HP OmniBook

Last updated

HP OmniBook
Developer
Manufacturer
Type Laptop
Release dateJune 1993;32 years ago (1993-06) (original)
May 2024;1 year ago (2024-05) (revival)
Lifespan
  • 1993–2002 (original)
  • 2024–present (revival)
DiscontinuedMay 2002;23 years ago (2002-05) (original)
Operating system
CPU
Marketing target
Predecessor1993 (original):
HP Vectra LS
2024 (revival):
RelatedHP OmniDesk, HP OmniStudio

OmniBook is a brand for a line of laptop computers originally produced by Hewlett-Packard and currently marketed by its successor, HP Inc. HP first introduced the brand as a line of business-oriented laptops and notebooks produced between 1993 and 2002.

Contents

Following a rebranding of its product lines in 2024, HP Inc., the successor company of the original Hewlett-Packard, reintroduced the brand name as part of the Omni brand of computers that year, coexisting with (and succeeding) the previous Spectre, Envy, Pavilion and Essential lines, effectively becoming a singular brand for all consumer-oriented laptops produced by the company. [1]

The relaunched OmniBook line (as well as the HP Omni brand) is part of a new emerging platform called AI PCs, which are designed for the next generation of computing. All OmniBook laptops made since 2024 featured artificial intelligence technology integrated into the hardware and software.

History

OmniBook was introduced in 1993 as a line of business-oriented laptops and subnotebooks produced by Hewlett-Packard. It succeeded the prior HP Vectra LS models of computers. Following the acquisition of Compaq in 2002, the OmniBook line was discontinued [2] [3] in favor of the Compaq Presario, HP Compaq, and HP Pavilion laptops.

In 2024, HP (as HP Inc.) announced its intentions on rebranding their consumer line of PCs, with the new Omni branding being used for all consumer PCs except for Omen (with OmniBook for laptops, OmniDesk for desktop computers, and OmniStudio for all-in-one PCs). It would coexist with (and replace) the long-running Pavilion brand in use since 1995 among other brands. The new Omni brand tailors for the next generation of computers with artificial intelligence, featuring AI-powered hardware and software. [4] [1]

As part of the new Omni branding that year, HP repurposed the old OmniBook name that had been used for its former line of business-oriented laptops in the 1990s for a new line of next generation AI-powered laptops manufactured by HP, reviving the historic nameplate that had been absent for 22 years. [4] [1]

Models

The original OmniBook line from 1993 to 2002 consisted of several different models of business notebooks and laptops produced in various sizes and configurations. Many generations of Intel (and sometimes AMD) processors were offered throughout the entirety of the original OmniBook brand, ranging from the original Pentium to the Pentium 4, with some models featuring 386, i486, and Celeron processors. Some OmniBook models from the early-to-mid 1990s also had a small pop-up mouse located on the right-hand side of the computer.

The current OmniBook line since 2024 consisted of various models grouped into five different grades: 3, 5, 7, X, and Ultra, with Ultra representing the highest-grade model and 3 representing the lowest-grade model. Other HP computers under the Omni brand (OmniStudio and OmniDesk) follows the same format. [1] As of June 2025, the X features Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (specifically the Snapdragon X), the 5, 7 and Ultra features AMD Ryzen or Intel Core Ultra processors, and the 3 exclusively features AMD Ryzen processors. All models of the OmniBook line (as well as the OmniDesk and OmniStudio lines) featured processors with AI technology, dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) for accelerating AI applications and featured Microsoft's Copilot chatbot software as part of a standard installation of Windows. [5]

List of models

OmniBook 800 (1996) HP Omnibook 800CT (cropped).jpg
OmniBook 800 (1996)
Pop-up mouse of the OmniBook 800CT Mechanical mouse ejected from laptop.jpg
Pop-up mouse of the OmniBook 800CT
OmniBook 2100 (1998) My first laptop - HP Omnibook 2100.jpg
OmniBook 2100 (1998)
OmniBook XE3 (2000) Hp OmniBook FL-user-melyviz CC-BY-SA-2.0 36452376 d1671f657e o.jpg
OmniBook XE3 (2000)
OmniBook 6100 (2001) HP Omnibook 6100.jpg
OmniBook 6100 (2001)

NOTE: This list includes the previous business-oriented models produced from 1993–2002, as well as the current consumer-oriented models with AI technologies from 2024–present.

