HP unveils slim notebook - OmniBook 900

BANGALORE: Hewlett Packard will unveil a redesigned version of its slim OmniBook 900 that will contain a 500-MHz Pentium III processor, currently Intel's fastest notebook chip.

HP's techniques for dissipating the heat generated by the processor and other components has helped it fit the chip into the OmniBook 900, said HP director worldwide market development for the mobile computing division Mark Jourlait. "The big secret in notebooks is getting the heat out. We do a lot of infrared and wind-tunnel testing" to maximize airflow, he said. The notebook for the OmniBook 900 will also come, for the first time, with a 13-inch screen. As an option, with the new notebooks wireless networking services from AT&T will also come. Depending on the configuration, prices will be around $3,300 for the new OmniBook 900s.

Industry wide effort is to bridge the performance gap between notebooks and desktops with larger screens and faster processors. Notebooks and its components generally carry higher profit margins than desktop PCs, making them attractive to manufacturers. The design elements of portables also allow companies greater opportunities to differentiate their products.

One of the next evolutions in notebooks will occur on January.18 when Intel releases new Pentium III notebook chips with "SpeedStep" technology. SpeedStep will allow a processor to run faster when plugged in than when running on battery power.