HP launches three big laptops

HP announced three new laptops this morning: the 17-inch HP Pavilion dv9000, the 15.4-inch HP Pavilion dv6000, and the 15.4-inch HP Compaq Presario V6000. All are based on AMD processors and feature up to 2GB of RAM at 533MHz or 667MHz, Altec Lansing speakers, plus HP's new styling. (To see photos of the new latchless, glossy, scratch-resistant lid designs, see our review of the HP Pavilion dv2000z.) Other features include HP's Mobile Remote Control, S-Video out and FireWire ports, an ExpressCard slot, 802.11a/b/g wireless, Bluetooth, a dual-layer DVD burner, and a 5-in-1 memory card reader. Each model also has an optical docking station.

The 7.8-pound HP Pavilion dv9000 is a desktop replacement that's serious about multimedia. The notebook can be configured with an AMD Turion 64 X2 processor at speeds from 1.6GHz to 1.8GHz. Its matte- or glossy-finished, 17-inch wide-screen display comes with a native resolution of either WXGA+ (1,440x900) or WSXGA+ (1,680x1,050) and is powered by an Nvidia GeForce Go 7600 graphics card with 256MB of dedicated VRAM. The system features LED-backlit, touch-sensitive multimedia controls; two headphone jacks (one of which supports S/PDIF out); and HP's QuickPlay 2.1 software for accessing media without booting into Windows. A Webcam, dual microphones and Windows XP Media Center Edition are all optional. The HP Pavilion dv9000 starts at $1,349 before a $50 rebate.

The HP Pavilion dv6000 is powered by either an AMD Sempron or a Turion 64 X2 at speeds from 1.6GHz to 1.8GHz. Its 15.4-inch wide-screen display has a native resolution of 1,280x800, comes in glossy or matte finishes, and is powered by either a discrete Nvidia GeForce Go 7200 with 64MB of dedicated VRAM or an integrated GeForce Go 6150 video card. It can be configured with hard drives in capacities from 60GB to 120GB spinning at 5,400rpm. At 6.5 pounds and 1 inch thick, the HP Pavilion dv6000 puts many of the dv9000's features in a smaller package. It has the same multimedia controls, QuickPlay software, and dual headphone jacks as its larger sibling. Also optional are a Webcam, an ExpressCard slot, and dual microphones. The HP Pavilion dv6000 starts at $929 before a $50 rebate.

The HP Compaq Presario V6000 is a stripped-down version of the HP Pavilion dv6000. It's the same size with the same processor, display, and hard drive configuration options, but it does not offer advanced options such as a discrete graphics subsystem, multimedia controls, dual headphone jacks, or QuickPlay software. The HP Compaq Presario V6000 weighs 6.5 pounds and starts at $959 before a $100 rebate.