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Hewlett Packard is launching a new line of low-cost notebooks, titled the ProBook s-series. Coming in 14.1-inch, 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch screen sizes, the series is engineered for small and medium-businesses, and follows last year’s lighter, classier EliteBook line. Other than netbooks, the s-series marks the first time HP has offered a Linux pre-install on a conventional business laptop, giving customers the choice to install SuSE Enterprise Desktop 11.


The 14-inch models are expected to offer both Intel and AMD CPUs, an optional Blu-ray drive, HDMI port and a choice between Intel’s GMA X4500HD and ATI’s Mobility Radeon HD 4330 for graphics. Stepping forward, the 15.6-inch models will also ship with your choice of an Intel or AMD CPU, and include an optional mobile broadband connectivity module as well as an integrated numeric keypad. The 17.3-inch ProBook, naturally, is the top of the line model, offering only the latest Intel Core 2 Duo chips with discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics from AMD.

As of now, prices begin at around $529 and a compatible USB 2.0 docking station is available for $139.