Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Great Deal for the Holidays!


So we hate to bore you with deals on this page, but this is simply not to be missed out on.

So here it is:

Get the HP Pavilion DV6 - 3060si (2.26GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HD), the HP 500GB Portable Hard Drive, a super cool laptop bag as well as Norton Anti-Virus 2011 - - ALL this for only R8999.

If you want to take advantage of this offer, buy it here.

If not, keep an eye out for some more great HP Shop deals coming soon!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The HP Envy - One Beautiful Machine

The HP Envy is one beautiful machine. It is a perfect blend between performance and art.

Its sleek design and extraordinary performance ensure that it meets every need of a Notebook PC and more. Its powerful Intel i7 Processor, huge amount of RAM(up to 8GB), 500GB hard drive and the excellent ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5850 Graphics Card joins many other remarkable features to make the HP Envy one of the most desirable notebooks money can buy.

Click Here for the Engadget review.

HP Shop is currently running a massive notebook sale, and the HP Envy 17 is yours for R13799 and can be in your hands in 48hrs.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The HP TouchSmart tm2 - the perfect Christmas gift for the gadget lover.



Video courtesy of Wannahaves.com


This multi-touch tablet notebook gives you the versatility to touch, draw or type. Enjoy a sophisticated convertible design, eight hours of battery life and outstanding graphics performance (varies by configuration).

Here's some specs for you guys:

  • Intel® Pentium® Processor U5400 1.2 GHz, Level 3 cache 2 MB Intel® HM55
  • Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
  • 1.89 kg
  • 3 GB DDR3 (Duo-Core - 1 x 1024 MB + 1 x 2048 MB)
  • 320 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm up to 12 GB partition for system recovery
  • LightScribe SuperMulti DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
  • ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5450 Graphics
  • 30.7 cm (12.1") diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView Touchscreen Convertible Display (built-in capacitative digitizer with multi-touch gestures) Display Resolution: 1280 x 800
  • 6-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery
  • Bluetooth® wireless networking

This versatile tablet notebook is available from HPshop for only R9359.

Spoil yourself or somebody else.


Get it now!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

HP SpareKey

HP SpareKey helps you, or the administrator of the computer, recover lost system passwords, such as the power-on, drive lock, or BIOS passwords. When setting up the SpareKey, you are prompted to provide answers for a sequence of three predetermined personal identification questions.

The HP SpareKey uses these questions to identify you if you need to reset the passwords. Examples of the personal identification questions presented by HP SpareKey are listed below:
-What is your mother's maiden name?
-What was the name of your first pet?
-What is your father's middle name?

It is very important to write down the answers to these questions and put them in a safe place, away from the computer, so that you can always access them.

HP SpareKey cannot help you recover a Windows 7 or Vista administrator account password. It is intended solely to recover system-level passwords.

This feature is available on most HP laptops.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Manage your laptop battery power

There are actions you can take to make your laptop battery last longer. HP always recommends following the instructions for charging and storage that came with the battery or laptop.

Tips for conserving battery power on laptop PCs:

You can manually change the power consumption of your notebook PC and conserve battery power.

- Reduce the brightness of the screen to the minimum readable level. Use the function keys on the top of your keyboard to adjust the brightness.
- Remove peripherals when not in use. External hard drives, CD-ROMs, Zip drives, PC cards, and other peripheral devices can draw power from your battery even when they are not in active use. Disconnect them when you have finished using them.
- Turn off the Wireless On-Off button when it is not in use. If your laptop has one, press the Wireless On-Off button so that the light turns off.
- Remove the battery if the laptop will be stored (turned off and not plugged into AC power) for more than 2 weeks.
- Remove the battery if the laptop will be plugged into AC power continuously (via a wall adapter or docking station) for more than 2 weeks.
- Calibrate your battery. (We will cover this in our next Battery post)

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Steps to clean your PC for performance

Some simple maintenance tasks once or twice a month can keep your PC running smoothly.
Spyware, adware, and viruses need to be detected and removed frequently to maximize your computer's efficiency. Your hard drive and personal files must be managed and stored properly to ensure that they are not corrupted over time. Important data should be backed up onto a storage source such as a DVD or an external hard drive.

