The EliteBook display looked bright and rich. My test unit included a discrete ATI Radeon HD 6470M graphics engine lesser configurations come with integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics, the same as in the ThinkPad I tested. screen shows 1366 x 768-pixel resolution. The system can be outfitted with hard drives that can hold between 250GB and 750GB of data you can also opt for a 128GB or 160GB solid state drive (SSD) my system had a 320GB hard drive. The unit I looked at came with 4GB of RAM, but it can hold up to 8GB. The review system came equipped with a dual-core 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor, but the system can be ordered with a range of chips, from slower and less expensive processors all the way up to a quad-core Core i7 chip models start at $999. This can simplify diagnostics and repairs. In stark contrast to the ThinkPad’s three individual compartments at the bottom of the case, the EliteBook has a single panel that provides easier access to the system’s components. It wasn’t put through the humidity test that Lenovo performed on the ThinkPad. It survived a 30-inch drop, thermal shock as well as high and low temperature use, high altitude operation and operational shock, and is resistant to dust and vibration.
Like the ThinkPad, the EliteBook 8460p has been subjected to some of the 810G ruggedness tests. On top of its sturdy aluminum-magnesium internal frame and screen enclosure, the EliteBook has a solid aluminum band around its edge to protect its corners from damage if it’s dropped. When you add in a larger and heavier AC adapter, it brings the EliteBook to a travel weight of 6.5 lbs.
In other words, it is as corporate as a Brooks Brothers suit.Īt 1.3 x 13.3 x 9.1 in., the EliteBook is thinner and narrower than the ThinkPad, although, at 5.5 lbs., it weighs 4 oz. It has a rugged design, superior performance and a 3-year warranty.
With its slick aluminum skin, HP’s EliteBook 8460p may look like the latest entertainment or gaming notebook, but its beauty is more than skin deep. To see how they do against each other, read on. The two are about as equally matched as two notebooks can be. displays, the EliteBook has the advantage of an optional ATI Radeon HD 6470M graphics engine, while the ThinkPad gets by with Intel’s HD 3000 graphics. Both have comfy keyboards and security-conscious fingerprint scanners.
They both have second-generation Intel Core i5 processors that run at 2.5GHz and can use TurboBoost technology to sprint to 3.2GHz when needed.Įach comes with 4GB of RAM (and supports up to 8MB), a 320GB hard drive, a DVD burner and Windows 7 Professional. To make sure this shoot-out was on a level field, I got models that were as close to each other’s configurations as I could. Both, however, have gone through the rigors of selected 801G tests and should stand up to more abuse than a typical consumer system. These are not by any means ruggedized notebooks that meet all of the Department of Defense’s MIL-STD-810G requirements. Most of that extra weight is taken up by a sturdy internal metal structure and beefed-up display frame that protect the system’s innards from damage. Related story – Ultimate guide to buying the perfect laptop for business entertainment systems from HP and Lenovo are thinner and weigh as much as a pound less. They both weigh over 5 pounds, while 14-in.
systems are bulkier and heavier than comparable consumer notebooks. Size and weight generally take a back seat to these requirements, and these two 14-in. * It needs a long-term warranty so that if there’s a problem it can be fixed pronto. * It needs to balance performance with battery life.
* It must be manageable so that IT administrators can change software and settings easily and remotely it should also have excellent security so that what goes into the computer stays there. * It has to be reliable and durable, a system that will be usable for three or four years. What makes a laptop suitable for the business world? Regardless of whether it is for a salesperson in Seattle, a corporate trainer in Cleveland or an accountant in Albany, there are four main things that corporate buyers look for in a notebook. Two of the newest and most interesting mainstream notebooks are HP’s EliteBook 8460p and Lenovo’s ThinkPad L420. Next to the latest ultrathin notebook, tablet or smartphone, mainstream corporate laptops may not seem particularly alluring or sexy, but they can be just as innovative and necessary - especially for everyday business.