HP is to launch a pan-European price cutting promotion in a bid to boost its laptop market share.

The company claims that supply chain improvements since the Compaq merger have allowed it to cut costs. Prices for the recently launched HP Compaq nx6110 and nx8220 laptops have been cut by 24 per cent.

HP is also offering channel partners the option to have business laptops built to order for customers. Resellers will also provide support for the customised laptops under HP's TopConfig programme.

"HP's programme helped us recently win a large deal in the government market," said Edwin van Zanten, director of Dutch HP partner Spits.

The move is designed to help HP react more quickly to rival vendor Dell, which builds entirely to order, without alienating its channel partners.