Hewlett-Packard Co has beefed up its line of business laptops, releasing new devices that include an ultra-light machine, fitted with a 12-inch widescreen and weighing 2.8lb.
The nc2400 Notebook PC is not, strictly speaking, the first 12-inch laptop in the sub-3lb category from HP, there having been a device with that size screen from Compaq a few years ago.
It is, however, the first under the HP brand and the first with a widescreen format, marking the company's entry into a segment where it will compete against Sony, Toshiba and Dell.
Running on the Core Solo processor from Intel, the nc2400 comes with a full-size keyboard and built-in WiFi connectivity. It has a list price starting at $1,599. Ken Carter, North American product manager for HP's ultra-light laptop lines, said the weight quoted is for the 2400 is a starting figure, since "different battery sizes and optical drives add weight."
Next up is the 4400, available in both nc (laptop) and tc (tablet) configurations, weighing respectively 3.9lb and 4.6lb, which the company still considers to be in the ultra-light segment.
Both versions are fitted with standard-format 12-inch XGA screens and run Core Duo processors from Intel. These two devices replace respectively the nc4200 and tc4200, the big difference being the advent of the dual-core processor, where the previous generation runs on regular Pentium M.
