HP refreshes Mini and Envy laptop lines

HP has updated its range of netbooks and laptops, claiming to offer business users more powerful and longer lasting devices on the move.

The redesigned HP Mini 5103 business netbook is now available with a touch screen and an Intel Atom N550 dual-core processor.

The 5103 comes with a 10.1in LED-backlit WSVGA wide-screen display. When equipped with the Broadcom HD video decoder card, the device is capable of playing high-resolution 720p and 1080p HD video content.

The optional touch screen will increase efficiency and provide easier navigation of applications and web sites by allowing users to input data through multi-touch gestures, finger taps and swipes, according to HP. A touch-screen version of the device weighs in at 1.3Kg.

HP supplies 2GB of DDR3 RAM and a 95 per cent spill resistant Qwerty keyboard, making it extra durable, the firm claimed.

Customers can choose a four-cell battery for lighter weight or a six-cell for longer running time. The 5103 delivers 10 hours and 15 minutes with the six-cell battery, HP said.

The ultra portable HP Mini 210, meanwhile, is designed to provide long life computing for those constantly on the move.

The 210 features built-in wireless LAN, webcam, microphone and a nearly full-sized, island-style keyboard. Dual-core Intel Atom processor N550, N455 or N475 processors are available, all supporting DDR3 memory.

The laptop is less than 1in thick and weighs 1.4Kg. It comes with an inline six-cell battery as standard that provides up to 11 hours and 15 minutes hours of battery life, HP claimed.

Like the 5103, the 210 comes with a 10.1in diagonal HD display, while an optional Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator enables smooth 720p and 1080p HD content playback and video streaming, HP said.

Software features include the Evernote note-taking program that allows users to quickly capture and search for notes.

Additionally, HP QuickSync makes it easy to automatically synchronise files with a home PC over a wireless connection, and HP QuickWeb allows users to access the web in seconds without booting up the notebook.

HP Navigator is optional with GPS and provides general mapping, route planning, points of interest and voice-guided navigation. The HP Media Suite provides one location to organise, store and play multimedia content such as music, photos and videos.

HP also unveiled the Envy 17 3D, which it claims is the first 17in laptop to support 1080p 3D Blu-ray. The device delivers "movie-like entertainment experiences", the manufacturer said.

The laptop features up to 2TB of hard disk space, and runs on quad-core Intel Core i7 processors and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 discrete graphics.

HP supplies 3D Active Shutter Glasses, which wirelessly synchronise each frame of the 3-D content between the display and the glasses.

The HP Envy 17 3D is expected to be available from the end of October starting at £1,559.

The HP Mini 210 and 5103 are both on sale now with prices starting at £299 and £370.