The HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition hits the catwalk

It’s official, the notebook has become the next big tech fashion item with companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Sony leading the field in fashion inspired designs. In a world first for a computer brand, HP has partnered with a designer on its latest range.
 
HP has enlisted the design talents of high profile New York fashion designer Vivienne Tam. On its US website, the new product is being marketed as “The HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition: fashion meets technology. The world’s first digital clutch”. This notebook is available exclusively through selected Myer stores in Australia from March for $899.

The notebook comes with a matching Vivienne Tam sleeve which also features the same captivating red colour and peony flower graphic that is splashed across the computer. The US website also offers consumers a special bundle deal that comes with matching Vivienne Tam scarf and tote bag. The notebook has been featured in a myriad of fashion magazines from Vogue to Marie Claire and made an appearance on the catwalk.

Vivienne Tam's red peony design.

HP Australia consumer notebooks market development manager, Ben Baumgarten: "Whether it's the unique finish on HP's Vivienne Tam Special Edition notebook, the futuristic touch screen on the HP TouchSmart tx2 or the slim build of the HP Pavilion dv2, HP's latest range of notebooks offer consumers truly inspired technology."

Ultra-slim and sleek

Sony's Vaio P series notebooks come in four glossy colours.

The emphasis is also on these products to be ultra-slim and ultra-sleek – just like today’s fashionistas -  which brings us to Sony’s just released Vaio P series of pocket-style notebooks weighing in at just 600 grams, it’s roughly the size of a business envelope and thin as a mobile phone. It too comes in unusual glossy colours including garnet red, olivine green, obsidian black and crystal white. While it offers lots in the style department, it certainly is not lacking in substance.

It features Instant Mode that directly launches into Sony's Xross Media Bar interface for quick boot up and access to music, videos, photos and the web, built-in wireless LAN 802.11b, built in webcam, Bluetooth and Windows Vista operation for easy organisation of documents on a single screen. This notebook series is available from $1599.