Model
name		LCD size and resolutionLCD technologyProcessorClock speed
(MHz)		GraphicsRAMMax. memoryStorageAudioOperating systemRelease dateRef(s).
3009 in, VGA Monochrome STN (reflective) AMD 386SX-LV 202 MB10 MB40 MB HDD, 10 MB Flash Windows 3.1 with MS-DOS 5.0 June 1993 [6] [7]
4259 in, VGA Monochrome STN (reflective) TI 486SLC/e 25November 1993 [8] [9]
4309 in, VGA Monochrome STN (reflective)2 MB (40 MB HDD), 4 MB (105 MB HDD)40 MB HDD, 105 MB HDDWindows 3.1 with MS-DOS 6.2 February 1994 [10] [11]
5309 in, VGA Monochrome STN (reflective) Intel 486SX 334 MB12 MB130 MB HDD Windows for Workgroups 3.11 with MS-DOS 6.2June 1994 [12] [13] : 240 
600C8.5, VGA Color STN Intel i486DX4 7516 MBNovember 1994 [14] [15]
4000
  • 10.3, VGA (STN) or
  • 10.4, VGA (TFT)
 Intel i486DX2 5032 MB [14] [16] [17]
600CT9.5, VGA Color TFT Intel i486DX4 7516 MBJuly 1995 [18]
5500CT12.1, SVGA Color STN Intel Pentium 100 or 120Local bus video with 1 MB display RAM64 MB1.35 GB HDDWindows for Workgroups 3.11 with MS-DOS 6.22, Windows 95 May 1996 [19]
5500CS
Color TFT 120 or 133 [19]
800CT10.4, SVGA Color TFT 13348 MB1.44 GBWindows for Workgroups 3.11 with MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 95September 1996 [20] [21]
800CS10.4, SVGA Color TFT 1002.5" 2 GB IDE hard drive and a 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy drive (external) [20] [21]
5000CT12.1, SVGA Color TFT 133Windows for Workgroups 3.11 with MS-DOS 6.22, Windows 95 [20]
570012.1, SVGA Color TFT Intel Pentium MMX 150 or 166160 MBWindows for Workgroups 3.11 with MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 95April 1997 [22]
2000CT12.1, SVGA Color TFT 13364 MBJune 1997 [23]
2000CS12.1, SVGA Color STN 150October 1997 [24]
300013.3, XGA Color TFT 233 or 266144 MBWindows 95November 1997 [25] [26] [27]
210012.1, SVGA
200 or 233160 MBWindows 95, Windows NT 4.0 April 1998 [28] [29]
310013.3, XGA Color TFT 266 [28]
4100
Color TFT Intel Mobile Pentium II 233 or 266Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98 [28] [30]
710014.1, XGA Color TFT 266288 MBSound Blaster Pro-compatible with SRS 3D enhanced audio, Dolby Digital for DVD playback, stereo sound via two built-in speakers and microphoneWindows 95, Windows NT 4.0 [28] [31] [32]
Sojourn [a] 12.1, SVGA Color TFT 23364 MB64 MB1 GB HDDWindows 95 [33] [34] [35]
715014.1, XGA Color TFT 300320 MBWindows 95, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98September 1998 [36] [32]
  • 4150
  • 4150B
Color TFT 256 MBWindows 95, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, Windows 2000 October 1998 [37] [30]
900
Color TFT
  • 300, 360 or 400 (Pentium II)
  • 450 or 500 (Pentium III)
160 MBWindows 95, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98January 1999 [38] [39]
900B
Color TFT 192 MB1999 [39]
XE
  • 12.1, SVGA (SFN and TFT)
  • 13.3, XGA (TFT)
  • 266 or 300 (Pentium II)
  • 333 (Celeron)
256 MBFebruary 1999 [40] [41]
XE2
  • 12.1, SVGA (SFN and TFT)
  • 13.3, XGA (TFT)
  • 300 (Pentium II)
  • 333 (Celeron)
256 MBMay 1999 [42] [41]
6000
Color TFT
  • 700 (Pentium III)
  • 550 (Celeron)
ATI Mobility M/M1 with 2X AGP128 MB16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible stereo soundWindows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000May 2000 [43]
XE3
Color TFT
  • 933–1133 (Pentium III)
  • 933–1066 (Celeron)
 S3 Savage IX1 GBESS Allegro 1988 with built-in stereo speakers and microphoneWindows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP September 2000 [44] [45]
50012.1, XGA Color TFT
  • 700 or 750 (Pentium III)
  • 600 (Celeron)
512 MBWindows 98, Windows 2000November 2000 [46] [47]
6100
Color TFT Intel Mobile Pentium III 1133512 MBWindows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XPAugust 2001 [48]
XT6200
Color TFT Intel Pentium 4 M 17001 GBWindows 2000, Windows XPMarch 2002 [49]
VT6200
Color TFT
X14, 2.2K (2240 × 1400 pixels)Color OLED IPS touchscreen 3400 (12 cores) Qualcomm Adreno 16 GB, 32 GB32 GB512 GB SSD, 1 TB SSD, 2 TB SSD Windows 11 May 2024 [5]
Ultra14, 2.2K (2240 × 1400 pixels)Color OLED IPS touchscreen AMD Ryzen AI 300 or Intel Core Ultra 5/7/95000 or 5100 (AMD)
4500 or 5100 (Intel)		November 2024 [50]

