HP Elitebook 8760w Leaked

Here's a look of the 8740 next to the 8760 if anybody is interested: http://cdn2.ubergizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hp-elitebook-8760w-02.jpg

 

Yeah, more pics here:

http://www.ubergizmo.com/gallery/hp-elitebook-8460w-8560w-and-8760w/
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/04/hp-elitebook-forge/

 

of course you have to buy an upgrade kit to use 2 HDs...

 

Now, the only few things the 8760w needs to be perfect:
Better coloration on the hinge -- same color as the body.
Switchable Graphics, so I can have the vPro hardware VNC server.
The 3D display (and emitter) from the Envy 17 3D.

That last one is a big one. The FirePro and Quadro cards can do the true quad-buffered stereo that the Radeon can't do... So why the heck not pair it with a stereo display? I'd have more use for that than for DreamColor!

P.S. One time when Dreamworks gave a talk at Cal Poly, they said everyone had two monitors: one 3D, one DreamColor. My thoughts: they should make another partnership with HP to make a DreamColor 3D display!

 

perfect?! sheesh the thing looks like a metallic finished mac. it has the cheap and tacky chiclet keyboard, WHY ARE PEOPLE USING THEM!, i don't care if my elitebook is 2.3mm thinner, i would prefer a damned decent co oling solutoin, as well as a mousepad which doesn't look like its from 1997 on my old tecra 8000. and don't get me started on the hinge... my god.

Now i've actually seen it, am definately avoiding like the plague.

Shame on you hp - business users don't want BS designs so people will want to steal them. we want tough rugged, (slightly less sleek, but built to last) machines, that do what they say on the tin!

sigh why is it so many companies copy apple. they aren't even that innovative.

 

I totally agree, I think the new generation is a step backward regarding design, not to mention the unavoidable 16:9 screen... I don't like the MacBook style and I think the new EliteBooks are a mixture between a Mac/Envy and a Dell Precision. They removed the inverted-T cursor keys, the QuickLook button and the touch sensitive controls, but they added a touch sensitive control in the touchpad to enable/disable it (?) What about if you tap the touch sensitive control area when you want to click? I've seen the photos posted before, showing the 8740w next to the 8760w, and I prefer the old rounded design (angular? who said that in another post? it's not angular, it's rounded in all corners, angular is the NEW gen). And a backlit HP logo like the Mac apple logo!, for what? Shouldn't this lappy be a serious machine for working?

 

Sure there are some cues form Apple to be had here, but I really like the design; it reminds me of a high end piece of audio equipment (well, the p-series with the silver bodies do...).

If these new workstations have the durability, reliability, features, ergonomics and power that their clientele demand, why can't they look good? I love the industrialness and cleanliness of them. I wish hp would update their mice and keyboards to match! Speaking of keyboards, hp did it right and rounded the keys. If they have made it spill resistant AND backlit then they have something unique here.

The only thing I think is bad is the 16:9 screen. How can ANY company sell to their customers the notion that having LESS pixels is a good thing? Ever watch the behind the scenes for say, "How to Train Your Dragon?" There are artists there that have BOTH of their two monitors side by side in a portrait orientation! Well, one other thing I might change is the color of the nub and "Elitebook Workstation" on the backside. They should have made it blood orange like Dell. I understand that orange is the color that stimulates creativity, but these are unapologetically bad- workstations -Keep the theme dark! Hey, does the hp logo on the lid have a slightly blue tint? They should have made that orange too! That would be hawt.

Oh, even though I have a MBP 13, I'm a fan of HP and Dell. I only got it because it's good to be literate in both PC and Mac in the creative field. I have laundry list of things I dislike about it. Ha ha...

One last thing: I want a volume DIAL or SLIDER! I have a five year old Toshiba A305 that has a dial with stops. It does NOT get more intuitive and easy than that.

 

I wouldn't bother changing the text... I just don't like that ugly light-metal "bumper" around it. It really should be the same color as everything else! ( /me hangs an "OVERSIZE LOAD" banner from it. )

Also, the new ones don't look like the modern MacBook Pro! The Envy is the MacBook Pro knockoff; the EliteBook is more like like a (darker) Titanium PowerBook.

Now, I do wish they'd enable switchable graphics. You can't use Intel's hardware VNC server -- or rather, will be clicking and typing blind -- if the IGP is not used. I also want the Envy's 3D display. What, did they not imagine people such as DreamWorks wanting to use professional apps with real 3D?

