NOW AVAILABLE/ANNOUNCED: HP ZBook 14 / 15 / 17

Do you mean that it is not currently available with the FirePro card, or that the spec sheet is wrong and it will never be available with the FirePro?

 

Regarding the ZBook 14 and the Intel HD 4400 vs the AMD FirePro M4100 confusion... That is an error on their website, I just spoke at length today with a representative and they have acknowledged it as a typo on their website. The FACT is that you CANNOT get the ZBook 14 WITHOUT AMD FirePro M4100. All ZBoook 14 will come with both Intel and AMD graphics card that are integrated together for power savings within the operating system.

 

HP seems to have sorted out the typos in their listings for the ZBook 14. However, the configure to order models are still listed as only being available with the Intel HD 4400. I spoke with some one in Sales Support and they confirmed that it is currently not possible to configure a ZBook 14 with anything other than Intel graphics.

 

Yes, but make sure you get a HP-branded ac card, as they usually blacklist the rest.

 

Is there any difference between Zbook 14 and Elitebook 840 besides color and integrated AMD FirePro on the zbook? Are there any discounts available for either of the machines?, these look very good but the prices do run quite high. So far i am trying to decide between these two, mac book pro and the Lenovo t440s.

Thanks,

 

I have been researching as I am in the exact same position. I am also trying hard to decide between all three as well. PCM.com had an EliteBook 840 in stock recently so I decided to order it so that I could get a better feel for what HP had to offer. I had previous experience with the T431s and I currently own a MacBook Pro with Retina. From what I understand the only difference between the 840 and the ZBook 14 is the FirePro versus the Radeon. As far as I know, in this configuration, for a laptop, this will not make much difference.

I can tell you the following about all three...

The screen on the MacBook Pro Retina is the best overall screen I have ever seen. The manufacturer is Samsung. The Lenovo 431s did not have an IPS option when I ordered it and I can tell you, by far, it was the most unusable and the most absolute worse screen I have ever seen, by far. I immediately returned it and left a complaint with Lenovo. The EliteBook 840 I received last week has an IPS screen. It is very good, has great viewing angles and is a big difference from the X1 Carbon that I currently use as my everyday. My biggest gripe with the screen on the EliteBook is that it is made by AU Optronics, which I do not really care for. It also only has an option for IPS in the 1920x1080 resolution, which I do not like. Not to mention Windows 7 and some of the applications do not scale the DPI very well. The X1 Carbon, while it does not have an IPS, it does have 300 nit brightness, so it is usable, but an IPS screen is a world of difference. I really prefer 1600x900 as my laptop resolution of choice.

In regards to the build quality I would rank them in this order: Lenovo T & X series, MacBook Pro, and then the EliteBook. The X1 Carbon is made of all carbon fiber from my understanding and I have no concern about throwing this thing around and carrying it around with no protection. Often between classes and traveling, I just carry it in my hand and throw it where ever it lands. It still looks like the day I bought it. I felt the same about the T431s, which is equivalent to the T440s. The Lenovo line is just made to stand the test of time. The EliteBook is very solid, the only thing I don't like about it is that the screen does not open 180 degrees, like all Lenovo ThinkPad line do. The EliteBook feels solid, but the design language and overall lines aren't as sleek as Lenovo and Apple. The MacBook Pro is one of those laptops that you have to carry like an egg. One wrong move and it will have a nice dent in it and the screen also does not open all the way. However, the lines and overall design are just awesome. I do not like the glass/glossy screen, I prefer anti-glare matte finish. Unfortunately, the glare the MacBook Pro produces is just to strenuous on the eyes sometimes.

The thermals and noise emitted from all of these notebooks are pretty good, meaning they are not too loud. Lenovo and HP have made great strides in quieting down their machines.

Overall, it really is a tough decision... I went to Apple back when Windows Vista was launched. I really fell in love with them, but recently they have become too arrogant. I do not like the fact that I cannot add my own memory or change my own hard drive. I am tired of paying Apple's high prices. If my hard drive crashes then with my HP or Lenovo I can just swap it out and within a few minutes I am back up and running. With Apple I have to go to the genius bar and wait for them to do all the work which can take days sometimes. Plus with Windows everything, for the most part is backward compatible. With HP and Lenovo I get standard 3 year warranty and since ThinkPad and EliteBook and ZBook are their business line products I also get standard on-site support.

