HP on Thursday launched its first commercial internet monitor, and unveiled consumer in plane switching (IPS) displays for the U.S. market

"The needs of customers continue to evolve, and HP is well positioned to meet these new demands by expanding its award winning display portfolio," said Jun Kim, vice president and general manager, Display Business Unit, HP. "HP's new IPS monitors bring professional grade technology directly to consumers, while our internet monitor serves as a new tool for businesses to engage with their patrons."

Affordable, streamlined gateway to the web Ideal for customer-facing environments, the HP Passport 1912nm Internet Monitor provides a visitor hub for internet access in lobbies, hotels, waiting rooms, airports and other business environments.

The monitor delivers access to email, videos, images and music through an easy web interface with a locked-down operating system that prevents vulnerability to viruses. With an Ethernet input and plug and play connectivity options, the HP Passport 1912nm offers a four in one HP Media Card Reader and five USB ports to support digital cameras and other accessories.

The HP Passport 1912nm is equipped with a Texas Instruments OMAP4430 processor, which features hardware acceleration of various multimedia codecs. This allows the internet monitor to play back state of the art 1080p high definition (HD)(2) video content within a power envelope similar to a mobile device. Additionally, the HP Passport 1912nm is Adobe(R) Flash(R) Player Certified with an embedded Adobe Flash plug in that brings the very best experiences with smooth HD(2) content rendering.

The HP Passport 1912nm also includes low power DDR2 memory for efficient and responsive performance when running web based multimedia. It sports an 18.5 inch diagonal display and built in speakers, as well as a full size USB keyboard and mouse that come standard with the monitor.

Providing solid business performance, the HP Passport 1912nm features a 1,366 x 768 resolution, a 600:1 static contrast ratio(3) and a 5 millisecond (ms) on/off response time.(3) The internet monitor also delivers eco-solutions to reduce environmental impact with BFR/PVC free plastics and finishes(4) and arsenic-free display glass,(5) in addition to ENERGY STAR(R) qualification and EPEAT(R) Silver registration.(6). First consumer IPS monitors make any seat the best seat in the house

The 20 inch diagonal HP 2011xi and 23-inch diagonal HP 2311xi IPS LED Backlit Monitors are the first consumer displays from HP to feature IPS panel technology. As they offer a superior viewing experience from any angle, these monitors are an ideal medium for sharing photos, videos or games. Advanced IPS technology allows for consistent, vivid color and increased brightness, even if users are viewing content from the side of the monitor.

The HP 2011xi and HP 2311xi feature an ultraslim, modern frame designed to complement any home environment. They are designed with the environment in mind, boast mercury free LED backlighting, and are ENERGY STAR qualified and EPEAT Silver registered.(6)

Additional features include a 178-degree-wide viewing angle, up to 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and a 3 million to 1 dynamic contrast ratio.(3)

Exceptional performance at an affordable price. T