HP Mini by Studio Tord Boontje breaks new ground

SINGAPORE — A new limited edition of the HP Mini, this time featuring the design of world-renowned Dutch industrial designer Tord Boontje, was launched here last week and made a mark as the world’s first three-dimensional PC surface technology.

With the HP Imprint 3D technology, Boontje turned the latest HP Mini as his white canvas to create one of his whimsical designs of flora and endangered animals. The result is the industry’s first 3D notebook cover that shows depth to every aspect of Boontje’s design.

Arts and crafts hobbyists might see the similarity of the HP Imprint 3D design to a popular paper craft hobby called Paper Tole or 3D Decoupage art that involves cutting, shaping, sculpturing and gluing cutouts obtained from identical lithographic prints, and building these components up using silicone, to create a three-dimensional picture.

The HP Imprint 3D, on the other hand, is made possible by a unique in-mold decoration process.    

The new HP Mini by Studio Tord Boontje is more than just an eye candy. Chua Hwee Koon, vice president of the Mobile Business Unit of HP Asia-Pacific and Japan’s Personal Systems Group, explained as she unveiled this product that “Design (for HP) is not just about what the computer looks like or even what it does for us. It’s also about the experience of using the PC. We are committed to delivering new levels of individuality and connectivity to suit any lifestyle” as exemplified by the latest HP Mini notebooks.

The HP Mini by Studio Tord Boontje measures just over an inch thick, weighs 1.06 kilos and makes use of a 10.1-inch mercury-free LED display, a 92-percent full-size keyboard, and a six-cell lithium-ion battery that can deliver up to eight hours of battery life.

More importantly, it comes pre-installed with Genuine Windows XP Home or Genuine Windows 7 Starter. Units on XP are already available for $549 but those with Windows 7 will only be available after Oct. 22 (when Microsoft officially releases its new operating system) for $599 and will not be offered as a free upgrade for HP Minis with XP Home installed.

HP no longer offers a Linux model for its new netbooks as it now wants to focus on the new Windows 7, said See Chin Teik, senior vice president of the Personal Systems Group of HP Asia-Pacific and Japan.

Aside from its stunning design, the HP Mini by Studio Tord Boontje comes with 15 wallpapers designed by Boontje himself as well as a customized Stardock MyColors desktop theme and custom screen saver. It also has built-in tools such as Windows Live Writer for blogging and Seemic social networking desktop client.

Boontje is an environmentalist so to match his social message HP also made the new HP Mini as environment-friendly as possible. First, its packaging and setup poster and user guides are all printed with soy-based inks and made of 100 percent recycled materials.

A reusable microfiber protective sleeve also ships with the HP Mini which also has optional “green” accessories, including a PVC-free wireless mouse and a handbag made from natural materials.

More Mini-mes

Sharing the stage with the HP Mini by Studio Tord Boontje is the new HP Mini 311 which boasts of the largest Mini notebook high-definition display at 11.6 inches. Available in black swirl or white swirl protective HP Imprint finishes, the HP Mini 311 features NVIDIA graphics with DX10 support and Altec Lansing speakers for high-definition video and music playback. This particular model has a starting price of $499.

The introduction of a new designer in HP’s Mini series, however, doesn’t mean the end of the well-received Vivienne Tam designs. In fact, HP earlier had unveiled in New York an update to the designer’s “digital clutch” featuring beautiful butterfly images in vivid orange.

HP has yet to release the technical specs for the “Version 2.0” of the HP Vivienne Tam digital clutch that will be available in spring 2010.

Asked how HP selects its designers, See said they look for those who bring different value to their crafts and those who are proven achievers in their own fields. By collaborating with notable artists, See said art and technology now have a chance to really come together and bring more value and innovations to consumers.

“Innovation distinguishes a leader from a follower. As we head into the next decade of the PC evolution, our consumers continue to drive and inspire us to bring products that redefine industry norms. Our new products stand in testimony to our leadership in breaking the barriers of design innovation, bringing simplified consumer experience and a wide range of options for our users,” said See.

He, however, acknowledged that competition in the netbook segment has saturated the market. “It’s saturated that some now try to get out while others drop their price points. HP is not doing neither because we bring different value, usability and experience with our HP Minis,” See said.

Meanwhile, HP also launched new ultra-slim notebooks (HP ProBook 5310m, HP ProBook 5310m), a new series of HP Pavilion (dm1, dm3), and new premium notebook PCs called HP Envy in 13-inch and 15-inch models.