Use the following steps to Clean Your PC:

Step 1 - Undo Harmful changes using Windows System Restore

Undo harmful changes to your computer by using the Windows System Restore feature. This tool returns your computer to a date before you installed that unwanted software or began receiving those annoying pop-up advertisements.

Step 2 - Remove malicious software

Installing Anti-Virus software and keeping the virus definition files current is the very best way to maintain the health of your computer.

Step 3 - Manage your hard drive more effectively

Manage your hard drive more effectively by using Microsoft Windows built-in system tools. Disk Cleanup deletes temporary files and other data that make your computer run slower.

Disk Defragmenter takes all of the scattered bits of program data and groups them together in the front of the drive, helping your hard drive to work faster and store more data.

We will go into detail on how to do these steps in upcoming posts.

Dr. Dre and HP

Monday, October 25, 2010

Laptop Gaming

I always hear people talking about the possibility of gaming on their laptops. For this, one needs quite a powerful laptop. If you are playing very low end games, such as those on Facebook, then power and speed is not too important. Most laptops should play those small games. Today's fancy games (the ones you purchase in the shops) need a built in graphics card to process all the gaming goodness.

Keep in mind that it is also, most of the time, not possible to upgrade the graphics card inside a laptop. This is only possible on laptops that have been custom built. Games that you purchase at a store on a DVD need these type of graphics cards inside the laptop.

If your games run slow then you can try upgrade the RAM and Hard-Drive. When purchasing your laptop, you should always check how many slots the laptop has for RAM. This will give you an indication for future upgrade space. Once you are using the laptop, always ensure to update the software and drivers. This will also keep your laptop in good shape and give your gaming a healthy speed boost. What you can also do, is lower the resolution of the game in its options menu. It might not look as pretty but your game should run much faster.

And the best idea is to 'try before you buy'. Download the demo of the game you want to play on your laptop. If it runs nicely, then purchase the game. If not, then don't waste your hard earned money. Our Pavilion range of laptops are great for gaming and home entertainment. Lastly, always ensure to check the required specs of the game to the specs of your laptop.

Microsoft Office 2010 Comparison Chart

The below chart will help you compare the various options of Microsoft Office 2010.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

HP Fast Charge

When you don't have to worry about how your laptop works, you can shift your focus to how you work. Ease-of-Use Innovations from HP help you complete your day-to-day tasks with more simplicity and less effort.

Picture the situation. You are doing a presentation outside in 2 hours time but you forgot to charge your laptop, and you have been using it all morning. The charge is sitting at 15% and you need at least 90% charge for your presentation. What do you do?

This is where HP Fast Charge comes to the rescue. With this technology that is built into most HP laptops, you will be able to charge your laptop to up to 90% charge in about 90 minutes when charging with your laptop off.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

HP Pavilion DM3 Series

Below is an introduction video to the HP Pavilion DM3 Series of home entertainment notebooks. Take a look at the HP Pavilion dm3-1040ei Entertainment Notebook PC (VJ275EA)




Please note: Not all the features in the video are available in every model of the DM3 Series. Please check the specs of the model you are interested in.

Friday, October 15, 2010

The support you need to stay up and running.

Did you know that you can lengthen the warranty on various HP products? By simply purchasing a care pack you can upgrade or extend the warranty of certain HP products.

These HP care packs reduce downtime risks with support levels from basic to mission critical. They also cover all the IT products your business relies on such as desktops, mobile computing, printing and imaging.

There are many different variations of these care packs so visit this page for more info.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

HP 3D DriveGuard

When your notebook computer gets bumped against a doorway or dropped a short distance, there’s a lot more at stake than the hardware itself. If the computer is running, an everyday incident like this could damage your hard drive and cause you to lose the data on it. When a hard drive fails, everything stops. You could potentially lose thousands of rands to downtime, lost productivity and data recovery efforts. That’s why you need HP 3D DriveGuard, available on most Standard, Business, Professional, workstation and mini-note series HP Business notebooks.

