The new HP DM3 13.3″ laptop has just been announced. The first visible improvement is the use of Aluminum on the on the palm rest area and around the “user-area” in general. When it is opened, the laptop looks very sleek and feels solidly built. From the outside, it has a magnesium skin that is not fingerprint-prone but makes it look like a regular laptop. The trackpad is big and smooth (not yet glass-smooth) and the “click” of the trackpad button was sharp and required only light pressure – this is very decent (you’d be surprised by how bad some trackpads are…). The keyboard is *finally* backlit (yay!) and if you are cost-conscious, this is an optional upgrade (that I recommend most people to take – this is so useful). At 4lbs, it is a good compromise between portability, quality and pricing for a computer that size.
Inside, the DM3 is powered by a Pentium U5400 at 1.2Ghz. While this will not beat a Core i3 in performance, it allows for a better battery life, and HP claims that its 6-Cell battery can hold for 7.5 hours in a standard battery drainage test. Finally, HP has loaded the DM3 with HP CoolSense, a software that lets users choose between a very cool but slightly noisier, or a super-quiet but slightly warmer, computer. Overall, the DM3 is a greatcomputer for those who want productivity and portability over pure performance.
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