Digital Home Thoughts: HP Releases Two New Desktops and 25.5 Inch Monitor

HP has released a trio of new products that are quite stylish - although I'd have preferred to see a new Slimline computer in this mix. Most consumers don't need full-sized computers like this. I dig the paint jobs on these though!

This is the HP Pavilion Verde Special Edition a6645f PC. Rolls off the tongue like peanut butter, doesn't it? I'm impressed with how much hardware they can pack into this for $579: and AMD Athlon X2 4850e dual-core CPU at 2.5 Ghz, NVIDIA nForce 430 chipset, 5 GB of DDR2 RAM, 500 GG 7200 RPM hard drive, and an NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE graphic card. Really? A 6000 series GeForce, still? The HP Slimline computer I bought earlier this year has the same GPU, and it's not powerful enough to run the screen animations on the Zune software at full tilt - they really need to let that GPU line pass away gracefully instead of cramming it into new desktops. That one issue aside, this looks like a decent computer.

The equally long-named HP Pavilion Phoenix Special Edition a6655f PC is going to be available from Best Buy on November 9th for $659. It will ship with an AMD Phenom X4 9150e Quad-Core CPU running at 1.8 Ghz, the NVIDIA nForce 430 chipset, 5 GB of DDR2 RAM, a 640 GB 7200 RPM hard drive...and the same lame GPU as the machine above: the NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE.

The short but obscurely-named HP w2558hc boasts a massive 25.5 inches of screen real estate, and an equally large HDMI logo on the front of the monitor. I sure hope that's a sticker that can be peeled off - why would someone need to be reminded that their monitor has HDMI? The w2558hc runs at 1920 x 1200 resolution, has a 3000:1 contrast ratio, a 3 ms gray to gray speed at 1920x1200, a 2 megapixel web cam, and according to the spec sheet, integrated rear-facing four-watt speakers. The price? A very reasonable $599. The HP screens are super glossy though (I have a 22 inch version), so you have to want the hyper-gloss effect. It makes things look nice, but if you have any sort of sunglight hitting the monitor, all you see is glare.

The full press release for all these products is after the break.

HP Helps Consumers Reduce Carbon Footprint with New Desktop PCs and Display

"HP today announced two new consumer desktop PCs and a color display designed to have reduced impact on the environment.

The HP Pavilion Verde Special Edition a6645f and HP Pavilion Phoenix Special Edition a6655f desktop PCs include AMD® energy-efficient processors(1,2) and recyclable packaging.

The 25.5-inch HP w2558hc Vivid Color Display offers a wide range of new features, including a built-in webcam and 15-in-1 card reader, for enhanced entertainment and connectivity.(3)

In addition, HP updated the HP Compaq Presario, HP Pavilion, HP Pavilion Slimline and HP Pavilion Elite lines of desktop PCs with new configurations to fit the needs of every consumer - from entertainment enthusiasts to budget-minded families and students. More information about the new lines is available at HP Direct.

PCs designed with the environment in mind

The HP Pavilion Verde Special Edition a6645f and HP Pavilion Phoenix Special Edition a6655f desktop PCs are ENERGY STAR® qualified and meet the standards for Silver registration in the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT^TM). The special-edition desktop PCs are designed with AMD energy-efficient processors(1,2) and advanced power management features that provide up to 45 percent energy savings compared to PCs without power management enabled. In addition, they come in 100 percent recyclable packaging with less plastic foam.

"The Phoenix and Verde desktops represent HP's ongoing efforts to innovate and design for the environment," said John Cook, vice president, Marketing, Worldwide Consumer PC Business, HP. "HP is committed to offering consumers and businesses computing alternatives that can reduce energy consumption and lessen their overall eco-footprint."