HP 3D DriveGuard mitigates the risk of hard drive failure by protecting against short drops, rough handling, excessive vibration and other everyday wear and tear. With this HP Professional innovation, your critical information is not only better protected, but is more easily protected, whenever you’re on the move.

HP 3D DriveGuard’s protection policies provide an enhanced level of protection at all times:
- Ready state for stationary protection your HP business notebook is routinely in a ready state of protection when the lid is open and you are working on a plane, train or some other place. In this state, HP 3D DriveGuard will automatically park the hard drive head if the notebook experiences a sudden movement, a drop or some other significant change in its physical state.
- Enhanced state for moving about when you’re on the move with the lid closed on your business notebook, HP 3D DriveGuard shifts into an enhanced state of protection that is sensitive to very small movements. The enhanced state is applied because this is the mostly likely time for the notebook to be bumped, banged or dropped.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

HP Original Toner Cartridges

To buy original or not original that is the question? Although the "no name" brand cartridges may work with HP printers, you should be very aware of the below information:

• According to a study conducted by QualityLogic, Original HP monochrome Toner cartridges outperformed remanufactured cartridges in reliability and print quality.
• Non-original toner cartridges do not perform to the same levels as HP original cartridges.
• Remanufactured or "no name" Toner cartridges can fail prematurely and drive up the cost per page and reduce productivity.
• With Original HP print toner cartridges you get greater reliability, higher quality and therefore lower costs!
70% of a LaserJet printer's imaging system comes from our HP LaserJet print cartridges.
• The new generation HP ColorSphere toner uses new technology to optimise system performance for a reliable, smooth flow of toner onto the page.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

HP History - Part 1

They say that most IT companies start out of a garage. HP is no exception. In 1939 Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard established Hewlett-Packard in Dave's garage with a capital of US$538. To decide on the companies name, the two of them flipped a coin and chose Hewlett-Packard as the name of the company. HP's first product, a precision audio oscillator, was made for the Walt Disney Company, and was used for the sound in the movie Fantasia. In 1940 HP moved out of the garage and into a rented building in Palo Alto.

Speed up with your typing

Bookmark these sites below and practice your typing skills to enhance your PC/Laptop productivity.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Backup your data

This is an excellent tool for keeping your data safe and in reach, anywhere there is an Internet connection. It will allow you to store files and folders online where you can reach them from anywhere and much more!


In Windows Live Mesh 2011, you can:

Keep your documents, photos, and other files up to date on all your computers

Connect to your computers remotely. Leave your PC online and run its programs or get to all its files from another computer. This is handy for "emergencies" when you might be at work and need a file from home.

Sync your program settings between computers. Keep your Internet Explorer favorites and Microsoft Office settings up to date on all your PCs.


Wednesday, August 4, 2010

4 reasons to seriously consider buying a netbook



4 reasons to seriously
consider buying
a netbook





Netbooks are the latest craze. They're small, they're portable and they're totally affordable.

People are often sceptical of small, underpowered devices, so here are a few things to consider that might change your mind about the performance of netbooks.

1. Netbooks don't have to be your primary computer

Most people won’t buy a netbook to use as their primary system.

Netbooks appear to be filling a niche for secondary portable computers with the bare minimum of computing hardware.

You can check in at work and do some light-weight computing at meetings, with a platform that offers more flexibility than a smart phone and less overhead than a traditional laptop.


2. They're not underpowered for what they really do

You need to consider netbooks in the light of the activities that people use them for:

1. Sending e-mail

2. Browsing the net

3. Enjoying multimedia

4. Chatting on the go

5. Access, View and Edit Documents

In each of these domains, the netbook handles its job with ease, offering a significant improvement over any smartphone.


3. You can dock

As with any other laptop, netbooks are easily connected to peripherals thanks to standard USB and Ethernet connectivity.

You can bring your netbook home, dock it, and treat it as a secondary system.

