HP adds Wireless Audio, Pavilion dm4 with Radeon HD 7470M
updated 12:00 am EST, Wed November 16, 2011
HP Pavilion dm4 first notebook with HD 7470M video
HP's last round of notebook updates included a unique refresh to the Pavilion dm4. The 14-inch ultraportable runs on more recent Intel Core processors but is unique in being the first known notebook with Radeon HD 7000 video. Some trim levels can carry a dedicated Radeon HD 7470M, whose performance is a mystery but should raise the bar for entry-to-mid-level video.
The regular dm4 can use a flash cache to start faster and has Beats Audio processing with a subwoofer as a matter of course. A special Beats Edition carries not just the audio but a black-and-red shell with keys backlit in red, a soft-touch palm rest, and both a special Beats sleeve case as well as Beats desktop backgrounds. It optionally comes with Solo HD earbuds in red.
Of all the notebooks, the dm4 line arrives last, shipping December 18. HP hasn't given detailed base specifications, but it has the regular dm4 at $630 and the Beats Edition at $900.
A general add-on, Wireless Audio, is coming in the mix. The breakout box uses KleerNet's proprietary broadcasting to stream sound from a USB port to any destination that supports headphones, RCA, SPDIF, or Toslink sources. Its advantage is resistance to interference, HP said: a tri-band radio helps it keep the audio moving within the 100-foot range.
Although listed as supporting any desktop or notebook PC, HP officially requires a Windows system for the Wireless Audio box to work. It ships mid-December for $100.
