Here’s an interesting paradox: As recently as six months ago, Hewlett-Packard was actively discussing giving up its laptop business as it tried to sell its laptop segment to the highest bidder, and now it is introducing laptops that offer gaming capabilities and that sport features you find nowhere else. It is quite a turnaround.

Perhaps it was their recently, and highly publicized change at the top that left them with a quandary: “Do we leave our reasonably profitable laptop business to others, especially lower-cost computer manufacturers and let them have that business? Or, do we stay; upgrade our offerings, giving the gaming crowd what it needs – memory, quality graphics and high-speed, seamless action sequences?”

The “gaming crowd” should be pleased with the results. For example, while the DV6-6116NR offers 4 GB of DDR3 memory as standardize. This memory is upgradable to 16 GB. The beauty of having this much memory available is twofold: 1. the memory allows an image to appear smoothed and, having so much memory available when, combined with a 1.7 GB video memory cache, allows all of the video to appear in high-definition mode. Indeed, the 1377 by 766 high-definition mode.

One of the keys to the DV6 is the programmability of the Core II I5 processor. This is not the top-of-the-line model, but, since each core can be written to be a good programmer, it is very possible for developers to create individual video streams so that each addressable stream can be handling slightly different functions. For example, if the processor is looking at the same image from slightly different angles, it is possible for the DV6 to work as a 3D device, however, you will either need to use special 3D glasses that sync through Bluetooth or you will have to use passive glasses. Bluetooth syncing is far better because it allows your system to work with true Black shutter technology where one of the lenses actually turns off for a moment while the other lens presents a high-definition, high-contrast image. This is followed quickly by the initial lens being turned off and the other one being activated. In this manner you gain true 3D as there are no video artifacts left and each eye sees a clear image.

The DV6 has another interesting feature and that is known as HeatSense technology. Most the time when you have a laptop sitting in your lap, you feel the heat growing and growing and the laptop getting warmer. With HeatSense technology, the laptop senses that heat is growing and shunts it away from your lap so that it remains cool. This will also help if you are looking at streaming video or listening to streaming audio.

In addition, the DV6 recognizes the many different video formats that one can included on a smartcard or other video card modes. The HP6 recognizes tho modes and plays them, including slideshows. It’s nice to see video appear quickly, especially if you’ve just taken it and you can edit it on the fly.

Altogether, it’s fine that HP has chosen to remain in the laptop market and the key reason is that it gives every other manufacturer out there something to keep squarely in their rearviews because HP has been known to create one or two innovations itself or improve on the innovations of others and it is likely to continue to do so.