What I was saying about the old ones being angular: I guess that's wrong, after all. The old ones are sleek, but have that too-easily-broken lip; the new ones are built like semi trucks.

I once dropped my old-design EliteBook at just the right angle, and it caused massive damage. It broke the plastic bottom and bent the top deck, and then bent the whole lid assembly and cracked the LCD. Ironically, if the lid had just popped open, it would've remained intact.

(I did have ADP, but the replacement LCD was nowhere near as nice as the original.)

 

I wish they have switchable graphics too but it's not going to happen anytime soon since Quadro (don't think FirePro does either) support switchable graphics for stability reasons. In theory it works out great but putting together good and compatible drivers from multiple companies (Intel, nVidia or AMD, and Microsoft) isn't going to happen.

 

Just finished looking over this.

Awesome machine.

One issue is the two USB ports located at the front right side fighting for the space where your mouse goes. My experience with my current HDX-18 is that ports in this spot are basically unusable while working on the machine, but useful for charging and syncing overnight or whenever you're away from the computer.

 

Seems like there will never be a successor to my current 18" HDX-18t, but I hope by June to be able to update my sig to:

HP Elitebook 8760w rocking Intel Core i7-2920XM with 16gb RAM, 1920 x 1080 Dreamcolor screen, 256gb SSD, 750 7200 RPM drive, Blu-Ray, HD Webcam, AMD FirePro M5950, and Advanced dock.

I've been waiting for an HP with hyper-threaded quad-core that can take 16 gigs of RAM for a year now, ever since I started running multiple VMWare VMs.

 

True, the 8540w and the 8740w with quad-core processors can support not only 16G of RAM, but up to 32G with 4 8G memory modules.

 

I totally agree with you too.
It's really sad that HP ditched the only decent laptop they had to create just another apple copy.

 

They have been doing that since 2009 with the Envy series in their consumer lineup. I am surprised that they even considered to release the 8740w in the first place, but sadly they had to change that as well.

 

it seems the new Dell will have Optimus

Dell Precision M4600 and M6600 Mobile Workstations Available Worldwide May 10 - Direct2Dell - Direct2Dell - Dell Community

 

Yeah, optimus would be great to have, I want it to be silent when not stressing it, the chance for that is probably bigger with a Dell with optimus.

 

Well, they didn't ditch something else to create the Envy, did they?

 

1
I also wanted 2nd gen quad core i-7

2
I totally missed the existence of the Elitebook because of the way HP (like Dell) separates their artificially and erroneously defined target markets before showing you anything on their website. Sometimes the highest-powered machines are in HOME and sometimes in BIZ. When you're seeking a product-line, they make you guess as to what section its in. I strongly dislike this on the Dell site and I didn't even realize that there were other HP laptop lines in the biz section until I read about the new Elitebooks on Engadget.

 

I knew from many prior annoyances that Toshiba and Dell has the HOME/BIZ split, but I never realized that HP even had that because my first HP was the HDX 18 and after that the discussion in HDX-threads revolved around DV7 and Envy. Unfortunately, I never noticed any mention of this "EliteBook" which you claim has always existed.

Are you sayin my HDX 18t quad core extreme with its 18.2" screen, dual 500gb 7200 RPM drives, eSata port,etc., wasn't the most powerful machine at the time I got it (released I think late November 2008) in Feb 2009? Cause them's fightin' words!

Absolutely will. I'm glad I finally did find out about the Elitebook line (via Engadget) and I'm psyched about getting one when it goes up for sale.

BTW, do you think someone will post in this thread the second it appears on the HP site for ordering? Also, in case there are any "release deals" ie coupon codes, which for HP are use-count limited, is there any best place to stay on top of that for the Elitebook?

Thanks...

 

Well not "ditch," more like "kill" a brand to do it. Basically the Envy lineup is the spiritual successor for the VoodooPC Envy laptop line that VoodooPC started before HP brought them. The Envy lineup was designed by the VoodooPC team, but it was not until HP decided to scrap VoodooPC as a brand and all their ideas of creating ridiculous gaming machines.

 

haha, yeah, to chime I had the same thing happen to me. I had no idea HP sold the Elitebooks until I read about the Dreamcolor display so I knew specifically to look for them.

