HP Envy 27-Inch IPS Monitor

HP officials say this 27-inch standalone monitor with Beats Audio technology was developed collaboratively with Beats by Dr. Dre. Beats technology is more often featured in HTC smartphones, since HTC is a part owner of Beats. The monitor’s speakers are angled upward, for sound quality that HP says is closer to what artists intended.

This In-Plane Switching (IPS) monitor measures 13.95mm at its top, has an aluminum base and a viewing angle of 178 degrees vertically and horizontally. It’ll begin shipping worldwide Feb. 3 for $499.

Don’t let the name fool you. This Sleekbook—which features a 15.6-inch display and up to 1TB of storage—is available with or without smart touching, which is to say, a touch-screen and HP software that helps to make the most of it and its Windows 8 operating system. Sans touch, it’ll arrive Jan. 13 for $649.99; the TouchSmart version will arrive Feb. 3 for $649.99.

This 15.6-inch LED backlist display is the frequent traveler’s friend. A USB port and single cable connects it to any notebook, offering users additional screen real estate.

The U160 folds down into a 1-inch-thick package that can be slipped into a travel bag, where its flip-and-fold stand will help to protect it. It will arrive in January for $139.

This IPS monitor with a catchy name is ideal for multi-screen setups and works with VGA, Digital Visual Interface (DVI) and DisplayPort (DP) inputs. It also offers flexible height, tilt, swivel and pivot adjustments for a more ergonomic user experience. It’ll arrive at the end of January for $259.

HP’s Pavilion line of IPS LED backlit monitors has been thinned down and upgraded to 178-degree viewing angles vertically and horizontally. Settings integrated into the monitor enable users to, among other things, partition the screen so that multiple application windows can be open at once. Available Jan. 20, prices will range from $129.99 to $339.99 for the largest of the five options, the 27xi shown here.

This 24-inch LED backlit monitor, says HP, is for users who particularly prize innovative design. It features an adjustable easel stand, L-connectors to keep cables tidily in place behind it, DP/HDMI (DisplayPort/High Definition Multimedia Interface) connectivity and a Vesa (Video Electronics Standards Association) mount. Pricing has yet to be announced.

The Pocket Playlist behaves like a home DVR but is smaller than the average smartphone and records videos from more than 50 Websites. It requires no data plan and no Internet connection while streaming. It can hold up to 16 movies, 7,600 songs or 10,000 photos.

HP says the Pocket Playlist plays to “most WiFi-enabled Android, Windows and iOS mobile devices.” It’s expected to arrive Feb. 15 for $129.