HP unveils new range of gadgets

HP unveiled its latest Pavilion Media Center PC during a recent multi-product press launch that also saw new printers and notebook PCs.

"HP is constantly formulating new innovations to improve the way consumers enjoy digital entertainment," said Bernadette Nacario, head of HP Philippines’ Imaging and Personal Systems Group.

Running on MS Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and powered by an Intel Pentium D with dual-core processor and HyperThreading technology, the device empowers users to intuitively control video, TV and radio programs, music, and photos – all using a seamless interface and with remote control convenience.

With the software, the Media Center PC allows switching between different media formats such as from TV to DVD with practically no waiting time.

Users can also record single episodes or an entire series of up to 100 hours of recorded TV (thanks to the Media Center’s 160GB memory and built-in TV tuner card), allowing viewers to watch, rewind and pause their favorite TV shows.

The solution is encased in an eye-catching stylish silver chassis that comes equipped with a connectivity center for easy use of peripherals which can be concealed by a nifty sliding door, a 9-in-1 memory card reader that supports virtually every storage card format, two USB ports, and FireWire, plus jacks for audio and video devices.

The HP Pavilion m7277d Media Center PC retails for P109,990, while the higher-end m7288d has a sticker price of P119,990.

"With the HP Pavilion Media Center PC’s launch in the Philippines, we are further strengthening our position in the consumer desktop industry by capturing a greater share of the market," Nacario said.

HP also launched its latest line of printing solutions based on the breakthrough ink-based printing platform known as Scalable Printing Technology for customers with diverse printing needs.

Designed for high-volume home and business printing, the solution combines new levels of speed, quality, reliability and intelligent print features to greatly enhance printing experience and productivity.

The printer models under this new platform include the new high-speed HP Photosmart 8230 Photo Printer, the Photosmart 3110 All-in-One, the Officejet Pro K550 Color Printer, the space-saving Deskjet 5440 Photo Printer, the multi-function Officejet 5610 All-in-One, the portable PictBridge- and Bluetooth-enabled Photosmart 335, and the compact Photosmart 7830.

Hot on the heels of the new printers was HP’s sleek and lightweight new Presario notebook. The 2.5-cm thick, 1.59-kg widescreen Compaq Presario B1800 notebook PC was designed with the enterprise user in mind.

Built with Intel Centrino Mobile Technology with Pentium M processor, the P89,950 Presario B1800 brings power consumption efficiency and multi-tasking processor power to a higher level.

A number of built-in wireless networking options such as WLAN and optional Bluetooth connectivity give users greater access to data, e-mail and the Internet.

The latest DVD Super-Multi Drive with Double Layer DVD Recording Technology is included in selected models to allow users to rip virtually every available format from DVD to music CDs at outstanding speed.

The B1800 also features BrightView for brilliant color display and sharp picture contrast, giving users more accessibility options to photographs, music and data.

HP also launched the Pavilion a1225I Desktop PC with HP’s InterVideo Home Theater, which gives users a new and simple way of enjoying the types of entertainment that they care most about – photos, music, video and live TV.

Matching the performance of a branded PC with an affordable price of P29,900, the AMD Sempron processor-powered HP Pavilion a1225I is equipped with a large hard drive capacity of up to 160GB, providing for a luxurious amount of storage space for recording and storing TV shows, home videos, movies, digital photographs and music files.

Last but not least is the HP iPAQ rx1950 Pocket PC, a sleek, stylish and ultra-light device that enables users to stay connected and enjoy life with access to information, files and programs no matter where they are.

Users can mobilize their digital music, videos and photos wherever they go. And with an integrated Wi-Fi, they can stay connected to the Internet, e-mails, online news and more.

"Our never-ending efforts to formulate innovations have brought us attractive products that have great features to boot," Nacario said.

"These products, with their numerous functionalities and stylish design, definitely give new meaning to the term ‘value-added,’" she added.