Based on a vision that every physical, analog process will become digital, mobile and virtual, Hewlett Packard (HP) is taking an aggressive stance in the mobile computing market this year, having even named the year as the year of mobility. 

Releasing a slew of new notebooks aimed for the commercial market, earlier in Singapore, VP of the mobile business unit for HP Asia Pacific and Japan SEE, Chin Teik said that HP is extremely bullish about the opportunities ahead, even while declaring that the company is aiming to grow at twice the rate the regional markets are growing.

HP has launched new models under the Compaq brand, in four series, the 8200, 6100, 6200 and 4200. Of these, the 8200 is positioned as a desktop replacement machine, while the 6100 and 6200 are in the thin and light class. The 4200 comprise the ultramobiles. The 4200 has a tablet option also.

The new range comes with enhanced security and management features and undergo a new manufacturing process called in-mould laminate that is expected to make the body of the notebook more scuff- and scratch-resistant, and makes it look newer for a longer period of time.

At the launch, HP also demonstrated a new set of security tools, ProtectTools that are aimed at making the data in the notebooks more secure against accidental loss or theft. ProtectTools include features for user authentication, hardware data encryption support and network security standards. These are tools that are activated even before the operating system boots up (but can be accessed through the OS). Currently, they support only Windows. 

According to the manager at HP´s mobile computing global business unit, Matthew Wagner, "There are no plans to support other OSs with ProtectTools." Credentials manager, another tool, manages logins and passwords to various applications and Internet sites as well as to the machine itself. Credentials manager can use a variety of input systems; including fingerprint based biometric systems and smart cards. The embedded security systems in the new range of notebooks can make data in hard disks inaccessible even after the disks have been removed from the mother machines. The embedded security chips that make this possible is an optional component in the current generation.

The author was hosted in Singapore by HP.

KRISHNA KUMAR 
SINGAPORE

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