If the screen is too small, use a bigger screen.
If you don't like the size and feel of the built-in keyboard, you can use it with a full-sized external USB keyboard and mouse.

You can also network to your primary computer and share its disk resources, scanners, and printers, as well.


4.The price and size appeal is real

While you can argue that the price of regular laptops has plunged over the last few years, the netbook price point remains extremely appealing.

For a few thousand Rand you can walk away with a portable computer that adds to, rather than replaces, your existing computing setup. Should that system fail, it's a lot less expensive to replace.

You don't have to buy special carrying luggage either, nor haul around lots of accessories the way most people do with laptops.

Netbooks can be used more casually and practically tucks into briefcases, handbags, and backpacks with less worry and overhead.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

WIN a HP Pavilion DV6!


Enter hpshop's Pimp my PC Competition...Watch the Video for Entry Details: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O4Yg6lgooA

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

WIN an HP Vivienne Tam Netbook



Spend R2000 or more between now and the 31st of July and you will be automatically entered into the draw to win an HP Vivienne Tam Netbook.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Great Savings on Windows 7



hp shop offers you great savings on Windows 7! Home Premium for just R1229, Professional for just R1999 and Ultimate for just R2249. Take advantage of these offers now!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Comment about your HP Product and Win!

Tell us about your HP product that you've bought and win a R200 hpshop online voucher. How you may ask?

Whether you have a HP Printer, HP Notebook, HP Digital Camera, whatever it maybe, comment on this post with your review. Entries close on the 31st of May 2010 so get your review in now. Please remember to also mail your review to bernices@digitalplanet.co.za. Remember, everybody who reviews their HP Product receives a voucher!

Where to click to post a comment
:

Monday, April 19, 2010

HP Probook S Series: 4310s, 4510s, 4515s, 4710s: Features (part 1)



If you've bought one of our HP Probook S Series Notebooks (above models) then you'd be interested in these 2 features:

HP Sparekey: Say you've set up your password on your new Probook but somehow forgot the exact password. It happens, some of us have 5/6 different passwords - i know i have about 5. So anyway, you've lost your password but you can set it up so that using your HP Sparekey, you will be asked 3 questions to identify yourself so you can access your notebook. Nice hey?


Fast Charge Technology
: HP Fast Charge Technology recharges your notebook battery to 90% within 90 minutes to get you up and running faster.

So let us know if you have any queries regarding your probook, ciao!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Vivienne Tam



HP’s hot new "Butterfly Lovers" digital clutch by Vivienne Tam is essential for playing, working and connecting on–the–go. HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition is a feather–light style accessory with a high definition display and Beats audio for superb sound — all in a slim, sleek design.

Make a high fashion statement inside and out with this stylish laptop while exclusive integrated software keeps you in touch with your world in a whole new way.

Features

HP QuickWeb instant-on browsing provides access to social networks, Skype, email, and other Web resources in seconds

HP QuickSync is like taking your main computer on the road without the weight

HP MediaStream - You’re always within reach of the music on your home PC—no matter where you go

Integrated Beats audio for a premium listening experience

Unique "compact mirror" on your desktop and just one click away

Contact Us to Pre-Order Your Vivienne Tam Now!


Wednesday, March 24, 2010

HP Probook 4510s Bundle Winner



Congrats to Lisa Willemse on winning our HP Probook 4510s Bundle Competition!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

HP ProLiant ML110 G5 Server Plus Windows Server 2008 Foundation


The HP ProLiant ML110 G5 Server Plus Windows Server 2008 Foundation is the perfect first server for growing business. It provides all the necessary server features in an affordable, functional package. It combines the power of the latest Intel Pentium/Xeon, dual/quad-core processors with HP reliability, service and support. A mix of PCI and PCI-Express slots delivers the expandability that a growing business requires. In addition, the ML110 G5 can be upgraded with the cost-effective HP Lights-Out 100c Remote Management card for remote sites or second offices. Like all ProLiant products, the ML110 G5 comes with proven ProLiant reliability. The ProLiant ML110 G5 is a value-packed server with appropriate technology suitable for small to medium businesses.

Friday, March 12, 2010

HP Reveals Next Must Have Fashion Accessory



Johannesburg, March 11, 2010 – HP and world-renowned designer Vivienne Tam recently announced availability of the latest in “digital clutch” chic.

The HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition made its runway design debut at New York Fashion Week as part of Tam’s spring 2010 collection. Fashion-forward women around the globe can reserve theirs now at www.hpshop.co.za.

Combining Tam’s stunning “Butterfly Lovers” design with premium PC technology, the HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition is poised to become the next must-have accessory. Starting at 1.22 kgand less than 3.0 cm, it fits easily into purses or bags.

“As a fashion designer I have always found inspiration in bringing contrasting worlds together,” said Tam. “I use computers in every aspect of my life so it seemed natural to marry fashion and technology. Together with HP, we created this movement of fashionable tech accessories with the second-edition digital clutch.”

Partnering with Beats™ by Dr. Dre™, HP has included high-performance audio software that enables listeners to experience music – through headphones or external speakers – the way artists intended.

Inspiration and design

Reflecting Tam’s spring 2010 collection, the netbook design is inspired by the classic Chinese love story, “Butterfly Lovers,” a beautiful tale of freedom, romance and inspiration. Integrated directly into the netbook’s lid using HP Imprint technology, the design is as durable as it is stunning.

The HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition also comes with a Butterfly Lovers desktop theme that includes an animated butterfly start menu, custom Vivienne Tam icons and three wallpapers to coordinate with the design.

HP has been at the forefront of fusing fashion and technology since unveiling the HP Mini Vivienne Tam digital clutch netbook on the catwalk of Tam’s 2008 fashion show at New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park. Models walked down the runway in that show with the peony-adorned computer in hand, a first on an American runway.

What’s inside

With an elegant design on the inside and out, the HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition features custom software to help fashionistas be efficient, stay connected and look their best while on the go:

— The built-in webcam allows customers to create and upload videos, take snapshots and chat with friends over the web.(2) With a click of a button, the webcam turns into an instant “mirror.”

— HP QuickWeb, the company’s instant-on software, lets users post to Facebook, send a tweet, listen to music, browse the web, check an appointment, send an email or chat in seconds – saving time usually spent waiting for the computer to fully boot.

Coordinated accessories that further complement the HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition include a matching microfiber suede sleeve and an optional Butterfly Lovers wireless mouse. . The Vivienne Tam Mini comes in exclusive gift-box packaging to provide a premium experience.

Product details

The HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition is the ideal companion PC for the highly mobile, internet-centric fashionista, providing freedom and fun with up to 5.5 hours of battery time.(3) It has a 25.65 cm diagonal LED Brightview infinity display and a keyboard that is 93 percent of the size of a standard notebook PC keyboard.

The HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition comes with two gigabytes (GB) of memory and large hard-drive options up to 320 GB, automatic backup software and Microsoft Windows® 7 Premium.

The HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition is expected to be available at the end of April 2010. The Butterfly Lovers themed HP Wireless Mouse is expected to be available at the same time.

About Vivienne Tam

Vivienne Tam is a leading designer fashion house founded in 1994. The company produces, designs and markets women’s contemporary apparel distributed in major department stores, specialty stores and independent boutiques throughout the U.S. The company also has a strong presence in the Asia Pacific region with over 30 freestanding stores and in-store boutiques. The Vivienne Tam brand’s unique positioning – designs that meld the aesthetic and feminine mystique of Asia with the spirit of the modern world – is well recognized around the globe. The company’s philosophy is to create harmonious clothing that enhances one’s personality while at the same time provides fashionable clothing for modern women that is beautifully designed, superior in quality, wearable, easy to travel with and affordable.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Netbook & Notebook of the Week: HP Mini 210-1012ei PC & HP G61-430SI



HP Mini 210-1012ei PC Netbook - ON SALE R3 499 (WAS R4 599)

The HP Mini 210-1012ei PC Netbook is the much anticipated range of HP netbooks with a 10.1" diagonal LED display, sleek design (0.9" thick) and weighs only 1.2 kg's with built-in Wi-Fi. This is the ideal netbook that is both powerful and portable.

