New HP ultraportable first to use AMD Neo chip

Updated at 11:05 p.m. PST with additional information throughout.

Another Netbook? No, not exactly. Hewlett-Packard's new Pavilion dv2 is an ultraportable, thank you. And the new Athlon Neo silicon inside from Advanced Micro Devices will try to prove that point.

AMD is introducing new chips at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that target the no-man's land between Netbooks and notebooks. Typically, these designs are referred to as ultraportables--the most salient examples being Apple's MacBook Air, the Toshiba Portege, and the Sony Vaio TT series.

So what makes AMD's platform different? In one word, price. Ultraportables fall into the boutique category of laptops: very stylish, very slim, very light--and very expensive. Usually ranging between $1,500 and $3,000. HP's notebook with Athlon Neo silicon cuts the price in half. The Pavilion dv2 will start at $699 and top out at $899 for standard configurations.

HP 12-inch Pavilion dv2 ultraportable starts at $699, at least half the price of traditional ultraportable notebooks like the MacBook Air, Toshiba Portege, and Sony Vaio TT series.

(Credit: Hewlett-Packard)

The dv2, at 3.8 pounds, is slightly heavier than ultraportables that typically weigh between 2.5 and 3 pounds. It is 0.9-inches thick, slightly thicker than more expensive ultraportables like the MacBook Air.

But the Pavilion dv2 will pack features such as an AMD-ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 separate (discrete) graphics chip, a relatively large hard disk drive (HP lists drives up to 500GB), and a 12.1-inch LED screen. Features that differentiate it from Netbooks and put it squarely into ultraportable territory.

AMD Athlon Neo silicon details

(Credit: AMD)

The dv2 will also come with WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) options as well as standard Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Bahr Mahony, AMD's manager of mobile products, said in an interview that one of the few ultraportables available today with discrete graphics is the MacBook Air, but this starts at a whopping $1,800. (The Air uses Nvidia's GeForce 9400M graphics and Intel's Core 2 Duo low-voltage processors.)

The Athlon Neo platform can handle 1080p HD playback and a "casual" gaming experience with realistic 3D graphics, using the optional ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 graphics chip.

AMD's Athlon Neo processor--formerly code-named "Huron" under the platform codename "Yukon"--runs at 1.6GHz and has a power envelope of 15 watts, comparable to Intel ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) Core 2 Duo processors that power ultraportables today.

AMD's Neo does fall short in one respect, however. Currently it is only single-core, whereas Intel ULV processors are dual-core at a comparable power envelope, and, moreover, typically integrate 6MB level-2 cache memory to boost performance. AMD's Neo has only 512K of cache memory.

A dual-core chip, code-named "Conesus," will come in the second half of this year, according to AMD's Mahoney.

The first HP Pavilion dv2 ultrathin notebook is expected to be available from HP in the second quarter.

[ZetaZeta_]

Seems too light on the specs side. I feel like I'd be only running a browser, email client, and watching videos, and I can do all of that fine on a $399 netbook. That's something I never liked about "ultraportables." The netbook does everything I want a computer to do aside from gaming and hardcore movie editing and software development... I spend 90% of my time in a browser or in Media Player Classic, all for the lowest price and highest portability. If I wanted to do anything else, I'd just use a full desktop, or a portable desktop. There's nothing this computer type offers for me, personally.

[anhtney]

but wouldn't your prefer all of that in a bigger screen? and with a keyboard that you can actually type on!

[aka_tripleB]

Seriously? An ultraportable with no WiFi? What are you suppose to use it for?

[ScottMo]

"The dv2 will also come with WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) options as well as standard Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. "

Did you READ the article? Thre wireless connections: cellular, Bluetooth & wifi.

[celticbrewer]

According to the chart, it says N/A for Wireless LAN. The article says otherwise, yes. Logically, I have to assume it'd have WiFi.

Also the chart says 1GB of RAM. What OS is it going to ship with? XP? Linux? Surely Vista won't run well on there.

[aka_tripleB]

Actually, it says "options," which mean the base model will likely lack any wireless networking capabilities. Obviously, wireless will be an OEM add-on because clearly it doesn't come from AMD on the board; how many times have you been to HP's site and not been able to configure a laptop without any wireless options. I've had the option when I looked, but it only a $50 difference (typically) between no WiFi and basic b/g wireless, most people will opt for WiFi.

[pithenumber]

AMD platforms don't have required WiFi chips, HP can use whatever chip they like

[bobert214]

Again ... no native WiFi ?!?! Am I missing something? This is a mobile platform?

[Hey_Radar]

I missed it the first time too.

Quote: "The dv2 will also come with WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) options as well as standard Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. "

[bobert214]

Zeta - I can do all this on my iPhone.

[terminalblue]

congratulations...you want an iCookie?

[thelemurking]

you can't copy/paste ;)

[ZetaZeta_]

Yeah, and I can use my PSP. However these devices are incomparable to an actual PC, for various reasons.

