HP ProBook 6550b

Hi!
I'm in search for new about 15" notebook. ProBook 6550b seems like a good choice but I can't find any reviews and I have no experience with HP's business models. Is there any reviews on 6550b yet? Even better if someone has one and could share thoughts?

The specific model would be the one with Intel i5-450M (enough performance), 4 GB RAM, 1600x900 screen (I really, really want 15" notebook with bigger resolution than 1366x768) and Radeon 540v (certainly more performance than integrated). I will be doing 2D/3D CAD-designing, programming, playing some games (no need for highest details or newest games) etc.

So the questions in my mind are: Is Radeon 540v underpowered for the price of the notebook and how does it compare to other notebook graphics cards? How is the quality of keyboard and overall design of 6550b? Why isn't there any reviews on 6550b?
Any opinions regarding 6550b are appreciated

 

The 6550b is one of the 3 new notebooks I acquired in the last month or so. The other 2 were Elitebooks. Our 6550b has the i5-520M, 1600x900 and 4 GB RAM and is mainly used for administrative tasks. The heavy duty work is accomplished on the 8740w and 8540w Elitebooks. Sorry, no games are played on any of the machines.

As far as build and ergonomics are concerned, it is similar to the Elitebooks, nicely put together with a solid feel, tight fit, and generally well placed ports. The 1600x900 screen has good color and viewing angles and is overall rather pleasing to view. It is also matte, which gets high marks in my book, and is difficult to find elsewhere. The keyboard appears to be the same one used on the 8540w as I have no trouble seemlessly switching from one to the other.

Unfortunately, I have not stressed this machine at all as far as graphics are concerned, but there are many sources on the web for gauging the card's capabilities against your needs, vs. other cards. As far as programming goes (ah yes, I remember - actually fondly - doing that for a number of years), the machine should be quite capable in handling most of what you throw at it.

Don't know why there haven't been any reviews of this machine. Possibly because it's a business class notebook without the cache of the Elitebook, making it more expensive than consumer class notebooks but still without some of the bells and whistles. But what it does have is well made and, with the CTO discounts available, at a reasonable pricepoint (be sure to call a rep instead of ordering online - they can work with you on the price).

 

hi, VisionLight.
since you are only guy on the web that has this notebook, it seems.. please please just let me aks few questions, as i will maybe go for one.

1) how is battery life?
2) how loud is fan noise, and is it distracting?
3) how good is sound from speakers, while, for example, listening to music? my guess is it is pretty bad, since this is "business" notebook, but how bad it is..?

tnx!

 

up
I have the exact same question. Does anybody have an answer?
It would be greatly appreciated.

 

Sorry, I hadn't checked this thread recently, so didn't notice the new questions.

1) battery - Being an admin unit, ours tends to be plugged in most of the time, however on a recent 2 hour mobile run, the battery level didn't come into question. YMMV depending on CPU and your usage, but three hours seems reasonable.

2) fan noise - What fan noise? . . . OK, you get the picture, within a relative normal sound environment, we just don't hear this machine.

3) speakers - The 6550b is about 7-8 feet away from me at the moment and playing "The Planets" by Gustav Holst from a CD (we're big on classical here). The internal equalizer software is set to "classical" and sound is at 100% output level from the internal speakers. The verdict - well, let's just say it's a laptop: no true highs or lows and definitely no volume. Use for close quarters listening only with an optimum sound field at approximately 18-24 inches from the keyboard (just like on the EliteBooks, being closer introduces balance distortion). All this being said, however, plug in a decent pair of external speakers or headphones and the verdict changes completely (but then, that's not what you asked).

 

Thanks VisionLight,

Your comments are very useful, I too have been thinking about this laptop for awhile.

Your feedback, has sealed the deal for me. I will be buying this laptop early in the new year (unless I see something with a better screen & feature set, at my price point in the mean time)

 

I've recently come across a good deal on a 'new' used HP Elitebook 8540p (3 months old) and was wondering if it would be worth choosing this instead of the Probook 6550b.
Visionlight, since you have both models at your disposal, could you tell me if the Elitebook is noticeably louder than the Probook? Could you test this by playing a 1080p file? At the following link you can download the famous bird scene of Planet Earth, one of the more demanding HD sequences today. ( 1080p Test MKV examples (from Birds scene Earth movie) - Plex Forums)

The Probook would cost me €1040 with 1y pickup and return, the elitebook is €1290 with 3y pickup and return (- 3months).
Advantages of the Elitebook are the longer warranty, better graphics card and USB 3.0 which makes it future proof. It also has a Smartcard reader, which I can use with my electronic identity card. (One technology feat Belgium isn't lagging behind with. )

 

Just to clarify, I have the workstation model 8540w, not the 8540p. The 8540w and the 6550b both have the same IDT High Definition Audio CODEC and ATI High Definition Audio Device, supported by the same drivers, and each appear to have the same speakers. And both produce decent sound from external speakers or quality headphones. This being so, we can reasonably assume the 8540p would be the same. Regarding the internal speakers, using my own sound test files, despite the similar specs I do find my 8540w to have a slight advantage. Emphasis here is on the word "slight", as it only adds a couple feet to the comfortabe soundfield. Sorry, did not do an actual db measurment, just used my feet to walk further away in the room. As always, depending on sample variation, YMMV.

You did not mention the specs that also affect cost, like CPU, screen, memory or HDD. Or why the 8540 was returned in the first place. These would probably be more indicative of the value for the additional money.

 

I think I should have been more clear with my question. I wanted to know how loud the fan noise is when doing light tasks like, for example, watching HD videos.
Notebookcheck.com reviewed a 6550b a few days ago and the fan noise looks good, as you have pointed out before.
Is the fan of the 8540p/w louder or quieter, more discernable ... ?
Sorry for the inconvience.

The seller said he needed something smaller since he traveled much. Basically, he should have done his research better.
He hasn't returned it, I would be buying straight from him. HP Belgium doesn't have a good return policy like in the US, at least not that I know of.

Screen, memory and HDD are the same. I didn't mention CPU because it doesn't make a difference for me. An i3 would be plenty for my use, but your right, the better processor does affect cost.

 

Even though my 8540w has an 840 quad in it and the 6550b has a 520 two banger, both machines are quiet enough to easily be drowned out by ambient low level room noise. Yes, when stressing the 8540w, the fan noise can kick up a bit, but not uncomfortably so, and I find it quite an achievment for the workstation class machine it is within its size envelope. In real life usage that may be of help, yesterday I played the "Avatar Collector's Edition" BlueRay (well, parts of it anyway - didn't have 3 hours to kill) on the 8540w, using the internal speakers. The sound of the fan never became an issue, even with the relatively low level of overall volume generated by the speakers at 100%.

I have been advising people on buying technology for a lot of years and find that many, especially newbies, think only in terms of what they need for today. That's fine sometimes, but usually the power of technology becomes addictive (as those of us on these boards well know) and people want to do more than they originally intended. Unless a person says he or she has no problem upgrading in a short period if their needs increase, I usually advise going for the most power within their comfortable price zone. With the additional warranty and other features you previously mentioned, and what I read into your words about the CPU on the 8540, you may decide that it sounds like a pretty good deal.