The one hiccup in all this is Windows 8... I very much dislike it and therefore find OS X much more enjoyable to use. Right now I am literally stuck between a rock and a hard spot. Logic tells me Windows and either HP or Lenovo, but having peace of mind with Apple's OS X makes it very easy. In the end, which I hope will be this week, I will be ordering a ZBook 14.

The fact is I have been burned by all these companies except Lenovo, their support has always been top notch. Like I said, I think this week I will be going with the ZBook 14.

 

If you want mine I will ship it right now I just got a very good desktop and a small 13" for travels let me know.

 

If you want mine let me know I just got a desktop plus a nice 13" for travels so don't need ZBook anymore and I can ship right now.

 

Win 8.1 is a HUGE improvement over what was released last year. It didn't require too many tweaks to make it a very nice desktop OS.

I'm looking at a ZBook 15, but am still on the fence as my 8560w is still going very strong.

 

Does anybody have one of the new Zbook's with a Dreamcolor display? According to HP's website Optimus is now supported, and according to this document the HD4600 should support up to 12bpp, so in theory it shouldn't keep it from working as it did in the previous generations.

 

there are no restrictions in the specs http://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA4-8357ENW so I guess Optimus is available with Dreamcolor (ZBook 17 in this case)

however, it can be disabled so you don't use the HD4600 at all

I doubt that there are already Dreamcolor users around so until then you have to wait for the final proof...

 

If I can get my hands on a dreamcolor panel I will try it with mine.

 

Thanks! I personally don't need a dreamcolor myself but I know a lot of people might be swayed over from Dell since they apparently don't support Optimus on their new QHD+ M4800.

Hopefully the cooling improvements that you noticed are carried over to the 15 inch model as well.

 

So judging by the lack of posts in this thread, it doesn't seem like the Zbook 14 is particularly popular. Not surprising considering the ludicrous prices.

 

After looking at over 20 different 13-14" Haswell Ultrabooks, I ordered a Zbook 14 on Thursday. Scheduled to arrive on the 25th.

The official custom prices are insane (but remember you do get to deduct 20% from those), however the prebuilt "Smart Buy" models are actually not bad at all for what you get, especially once you add the included 3-year onsite warranty to other brands.

Check out the pricing of the Thinkpad 440s, the i7 Fujitsu U904... even the Asus Zenbook UX301LA. Plus, you can get the near identical thing a few hundred dollars cheaper as the Elitebook 840 G1 (however the configuration I want is only available on the Zbook in Canada).

My particular model's specs:

F2R99UT#ABA
Windows 7 Professional 64 (available through downgrade rights from Windows 8 Pro)
Intel® Core™ i7-4600U (2.1GHz w/ Turbo, 4MB Cache) Processor
14 inch LED FHD UWVA Anti-Glare enabled for Webcam slim (1920x1080) IPS
AMD FirePro M4100
16GB 1600MHz DDR3L 2DM
240GB SATA-3 Solid State Drive
DualPoint Backlit Keyboard
Intel 7260AN abgn 2x2 +Bluetooth 4.0 LE WW
Bluetooth® 4.0 Wireless Technology
Integrated Fingerprint Reader
720p HD Webcam
1 Secure Digital; 1 Smart Card Reader
Integrated Intel I218-LM Gigabit Network Connection (10/100/1000)
3 USB 3.0; 1 USB 3.0 charging; 1 DisplayPort; 1 stereo microphone-in/headphone-out combo; 1 AC power; 1 RJ-45; 1 side docking connector; 1 VGA
3 Cell 50 WHr Long Life Battery
3-year standard parts and labor warranty 3/3/3. Includes HP Elite Premium Support, 24x7x365 @ 866 625 1175

 

It is rather pricey, but at least it's fully configurable.

The EliteBook 840 G1 and Zbook 14 both seem pretty nice.

Does anyone know what the flat / slim refer to with the display? The FHD screen options are labelled "slim". The others are "flat".

 

Haven't seen anything from what I've read, so might have missed it, but the Z 14 has a touch option for the display...will the Z 15 get one? I don't see one yet/now...thoughts?

I have an EliteBook 8540W that's been perfect for me for the past couple years...my next upgrade I'd like to have a touch display but still that horsepower.