The special-edition desktop PCs offer up to five gigabytes (GB) of memory, Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit edition with Service Pack 1,(4) a front-panel 15-in-1 memory card reader for easily transferring photos and files to and from peripheral devices, and a SuperMulti DVD burner with LightScribe technology for etching custom labels and artwork directly onto discs.(5)

The HP Pavilion Phoenix Special Edition a6655f desktop PC includes an energy-efficient AMD Phenom^TMTM X2 4850e Dual-Core Processor(2) and 500 GB hard drive.(6) X4 9150e Quad-Core Processor(1) and 640 GB hard drive(6) and features a stunning design symbolizing the mythical phoenix. The HP Pavilion Verde Special Edition a6645f desktop PC has a nature-inspired pattern on the chassis and includes an energy-efficient AMD Athlon

Introducing a display that does it all

HP's new 25.5-inch diagonal widescreen flat panel display contains an array of features to provide enhanced entertainment, connectivity and performance. The elegant, ergonomically designed HP w2558hc Vivid Color Display includes a built-in 15-in-1 card reader for easily viewing slideshows and videos, even when the PC is turned off, as well as a built-in two-megapixel webcam for staying connected with friends and family through video chat.(7)

The HP w2558hc also has multiple USB ports and digital outputs to provide convenient connectivity to external devices, such as MP3 players and digital cameras.(8) HDMI inputs allow for a high-definition experience,(9) delivering bright and brilliant images powered by a fast response time, high brightness and contrast ratio, and BrightView technology.

The ergonomic design of the HP w2558hc with built-in speakers and a slim profile fits easily in the home and helps minimize desk space use. The display also includes height and tilt adjustments to suit viewing needs. The HP w2558hc is ENERGY STAR qualified and offers a Power Saver feature to help reduce energy consumption.

Pricing and availability(10)

* The HP Pavilion Verde Special Edition a6645f Desktop PC is expected to be available Nov. 9 exclusively through Circuit City, starting at $579.
* The HP Pavilion Phoenix Special Edition a6655f Desktop PC is expected to be available Nov. 9 exclusively through Best Buy, starting $659.
* The HP w2558hc display is currently available through HP Direct and select retailers nationwide starting at $599.

HP and the environment

For decades HP has been an environmental leader, driving company stewardship through its holistic design for environment strategy. HP influences industry action through its long-standing commitment to maintain supply chain responsibility, sustain energy efficient operations, reduce its climate impact and offer product reuse and recycling options. HP also makes it easier for customers to recognize environmentally preferable features through HP Eco Solutions, a program that helps customers identify products and services designed with the environment in mind. More information is available at www.hp.com/environment.

About HP

HP, the world's largest technology company, provides printing and personal computing products and IT services, software and solutions that simplify the technology experience for consumers and businesses. HP completed its acquisition of EDS on Aug. 26, 2008. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

(1) AMD Phenom X4 9150e Quad-Core Processor, speed 1.8 GHz, 2 MB L2+2 MB shared L3 cache, 3200MT/s system bus. Quad Core is a new technology designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. This system requires a separately purchased 64-bit operating system and 64-bit software products to take advantage of the 64-bit processing capabilities of the AMD Phenom processor. Given the wide range of software applications available, performance of a system including a 64-bit operating system will vary.

(2) AMD Athlon X2 4850e Dual-Core Processor, speed 2.50 GHz, 1.0 MB L2 cache, 2000 MHz system bus. This system requires a separately purchased 64-bit operating system and 64-bit software products to take advantage of the 64-bit processing capabilities of the AMD "X" processor. Given the wide range of software applications available, performance of a system including a 64-bit operating system will vary.

(3) Internet access required and sold separately.

(4) Certain Windows Vista product features require advanced or additional hardware. Details are available at www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/hardwarereqs.mspx and www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can help to determine which features of Windows Vista will run on individual computers. The tool is available for download at www.windowsvista.com/upgradeadvisor.

(5) Actual speeds may vary. Does not permit copying of commercially available DVD movies or other copyright-protected materials. Intended only for creation and storage of original material and other lawful uses. Double Layer is a new technology. Double Layer media compatibility will widely vary with some home DVD players and DVD-ROM drives. LightScribe creates a grayscale image similar to black and white photography. LightScribe media required and sold separately. Note that DVD-RAM cannot read or write to 2.6 GB Single Sided/5.2 GB Double Sided - Version 1.0 media. Data transfer rates up to 6,000 KB/s (CD read/write) and 21,632 KB/s (DVD read/write). Data transfer rates up to 3,600 KB/s (CD read/write) and 10,816 KB/s (DVD read/write).

(6) For hard drives, GB = 1 billion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. Up to 12 GB of storage space is reserved for the system recovery software.

(7) Internet access required and sold separately. Instant messaging software required.

(8) Sold separately.

(9) HD content is required to view HD image.

(10) Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary."