HP today introduced its first multitouch-enabled tablet for business users as well as notebook PCs tailored for both enterprise and small and midsize businesses (SMBs).

“The HP business touch tablet is the latest addition to the broad mix of choices that HP offers business customers to best improve manageability, productivity and mobility”

The additions to the HP portfolio include:

• HP EliteBook 2740p – an ultra-thin, multitouch-enabled convertible tablet that provides an interactive experience for businesses in health care, education, sales and more;
• HP EliteBook 2540p – the company’s lightest EliteBook notebook PC, starting at only 3.3 pounds, is ideal for global and large corporate enterprises, the public sector and other businesses in need of a rugged, high-performance notebook; and
• HP ProBook standard series (s-series) notebook PCs – four new models of the high-performing series provide a new design and sophisticated colors for everyday use.

“The HP business touch tablet is the latest addition to the broad mix of choices that HP offers business customers to best improve manageability, productivity and mobility,” said Dan Forlenza, vice president, Business Notebooks, Personal Systems Group, HP. “HP continues to implement the latest innovations to help large companies and SMBs exceed productivity expectations.”

The notebook PCs are the latest in the company’s series of launches providing businesses a wide selection of products to refresh their aging business technology.

Powerful and light notebook PCs for the road warrior

Now offering standard voltage Intel processors, the HP EliteBook 2740p tablet PC combines the power and reliability of an HP business notebook PC with the flexibility of a tablet, making it ideal for users on the go. The 2740p starts at 3.8 pounds and includes a 12.1-inch diagonal LED display or optional outdoor-view display with less reflection and a higher contrast for easier viewing in natural light.⁽¹⁾

The touchscreen option allows users to get work done more intuitively and faster based on their choice of input methods. Multitouch gestures, finger taps and swipes across the screen allow users to navigate through applications and menus, as well provide access to information and websites.

The HP EliteBook 2740p offers a variety of battery solutions for lightweight configurations, including a six-cell li-ion prismatic battery, which provides up to 5 hours of uptime, and an optional HP 2700 Ultra-Slim Battery that provides up to 11 hours when combined with the standard battery.^(1,2)

The optional HP 2740 Ultra-Slim Expansion Base⁽¹⁾ allows users to dock their notebook PCs to utilize peripherals without needing to constantly plug and unplug. This innovative expansion base includes a DVD+/-RW drive, fits neatly into a briefcase so the optical drive can easily travel, and supports DisplayPort so users can easily connect to an external monitor. The expansion base also has an eSATA port, allowing for connection to an external RAID array, HDD and optical drives for fast and easy storage.

The HP EliteBook 2540p offers business users a choice of Intel® Core™ processors in either standard voltage for maximum performance – a first for HP ultra-portable notebooks – or low voltage for increased flexibility with the convenience of an optical drive or secondary hard drive.

As the lightest-weight offering in the HP EliteBook portfolio, the 2540p is equipped with a 12.1-inch diagonal LED display, optional 2-megapixel webcam with business card reader software and HP Fingerprint Sensor.⁽¹⁾

Integrated HP Mobile Broadband powered by Gobi⁽³⁾ allows users to conveniently access the internet, company intranet, email and mission-critical information in more places than ever before, while HP Connection Manager 3.0 simplifies and automates connecting users with their preferred networks.

The HP EliteBook 2540p includes multiple battery options for lightweight configurations or longer battery life, including a three-cell battery that provides up to 4 hours, a six-cell battery that provides up to 8 hours, and a nine-cell battery that provides up to 10.5 hours.⁽²⁾

Also available for select EliteBook models are three- and six-cell HP Long Life Batteries, providing a three-year life span^(1,4) – up to twice as long as most li-ion notebook batteries. HP Long Life Batteries reduce overall battery waste by requiring fewer batteries to be used over the life of a PC.

Both the 2740p and 2540p are engineered to meet the tough MIL-STD 810G military-standard tests⁽⁵⁾ for vibration, dust, humidity, altitude, and high and low temperatures. They also are EPEAT® registered in the United States and offer ENERGY STAR® qualifying configurations.

HP strives to use less material in products through improvements in product design and technological advances. In the company’s efforts to reduce the amount of raw materials consumed and help protect natural resources, the HP EliteBook 2540p Notebook PC employs post-consumer recycled plastic resin in at least 12 percent of its total plastic content.

Additionally, the EliteBook 2740p and 2540p come preloaded with a trial version of HP SkyRoom,⁽⁶⁾ an affordable, high-definition (HD) videoconferencing software⁽⁷⁾ that offers live, real-time collaboration for face-to-face meetings.

Big performance for small businesses

For small businesses, the company announced a new design of the HP ProBook s-series, featuring a durable brushed-aluminum metal case with a matte surface that is available in caviar or bordeaux.

The HP ProBook s-series is available in four HD⁽⁷⁾ LED-backlit display choices: HP ProBook 4320s (13.3-inch diagonal), HP ProBook 4420s (14-inch diagonal), HP ProBook 4520s (15.6-inch diagonal) and HP ProBook 4720s (17.3-inch diagonal).

Starting at $719,⁽⁸⁾ the HP ProBook s-series provides an affordable combination of features in a full-function notebook PC, including all-new 2010 Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors,⁽⁹⁾ a choice of Intel HD Graphics or discrete graphics for advanced multimedia support featuring the ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4350 and multiple wireless technologies.

Logging on to Windows® and other websites is fast and easy with HP Face Recognition for Protect tools, while an optional fingerprint reader adds another layer of security.

The HP ProBook s-series features new multimedia controls for video and comes loaded with the new ArcSoft TotalMedia Suite to allow users to play, edit and create video and audio files. The suite includes the following features: MediaImpression, TotalMedia LabelMaker, TotalMedia ShowBiz, TotalMedia Studio, TotalMedia Theater and WebCam Companion. The latest ClickPad Gestures functionality taps into a more intuitive document navigation experience for HP ProBook users.

Innovations for the mobile professional

Available on all new HP ProBooks and the EliteBook p-series, the HP DayStarter⁽¹⁰⁾ allows users to get a head start on the day’s activities with access to key information even before Windows finishes booting up. A customized display includes a calendar (12-hour time period) and battery charge state, and a Windows loading indicator appears while Windows continues to load in the background.

The HP EliteBook and most HP ProBook notebook series also include HP QuickWeb, which allows users to access the web in seconds when the PC is shut down; HP Power Assistant, which provides total visibility over the notebook PC’s reported power consumption, with tools allowing users to conserve power, stretch battery run time, and accurately monitor reported power needs;⁽¹¹⁾ and spill-resistant keyboards.

Central Management for HP ProtectTools provides IT personnel remote functionality to deploy and manage key security policies across the entire business. For example, IT can centrally define and deploy security policies based on users and user types, monitor and audit client activity, and recover access for remote users who have forgotten their passwords. Central Management is available on all HP EliteBook and ProBook notebook PCs being introduced in 2010.

Financing options for SMBs in the United States and Canada

HP is offering businesses zero percent vendor-direct financing plans for these new EliteBook and ProBook lines through HP Financial Services, the company’s leasing and life cycle asset management services subsidiary. There are two plans to choose from – a 12-month lease with a $1 purchase option or a 36-month lease with a fair market value purchase option. Qualifying transactions must be between $1,500 and $150,000 dollars in the United States and $5,000 and $150,000 dollars in Canada. More details on these financing options are available at www.hp.com/go/totalfinancing.

Pricing and availability⁽⁸⁾

• The HP EliteBook 2540p starts at $1,099 and is expected to be available in the United States next month.
• The HP EliteBook 2740p starts at $1,599 and is expected to be available in the United States next month.
• The HP ProBook s-series starts at $719 and are expected to be available in the United States this month.
• The HP 2740 Ultra-Slim Expansion Base starts at $299 and is expected to be available in the United States next month.

More information about the products, including product specifications and images, is available at www.hp.com/personal.

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

(1) Sold separately or as an optional feature.

(2) Battery life will vary depending on the product model, configuration, loaded applications, features, use, wireless functionality and power-management settings. The maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage. Additional details are available at MobileMark07 battery benchmark www.bapco.com/products/mobilemark2007.

(3) Accessible when the notebook is off in Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista® or Windows 7-based systems; not supported from hibernation. Timing may vary depending on the system configuration. To enable the feature following the removal of the battery, reboot the notebook prior to subsequent use. HP QuickLook 3 on HP ProBook s-series requires configuration with Intel and DDR3 or AMD and DDR2. QuickWeb requires Internet access and is not available on HP ProBook s-series or HP Minis.

(4) Three-year limited warranty or 1,000 cycles. Battery cycles are the total number of full charge/discharge cycles a battery yields before it can no longer hold a useful amount of charge. More information is available at http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c00596784. Sold separately or purchased as an optional feature.

(5) Testing was not intended to demonstrate fitness for U.S. Department of Defense contracts requirements or for military use. Test results are not a guarantee of future performance under these test conditions.

(6) SkyRoom 90-day trial for HP EliteBooks, purchase of license is required after the trial boot.

(7) High-definition content required to view HD images.

(8) Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary.

(9) 64-bit computing on Intel architecture requires a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, operating system, device drivers and applications enabled for Intel 64 architecture. Processors will not operate (including 32-bit operation) without an Intel 64 architecture-enabled BIOS. Performance will vary depending on hardware and software configurations. More information is available at www.intel.com/info/em64t. QuadCore is designed to improve performance of multithreaded software products and hardware-aware multitasking operating systems and may require appropriate operating system software for full benefit. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. Intel’s numbering is not a measurement of higher performance.

(10) HP Tools partition (part of factory image) must be in-place, accessible and unencrypted, Microsoft Outlook and HP QuickLook must be installed and user must opt in to activate feature.

(11) Power calculations and cost calculations are estimates. Results will vary based on variables, which include information provided by the user, time PC is in different power states (on, standby, hibernate, off), time PC is on battery or AC, hardware configuration, variable electricity rates and utilities provider. HP advises customers to use information reported by HP Power Assistant for reference only and to validate impact in their environment. Environmental calculations were based on U.S. EPA eGRID 2007 data found at www.epa.gov/egrid/. Regional results will vary.

Intel and Intel Core are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. ATI Mobility Radeon is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. ENERGY STAR is a registered mark owned by the U.S. government.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected operational and financial results; and other risks that are described in HP’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

© 2010 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth inn the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be constructed as constructing an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

The day for Apple to reveal its next biggest and greatest has now come and gone, and in its wake we are left with a new device, labeled an iPad. Resembling (and so named by any other nomenclature) a tablet, the iPad is being heralded by Jobs et al as the solution to that vacuous expanse between smart phone and laptop.

Of course, there is a lot of marketing talk in between the user, the show, and the product, but there are a few things that really stand out in this new non-tablet computer. Presented in no specific order are 10 things that I like about the new iPad.

1. It is designed to NOT be a laptop replacement

The importance of this simple statement cannot be overstated. For the product to succeed both on the marketing front and for personal uses, it has to have a clear sense of identity and purpose. This is where, in my opinion, the Windows slates fell short. One problem is that the technology is not in place yet for a mouse, a stylus, or even finger touches to seriously replace a keyboard. For the mouse and stylus, it is simple to see why – you only have one pointer to move at a time. With a keyboard, your fingers can move to the next key simultaneously. As a laptop replacement it will not suffice.

But as an accessory, it fits. You are not going to write a book on it (at least not without a dock), but you can browse the web, answer short emails, and watch movies. While a  Windows tablet (which I do own and love using) was showing us how a stylus could do the job, the iPad is showing us why it does not need to.

