HP Unveils Light, Tough Notebooks

The rock 'em, sock 'em notebooks feature the HP DuraCase, a brushed, anodized aluminum exterior casing that is combined with a magnesium alloy chassis. The models were engineered to pass military-standard durability tests such as extreme temperature, dust and humidity, HP said.

Both notebooks feature HP Mobile Broadband with built-in Qualcomm Gobi technology and use a single module, the HP un2400, to support multiple mobile broadband network technologies and mobile operators. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company said that the technology increases users' international roaming options by offering more choices in choosing a mobile data plan.

The new EliteBooks also support Intel Core 2 Duo ultra-low-voltage (ULV) or low-voltage (LV) that minimizes power consumption.

Additionally, both models run on Intel's updated Centrino 2 platform, and include HP's QuickLook 2 software, a quick-booting pre-OS environment for checking e-mail, calendar, and contacts. The notebooks have HP's standard business security tools, such as drive encryption, a built-in file sanitizer and a custom security management software interface.

Both notebooks feature an optional integrated 2 megapixel Web cam with business card reader software, and an integrated HP NightLight that shines on the keyboard to improve low light visibility, HP said.

HP EliteBook 2530p Notebook PC has a 12.1-inch diagonal widescreen HP Illumi-Lite LED display that is lighter than standard notebook display technology and improves battery life by up to 90 minutes. The notebook is also HP's smallest and lightest-weight business notebook, weighing in at 3.19 pounds. Users have a choice of a 1.8-inch hard drive with a built-in optical drive or a higher-capacity 2.5-inch hard drive.

The HP EliteBook 2730p Notebook PC weighs at 3.7 pounds, and has a rotating the screen transforms it into a pen-based tablet measuring 1.11-inches thin. New features include an integrated touchpad, tablet buttons and a jog dial. An optional ultra-slim battery accessory provides up to 12 combined hours of battery life. The EliteBook 2730p also supports a docking solution with an integrated DVD+/-RW drive.

The HP EliteBook 2530p and HP EliteBook 2730p are slated for release in early September, with an estimated price tag of $1,499 and $1,670 respectively.