I'm also not fond of the "Customize" part either - I couldn't even find the quad-core i7's, I didn't think they sold them, until I found out I had to do Customize->Choose A Model with an i7 processor-> then they're available. If you choose a model with an i5 processor you can't choose the quad cores - I assumed they just didn't sell them.

 

It is confirmed, the new Elitebook will have a single fan cooling again
No go. One less system on my list.

 

Because? Noise?

 

Overheating at extreme load (gaming, stress testing, etc). I had a 8740w and it was hitting 86C on CPU and GPU quite often. Had to do a lot of repasting and heatsink modding to improve the situation. And the M6500/W70xx didn't get past 75C in Prime and Furmark, thanks to dual fan approach.
To me, anything above 75C is unacceptable.

 

haha!...I was going to say you were crazy, those temps were more than acceptable for electronics and you must be out of your mind - then I realized you said Celcius, not Fahrenheit...lol. 75 fahrenheit != 75 Celcius...

(I don't know enough about electronics to have an opinion 86C or 75C.)

 

BIOSes usually shut down the processor because of overheating at about 95-100C.
Is it acceptable? Contacts will start to meld at ~250C. Capacitors don't like heat, but they are often well away from it. So your computer won't literally burn, but of course many cycles of extreme heating -- extreme cooling will shorten the laptops life: you'll have microcracks on the board and such.

 

^^ Exactly. The mobo lifespan will be reduced. BTW, not only capacitors, the PSC is millimeters away from the CPU heat pipes. There are quite a few fragile spots on the motherboard that can suffer from those temps (and yes, 86C Celsius!).
Try running Prime95 + Furmark, - you'll see what I mean

 

So which one of the bad boys you have decided on? M18X or Precision M6600 with the IPS screen and 5010M?

 

the best choice with the Dell is maybe the AMD M8900 ?

 

I'm lost. The M6600 doesn't have the IPS/5010M yet and will cost an arm and a leg when those are available. It has a mediocre sound system. If I were to get a M6600, I'd go with the M8900 and IPS, everything else stock (upgrade later).

The M18x is heavy, huge and has super glossy screen, but it has the best connectivity options, wirelessHD, HDMI IN&OUT, superior sound system, etc.

So I dunno...

 

For me the choice is easy. The M18x advantages you list are not interesting to me, so the M6600 is the clear winner. Not that my preferences and uses are of any concern to you.

Also, you will probably sell it in a year anyway, so don't lose any sleep over it.

 

Well, looks like Dell decided for me. We got the pricing for the M6600 in Canada. A basic config with i7-quad, firepro and an IPS screen is about 3,400 CAD or ~3k after all the discounts. The M18x with dual 6970M, i7, 4x more RAM and 2x more storage is only 2k. Found a decent screen replacement for the AW (90% gamut, 800:1 contrast, 300nits brightness, etc). The case is closed, heh. Back to the glowing heads, as Rampage likes to say....

 

Oh thats a bloody good deal! The kind of config you're getting with M18x; for the same money makes Precision's prices look preposterous!

 

Yup, with the Elitebooks out of the race (lower end GPU + inferior cooling) and unavailable in Canada, Lenovo W7xxx gone extinct, and the outrageous M6600 pricing, - I simply have no other choice.

 

fyi - a rep today told me this over chat -

(for reference the 8740w is the current 17" Elitebook, the next gen should be the Sandybridge stuff)

 

Well, QuickSpecs Version 3 has been already released. It reveals some important information about the DreamColor display:

17.3-inch FHD UWVA LED anti-glare Dreamcolor

Active Area (W x H): 15.0 x 8.5 in (38.2 x 21.5 cm)
Diagonal Size: 17.3 in (43.9 cm)
Surface Treatment: Anti-glare
Contrast Ratio: 600:1 (min)
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Brightness: 300 nit typical
Pixel Resolution: Pitch 0.1989 X 0.1989 mm
Format: 1920x1080
Configuration: RGB Stipe (it's a typo, it should be 'Stripe')
Backlight: LED
PPI: 127
Viewing Angle: ±160° Horizontal, ±160° Vertical (minimum)
80/80/80/80: (Left/Right/Down/Up) (min)
Technology Type: 30-bit In-Plane Switching (IPS)
Color Depth: 10-bits/color
Display Colors: Over 1 billion colors (native mode)

Color Gamut Coverage

NTSC: 109% 129%
AdobeRGB: 114% 127%
sRGB: 154% 148%


Now, compare it with the DC display for the 8740w:

