HP trims notebook prices

Hewlett-Packard (HWP) today trimmed prices on its entire line of portable computers by up to eight percent in an attempt to maintain newly found momentum in the notebook market.

HP appears to be benefiting from efforts to revamp its approach to the portable market. Since late last year, HP has introduced a number of redesigned products and taken a more aggressive stance on product pricing to gain market share. Citing an International Data Corporation report, HP says that it was the fastest growing manufacturer among the top 15 worldwide notebook vendors in the third quarter of 1997 compared to the same period the year before.

Among the models receiving price cuts, the OmniBook 3000CTX with 233-MHz Pentium MMX processor, a 13.3-inch active matrix display, and a 4GB hard disk drive, will have an estimated street price of $3,670, down eight percent from $4,075.

HP's entry-level OmniBook 2000CT with 133-MHz MMX Pentium, a 12.1-inch active matrix display processor, and a 2GB hard disk drive will now have an estimated street price of $2,070, a reduction of 8 percent from $2,300.

An OmniBook 5700CT with a 166-MHz MMX Pentium processor, 12.1-inch dual scan display, and a 2GB hard-disk drive, has been reduced 8 percent from $2,820 to an expected street price of $2,540.