OmniBook 300

HP OmniBook 300 (1993) HP OmniBook 300.jpg
HP OmniBook 300 (1993)

The HP OmniBook 300 (OB300) is a subnotebook released in June 1993 as one of the first models of the original OmniBook line. It weighed only 2.9 pounds and measured 1.4 × 6.4 × 11.1 inches. It is powered by an AMD 386SX-LV processor, featured a full-size keyboard, a pop-up computer mouse (This same pop-up mouse would later be used in the OmniBook 800CT; see the image above), and a 9-inch VGA screen. [51] [52] [53] It had two PCMCIA slots for additional memory, modem, network cards or other peripherals. Furthermore, it came with three different storage configurations: no mass storage (F1030A at US$1,515), 10 MB flash memory disk (F1031A at US$2,375), or 40 MB hard drive (F1032A at US$1,950). Compared to the hard drive, the flash memory disk reduced the weight and storage capacity of the notebook with increased battery life. One of its outstanding features was a technology known as “Instant On”.

The OmniBook 300 came with slimmed-down copies of MS-DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1. Due to storage limitations, the OmniBook 300 includes both Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word pre-installed in ROM, a practice that still remains unusual even to this day. [54] The “International English” version of the OmniBook 300 used code page 850 (rather than the more common code page 437) as hardware code page.

OmniBook X

HP OmniBook X (2024) HP OmniBook X.jpg
HP OmniBook X (2024)

The HP OmniBook X (14-fe000) is a laptop first announced in May 2024 as the first model of the current OmniBook line. Introduced as a next-generation AI-powered PC, it weighs at about 2.97 pounds and measures 12.32 × 8.8 × 0.56 inches in the front and 12.32 × 8.8 × 0.57 inches in the rear. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor with a dedicated NPU powered by the Snapdragon processor for accelerating AI applications, a Qualcomm Adreno GPU, a 14" OLED IPS touchscreen display with a 2240 × 1400 display resolution, 16 GB or 32 GB memory, and either a 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB solid-state drive. [5] [55] It also features a built-in 5MP webcam, as well as a Qualcomm Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 wireless card. Battery life of the OmniBook X is rated at about 26 hours.

The OmniBook X came pre-installed with Windows 11 and includes the Copilot AI chatbot, Windows Studio Effects, and Poly Studio audio tuning. [5] [55] The OmniBook X is compliant with Microsoft's Copilot+ PC platform marketing brand, with also includes the addition of a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard replacing the menu key found in previous keyboards.

