When you think of cool laptops, with eye-catching design and leading-edge technologies, chance are you think of a company like Apple. One company you may not think of immediately is HP. HP’s reputation has been built on providing solid, reliable machines that get the job done, but it has never had a reputation for being on the leading-edge of design, technologies, or connectivity. This is beginning to change.
HP’s new line of laptops sports some very appealing features, from stylish designs to beautiful Laptop LCD screens , in what is likely an attempt to make customers see their machines in a new light. Let’s take a look at some of the coolest features available in HP’s newest laptops.

Design

Great design isn’t just about eye candy, or putting a snazzy graphic on the back of a laptop, it is the complete package, from the function, feel, and layout of the keyboard to the placement of USB ports and power connectors. HP’s new laptops not only sport fresh new looks (as in the dv4t model) that really catch the eye, but you can see that the company put real thought into functionality as well. Keyboards are well spaced with good tactical feel. Hotkeys are kept to a minimum, adding quick access to functionality such as volume without cluttering up the keyboard space. Ports are exactly where you would expect, and are spaced far enough apart to allow easy connectivity. AC adapters are conveniently compact, and easily tossed into a laptop bag when traveling. Overall, you can see that HP is making a real effort to move away from their previous “business look” and getting closer to the kind of design decisions have given Apple such a reputation for style.

LCD Screens

To the untrained eye, it may seem that all LCD screens are created equal. While the look has remained consistent through the years, the underlying technologies are continually improving. Nowhere is this more evident then when you compare a modern laptop screen side-by-side with one from years ago. HP’s modern laptops are higher resolution, with upgrade options for even more detail if needed. They are more energy-efficient, in some cases using 25% less power than older LCD screens. This results in better battery life for the laptop, and thus more working time between charges. Laptops in the performance class such as the HDX 18t have screens as large as 18.4″ for a true desktop replacement system.

Power and Battery Life

Portability is the main reason to choose a laptop over a desktop system, and good battery life is essential. HP’s new models sport some of the best battery life in the industry. Even performance models, optimized for maximum performance and gaming, (often at the expense of battery life) can go for over 3 hours under normal conditions, though much less when doing resource-heavy tasks. If portability is your important to you, HP’s ultraportables, such as the HDX 18t, will extend battery life even more. If that’s still not enough, spare batteries are available, and can be easily swapped out to double your time between charges.

Other Features

Another cool feature is an optional Blu-Ray drive, for playing High-Definition movies on the go. Surround sound connections up to 7.1 surround allow you to use your laptop as a home theatre system. Many models feature built-in webcams for video-conferencing, video chat, or just recording videos to email to your family.

Overall, HP has taken some serious steps to shed their “business laptop” image of the past, and has started to integrate design and features that put them ahead of the curve. It is a great time to buy a laptop, with so many excellent choices, and it will be exciting to watch for new offerings from HP as they continue to improve their laptop line.