The real geeks out there tend to look at design of computers and netbooks secondary to the performance and hardware the machine offers. There are others out there who buy based on looks more than performance and for this group HP has unveiled its latest netbook designed by Vivienne Tam.

The netbook is the average Mini 210 decked out in gold color with Tam’s “Butterfly Lovers” design on the lid. The design has butterflies on the lid along with matching screen savers and other digital content.

The hardware includes an

I wouldn’t buy something just based on its looks. I would rather get a drab-looking speed-demon of a gadget rather than some flashy gadget that doesn’t really do well in the specs department. But not everyone is like that. Many, usually females, go for gadgets not based on their specifications but based on their looks. It seems like HP wants to reach these people too. They have come out with a new designer version of their netbook, the HP Mini 210, designed by Vivienne Tam.

More details below the cut.

The new

Targeting the professionals on the move, HP has brought to the fore its new 12.1-inch EliteBook convertible tablet. The device satisfies all demands of professional use by incorporating a touch interface that will also work with pen that is included. The EliteBook 2740p tablet PC, as well as a non-tablet device called the EliteBook 2540p, offered by HP and are expected to start arriving in the US market next month.

The EliteBook 2740p tablet PC will be made available with either a Core i5 or Core i7 processor. The device would

HP just dropped five new cameras and three new camcorders at PMA, including a few with touchscreen controls and revamped UIs. The $109 CW450t (pictured above) and $149 CW460t cameras have 2.7- and 3-inch touchscreen, respectively, and 4x optical zoom, while the $169 V5061u and $199 V5560u camcorders have 3-inch touchscreens shoot full 1080p -- the V5560u adds in a 5x optical zoom. That's not all for HP's low-end imaging assault: there's also the $99 CW450 and $129 SW450 cams with 4x zooms, the $149 PW550z with a 5x zoom, and the $109 V1020h camcorder that shoots 720p.

It's still sort of weird to see an Envy laptop and not see a Voodoo badge following along, but as Rahul Sood has so eloquently explained, it's HP's burden to bear from here on out. We got a chance to toy around with the smaller of the two a few months ago, and since then, the company lowered the asking prices for both while simultaneously updating the specifications. For those who've managed to procure either of the editions, we're curious to hear what you think about HP's first Voodoo-free Envy laptops. Is the trackpad up to snuff? How's the display? Is the performance

We visited with HP to see what's changed since we saw the Compaq AirLife during CES -- aside from it now having a name -- in early January. We were told by HP that the device's plastic housing has been improved, received confirmation that it's indeed running a 1GHz Snapdragon, and will be sold exclusively through a deal with Telefonica. The AirLife's performance was impressive while scrolling through carousels of photos, and control of the resistive display was also snappy with no stuttering while scrolling -- that we noticed. If reaching across the keyboard to touch

Today's Apple rumor roundup is brought to you by the word "money." First up is a piece carried by the New York Times citing no less than three people familiar with provisions that would require publishers to discount best seller e-book prices sold on Apple's iPad. In other words, below the $12.99 to $14.99 price dictated by the new agency model -- prices Amazon is being strong-armed into accepting. Apple's prices could be as low as Amazon's previously magical $9.99 price point for some titles just as soon as they hit the New York Times best-seller lists. Discounted

HP has announced the new V1020h, which records at 720p and is a SDHC card-reading pocketcam. It also sports a built-in USB plug and an HDMI port to preview media at native resolution. But the best feature is that it costs just $109.

We don’t have much info on the V1020h’s specs yet though, but at that price it’s already looking like a great deal. Hopefully you like that purple color. If so, it will hit shelves this summer.

[Nexus404]

The Apple iPad is scheduled for a release next month and it is sure to face some fierce competition from the HP Slate PC. HP intends to tighten the competitive noose furthermore by pricing the 3G laden, Windows 7 blessed, Slate PC, below the 3G version of the iPad which features a pretty similar spec sheet as the iPad. The Apple 3G enabled iPad will cost $629 and HP intends to price Slate PC below this mark.

HP officials are meeting in US and Taiwan to finalize the features and the pricing of the Slate PC within a matter of

HP Spain today introduced their new smartbook in the form of the Compaq Airlife 100. The new smartbook has a netbook-style design, a 10.1-inch touchscreen display and an integrated 3G. The Airlife 100 is powered by Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon with a 16GB SSD and WiFi connectivity. Its battery provides up to 12 hours of operation time or 10 days of standby time. Additionally, the Airlife 100 also has a webcam and an SD card slot. The new HP Compaq Airlife 100 smartbook will be launched in the European market during Spring 2010. [Xataka via Laptop