With HP's latest rollout of its newest consumer laptops and netbooks, the company has also ushered in a new design concept. Dubbed MUSE (Materials, Usability, Sensory appeal and Experiences), the new aesthetic will drive the new design of its new laptops and netbooks.

Gone are the smooth plastic tops, replaced by sleek metallic lids. The in-mold design technology is still evident, but now patterns are laser-etched into the metals, similar to engravings.

The Envy line adds to its stable of luxury laptops with the HP Envy 14 and 17. The design concept for both laptops is reminiscent of that of Apple's MacBook Pros: Designers take a single slab of aluminum and carve out the center for the components. The two Envy systems also offer premium features like a slot-loading optical drive, a back-lit keyboard, and a glass screen. The Envy 17 also has a Blu-ray option, and both offer the option of a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, plus Core i3 and i5 options. The HP Envy 14 and Envy 17 will be available on June 27 and May 19, respectively, at HPDirect.com. The Envy 14's price starts at $999, while the 17 starts at $1,399.
The Pavilion series of laptops and netbooks also feature the new laser-etched design, but on the lids and palm rest only. The HP Pavilion dm4 and dv5 marks the first time HP launched two laptops in the 14-inch space. Both sport 14.5-inch screens, but the dv5 is slightly thicker than the dm4, since it has to make room for quad-core processors from either Intel or AMD (the dm4 supports only the Intel Core i3 and dual-core Core i5). At 5.2 pounds, the dv5 is also heavier than the dm4, which tips the scales at 4.4 pounds. The HP Pavilion dm4 starts at $730, while the Pavilion dv5's starting price is set at $650. Both will be available starting May 19.

The ubiquitous HP Pavilion dv6 and dv7 have also received a design makeover, with new laser-etched lids and palm rests. Like previous iterations, the dv6 and the dv7 use a 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch widescreen, respectively, and both have options for the Core i3 and i5 microprocessors. They dv7 includes an edge-to-edge glass panel, as opposed to the dv6's plastic borders. The dv6 will have an option for a quad-core Intel Core i7, a touchscreen and HP's TouchSmart software; the touchscreen is not available on the dv7. Prices for the HP Pavilion dv6 and the Pavilion dv7 are very appealing, starting at $650 and $800, respectively. Both will also be available at HP's Web site, beginning on May 19.

- via PC Magazine

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