Product Central

One of the key products introduced at HP's 'Connecting Your World' event in Berlin earlier this week was the 24in. DreamColor LP2480zx, a 30-bit (10 bits per primary colour channel) LED-backlit monitor featuring HP's DreamColor Engine technology (first seen in a number of printers last year).

HP's 24in. DreamColor 2480zx sells for 2,299 euros and is shipping now. The DreamColor brand is designed for graphics professionals, who require accurate and consistent colour across a range of devices. HP has a close relationship with DreamWorks Animation, which clearly has a pressing need to ensure that the artistry of its animators — most recently seen in Kung Fu Panda (premiered at Cannes and released in the UK on 4 July) — is reproduced faithfully through the production chain, from graphics workstation to movie theatre or living room. According to HP, technical types at DreamWorks had been reduced to scouring eBay for old high-end CRT monitors, such was the expense of existing 'colour-critical' LCDs.

With its billion-colour gamut, CRT-class black, programmable white and six factory-calibrated colour spaces plus one user-programmable space, the 2,299-euro DreamColor LP2480zx does the job for about a quarter the price of previous solutions, according to HP. An optional calibration kit (colorimeter and software) is also available.

I'm in Berlin with HP for its 'Connecting Your World' shindig, the sun is shining, HP's top brass are keynoting and new products are appearing at an impressive rate.

Among the highlights is the HP EliteBook 6930p, the first of a new range of business notebooks combining military-standard (MIL-STD 810F) build quality with attractive industrial design. Claiming inspiration from the aircraft industry, the 14.1in., 2.1kg EliteBook has a magnesium chassis featuring a honeycomb pattern that's thermally bonded to a scratch-resistant anodised aluminium shell, giving a combination of strength and lightness. It's a Centrino 2 system, with a maximum battery life of 15 hours if you use the optional second battery.




HP's EliteBook 6930p looks elegant, but is also built to withstand significant levels of vibration, humidity, temperature, altitude and dust.


Other key features include QuickLook2 software that gives button-touch (but currently read-only) access to email and PIM information even if the notebook is off or in hibernation, and a military-grade file shredder. Another innovation is Sparekey, which lets you circumvent a forgotten password or malfunctioning fingerprint reader by anwering three predetermined questions. There's a new Qualcomm Gobi-based mobile broadband chipset, the HP un2400, that supports seamless roaming between EVDO and HSDPA networks, which should make international travellers' lives easier.

The EliteBook will ship in mid-August starting at £967 (ex. VAT). More product info and pictures when the vagaries of HP's non-stop schedule and press room/hotel connectivity allow.