So here is the latest with HP.

HP also will use CES to launch a pair of new ultra-light consumer laptops, an area that is seeing increased focus from PC makers. The new models will be less expensive than Apple Inc’s   MacBook Air, but they will be heavier.

The cheaper model, the Pavilion dv2, has a 12.2-inch screen, runs AMD’s Athlon processor, and weighs 3.8 pounds. Like many ultra-lights, it has no optical drive. The dv2 will start at $699 and will be available in April.

It’s more expensive cousin, the $799, 13.3-inch dv3, will run on AMD’s Turion processor, and weighs 4.3 pounds. The dv3 will ship immediately.

HP also unveiled a new gaming and multimedia PC, the Firebird, a more compact and affordable version of its high-end system, the Blackbird 002. It builds on technology HP acquired in its 2006 purchase of Voodoo PC, a specialty gaming operation. The Blackbird launched in September of 2007.

Voodoo Chief Technology Officer Rahul Sood said the Firebird aims to be the "Tesla of high-performance computing," referring to the electric car maker. The Firebird features an external 350-watt power supply, which allows the box’s innards to run cooler and more efficiently.

The Firebird 802 starts at $1,800, while the 803 starts at $2,100. Both feature the Intel Core 2 Quad processor and a pair of Nvidia GeForce 9800S graphics cards.

Source : uk.reuters.com