Notes

  1. ↑ Badge-engineered Mitsubishi Pedion

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Harding, Scharon (May 20, 2024). "HP resurrects '90s OmniBook branding, kills Spectre, Dragonfly". Ars Technica. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  2. ↑ "The new HP: You are what you eat". CNET. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  3. ↑ "HP drops Omnibooks after merger | IT World Canada News". www.itworldcanada.com. May 16, 2002. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Cranz, Alex (May 20, 2024). "HP is simplifying its laptop lineup and embracing the AI PC". The Verge. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Low, Cherlynn (May 20, 2024). "HP Omnibook X hands-on: Vintage branding in the new era of AI". Engadget. Yahoo! Inc. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ Lee, Yvonne L. (June 7, 1993). "OmniBook speeds start-up, shutdown". InfoWorld. 15 (23). IDG Publications: 29 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ Angus, Earl (December 20, 1993). "Hewlett-Packard OmniBook 300". InfoWorld. 15 (51). IDG Publications: 69 – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ Polilli, Steve (November 8, 1993). "HP touts infrared spec, unveils 486 OmniBook". InfoWorld. 15 (45). IDG Publications: 6 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ Bertolucci, Jeff (January 1994). "OmniBook Gets 486". PC World. 12 (1). IDG Publications: 80 – via the Internet Archive.
  10. ↑ Lee, Yvonne L. (February 14, 1994). "HP will offer OmniBook sans ROM versions of Word, Excel". InfoWorld. 16 (7). IDG Publications: 14 – via Google Books.
  11. ↑ Staff writer (April 1994). "More for Less, and Less for More". PC World. 12 (4). IDG Publications: 72 – via the Internet Archive.
  12. ↑ Lee, Yvonne L. (June 13, 1994). "HP releases enhanced OmniBook 350". InfoWorld. 16 (24). IDG Publications: 40 – via Google Books.
  13. ↑ Bass, Steve (September 1994). "Top Picks for the Home Office". PC World. 12 (9). IDG Publications: 239–240 – via the Internet Archive.
  14. 1 2 Zimmerman, Michael R. (November 21, 1994). "HP Adds Color, Full-sized Units to OmniBook Line". PC Week. 11 (46). Ziff-Davis: 53 et seq– via Gale.
  15. ↑ Caton, Michael (November 14, 1994). "OmniBook Elevates Subnotebook Class". PC Week. 11 (45). Ziff-Davis: 21 et seq– via Gale.
  16. ↑ Francis, Bob (November 14, 1994). "High-end HP OmniBook notebook debuts". InfoWorld. 16 (46). IDG Publications: 47 – via Google Books.
  17. ↑ PC Portátil HP OmniBook 3100 Venta en 1 Minuto [HP OmniBook 2100 Laptop PC Sale in 1 Minute](PDF) (in Spanish). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2004.
  18. ↑ Lee, Yvonne L.; Bob Francis (July 17, 1995). "NEC and HP add expansion options, memory". InfoWorld. 17 (29). IDG Publications: 16 – via Google Books.
  19. 1 2 "New notebooks: HP expands new OmniBook 5500 notebook PC line". EDGE. 7. EDGE Publishing: 19. May 27, 1996 – via Gale.
  20. 1 2 3 April, Carolyn A. (September 16, 1996). "OmniBooks pack power lightly". InfoWorld. 18 (38). IDG Publications: 33 – via Google Books.
  21. 1 2 Letson, Russell (April 1997). "Lightweight, heavy power". Home Office Computing. 15 (4). Line56: 30 et seq– via Gale.
  22. ↑ Briody, Dan (April 21, 1997). "HP shifts mobile focus to manageability". InfoWorld. 19 (16). IDG Publications: 31 – via Gale.
  23. ↑ Briody, Dan (June 2, 1997). "Dell, HP aim notebook lines at the desktop". InfoWorld. 19 (22). IDG Publications: 19 – via Google Books.
  24. ↑ Staff writer (October 27, 1997). "New notebook: HP to extend value OmniBook Notebook PC line". EDGE. 8. EDGE Publishing: 11 – via Gale.
  25. ↑ Girard, Kim (November 3, 1997). "Dell, HP target corporate users with thinner, lighter laptops". Computerworld. 31 (44). IDG Publications: 17 – via Gale.
  26. ↑ Briody, Dan (January 19, 1998). "HP notebooks make corporate bid". InfoWorld. 20 (3). IDG Publications: 31 – via Gale.
