Samsung's biz-friendly P460, P560 laptops

As part of its launch into the U.S. laptop market, Samsung announced two models designed for small business, the 14.1-inch P460 and 15.4-inch P560. Both laptops are built to take a little extra abuse: the matte-black lids are scratch-resistant and incorporate an internal metal plate that helps protect the screen. A sturdy brushed-aluminum keyboard deck surrounds a spill-resistant keyboard. And the keys themselves incorporate silver nanotechnolgy to fight off bacteria and viruses.

(Credit: Samsung)

Samsung will offer two fixed configurations of the 5.3-pound P460: one with a previous-generation 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 processor and a 320GB, 5,400rpm hard drive for $1,199, and one with a latest-generation 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor and a 320GB, 7,200rpm hard drive for $1,399. Otherwise both configurations are the same, with integrated Intel X4500 graphics, 4GB of 1,066MHz RAM, and a built-in optical drive (though the more expensive version adds LightScribe labeling). When it comes to ports and connections, the P460 offers everything you'd expect from a 14.1-inch business system, including Bluetooth, a PC Card slot, and a 1.3-megapixel Webcam. There's also a fingerprint reader that works with the laptop's Trusted Platform Module.

The 5.8-pound P560 also comes in two fixed configurations with discrete graphics. The $1,299 P560 incorporates a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 processor, a 320GB, 5,400rpm hard drive, and 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GS graphics; the $1,499 version has a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor, a 320GB, 7,200rpm hard drive, and 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GS graphics. Both models include a LightScribe DVD burner and a fingerprint reader with Trusted Platform Module.

Both the P460 and P560 will be available by mid-November at such online retailers as NewEgg, Buy.com, CDW, and Amazon.