HP has added to its range of light-weight ultrabooks in the shape of the Envy SpectreXT, which was unveiled at a promotional event in China and is set to go on sale in the US and the UK within a matter of weeks. The devices are aimed primarily at the consumer end of the laptop market, will be powered by Intel's Ivy Bridge Core i7 processors and boast 13.3-inch HD screens.
With a growing number of ultrabooks being made available worldwide from a broad range of high-profile suppliers, HP is hoping that its USB 3.0 port, SD card slot and HDMI options will help differentiate its latest offering from the pack. The SpectreXT, described as being "crafted for mobility", has an all-metal design, measures just 14.5 mm in width and should deliver close to eight hours of battery life, according to its makers.
In addition to the Spectre XT, HP added another pair of models to its suite of Envy PC products, namely the Envy Sleekbooks and the Envy Ultrabook. Meanwhile, a "business-ready" ultrabook in the shape of the HP EliteBook Folio 9470m has been added to the roster of 'thin and light' HP computers being readied for availability worldwide.
"The ultrabook is quickly becoming the must-have solution for anyone who wants performance, responsiveness and a secure computing experience in a thin, elegant format," commented Intel's vice president and general manager of PC client groups Kirk Skaugen. "HP's impressive line-up of consumer and business ultrabooks deliver across the board," he went on.
HP's recent launch event in Shanghai recently was aimed at presenting the company's latest raft of laptop PC offerings to the world but reports suggest the SpectreXT will be available in the UK June. The company told ZDnet UK that prices will likely start at £899.
Much of the progress being made in terms of making laptops increasingly lightweight and powerful has been driven by the improved capacity of processors made by the likes of Intel. The company in fact recently said consumers should ready themselves for "faster computing and graphics, and longer battery life in a variety of sleek form factors" thanks to its new 22nm 3-D transistor technology.