17.0-inch WUXGA wideviewing angle, anti-glare DreamColor
Active Area (W x H): 14.5 x 9.0 in (36.7 x 22.9 cm)
Diagonal Size: 17.0 in (43.2 cm)
Surface Treatment: Anti-glare
Contrast Ratio: 800:1 typical
Refresh Rate: 48Hz, 50Hz and 60 Hz
Brightness: 210 nit typical
Pixel Resolution Pitch: 0.191 mm
Format: 1920 x 1200
Configuration: RGB Stripe
Backlight: RGB LED
PPI: 133
Viewing Angle: ±89° Horizontal, ±89° Vertical (typical)
Technology Type: 30-bit In-Plane Switching (IPS)
Color Depth: 10-bits/color
Display Colors: Over 1 billion colors (native mode)

Color Gamut Coverage

NTSC 109% 129%
AdobeRGB 114% 127%
sRGB 154% 148%

Differences are highlighted in bold.

Note the contrast has been reduced (600:1) vs. the contrast of the DC screen of the 8740w (800:1). However, it's a minimal value, not typical like the latter. So we cannot know which is better yet. However, NotebookCheck has measured a higher contrast for the 8740w screen than the advertised: 965:1.

Unless there are some refresh rates missing in the doc, the 8740w screen has 2 modes not found in the 8760w (48 and 50Hz). If you expect to play blu-ray movies on the internal screen, the 48Hz mode is important, because it's a multiple of 24, the frame rate per second used in these discs. If the refresh rate is not a multiple of 24, the judder effect may appear when playing.

Note the backlight type used in the 8760w is not specified. Only it's specified that the screen uses LED technology (I guess it's RGB LED like its predecessor).

It seems the brightness has been increased, from 210 nits to 300. Personally, I don't find the 8740w maximum brightness insufficient, in fact, the screen at maximum is hardly beareable for my eyes.

Of course, the pixel density is slightly lower in the 8760w due to the change of the aspect ratio (16:9), but the difference is negligible.

The viewing angles are somewhat different. It seems the 8740w angles are slightly better than the 8760w ones, but again, only we can speculate, because the values specified in the 8760w doc are minimal, not typical like the former.

The rest are pretty much the same. Color depth is identical (10 bit per color component) and gamut coverages are identical too, so it seems the color rendition has not been enhanced.

Someone stated in another thread that the DC screen of the 8740w doesn't use real 10-bit mode for maximum color rendition. That's FALSE. The 8740w DreamColor display is a real 10-bit color screen, as it's stated in the 8740w quick specs, and personally, I can confirm this fact because the Catalyst Control Panel has a setting in order to enable it (which strangely disables the Aero effect of Windows 7). AFAIK, neither the 8540w nor the 8740w have 8-bit DC2 panels with FRC ( frame rate control) in order to simulate 10-bit. They can operate in 8-bit mode in normal conditions, and in 10-bit mode in some applications like Adobe Photoshop CS4 and higher.

I hope you find this info useful.

 

yes, thank you.

here is the first model, not cheap (of course) and I guess it is a basis configuration with i7 2620M, $3000, called LW870AW

HP LW870AW#ABA - EB 8760W CI7/2.7 17.3 4GB-750GB DVDR CAM W7P 64

 

The main advantage I see to the 8760 vs the 8740 is the availability of the second HDD bay in addition to (rather than replacing) an optical drive. I can't say I like the idea of a full chiclet keyboard, but I don't type enough to really care about that change.

Personally, I went for the 8740 because I knew it would be the last HP business class notebook to support windows XP pro and have a juicy DC2 panel at 1920x1200. I went whole hog and got the nVidia 5000M card so when I do go to Windows 7 later, I can still make use of DX11 graphics & PhysX. Basically, I wanted today's sunset software with the flexibility for tomorrow's. So far, it has worked out well for me. Plus, my old NC8000 was over 6 years old and I was getting itchy for a new desktop equivalent replacement.

In the end, we all have to decide when to take take the plunge and go with what suits us best at the time, or calculate when it's best to do so because of what we really want. To accommodate my particular needs, I ended up waiting over a year from when I decided to seriously shop for a new notebook and actually putting down the plastic for one.

Seeing what's on the market now, I'm glad I took the plunge when I did, as the trade offs to today's model, while acceptable, weren't my preference.