HP introduce mammoth Pavilion HDX "Dragon" 20.1 inch notebook
HP has just announced a monster notebook PC, aptly nicknamed "The Dragon", squarely aimed at high definition entertainment fans.
The HP Pavilion HDX offers a 20.1 inch widescreen, Ultra BrightView display featuring dual lamps for extra brightness, four Altec Lansing speakers plus subwoofer, a HD DVD player, full 1080p HD, and an HDMI port.
Its innovative design features a dual hinge that allows the screen to 'float' above the keyboard, making it easily adjustable for viewing wherever it's located.
It gets its "Dragon" name from the imprint design on its casing. Nothing to do with HP's Data Retention and Guarding Online initiative.
This machine is so large that there's room for a Media Centre remote control to be housed to the left of the keyboard. The notebook also has other key entertainment functions, such as volume control, on dedicated buttons above the main keyboard. These glow blue for easy access in low light. The whole keyboard also has intelligent backlighting.
The integrated amplifier supplies around 20W output to the speakers, with an integrated audio processor supporting 7.1 analogue audio for external speakers.
There's a built-in HDTV hybrid TV tuner that can stream HD content over the air - not much use in the UK yet though you should be able to pick up standard definition content.
The HDX uses an Intel Centrino Duo T7700 processor running at 2.4GHz, with an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT with 256MB and up to 2048MB total graphics memory. The screen's optimal resolution is 1680 x 1050 (yes, irritatingly short of 1080p, and with 16:10 aspect ratio, so expect a touch of downscaling to display in 1680x945 resolution, with black bars top and bottom)
It will take up to 4GB of RAM, has 2x200GB hard drives, wireless capability, 4 USB, 2 headphone out, 1 microphone in, Ethernet, FireWire, and 5-in-1 card reader.
Though this is a notebook, I expect it's being targeted as a home solution. I can't imagine many people wanting to lug this fire-breathing monster on the daily commute, where lap space (if you even get a seat) is at a premium. It weighs in at 15.5lbs and measures 18.7" (L) x 13.4" (W) x 2.3" (H). This stays at home, I think.
Pricing will start at $2,999, with availability from the end of June, but no word on UK pricing or shipping yet.
