hp

Microsoft blazes trail to next PC

PC makers take note. Microsoft is pioneering the next PC.

Surface Pro makes a good case as the template for the new PC for a couple of simple reasons: Microsoft put the device's electronics behind the glass, not under the keyboard, and the device uses a real processor.

Let's address the electronics first. Most of the newfangled laptops I saw at CES were convertibles. That is, the displays are not detachable because the core electronics are under the keyboard, just like your father's laptop.

And most of them were unimpressive. The mechanics necessary to flip and/or … Read more

CES postscript: The touch laptop, like it or not

The laptop was reinvented at CES.

Or maybe I should say there was a vigorous attempt to reinvent the laptop. Because we won't know how successful touch has been until next year this time.

Intel's CES booth -- still a large presence in the CES Central Hall -- had one basic unmistakable message: touch has arrived.

Windows 8 convertibles, detachables, touch-screen laptops, and just plain tablets from Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Samsung, Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony, and others blanketed Intel's booth.

And just to make sure the touch message was crystal clear, Intel issued an edict to PC … Read more

At CES, two HP laptops do Windows 8 right

LAS VEGAS--At CES this week, Hewlett-Packard hardware got my attention.

Though the company has been savaged in the media because of dubious acquisition decisions and a falling stock price, its brief exhibition of new Windows 8 laptops and hybrids at CES was impressive.

I'll focus on two, the EliteBook Revolve and Spectre XT TouchSmart ultrabook-- both touch-capable Windows 8 laptops. The systems were fleetingly exhibited at CES by HP during an event at the MGM Grand event on Monday night.

I'll start with the Spectre XT TouchSmart because it was also at Intel's CES booth all week … Read more

HP tops Lenovo in lackluster PC market

HP is still the top dog in computer sales around the world, at least according to IDC. But those sales continue to plummet.

Released today, IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker pegged fourth-quarter global PC shipments at 89.8 million units, down 6.4 percent from the same quarter in 2011.

The drop was actually worse than IDC's forecast of 4.4 percent and marked the first time the industry saw a year-on-year decline during the holiday season. For 2012 as a whole, PC shipments were down by 3.2 percent.

Windows 8 officially launched at the end of … Read more

Lenovo chief: We're in the PC-plus, not post-PC era

Although some say that the rapid adoption of tablets has ushered in a so-called "post-PC era," Lenovo chief executive Yuanqing Yang begs to differ.

"We don't live in a post-PC world," Yang told Reuters in an interview published yesterday. "We are entering the PC-plus era."

Yang went on to tell Reuters that PCs today can't simply be boxes that come with the same basic design and only allow for computing. Instead, he believes that computers must add extra features. He pointed to Lenovo's Yoga convertible PC line, which allows users to … Read more

HP's Windows 8 launches 'muted,' says analyst

LAS VEGAS--Hewlett-Packard's Windows 8 launches were "mixed" and "muted," according to a research note from RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani.

"HP noted Win8 launches were mixed/muted but should improve in H2:13," Daryanani wrote in a research note sent out yesterday, referring to the second half of 2013.

Daryanani met with HP at CES in Las Vegas, according to the note.

He continued: "HP is focused on mid/high-end of the market as they don't see profit opportunity in low-end. Focused on growing China market share (opened a design … Read more

Steve Jobs tried to help Mark Hurd regain his job, says report

A fascinating nugget turns up in BloombergBusinessweek's excellent piece on Hewlett-Packard: None other than Steve Jobs reached out to offer counseling to Mark Hurd after Hurd had walked away from his job as HP's CEO.

Three days after he'd resigned as CEO under pressure from the company's board of directors, Hurd received an e-mail from Steve Jobs. The Apple founder wanted to know if Hurd needed someone to talk to. Jobs had lived through a similar experience decades earlier when Apple's board turned on him, an analogy Hurd and Jobs's mutual friend and Oracle … Read more

Want free wireless? Check out T-Mobile's 4G Connect-powered laptops

T-Mobile unveiled a program today that allows consumers who buy certain laptops or tablets to access a free cellular connection.

The program, called 4G Connect, includes a built-in connection in select laptops, Ultrabooks, and tablets. The cell connection is free, but there are some catches. Consumers only get 200 megabytes of data each month, and free cellular connection lasts 12 or 24 months, depending on the manufacturer.

The Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook and the Hewlett-Packard Pavilion dm1 are the first two devices to get 4G Connect.

4G Connect represent a new way to sell wholesale capacity to companies. Manufacturers are … Read more

HP Pocket Playlist: 32GB of mobile content to easily fit in your pocket

LAS VEGAS--If you are a fan of wireless storage expanders like the Seagate Satellite, Wireless Plus, or the Kingston Wi-Drive, here's another option.

HP announced today at CES 2013 the HP Pocket Playlist, a 32GB wireless pocket drive that comes with a built-in battery and Wireless-N access point.

The Pocket Playlist can stream unencrypted content, be it movies, music, TV shows, or photos, to up to five mobile devices at the same time.

The device is very compact; in fact it's about the same size but much lighter than the iPhone 4. While 32GB is relatively limited, that'… Read more

HP targets budget users with its IPS-based ZR2330w monitor

LAS VEGAS--HP continues to deliver one monitor announcement after another. This time, a 23-inch In-Plane Switching (IPS) monitor, the HP ZR2330w.

The 23-inch monitor features an LED backlit screen, a 14ms screen refresh rate, 250 candelas per square meter (cd/m2) brightness, and a native resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels.

Connections include VGA, DVI, and DisplayPort, with plenty of OSD controls -- brightness, contrast, sharpness, and color temperature: warm, standard, cool, and custom.

Ergonomic options include a 30-degree back tilt and a 5-degree forward tilt. Also included are swivel, pivot, and height adjustment.

HP says to expect a budget-friendly … Read more