99 and should be launching this quarter or next.

Despite the rumors that HP is abandoning their consumer PC business, HP has gone ahead and revamped their All-in-one PC line-up. This includes updates to their Omni series PCs, their TouchSmart PCs, and their TouchSmart Elite PC – which is HP’s first TouchSmart PC designed for Small businesses.

The new HP Omni series includes the Omni 120 and Omni 220 (shown above) come with built-in speakers, a high-definition display and HP LinkUp. They go on sale on September 21st, and 11th. Pricing starts at $399 for the 120 and $799 for the 220.

The new TouchSmart PCs feature a free standing design with a tilt enabled display. The PCs have also been updated with the latest version of HP’s slick TouchSmart software. There are three TouchSmart PCs now available to choose from – the 20″ TouchSmart 320 (Starting at $599), the 21.5″ TouchSmart 420 (starting at $699), and finally, the TouchSmart 520 (shown above). All of these all-in-one PCs come with Beats Audio. The 520 can also be configured with an optional HP Pulse Subwoofer.

The new TouchSmart Elite 7320 (shown above) is a 21.5″ PC designed for small businesses. It’s available with an optional wall mount that enables the PC’s display to rotate at 30 degrees. The PC also comes with Beats Audio and the TouchSmart software suite. It will retail starting at $850 when it goes on sale September 21st.

Finally, the 20-inch HP Pro 3420 All-in-One (shown above) is designed for small businesses too, but it lacks the touchscreen of the TouchSmart Elite 7320. This PC comes with integrated webcams and premium stereo speakers – yep, no Beats audio here either. The HP Pro 3420 will be available in October for a starting retail price of $599.

For the 30^th anniversary, HP is selling limited edition 12c calculators. Each one still has the look of the original, and will be individually numbered via a laser etching on the back. It also comes with a sweet gift box. So, if you’re all about the interest rate calculations, you might want to pick up one of these collector’s items. Or, they’ll make the perfect gift for the math nerd in your life (if that’s not you already).

The Envy 14 Beats is designed in black aluminum wrapped with the black and red Beats design. It also features an ATI Mobility Radeon graphics card, Beats Audio,  6 hours battery life on an 8-cell battery, and it packs in a Skype-certified 720- HP TrueVision HD Webcam, HDMI, and more.

Click here to get $150 Off the HP ENVY 14 Beats Edition laptop.

For more great buys check out LogicBuy.

One thing is for sure – celebrities seem to really love the HP TouchPad. If you haven’t sped through your commercials lately – you will notice that Russell Brand, Lea Michele, and Manny Pacquiao have all put their face on the HP TouchPad and given it a little glitz.

However Russell has really taken a shine to the HP TouchPad because his videos also show you how he multi-tasks with the device, in that special Russell Brand kind of way.

I mean didn’t you ever want to get schooled by a Brit on technology? I know I have. Take a gander at the videos below to see why these celebrities really like the TouchPad A LOT.

The HP x2301 23-inch 1080p Micro-thin LED-backlit LCD Monitor is on sale today for just $269.99 wit a $30 off coupon code. The HP x2301 is a super sexy, super slim LED monitor that features a full HD 108p resolution, HDMI, DVI and VGA ports, a 8 million: 1 dynamic contrast ratio, 250nit brightness, 3ms response time and its EPEAT Silver registered – all in a body that measures just 9.8mm thin.

Get the HP x2301 23-inch LCD Monitor for $269.99

Or for more great daily bargains check out LogicBuy

The HP TouchPad sports a pretty attractive design. Its glossy curved backside is pretty slick, but the device also measures 9.45″ inches wide by 7.48″ high by 0.54″ and weighing 1.6lbs it’s also too thick and heavy in comparison to the likes of the iPad 2 and latest Samsung Galaxy Tabs. The overall, build quality of the TouchPad is solid, but the device is too heavy for our own personal tastes.  Also, the backside is a fingerprint magnet. That said, we’ve noticed a funny discrepancy in opinion here regarding its form-factor. The females in our office who have picked it up have right away said that it’s too heavy for them, while the males didn’t seem to care and instead have commented on the device’s solid build quality. Anyway, form-factor aside, the display on the HP Touchpad is a somewhat standard  9.7-inch diagonal, LED-backlit display with a mediocre 1024 x 768  resolution. This display is comparable to the iPad’s own display and is a solid, if not spectacular display, with good color reproduction and viewing angles.

Under the hood the TouchPad is running on a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core APQ8060 which isn’t the latest or greatest for a tablet, but it provides the tablet with plenty of pep and generally smooth performance. The system also comes with Beats Audio which provides an enhanced audio experience when listening to music with headphones plugged in. That said, the system’s built-in set of two speakers are moderately powerful – and they certainly can get a lot louder than the like’s of the iPad’s speaker system.

.

The TouchPad also sports a front-facing webcam and microphone for video calling. It’s the only tablet so far to really think about setting you up with proper voice communication tools out of the box. In that respect, the TouchPad can make calls using Skype, or you can connect an HP WebOS phone to it to make and receive phone calls through the TouchPad over bluetooth. When making calls, callers sounded clear over a Skype call. The loud speaker on the TouchPad sounds nice, loud and clear during calls, however callers said that we sounded far away when speaking to them through the TouchPad’s mic. Overall, when it comes to video calling, the TouchPad’s integration with Skype is quite seamless and easy to use.

The TouchPad’s  front facing camera that is used for video calling is actually a 1.3mp camera. It is disappointing that they did not include a rear-facing camera too for some more serious picture taking. Also, there is no dedicated camera app, so the front-facing camera is relegated to just making video calls.

As for as the operating system running on the TouchPad is concerned, we’re quite smitten with the WebOS. The operating system really does a nice job of translating itself from a smartphone OS to a tablet OS, where it can really shine. Overall, WebOS on the TouchPad is polished, easy to use, and manages to multitask like a charm. As a matter of fact, we’d take the WebOS user interface over Android Honeycomb any day.

Out of the box, the setup process for the TouchPad is easy. When you turn on the device you’ll also be prompted with the option to restore the device using backups from other WebOS phones, like the HP Veer – if you have a WebOS account.

When it comes to social media, WebOS shines with tight Facebook integration. Once you have downloaded the Facebook app, you can sync your Calendar, Contacts and even photos with the TouchPad. As a matter of fact, Facebook Photo integration with Facebook is really nice. The TouchPad Photos & Videos apps syncs up with Your Facebook albums so that you can easily flip through all your Facebook photos. However, we do have a bit of a gripe with the standalone Facebook app and that is, that it separates certain tasks like composing a message into a sub card, which seems a bit disjointed.

WebOS also does an excellent job of messaging integration. Out of the box you can connect with AIM, Google Chat, Skype, and Yahoo instant messenger. This tight messaging and Facebook integration feels more seamless and intuitive than iOS and Honeycomb’s offerings. WebOS also does a great job of handling notifications which show up in the top right corner, or on the lock screen when the device isn’t in use. Finally, WebOS does a great job with Google accounts integration too, so much so that you can even sync your Google docs documents with the device.

The Web Browser on the TouchPad provides a solid web browsing experience too with support for Flash and pinch to zoom. Web sites render nicely and tend to render quickly tool. We only wish that the browser interface used tabs instead of cards.

But most of all, the TouchPad really shines when it comes to multitasking. The WebOS card system makes multitasking efficient, and even fun. That said, we did notice an occasional, but minimal lag when switching between apps.

Speaking of apps, the TouchPad comes bundled with a healthy selection of apps including Quickoffice, Web, Email, Calendar, Messaging, Memos, Adobe Reader, Maps, Contacts, Phone & Video Calls, Music, Photos and Videos, Amazon Kindle, and YouTube – which is actually just a shortcut. And unfortunately, no games are included. Regarding QuickOffice, this app can sync with Box.net, Dropbox, Google, MobileMe docs – so that you can view your Office documents in the cloud, right from your TouchPad. HP Movie Store is coming soon which should extend the device’s entertainment possibilities by allowing users to download movies onto their TouchPad.

