HP has quietly brought its TouchSmart tm2 up to speed with Intel's latest processors, ditching the dated ultra low voltage Core 2 Duo SU7300 for newer Core i3 and i5 parts. Kicking off at $830, the base machine is powered by the 1.2GHz i3-330UM and integrated Intel graphics, while an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5450 costs another $50. Similarly, the i5-430UM can be had for $75 more than the starting price, or it can be paired with the HD 5450 for $125.
The 12.1-inch LED-backlit multitouch display comes in one resolution - 1280x800 - while other configurable specs include 4GB, 6GB or 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB, 500GB or 640GB of storage, an external DVD or Blu-ray drive, Bluetooth, and it can be preloaded with either Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional.
There aren't any surprises on the I/O front, with connectivity spanning the usual USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and VGA-out, and a multi-card reader. Systems are readily available for ordering, and the sub-5lb tm2 ships with a six-cell battery, which promises to keep the lights on for up to six hours.