HP updates ProBook range with AMD A-Series APUs

HP today announced the latest additions to its consumer and business notbook lines with 11 new models utilizing AMD’s latest VISION Technology–the AMD “Llano” A-series Accelerated Processing Units (APUs).The A series even promises to be more powerful than Intel’s competing Core i3 Processors in terms of multimedia performance, while managing to be anywhere from $50 to $75 cheaper. The news is out, HP ProBook 4435s AC adapter has just announced the addition of AMD’s brand new APUs (a combination of a traditional CPU and graphics processing unit) in some of their existing notebook models.

HP couldn’t have left the AMD-Vision event at Berlin without introducing some new gear. Benefiting from the latest AMD LLANO A Series APUs, the new HP ProBooks are here to stay and deliver us high performance computing. The family consists of the Probook 4435s, 4436s, 6465b and 6565b. Other laptops featured at the AMD-Vision offered themselves for your viewing pleasure: the 435, 4535s and 6460s.

HP ships the laptop with an AMD quad-core A6-3410MX 1.6GHz processor or a quad-core A4-3310MX 2.1GHz chipset together with graphics cards. Customers can choose up to 128GB of SSD, 320GB of SED or 500GB of HDD storage. A spill resistant keyboard, three USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA/USB 2.0 combined input and an Express Card slot are also included.Some models have the option of dedicated AMD Radeon graphics as well to use either on HP ProBook 4435s battery power or when performance is more important. All of the dv series uses CoolSense automatic fan tuning and an HD webcam, while the dv6 and dv7 have Beats Audio processing. HP was shy on exact specifications for the mix.

HP ProBook 4435s, 4436s and 4535s Specifications:

• Operating System: Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Starter, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11, FreeDOS (Windows XP Professional supported).
• Accelerated Processing Unit: AMD Quad-Core A6-3400MX APU with Radeon HD 6520G Graphics (2.3GHz/1.6GHz, 4MB L2 cache), AMD Dual-Core A4-3300MX APU with Radeon HD 6480G Graphics (2.5GHz/1.9GHz, 2MB L2 cache), AMD Quad-Core A6-3400MX APU with Radeon HD 6540G Dual Graphics (2.3GHz/1.6GHz, 4MB L2 cache), AMD Dual-Core A4-3300MX APU with Radeon HD 6510G Dual Graphics (2.5GHz/1.9GHz, 2MB L2 cache)
• Memory: 1/2/4 GB SODIMMS (up to 8GB total) DDR3 1333MHz
• Storage: 250/320/500/750 GB 7200rpm SATA II HDD or 320/640 GB 5400rpm SATA II HDD
• Optical drive: Blu-ray ROM DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive, DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive, DVD-ROM Drive, or weight saver
• Display: 14.0-inch (1366×768) HD anti-glare or BrightView (4435s and 4436s) or 15.6-inch (1366×768) HD anti-glare or Brightview (4535s)
• Wireless: Optional WWAN (available only on HP ProBook 4535s with integrated graphics), WLAN (available on all models) 802.11b/g/n or 802.11b/g/n with Bluetooth combo card.

In tems of industrial design, the "identical boxes" to which Hockey referred are nice boxes, indeed. Gone are HP's annoying "Christmas lights" multicolored LEDs, and the cases are smoother, sleeker, and apparently sturdier, based on HP's Forge design platform. The ProBook 6565b and 6465b have aluminum and magnesium cases, and the ProBook 4535s, 4436s, and 4435s cases are plastic and aluminum.

Meanwhile, the business class notebooks of the HP ProBook s-series – the ProBook 4535s, 4435s and 4436s – will come in an appealing aluminum finish. These machines will have price tags starting at $519. Both the b-series and s-series devices will be available on 27th of this month.

Business productivity is improved with AMD VISION Pro Technology and AMD Radeon™ Dual Graphics on the ProBook s-series and UMA graphics on the ProBook b-series, enabling optimal multitasking for video-conferencing, web browsing and graphics-intensive applications. Additionally, AMD Turbo Core Technology balances performance and HP ProBook 5320m battery life for more efficient computing, while AMD AllDay™ Power allows for extended notebook runtime.
The HP ProBook s-series (ProBook 4535s, 4435s and 4436s) combines a durable brushed-aluminum finish in a metallic gray color in addition to a touchpad with gesture support and an integrated high-definition (HD) webcam. HP is dedicated to providing customers a choice when it comes to HP ProBook 4435s adapter,” said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP as the worldwide leader in notebook sales, HP continues to develop customizable, reliable and affordable PCs with innovative designs suited for on-the-go consumers to corporate road warriors.

The new ProBook and Pavilion laptops provide longer HP ProBook 4435s battery life than its predecessors, HP said. The laptops will become available in different parts of the world in various configurations, though the company did not provide specific release dates. The A-series chips in the laptops have CPUs running between 2.3GHz and 2.5GHz and Radeon graphics processors running between 1.4GHz and 2.1GHz.

Although there is plenty of new technology under the hoods of these new laptops, the laptops themselves should look familiar to anyone acquainted with HP’s current notebooks. In fact, these new AMD-powered PCs have the same chassis designs as the Intel-equipped versions on the HP Pavilion and HP ProBook 5310m battery.

HP is currently the number one PC manufacturer with shipments of 15.3 million units at the start of the year, but sales of traditional computing equipment are on the decline. The company will be hoping that the TouchPad is able to secure a share in the lucrative and ever expanding tablet market.