Of-course, you can download more apps for the TouchPad from HP’s App Catalog. The App catalog’s user interface is very easy to navigate and it will let you download apps in the background as you continue to browse for other apps. Some of the neater available apps include – Facebook Tablet, Groupon, Box.net for TouchPad with 50GB free, Angry Birds HD, Yelp, USA Today, Epicurious, iHeartRadio, WordPress,  and WeatherBug.  Overall, it’s not a bad selection of available apps for now, but many of the major players aren’t there yet.

Conclusion

There is a lot too like about the TouchPad, and most of it is due to the fact that WebOS holds so much promise. Unfortunately, from a hardware standpoint, the TouchPad is way too heavy for our taste – it feels like a beast compared to the iPad 2. Had the TouchPad come out last year, it would have given the first gen iPad a real good fight. That said, it does offer a nice design and solid build quality, but overall, the hardware feels like a last gen device compared to the likes of the latest Galaxy Tabs and so on. It’s also a real shame that a rear-facing camera wasn’t included on the TouchPad.

Regardless we are quite taken with the WebOS and how well it performs on the TouchPad. WebOS provides a beautiful U.I. for a tablet with seamless multitasking capabilities and a great overall user experience. The system’s tight Facebook, Google Doc and messaging integration, as well as its neat notification system have also wowed us. We’d even go as far as saying that we’d take the WebOS in a Galaxy Tab body over Honeycomb, because if you ask us, It’s just simpler and more intuitive. That said, we hope the rumors of HP possibly licensing WebOS to manufacturers like Samsung are true, we just hope they don’t wait too long to make it happen. However, like any tablet trying to compete with the iPad, HP’s App Catalog for the TouchPad needs more apps – not so much in quantity, but quality.

The HP TouchPad retails for $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only model and $599 for the 32GB Wi-Fi only model. AT&T has also just announced a HP TouchPad 4G that will run on AT&T’s network. This model will pack in 32GB of storage, unimproved 1.5GHz processor and GPS. In addition, HP is offering the super neat HP Touchstone Charging Dock for $79.99 which is able to charge the TouchPad on contact, while also doubling as a stand for the device.

The Good: WebOS is slick, polished and easy to use, excellent messaging and social media integration, great multi-tasker, solid construction

The Bad: Heavy and bulky, no rear-facing camera, very limited app selection

AMD has released a new series of APUs, the AMD Fusion A-Series with AMD Vision technology. The A series of APUs (Accelerated Processing Units) is designed to be used in desktop replacement laptops, while keeping the price of the laptop at around $599, and not above $1000. The A series even promises to be more powerful than Intel’s competing Core i3 Processors in terms of multimedia performance, while managing to be anywhere from $50 to $75 cheaper. In a nutshell, AMD is trying to shake up the desktop replacement category in a similar fashion to the way they are taking on the ultraportable category with the AMD Fusion chips that they have been packing inside laptops like the popular HP Pavilion Dm1z and Sony VAIO Y series.

An APU combines a CPU and GPU together so that they can run along side by side, offloading tasks to one another as necessary. AMD is investing their energies in their APUs with Vision technology because they understand that the future of computing lies in the power of GPU processing. It used to be that developers wrote software that primarily took advantage of just CPU processing, but now that is changing. Since they launched their first AMD Fusion APU series last year, there have been over 100 apps written that take advantage of GPU processing.

At the high end of the new A series is the A8. This APU packs in a quad core processor that can go head to head with Intel’s Core i7 series. It also features dual discrete graphics courtesy of the GPU built onto the APU, and a second discrete GPU inside of the computer. A dual discrete graphics configuration inside of a laptop isn’t quite new, but it never has had the potential to become mainstream until now. The new A series chipset also supports USB 3.0 right on it. That means that you can potentially playback video directly off of a connected USB 3.0 compatible camera without choppiness.

