Hewlett-Packard (HP) previewed a number of exciting new products on the evening of Tuesday, August 27, most of which will be available in December of this year or January of next year. Unfortunately, there is a non-disclosure agreement in place until Thursday, September 20, for many of these products, so tune in on that day to find out more. For now, though, let’s take a look at three impressive new laptops offered by HP.

The HP Spectre TouchSmart Ultrabook is a sleek, stylish, 4.77 pound notebook with a 15.6-inch screen featuring edge-to-edge glass. It is a multitouch touchscreen device that also features a fully functioning keyboard and a full array of ports, including Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, and HDMI. It is also HP’s first notebook to feature Intel Thunderbolt technology, a new technology similar to FireWire, but not based on it. Also used by Apple, Intel Thunderbolt allows for high-speed connectivity and daisy chaining of multiple devices. The slightly smaller HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 features a 14-inch multitouch HD display with a backlit keyboard and a subwoofer featuring Beats Audio. It delivers up to eight hours of battery life and, like the Spectre Ultrabook, is expected to be available in the United States in December, with a starting price of $1,399.

The HP ENVY x2 takes the touchscreen and keyboard synergy of these devices to a whole new level. The ENVY x2 is a tablet and a laptop at the same time, with a detachable 11.6-inch diagonal HD touch display featuring IPS technology. It has a sleek aluminum finish and an innovative hinge system with magnets that smoothly guide the tablet portion into place with the keyboard, which, when opened, wedges up from the table or other surface on which it rests, providing a more convenient angle for typing. The ENVY x2 features Beats Audio, NFC technology and an optional stylus, as well as two different types of cameras for its two different operational modes: an HD webcam on the front and an 8.0 megapixel camera on the back. It is also expected to be available in December.

With these and other devices previewed recently, HP continues to move in the direction of thinner, lighter laptops without sacrificing its many innovative features. Don’t forget to check back with us on September 20 to see what other exciting new products HP has in store.

If you’re looking for a premium laptop, you should check out the HP ENVY line of personal computers. The first thing you’ll notice is these are beautiful machines as the design is truly impressive. The laptops also have aggressive styling with a brushed aluminum cover, soft-touch surfaces, and a red backlit keyboard. The metal construction gives these laptops a high-end feel you won’t find from most PC laptops.

We checked out the HP ENVY 14 Beats Edition. This notebook is built to deliver great sound with Beats Audio™. HP partnered with Dr. Dre to create a superior audio system featuring a redesigned headphone jack to reduce ground noise, a discrete amplifier for more power, a dedicated audio Island to minimize fan noise interference and a Function + B to engage Beats Audio. The difference in sound quality is noticeable with premium headphones and speakers, and the aluminum analog volume dial is a unique touch.

I liked the dark design of the ENVY 14 Beats Edition, but you can also check out the lighter aluminum color of the ENVY 15 and 17, both of which also feature more rounded edges as the design evolves.

I also liked the HP Radiance Backlit keyboard which features individual LEDs dedicated to each keycap. The keyboard also works with an advanced proximity sensor to illuminate when it detects a user approaching the notebook and deactivate after the user leaves. It’s these small details that make this machine impressive.

Other features include HP CoolSense technology, which automatically adjusts performance and internal fan settings for a noticeably cooler PC. I was impressed with the large HP ImagePad which provides precise multifinger touch navigation. You can use swiping gestures with two or four fingers for easy navigation and control.

The ENVYs are powered with the Intel® Core™ i5 processor2 with Turbo Boost Technology6. Check out the site for all the tech specs and you can find the machine that works best for your needs.

In a crowded PC world, it’s important to see manufacturers produce computers with some style and soul. The new ENVYs from HP definitely fit the bill and should be on your test list if you’re looking for something more than the standard laptops in the market today.