[Kosher0]

bobert214: And that's why you paid twice the price of a netbook almost :)

[simmondia]

this notebook very stylish, very slim, very light but performance amd no better.

[3rdalbum]

Realistically, no notebook is really very good at anything other than web surfing. But I don't think this HP ultraportable is going to run much faster than a netbook, except for the graphics (BTW: Why even mention 1080p video when the screen is 768 lines?!)

[jake-amd]

Engadget has posted some performance numbers - http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/06/amd-kinda-sorta-takes-aim-at-atom-with-athlon-neo/#continued. Also, the Yukon platform allows for 1080p video playback. While HP doesn?t currently support this resolution (although they do offer 720p), with the external HDMI port you could easily connect to a 1080p supported monitor or television.

[hugociss]

I'm off to get a iPhone! Why get such a thing when a cheaper iPhone can do virtually anything this little notebook can do (besides for running Windows V-word)? Plus, a iPhone is portable. How can you call a big thing like this HP notebook portable? You can't put it in your pocket, or put it on a rest it in your hands. Sad, sad, maybe Apple was just thinking plain logic. What are the big companies doing now? Sign...

[celticbrewer]

yeah, that's what I want- a small screen and a fake keyboard. Let's all get iPhones! We should all be slaves to AT&T and Apple.

Yet, I bet this fanboy here thinks the macbook air is the best portable device ever. As always, apples and oranges

[terminalblue]

why are you acting like this is the first laptop ever made and the iphone just came out last week?

there are all kinds of much smaller netbooks out there that have excellent performance but dont have the "look at me" factor of the iphone.

[renGek]

For one thing, you iPhone is probably ok for a 5 minute video but try and watch a 2 hour movie on it and then get back to me after your eyes have readjusted itself to the normal world. iPhone also has pitiful video support (divx, xvid, avi ....) not to mention very very low resolution (480x320). You can't store enough movies on it.

Browsing on the iphone is insufficient. no flash support, tiny screen.

Why would you even compare the use of an iphone to a full fledge pc? Its a completely different consumer base used for different purposes. Stop trying to make everything about apple...damn fanboyz.

[Imalittleteapot]

As an AMD fan I have to say, I think the processor is just too weak in this thing. 1.6 G, 512K cache, and single core. It's like three strikes and your out. I sure hope AMD catches up. I don't wanna be screwed by Intel's pricing when/if AMD ever goes the way of the dodo.

[jake-amd]

I would suggest that there?s far more to this platform than just the CPU. AMD brings balanced PC performance, including the option of advanced graphics and video for true HD entertainment, all in an affordable, ultrathin notebook, offering consumers a superior overall package.

[Imalittleteapot]

jake-amd:
That's awesome. Now, if it just had a CPU we'd be good to go.

[pithenumber]

Its faster than atom
discrete graphics on an ultraportable is a BIG thing, now make that ultraportable less than 1k

[Imalittleteapot]

Well, you guys may have point after all, but I don't know. They said they'd have a dual core late this year. I'll wait for that to make a decision.

[holyhope]

what I would like is the intel ulv with the nvidia, which will maybe be along in ion in a few months with an atom in ion. Would rather have the 9" with a keyboard you could type on but with dual core with nvidia, then the only thing is to wait for technology to get a holo image with a flying mouse cursor. Will take a bit more video processor than is currently available. Apple Iphone, funny gadget, not interested, but my ipod is useful.

[globalist_agenda]

I just bought someone an HP Mini for $450. It has a 10" screen, 60 gig HD, a large enough keyboard, and only weighs 2 lbs. In my opinion it represents a better value than their new dv2. If I am going to spend > $600 then I want dual core. And 3.8 lbs is too heavy for an ultralight. I have a dual core Pavilion DV2310 that only weighs 4.3 lbs. A lot more bang for the buck. I don't think HP got it right with the dv2, it should cost $500 max.

[pithenumber]

they have discrete graphics, it cojld potentially be an ultraportable, budget gamer. like ASUS N10, but faster. Milk playable framerates from it, anywhere I want.

[basshawg]

Dell has been in this business for ages... The Latitude 12" notebooks have been around for years. The new D4200 or D4300 is targeted towards business but has all of the features that consumers are looking for and more.

[MrMurder]

It does have Wi-Fi. And thank you HP! Even the most buzzed about ultra portable, the Dell Adamo, apparently couldn't make it below 1K, It's 2K and over! I never knew HP was making such a computer until I read it in an Engadget article. I think I'll replace my Dell Dimension 4600 with this ultraportable. I can live with $750, hopefully my dad can. And it has 4 GB of RAM and an HDMI port. Now that's an ultraportable!

[doradolaw]

I wish I could still ask my dad for money to buy toys. But since I have to pay for things myself, I expect under $400.00 top notch products. And even those are difficult to buy now-a-days.