Furthermore, the A series also promises great battery life of up-to 11 hours and it also promises to run cool.  Other features of the A series include the power to run dual display set ups, and the ability of AMD Vision to make HD videos look and play back better by improving the color and visual quality of video playback. We personally got a hands on with some of these new systems running the A series and in comparison to their Intel counterparts, they did indeed run cooler. We did indeed get to see how Vision technology can improve video playback, even on YouTube videos.  AMD is pre-installing their AMD Vision software on computers running on their AMD processors. This software lets you tweak and turn on video display improvement settings, as well as configure settings to fully take advantage of the APU.

AMD has also been talking about their Motion DSP technology for a while now. This tech actively reduces shake and stutter in video. They say that eventually they will offer software that does this for video that people produce. Finally, AMD is also setting their sights on improving the video chat experience, which we all know needs much improving. They are working with a company called ViVu to improve the experience of video chat over unstable or not so fast internet connections.

To coincide with this new series of APUs. HP is also releasing a whole bunch of  desktop replacement laptops at more affordable price points, courtesy of this new AMD architecture. We’re talking about packaging the A series inside of their DV4, DV6, DV7, their colorful G4, G6 and G7 series, as well as their slick new ProBook B and S series.

Overall, the promise of a system that can outperform Intel’s Core i3 series, while managing be more affordable, should be very enticing to consumers wallets – especially, in time for back to school season when there will be surge of interest in budget laptops. Between the A series announcement, their plans to start putting their APUs in tablets, and the fact that their chips will be inside of the upcoming Wii U, things are certainly looking up for David vs. Goliath.

Measuring just 2.15 x 3.31 x .59 inches, and weighing just 3.63 ounces, the HP Veer from AT&T might be the most adorable smartphone yet! Yet despite its petite proportions, the HP Veer manages to pack in 4G web surfing speeds, the slick WebOS operating system, and a full QWERTY keyboard. Check out our full review of the HP Veer.

We’re giving away the HP Veer 4G smartphone. Here is how two enter to win:

1. Simply go ahead and Like our Facebook page and then leave a comment on our Facebook page telling us why you want the HP Veer 4G.

2. Tweet at us  “I want to win the HP Veer 4G Smartphone http://bit.ly/mtXnB0 @chip_chick @hpnews #giveaway”

3. Leave a comment on this post telling us why you want the HP Veer 4G.

Last day to submit entries is May 31st!

Update 06/08/2011: Congratulations to Alex M. of Madison, Alabama. He won the HP Veer!

Rules & Regulations: Only U.S. residents may submit entries. ChipChick.com and AT&T Wireless are not responsible for any lost packages or incorrect shipping addresses. Winners are responsible for taxes. The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded. Approximate value of prizes may vary. By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation of his or her name and/or likeness and/or voice/photograph and municipality of residence for promotion and/or advertising purposes in any manner and in any medium (including without limitation over the internet and picture data storage). Wireless service is not included with the prize.

HP is rolling out a slew of new attractive desktop PCs, and when it comes to this new line-up there is something for everyone in terms of budget and power requirements. All of the new PCs are sporting a slick gloss black finish, lots of configuration options, and HP LinkUp technology that enables users to access files from a notebook PC on a Pavilion desktop wirelessly via a home network.
The HP Pavilion P7 series is aimed at those looking for good value on a budget. This series features built-in support for multi-channel surround sound, and a choice of AMD or Intel processors, starting at just $299.

The HP Pavilion HPE h8 series is quite a step up, as it packs in dedicated graphics cards from Nvidia or ATI. The system can be configured with a choice of Core i7 or AMD Phenom processors, up-to 24GB of ram and even three hard drives. It also features Beats Audio and it can support a dual display set-up. Pricing begins at $599.

The HP Slimline s5 series is designed for places where space is tight, and to that effect it is less then half the size of your typical PC tower. Pricing begins at $329 and the s5 will be available starting June 15th, while the P7 and h8 will be available starting May18th.

HP has also introduced the x2301 Micro Thin LED monitor, which might be its sexiest LCD monitor ever. This svelte 23″ display sports a 1080P resolution with glare-reducing BrightView technology. It sits on an aquamarine base that is covered with brushed anodized aluminum accents. The monitor will retail for a very reasonable $279 when it becomes available on June 10th.