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HP 13-inch laptops bring on aluminum and affordability

Just in time for Windows 7 comes HP's new Windows 7-preinstalled 13-inch thin-and-light laptops.

Scott Stein Editor at Large
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Expertise VR and AR | Gaming | Metaverse technologies | Wearable tech | Tablets Credentials
  • Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
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Scott Stein
2 min read
HP

As we gear up for Windows 7, manufacturers are lining up their latest updated models to catch your consumer eye. HP's newest 13-inch laptops, the HP ProBook 5310m and HP Pavilion dm3, both toss in fancy aluminum frames, but with different internal stories. The ProBook 5310m has a 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo processor or 1.2 GHz Celeron ULV under its hood, while the Pavilion dm3 has a new dual-core AMD Neo X2 (or if you choose, an Intel Pentium SU4100 ULV) running the show.

The ProBook's looks feature an anodized aluminum chassis, a raised keyboard, and .93 inch of thinness. The Pavilion dm3 is a slightly thicker machine, but then again, it's also more affordable. And it has a fancy metal case, too. The ProBook 5310m starts at $699, while the Pavilion dm3 starts at $549. HP claims 7 and 10 hours battery life, respectively, for the duo of 13-inchers. Both come preinstalled with Windows 7.

HP

    HP Pavilion DM3
  • 13.3-inch LED 1,366x768 display
  • 1.6 GHz AMD Neo X2 or 1.3 GHz Intel Pentium SU4100
  • 4GB DDR2 RAM (for the Neo) or 4GB DDR3 (Pentium)
  • ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics (Neo) or Intel GMA 4500MHD (Pentium)
  • 320GB, 7200rpm HDD (Neo) or 500GB, 7200rpm HDD (Pentium)
  • 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
  • Altec Lansing speakers
  • 4 USB 2.0, HDMI
  • CD/DVD drive
  • 4.21 pounds
HP
    HP ProBook 5310m
  • 13.3-inch LED 1366x768 display
  • 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SP9300 or 1.2 GHz Intel Celeron SU2300
  • Intel GMA 4500MHD
  • Up to 4GB DDR2 RAM
  • Up to 320GB 7200rpm HDD
  • 3 USB 2.0, DisplayPort
  • 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
  • QuickWeb and QuickLook instant-launch web and email browser
  • 3.79 pounds