Product: HP Compaq nx7000 business notebook Price: Starts at HK$13,988 Pros: The widescreen display and Centrino system offer increased productivity and mobility Cons: Must pay extra to get Bluetooth wireless connectivity
For months it seemed like Hewlett-Packard would be the only large computer maker to steer clear of Intel's Centrino chipset.
The reason was that HP had developed its own system to efficiently link its notebook computers to wireless local-area networks used in 'hot spots', such as airports, shopping malls and coffee houses.
Apparently, however, Intel has pushed enough buttons in the market since March - when it launched a US$300 million global marketing campaign to support the Centrino silicon and software package - to make HP believe there is sufficient demand to warrant the release of its own Centrino-based laptop.
The nx7000, HP Compaq's first Centrino-based notebook, was designed for business professionals who will appreciate its 15.4-inch wide-aspect ratio display.
Being 20 per cent wider than traditional 15-inch notebook displays, the nx7000 is ideal for working on multiple applications side by side on the same screen, viewing spreadsheets, editing digital images and video for desktop publishing or other graphics-intensive work.
