Following up on the recent reveal of the leather-clad Spectre Folio and updates to the rest of the premium Spectre line, HP is turning its attention to the classroom. The PC maker today unveiled three new education PCs, including two entries in its ProBook series and the HP Stream 11 Pro G5.
On the software side of things, HP is also taking a step forward with the introduction of HP School Pack 3.5, which brings a few enhancements to the education software suite.
ProBook x360 11 G3 and G4 EE
With its latest ProBook x360 11 PCs, HP has aimed to keep things rugged while giving students tools to collaborate in the classroom. Neither PC is the most attractive thing on the market, but they're build to stand up to accidental spills and tumbles with a shock-absorbing rubber trim and a spill-resistant keyboard.
Battery life is rated at up to 16 hours, so each PC should have enough juice to make it through the day. An integrated activity light helps teachers keep track of students' online status and kickstart Q&A sessions. And, as their names suggest, the ProBook x360 G3 and G4 pack 360-degree hinges, so they can quickly convert from notebook to tablet, stand, and tent modes.
On the inside, both laptops are very similar, with the only major differentiator coming in the form of processors. On the G3, you'll find Intel's Celeron and Pentium Silver chips. The G4, meanwhile, allows you to choose between a Core m3 or Core i5 chip. Both feature 8GB of RAM, and 11.6-inch touch displays, and 720p webcams. In terms of storage, 128GB and 256GB SSD options are available, along with a 64GB eMMC option on the lower-end model.
HP Stream 11 Pro G5
The Steam 11 Pro G5 comes in a more traditional laptop form factor, trading the 360-degree hinge for a more modest 180 degrees of freedom. The new Stream keeps the durability seen on the ProBook series, however, coming with the ability to withstand a drop of around two feet on concrete, along with MIL-STD 810G and IP 41 testing.
In terms of specs, the Stream 11 Pro G5 ratchets things down a bit, however. You'll find Intel's Pentium and Celeron processors here, along with 8GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of eMMC storage. The 11.6-inch display is available in touch and non-touch varieties, and it's topped by a VGA webcam up top. Battery life is rated at up to 12 hours.
HP School Pack 3.5
The latest update to HP's suite of education tools brings a few notable enhancements. Here's a look:
- HP Classroom Manager 4.0 helps keep students focused and engaged, reduce digital distractions and increase instruction time.
- HP Simple Sign On created by ClassLink provides access thousands of education applications and services in school and at home with any easy one-click single sign-on.
- Kortext e-Reader featuring OpenStax OER helps save money and trees with discounted access to over 500,000+ DRM protected titles and free world-class, peer-reviewed OER textbooks.
- Bulb Digital Portfolios allows students to protect and share digital projects through an easy to use, secure platform that grows with student as they progress through their education.
There's no pricing information available for any of the new devices, but HP says that it expects the ProBook x360 11 G3 EE and G4 EE to be available in December and spring 2019, respectively. Meanwhile, the Stream 11 Pro G5 is expected to launch in December as well.