Compact and connected


The HP Mini 210 ensures quick web access and basic communication, plus it's light enough to carry everywhere. Features include:
  • Simplified daily PC activities with genuine Windows 7® 7 Starter 32-bit
  • Polished solid black imprint finish
  • Easy Internet access to e-mail, instant messaging, video chat, social networking, shopping, banking, research, and more
  • New Intel Atom N450 processor - reliable, energy-efficient performance
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 250GB Hard Drive
  • Transfer of data to and from other devices via three USB ports
  • HP QuickWeb, a fast way to connect to the Web, e-mail, and favorite apps in seconds
  • Integrated HP QuickSync Software, which lets you synch files, photos, and videos with your primary notebook or desktop PC when connected to the same network
  • An HP Cloud Drive for storing files online (accessible from any Internet-connected computer)
  • Internet wireless-G for wireless access within range of a hotspot.
Processor: 1.66GHz Intel® Atom™ Processor N450
RAM: 1GB
Hard Drive: 250GB
Operating System: Windows 7 Starter Edition


HP G61-430SI Notebook - R5 999
● Where form meets function. With a sleek design, glossy black finish and easy-to-use features, this 39.6 cm (15.6-inch), 16:9 ratio notebook helps you get more done – and look good doing it.




● Your personal productivity centre. Staying productive has never been so simple. Enjoy easy-to-use features like a full-size keyboard with numeric key pad and integrated webcam.
● Quality, reliability and affordability. You don't have to sacrifice quality for price. Enjoy HP notebook quality and great features at excellent value.


Processor:
2.2 GHz Intel Celeron Processor 900
RAM: 2GB
Hard Drive: 250GB
Operating System: Windows 7 Basic



Friday, February 12, 2010

Buy any HP Pavilion & you could WIN a HP Touch Screen Monitor



Buy any HP Pavilion Notebook throughout February and stand a chance to win a HP L5009tm Touch Screen Monitor valued at R5459:

Features

Feel the difference
• New Acoustic Pulse Recognition (APR) technology recognizes a wider array of sounds created when the glass is touched at a given position. Use a pen, credit card or fingernail to quickly and accurately tap from screen to screen.

Durable touch technology
• The HP Compaq L5009tm monitor’s pure glass screen provides high durability and is a damage-resistant alternative to film-coated display screens—it even continues working when wet or scratched.

Create efficient environments
• Retain more of your profits with the HP Compaq L5009tm by allowing your customers to locate products on the shelf with the ease of touch browsing or by pleasing them with fast check-outs.

Support from HP

• The HP Compaq L5009tm monitor comes with a limited three years parts, labor, and on-site service warranty. Availability varies by region. For details, contact HP Customer Support.

Competition closes on the 28th of February so get your HP Pavilion today!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

This Week's Special: HP Compaq 610 notebook (windows 7) + HP 1TBHarddrive



A new year allows you to start afresh so why not spoil yourself with a Windows 7 HP Compaq 610 Notebook & HP 1TB External Hard Drive for R5499. Offer is valid till the 19th of February so don't hesitate, stock is limited.









HP Compaq 610 Specifications:

Processor: Intel® Celeron® 2.26GHz
Hard Drive: 160GB
RAM: 1GB
Operating System: Windows 7

HP 1TB External Hard Drive:

• Simple, automatic hands-free backup

• No software to install

• No files to select

• Backup auto-starts when drive is plugged in

• Backup stays up-to-date as long as drive is plugged in

• 2 Years limited Warranty

Monday, January 25, 2010

Win a HP ProBook 4510s Bundle



Simply add your name, email and contact number and you could win this HP ProBook 4510s Bundle. Easy huh!

10% off ALL notebooks - This Week Only!



An awesome end to the first month of 2010 - 10% of All HP Notebook's. But hurry, offer is valid till this Friday - 29th January 2010.