Hewlett-Packard on Tuesday unveiled five business notebooks and initiatives to help corporate users stay connected everywhere they go. The biggest spotlight at the HP Mobility Summit in San Francisco was on the smallest new notebook, the HP Compaq nc2400 Notebook PC, which is less than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) thick and weighs less than 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms). It includes a full-size keyboard and an internal optical disc drive. The company also rolled out the HP Compaq nc6400 Notebook PC, which is based on Intel Core Duo processors and can be equipped with modules for two types of third-generation (3G) mobile data modules. An evolution-data optimized part will be available when the PC ships in mid-May, and a high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) module will come later this year, the company said. The company has teamed up with Vodafone Group to integrate the mobile operator’s 3G service, based on HSDPA and universal mobile telecommunications system, into the nc6400 and cooperate on future notebook designs, HP said. The systems are designed to support international roaming in many countries. Mobile devices and applications are the key to future IT growth, said Todd Bradley, executive vice president of HP’s Personal Systems Group.“As we look to this next phase of growth, clearly we see it driven by mobility, clearly we see it driven by connectivity, and we believe that HP has an enormous set of assets to bring to bear,” Bradley told reporters and analysts at the San Francisco event, where HP kicked off a marketing push that includes new mobile consumer devices and advertising as well. Notebooks are leading the growth in HP’s PC business. “Our notebook business is smoking hot,” said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager of HP’s Notebook Global Business Unit.The company’s notebook business grew 54 percent since last year, and HP has gained almost 2.5 percentage points of market share over the past year, he said.Built-in 3G capability, which HP first introduced in products last year, is a key business feature, said Creative Strategies analyst Tim Bajarin. Offering two different types of 3G technology, used in different parts of the world, could be even better for some executives, he said.“The freedom to have the ability to connect anytime is really critical,” Bajarin said. “We’re moving to a much more global IT society in which working in just one location isn’t the norm anymore.” Also in the lineup Tuesday was the HP Compaq 4400 Series, which converts from a notebook to a tablet PC and will be available in early June for US$1,649. The series is based on Core Duo chips. HP also unveiled two systems with 15.4-inch widescreen displays. The nx7400 is based on Core Duo processors and starts at US$749. The 8400 series, a desktop replacement with ATI Technologies graphics and an antiglare screen, starts at $1,599. Both are set to ship in mid-May. The nc2400 is scheduled to ship in mid-May, priced starting at $1,599. The nc6400 should also ship at that time, priced from $1,549. -Stephen Lawson, IDG News ServiceCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content feature Key IT initiatives reshape the CIO agenda While cloud, cybersecurity, and analytics remain top of mind for IT leaders, a shift toward delivering business value is altering how CIOs approach key priorities, pushing transformative projects to the next phase. By Mary Pratt May 30, 2023 10 mins IT Strategy IT Leadership opinion Managing IT right starts with rightsizing IT for value While there are few universals when it comes to saying unambiguously what ‘managing IT right’ looks like, knowing how to navigate the limitless possibilities of IT is surely one. By Thornton May May 30, 2023 6 mins Digital Transformation IT Strategy IT Leadership brandpost Designing the campus of the future starts with high-quality 10Gbps connectivity By Huawei May 30, 2023 4 mins Network Architect Networking Devices Networking feature Red Hat embraces hybrid cloud for internal IT The maker of OpenShift has leveraged its own open container offering to migrate business-critical apps to AWS as part of a strategy to move beyond facilitating hybrid cloud for others and capitalize on the model for itself. By Paula Rooney May 29, 2023 5 mins CIO 100 Technology Industry Hybrid Cloud Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe