HP Goes Mobile With AMD's Turion 64

Targeted at small and midsize businesses, the HP Compaq nx6125 notebook weighs 6 pounds, has a 15-inch screen and includes biometric security, the first HP laptop offering that feature, the company said. Starting at $999, the system has a battery life of three hours and 45 minutes, and a travel battery that attaches to the bottom of the unit--without having to remove the optical drive--can extend the battery life to more than seven hours.

"We feel this really hits the sweet spot of the SMB market," said Stephen Shultis, director of commercial notebook product marketing at Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP.

The new notebook marks the first major entry of AMD's Turion 64 into the HP mobile PC lineup. The vendor offers Intel processors on most of its systems, including laptops with Intel's Centrino mobile platform. "We have a choice for our customers," Shultis said.

HP's adoption of the Turion 64 decision is big for AMD. Since launching Centrino more than a year ago, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel snared the lion's share of growth in the notebook market, which has become one of the fastest-growing IT segments.

"Obviously, this is a significant announcement for AMD," said Bahr Mahoney, mobile marketing manager at the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based chip maker. "AMD is better able to serve the needs of the small- and medium-[size] business market than ever before. With AMD Turion 64, the product approach we have taken is one of an open industry standard that allows for selection of best-of-breed mobile technologies."

In addition to the AMD announcement, HP said it aims to give its solution provider partners a boost in the mobile arena with the rollout of a new program called HP Smart Mobility Access. The initiative, which includes a product bundle and an education program, is designed to help solution providers streamline sales and marketing to customers in the SMB space.

The solution includes an HP ProLiant Server, Microsoft Small Business Server software and Windows-based mobile devices--such as a notebook, an HP Tablet PC or an iPaq handheld--plus installation and training provided by the solution provider. The packages will cost $27,000 to $141,000, and HP said it will offer "pilot" training and education to solution providers in the western United States.