HP Unveils New Notebooks, 10-Hour Battery

Looking to keep its momentum of growth in the notebook PC segment, Hewlett-Packard has announced plans to roll out two new models that take advantage of new processors.

But perhaps even more interesting is a new $200 12-cell lithium ion battery that the company says will add 10 hours of life to the new line of business-class notebooks, as well as some models introduced last summer.

The notebooks and ultra long-life battery come as HP continues to gain momentum in portable PCs. The company's year-over-year notebook revenue grew 26 percent for its first fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31.

One of the new notebooks is the desktop-replacement HP Compaq nx9400 Series. With a 17-inch display and weighing 7.4 pounds, it is 17 percent lighter and 35 percent thinner than the model it replace, the nx9600. The nx9400 is available with an Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor and embedded communications capability for the Verizon Wireless broadband network. Pricing will start at $1,499 when the notebook ships next month

Of note, the nx9400 is the first HP business notebook to offer a shock-mounted drive. Look for additional higher-end machines to offer that feature down the road, says Carol Hess-Nickels, HP's director of business notebook marketing.

"We will put it on certain products across our line where it makes sense," she says.

In the midrange, HP launched the 6.1-pound HP Compaq 6300 Notebook Series, which include models with 15-inch displays and a variety of Intel processor types. Pricing will start at $1,049. It will start shipping next month as well.