Hasta La Gadget!

You know, for a moment there, we actually thought we were past the point of pushing subsidized netbooks. Evidently not. Verizon Wireless has just revealed a tweaked version of HP’s 11.6-inch Pavilion dm1 (the dm1-2010nr) that’s designed to work on Big Red’s oh-so-vast 3G network. Better still, Verizon has thrown in a SIM card in order to let it roam on networks outside of America, but the catch is one you probably saw coming: price. As with the company’s international Wireless Fivespot, the data pricing options are patently absurd — particularly so when you realize that you can never use the data you’re paying for here unless you’re using the netbook its embedded within. Other specs include a 1.3GHz AMD Athlon II Neo K325 processor, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit), 2GB of DDR3 memory, ATI’s Mobility Radeon HD 4225 GPU, a 1366 x 768 resolution, inbuilt webcam and Altec Lansing speakers. Verizon’s trying to hawk this thing for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a Mobile Broadband plan, while the standard version sells for just $250 more; worse still are the data plans, which mirror those found earlier in the week on the Fivespot. We’d tell you that they’re detailed in full after the break, but seriously, why would you voluntarily view something that would bring you to tears?

Continue reading HP’s Pavilion dm1 netbook outfitted with global 3G for Verizon, priced way outside of reason

HP’s Pavilion dm1 netbook outfitted with global 3G for Verizon, priced way outside of reason originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Note the plural use of “phone” in that headline quote. It comes from HP’s Senior VP Eric Cador who said, “you will see us coming early next year with new phones,” when speaking at an industry conference today in Barcelona. Of course, he’s referring to smartphones running webOS and not some WinMo followup to the iPAQ Glisten for crissake. Sure, it’s not much, but when you’re as desperate as we are for the next Palm device then every scrap of information counts.

HP: New webOS ‘phones’ coming early next year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 06:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analysts aren’t confident. The market sure as heck doesn’t seem confident. But HP? HP is very confident in its choice of former head of SAP, Léo Apotheker, for its top spot. How confident?

“I have never felt more confident about our business.” That’s a quote from Cathie Lesjak, HP’s CFO, who has been the interim CEO for the company since the untimely departure of Mark Hurd.

Lesjak, of course, seems to be particularly excited to go back to her old job. “My heart is in being a CFO, and my family and I are pleased I’m going back to that,” she told the press during a conference call this morning.

Just to show you how ultimately confident HP is in its choice, the company wants you to know that Apotheker was its number one choice, never mind the fact that he was only SAP’s CEO for a total of seven months.

According to HP, Apotheker was the only person offered its top job. After an exhausted two month search, HP “ended up with six people who could have done the job,” says HP independent board director, Bob Ryan. From there, the board chose Apotheker unanimously.

Is HP on the up and up here? Does the company’s confidence really matter if no one shares the sentiment? After all, HP’s stock price dipped four percent on the news of Apotheker’s hire.

HP has just named its new CEO and President, former CEO of SAP, Léo Apotheker. Mr. Apotheker, who was with SAP for over 20 years, will also join HP’s Board of Directors. His elections are to take effect November 1st. The decision has been expected since Mark Hurd‘s dramatic exit in August, though Mr. Apotheker’s name was not one widely circulated as being in the running. The company has simultaneously named Ray Lane as the Chairman of its Board of Directors. Full press release is below.

Continue reading HP names Léo Apotheker as new CEO and President

HP names Léo Apotheker as new CEO and President originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, this is depressing. Earlier today we were tipped off on disappearance of the Envy 15 on HP’s site, and according to the company it’ll no longer be available through HP. Obviously, you can still snatch up the 15.6-inch version of HP’s magnesium alloy rig through other e-tailers, but there’s no telling how long they’ll be in stock. The vanishing of the Envy 15 happens to make a lot of sense with the introduction of the Envy 14, but there’s also something fishy going on with that one. The machine, which we do love so, doesn’t have an option to be configured with HP’s brighter Radiance panel any longer. HP wouldn’t comment on future plans, but did confirm that the Radiance panel is no longer available on the 14. We’ll be keeping an ear to the ground for further updates, but it’s on you to bring the tissues next time.

Though it’s little consolation for nature-loving outdoor laptop enthusiasts, there is a silver lining in this cloud — the Envy 14’s now showing a new set of powerful CPU options, up to and including that 2.66GHz Core i5-580M we’ve been lusting after for months.

[Thanks, Eric]

HP Envy 15 and Envy 14 with Radiance display no longer available through HP, new CPUs ease the sting originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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