2. Great battery life

According to the latest technical data, the iPad is going to run for about 10 hours between charges. You can believe that the mileage will vary depending on how it is used. However,  if it gets somewhere close to that in real world applications, you will find people getting cozy with it in a wide variety of uses.

The battery life is apparently due to a custom 1 GHz Apple processor dubbed the A4, among other things. This custom approach might just give the iPad the upper hand among other tablets of a similar size.

3. Open 3G connectivity

The iPad is supposed to give you an optional $130 3G connection without signing a contract. The way it works is this – you sign up for the month directly from the device itself. So, you can potentially only buy data for the times you need it, say vacation or occasional business trips. Monthly rates will not give you sticker shock, with $15 for 250 mb and $30 for unlimited.

4. Included on board hardware

Like the iPhone 3GS, the iPad incorporates a GPS, a Compass, and an accelerometer. This lets you navigate, experience Virtual Reality, and play games on the device without the need for additional hardware. You can use the iPad in a lot of different ways thanks to this hardware.

In fact, it lets developers design new uses for the iPad, so it is a product that will actually do more as time goes by. Tablets of the past were, well, busy trying to be a laptop replacement.

5. Media Centric Design

The iPad is designed around a rich media experience. From audio and video to even ebooks and the web, the device presents varying media to the user in an interactive interface designed to be hands on. The iPad wraps your media, as it were.

6. Great Form Factor

The roughly 10” iPad presents a 9.7 inch LED backlit display in a 1/2 inch thick package. While it does weigh in at about 1.5 pounds, the ability to run for as long as it does at this weight is not a bad tradeoff at all.

I may have mentioned owning Windows Tablets. One of my favorites is the HP TC1100, and it falls roughly into this size. I have to tell you, this is a great fit for reading many different pages of material comfortably (PDFs, ebooks, even comic books) while remaining easily transportable.

7. Compatibility with an existing touch friendly software base

If the iPad was Mac compatible, then yes your favorite mac applications could find a home. However, those applications are not designed for a finger. Instead they are designed for a mouse and keyboard, and you would end up spending all you time tapping out on virtual keys, wishing for a keyboard. The iPad would inadvertently be assigned as a laptop replacement, and it would fail.

Instead it has inherited an expansive catalog of applications designed to be both mobile and finger friendly. The iPad keeps its identity in check, and has fun doing so.

8. The price is right – for now.

The iPad had to be under $1000 to even be considered a potential for the market, and around $500 would bring it in line with a lot of other similar hardware. The iPad reaches this number comfortably by having a tiered pricing model. The iPad starts out at $499 for a 16 GB Wifi Model, and goes up to $699 for a 64 GB version. If you want the optional 3G ability, it will cost you an additional $130 dollars.  You can pick  and choose what you want to spend, but it does fit into an existing market price.

9. Included and optionally affordable Apple software

The iPad features a lot of included software that gets you up and going moments out of the box. The new version of iPhoto gives you a virtual pile of pictures to interact with. The mail program is full featured for most users, and the new iBooks gives users a virtual bookshelf to keep and read their favorite ebook titles.

On top of that, Apple has created versions of their iWork Titles – Keynote, Pages, and Numbers – to work specifically with the iPad. The finger friendly versions sell for $10 each, making it an affordable alternative to those who have a little more serious use for the device.

10. Developer Support

Although technically it is not a feature of the tablet itself, Apple appears to be going out long to get developers to rally around the product. Outside of having a clear identity of what the product is in the computing biosphere, developer support pushing out new and exciting titles is the most important aspect to determine the longevity and success of the iPad. Apple knows this, and the success of the “There’s an app for that” marketing campaign works because it does define exactly what you can do with a given device.

These are my 10 favorite things about the iPad. While there are several things where the iPad comes up short (no video camera?), I believe that Apple is off on a good start for a new product. The ink is not dry enough yet to see if the many publisher contracts will catapult the device to fame as a book reader, but a clear sense of identity and lots of applications is paramount to the device’s success. So far, it has that.