HP’s EliteBook 1020 is thinner, more powerful than Apple MacBook Air

Hewlett Packard on Tuesday introduced its new family of laptops that includes notebooks, which are thinner and more powerful than Apple’s MacBook Air, a laptop that is considered as a de-facto standard for ultra-thin laptops. At present it is unknown how much will the new laptops cost, but since the systems are positioned for enterprise users, do not expect them to be affordable.

The new HP EliteBook Folio 1020 laptops feature 12.5” displays with 2560*1440 resolution, a significant improvement compared to competing ultra-thin notebooks. The HP EliteBook 1020 and the HP EliteBook Folio 1020 Special Edition (SE) laptops are only 15.7mm thick, which is thinner than 17mm MacBook Air. The HP EliteBook 1020 SE is made of HP's blend of magnesium-lithium alloy and carbon fiber to achieve a weight of only 1 kg (2.2 lbs.).

The new ultra-thin laptops from HP are based on Intel Core M “Broadwell” processors with two or four x86 cores and new-generation integrated graphics. The notebooks are equipped with DDR3 memory, low-power solid-state drives, vPro and TPM technologies for maximum security, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, fingerprint reader, 720p webcam, advanced audio sub-system with DTS logo and so on.

“The HP EliteBook1020 represents game-changing innovation in both materials and mechanical engineering to create the world's thinnest and lightest business notebooks in a form factor that enables our customers to be more productive in more places,” said Alex Cho, vice president and general manager, HP Commercial PCs. “Customers demand not only a stylish, thin and light notebook, but also a device that delivers advanced security and can withstand the rigorous demands that come with a highly mobile lifestyle – and the HP EliteBook 1020 delivers this complete solution.”

While at present the EliteBook Folio 1020 laptops may be considered as the world’s thinnest, it should be noted that Apple is also working on its new 12.5” MacBook Air notebooks that are expected to be thinner than existing models. As a result, HP’s new business-class mobile PCs may not be the world’s thinnest laptops when they actually become available.

The HP EliteBook Folio 1020 Standard Edition will be available in February, whereas the HP EliteBook Folio 1020 Special Edition is expected to hit the market in April.

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KitGuru Says: It is completely unclear why HP decided to position its new EliteBook Folio 1020 laptops solely for corporate users. Positioning of the systems will make them pretty expensive, as a result, the new notebooks have no chances to become as popular as Apple’s MacBook Air PCs, which start at $899/£749.

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