Hewlett-Packard has started selling an 18-inch entertainment notebook that comes standard with a TV tuner, Blu-ray drive, and high-definition screen.

As of Thursday, the HDX 18T Premium series notebook was available only online with a starting price of $1,550. The desktop replacement PC ships with Microsoft's Windows Vista Home Premium.

The wide-screen display offers 55% better viewing than standard panels, with true high-definition resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels. The 1,080p HD display is a standard option, along with a 2.26-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Other features in the base configuration include 2 GB of memory; a 512-MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics card; a 250-GB, 5,400-RPM SATA hard drive; a Webcam; and a fingerprint reader. The system comes with Wi-Fi wireless support, but Bluetooth is extra.

HP's recommended configuration takes the price up to just over $2,000. HP recommends upgrades to Windows Vista Ultimate; a 2.4-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor; 3 GB of memory; and a 320-GB, 5,400-RPM SATA hard drive.

HP is marketing the system for creating and editing video, music, and photos, as well as watching HD movies. A TV tuner capable of receiving high-def content and a remote control cost extra. The PC also has an HDMI 1.3 port for connecting the machine to an external digital TV monitor.