HP is giving one of its high-end business laptops a sleek makeover in time for the release of Windows 10, and the limited edition new device will feature audio output certified by Bang & Olufsen.
The EliteBook Folio 1020 Limited Edition will feature a new configuration by Bang & Olufsen, which will be "custom tuning" the laptop's speakers to provide "precise sound" and take advantage of the dual-array microphones, speakers and High-Definition webcam. The laptop will also come with Bang & Olufsen's noise canceling software to provide a high-end audio-video conferencing experience using Microsoft's Skype and Cortana.
On the outside, the notebook also gets a physical makeover in the form of copper accents on the hinges and keyboard and a new dark grey chassis that HP calls ash silver in place of the shiny silver finish and gold accents of the regular EliteBook Folio 1020.
While the 12.5-inch Folio 1020 is a looker, it is not exactly the type of laptop that regular consumers would prefer. HP designed this device mainly for business users, incorporating business-centric software such as HP BIOSphere and HP Client Sphere for providing data security.
HP says the new laptop will also include the enterprise-friendly features that will come with Windows 10, such as Windows Hello to let users sign in using fingerprint or facial recognition, Device Guard to disable the installation of software from untrusted sources, and Microsoft Passport to add an extra layer of security when signing in into apps and websites.
"The security features in Windows 10, coupled with our stylish and secure commercial devices—like the thinnest, lightest and most secure business-class notebook HP EliteBook Folio 1020—help customers protect their organizations and maximize employee productivity in form factors users will love," said Alex Cho, HP vice president and general manager of commercial PCs.
Under the hood, the laptop runs on a powerful Core M processor paired with a whopping 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of disk space. Battery life is also excellent with around seven hours of continuous real-world usage for most.
The Limited Edition laptop weighs 2.68 pounds, which is exactly the same as the weight of the standard Folio 1020 unveiled in December, so it is unclear whether HP plans on incorporating other changes aside from the pimped audio system and the new colors.
It is unknown how much HP will charge for the EliteBook Folio 1020 Limited Edition, but the standard version costs $1,249 for the entry-level configuration.
HP also announced that the newly launched HP Pro Tablet 608, also designed for business users, will be one of the first HP devices to get Windows 10 in mid-August.
