HP goes big with Netbook, thin with laptops

Hewlett-Packard on Tuesday announced its first Netbook with an 11.6-inch screen and Nvidia's Ion chipset as well as two inexpensive "ultrathin" laptops.

HP Mini 311 Netbook uses an 11.6-inch screen and Nvidia Ion chipset

(Credit: Hewlett-Packard)

The Mini 311 is the first HP Netbook to use a large screen--11.6 inches exceeds the upper limit of 10 inches on standard Netbooks--and is the first to get high-octane Nvidia Ion graphics--the same graphics used in laptops such as the Apple MacBook Air.

The 11.6-inch diagonal LED display is available in high-definition 1366x768-pixel resolution. It includes HDMI and VGA video connectors.

Nvidia's Ion chipset is a graphics processing unit (GPU) that works together with the low-power Intel Atom processor to generate standard-laptop-like graphics performance.

"By processing data-intensive applications in parallel with the CPU, ION-based Netbooks offer many of the same capabilities of full-sized notebooks including support for all versions of Microsoft Windows," Nvidia said in a statement.

HP 'ultrathin' ProBook 5310m

(Credit: Hewlett-Packard)

Analysts believe that getting mainstream-laptop level of performance in a Netbook is important. "Our research shows that most people who buy a netbook expect it to behave like a full-sized notebook," according to a statement that Nvidia provided from Tim Bajarin, principal analyst at Creative Strategies. "With Ion-based Netbooks like this one from HP, consumers can expect a well-rounded experience and the ability to handle nearly all of their everyday computing needs," he said.

The Mini 311 will start at $399 in the U.S.

HP also introduced a couple of relatively inexpensive "ultrathins," the ProBook 5310m and Pavilion dm3. The ProBook 5310m is 0.9-inches thick, weighs in at 3.7 pounds, and sports a 13.3-inch diagonal LED high-definition display. It is offered with a Intel Core 2 Duo SP9300 (low-power) processor and combines durable, black anodized aluminum with a magnesium frame.

The HP Pavilion dm3--also classified as an ultrathin--comes in an all metal design, with up to 10 hours of battery life via the standard six-cell battery. The dm3 uses a 13.3-inch diagonal LED screen and offers AMD or Intel processors and a discrete graphics chip.

HP Envy 13 laptop is a higher-priced, higher-performance thin laptop

(Credit: Hewlett-Packard)

The HP ProBook 5310m starts at $699 with an Intel Celeron dual core and $899 with Intel Core 2 Duo. The notebook is expected to be available in North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region on Oct. 22 with the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system.

The HP Pavilion dm3 starts at $549 with an AMD processor and $649 with an Intel processor and is expected to be available starting Oct. 22 with the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system.

The higher-priced and higher-performance sub-one-inch-thick "Envy 13" laptop bears some of the hallmarks of the MacBook Air, such as an aluminum body and a robust graphics chip. The Envy 13 will come with an Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400, ATI Radeon HD 4330 graphics, and a 1,366x768 display. It starts at $1,699.

[dhtechs]

Mark my words...for the Ubuntu Crowd...this will be an Eee, Dell and Acer KILLER.

[Mr. Dee]

With this introduction, I am starting to like the Netbook again. :)

[Spartan_458]

The MacBook Air doesn't have the nVidia Ion chipset. It has a combination of Intel's Core 2 Duo and nVidia's GeForce 9400M graphics chip.

[Rolker]

Why does Cnet always need to mention any product from Apple, when it has nothing to do with the article?
This is a competitor to Dell, Acer, etc., and not to Apple (which sells no netbooks).
Is Cnet afraid that people will forget that Apple has also products? Or is it part of an advertisement campaign?

[sflocal]

Realize this is Brooke that is writing this article. He has already shown on so many articles that have nothing to do with Apple that adding "Apple" in any article will increase his page-hits quota to justify his job there at C|Net. And even then, he can't even get the type of components used in Apple's products correct. In this case, the video chipset in the MBA is not the same as what's used in HP's machine.

As usual, this has nothing to do with Apple. Brooke, get a clue and knock it off with useless and misleading Apple comparisons.

[mootoratas]

The nVidia 9400M _IS_ Ion!!! But this article is wrong - the HP Mini 311 has nVidia Ion LE not Ion.

[global-warming_is_BS]

it's mentioned because, until now, the macbook air was the only sorta netbook with high octane graphics. It is also mentioned to drive irrational Apple haters crazy, because they always come out from under their rocks and post when Apple is mentioned.

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[rajeevbajpai]

The growing popularity of netbooks is forcing mainstream players to provide the so called full computing experience, and hence the inclusion of NVIDIA Ion and the HDMI port. Earlier the computer companies were forced to produce netbooks with less than 10.1 inch display owing to license conditions imposed on them. In my opinion Lenovo IDEAPAD S 12 was the first netbook which broke the display sealing and also the first one to include Nvidia Ion to provde wholesome viewing experience.

With these changes, the whole definition of Netbook is getting changed, the lines are getting blurred with each passing day. After all the difference between a Netbook and Notebook is one vowel (e) v/s two vowels (o)....cynical ..may be !

[rajeevbajpai]

The growing popularity of netbooks is forcing mainstream players to provide the so called full computing experience, and hence the inclusion of NVIDIA Ion and the HDMI port. Earlier the computer companies were forced to produce netbooks with less than 10.1 inch display owing to license conditions imposed on them. In my opinion Lenovo IDEAPAD S12 was the first netbook which broke the display sealing and also the first one to include Nvidia Ion to provde wholesome viewing experience.

With these changes, the whole definition of Netbook is getting changed, the lines are getting blurred with each passing day. After all the difference between a Netbook and Notebook is one vowel (e) v/s two vowels (o)....cynical ..may be !

[faceless128]

i wonder how long MS will hold those XP restrictions hostage over Netbook Manufacturers... I guess it's so they can push for Windows 7 to be on Netbooks...

[02cfranklin]

Surely this means it's just a really bad and expensive laptop if it exceeds the netbook screen size limit.

[kbellve]

What is the CPU in the Mini 311? Single core Atom?

I have an ASUS 1000 with eeebuntu and love it, but it needs more CPU power rather than graphics power.

[joshsc]

Yes, it is a single core atom 270

[josmor]

Interesting that I can't find that as a main news on HP site