  27. ↑ HP OmniBook 3000 Reference Guide (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. pp. 9-3 –9-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2007.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Briody, Dan (April 27, 1998). "HP's notebooks, PCs focus on manageability". InfoWorld. 20 (17). IDG Publications: 3 – via Google Books.
  29. ↑ PC Portátil HP OmniBook 2100 Venta en 1 Minuto [HP OmniBook 2100 Laptop PC Sale in 1 Minute](PDF) (in Spanish). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2004.
  30. 1 2 HP OmniBook 4100/4150 Reference Guide (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. pp. 8-3 –8-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2006.
  31. ↑ Spooner, John G. (February 2, 1998). "OmniBook Refresher". PC Week. 15 (5). Ziff-Davis: 10 – via Gale.
  32. 1 2 HP OmniBook 7100/7150 Reference Guide (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. pp. 8-3 –8-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2003.
  33. ↑ Kvitka, Andre (March 30, 1998). "HP's Sojourn reaffirms 'thin is in'". InfoWorld. 20 (13). IDG Publications: 1, 99 – via Gale.
  34. ↑ Staff writer (November 23, 1998). "Sojourn ends its travels". PC Week. Ziff-Davis: 6 – via Gale.
  35. ↑ HP OmniBook Sojourn Troubleshooting Guide (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. p. 1-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 7, 2008.
  36. ↑ Staff writer (September 9, 1998). "Raft of 300 MHz PII Notebooks Hits Market". Newsbytes. The Washington Post Company: NEW09090036 – via Gale.
  37. ↑ Caton, Michael (November 2, 1998). "...But Latest OmniBook Doesn't Stand Out". PC Week. Ziff-Davis: 60 – via Gale.
  38. ↑ Staff writer (January 18, 1999). "Pipeline". InfoWorld. 21 (3). IDG Publications: 29 – via Google Books.
  39. 1 2 HP OmniBook 900 Reference Guide. Hewlett-Packard. 1999. pp. 128–129. Archived from the original on June 14, 2016.
  40. ↑ Staff writer (February 1, 1999). "Pipeline". InfoWorld. 21 (5). IDG Publications: 25 – via Google Books.
  41. 1 2 Tips for Using the OmniBook XE and XE2. Hewlett-Packard. 1999. pp. 43–46. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016.
  42. ↑ Schwartz, Ephraim (May 3, 1999). "Customers clamor for mobile diversity". InfoWorld. 21 (18). IDG Publications: 16 – via Gale.
  43. ↑ "HP Increases Computing Mobility, Unveils High-Performance HP OmniBook 6000 Notebook PC, Security and Wireless Initiatives". EDGE. EDGE Publishing: 1. May 1, 2000 – via Gale.
  44. ↑ Thomas, Daniel (September 21, 2000). "HP to offer wireless LAN on notebooks". Computer Weekly. TechTarget: 60 – via Gale.
  45. ↑ HP OmniBook XE3 Notebook PC (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 30, 2003.
  46. ↑ Popovich, Ken (November 13, 2000). "Hardware takes the stage". eWeek. QuinStreet: 20 – via Gale.
  47. ↑ HP OmniBook 500 Notebook PC (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. January 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 1, 2003.
  48. ↑ Neel, Dan (August 6, 2001). "Laptops sport new Intel chip". InfoWorld. 23 (32). IDG Publications: 20 – via Gale.
  49. ↑ Shaw, Keith (March 11, 2002). "The arrival of Penium 4 notebooks". Network World. IDG Publications: 56 – via Gale.
  50. ↑ Smith, Matthew (November 24, 2024). "HP OmniBook Ultra 14 Review". PCMAG. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  51. ↑ "HP Virtual Museum: Hewlett-Packard OmniBook 300, 1993". Hewlett-Packard . Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  52. ↑ "The OmniBook 600: Cute but Quirky". Cs.hmc.edu. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  53. ↑ "Hardware". The HP Palmtop Paper. Thaddeus Computing . Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  54. ↑ "HP Computer Museum". Hpmuseum.net. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  55. 1 2 Wilson, Ben; published, Cale Hunt (May 20, 2024). "The new OmniBook X AI PC powered by Snapdragon X represents a whole new era for HP laptops". Windows Central. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
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