Thanks - M

 

if it is not in the specs that means there is no screen available yet and this means I doubt it will be available for this generation. Maybe the next year generation will get it.

 

Has anyone seen a rig with these kinda specs, *and* the touchscreen?

 

Last night I tried custom building a Zbook 14 identical to the "Smart Buy" model I ordered... and even after the 20% discount coupon, it was still over $300 more expensive. So, before custom building, see if there's a prebuilt with the base configuration you need - because even if it has more than you need, it could still be cheaper or at least the same price for better specs!

 

Its even bigger if you consider sales tax. You can buy a preconfigured model through online retailers that don't charge tax. Buying a full custom model from HP you don't have that luxury. You have to pay sales tax buying from HP.

 

14, 15, or 17?

You can custom build a 14 however you want it. Including one with a touchscreen.

 

Well, that doesn't really work for me... they nail you for sales tax in Canada regardless (even if I order from the US). But I forgot that I was comparing the US customized price with the CDN price I paid - the US price difference after all discounts is actually over $400 more without any taxes taken into account. That means you'd have to remove $500 in customized parts merely to have equal priced systems.

Although, there are some dumbly priced prebuilts as well - definitely avoid any that's not described as "Smart Buy" (they should be labelled "Dumb Buy"). For example, under "Additional Models" there's F2S01UA which is very similar to the F2R99UT I bought - only it costs $242 more (list), has 8GB memory instead of 16GB, and has a 750GB HD instead of a 240GB SSD. Going custom those two upgrades alone would cost you $460 (after 20% discount), making it theoretically overpriced by a whopping $702.

HP really needs to get their act together on this kind of thing, because that's why the system already has a reputation of being overpriced - it's not, you just have to avoid the stupidly overpriced configurations!

 

No entirely true - neither the Zbook 14 nor the Elitebook 840 have FHD touchscreen options. You can get FHD, and you can get a touchscreen, but not together.

 

No loss there... There are gobs of ultrabooks for sale with nice shiny glossy touchscreens and FHD display if that's what tickles his fancy.

 

It is indeed much harder to find a matte high resolution ultrabook.

 

According to this review of a pre production model Optimus cannot be used

Native language (German)
Test HP ZBook 17 (E9X11AA-ABA) Workstation - Notebookcheck.com Tests


Machine translation
Google Translate

 

Yep, HP also mentions it on the Zbook 15 Smartbuy that has dreamcolor, here, in the footnotes.

I actually had a Zbook 15 for about a week. It was the F2P54UT, which has the 4800MQ, K1100m and the UWVA 1080p w/ PSR (panel self refresh). It was a pretty nice machine. Quiet, fast, built well. But unfortunately the lcd started having some burn in issues or something. At first I noticed it mostly when a dialog box would pop up, and I thought it was some kind of fancy alpha blending that Windows 8.1 was doing. But then after rebooting into Ubuntu I noticed I had a windows start bar faintly overlaying my Ubuntu background. I did a little troubleshooting (including disabling the PSR thing as that seemed pretty likely to cause something like that based on how it works) but in the end HP said I would need a screen replacement. Instead, I opted to just return it to Newegg. Interestingly enough, I found a good deal ($1150!) on ebay for a used 8570w Smartbuy that includes the dreamcolor display. Just got it yesterday and it has been working great. Interestingly enough, the dreamcolor display isn't as grainy as the AUO AHVA display that the Zbook had.

 

All version of zbook 17 has backlight keyboard?

 

it seems there is also a non backlit version available, look at page 5

http://content.etilize.com/User-Manual/1025566975.pdf

but on page 25 it says backlit (only ?)

And at partsurfer HP PartSurfer is only one version (for each country) available but it is not mentioned if it is backlit or not.

So, I cannot say for sure that there is at the moment only the backlit version available but I guess so.

 

As I just posted in the Elitebook 840 thread, I've received my Zbook 14, model #F2R99UT#ABA, which is either the highest or second highest model depending on your perspective (there is a more expensive model with a touchscreen, but it's only 1600x900 glossy TN while this one is 1920x1080 matte IPS-class).

Hope to open it this weekend!

 

Does anybody know when a Zbook 15 with QHD display will become available? I haven't heard anything about this option from HP since the Zbook had been announced.

 

Hello folks

My zbook 14 is on the way, the only affordable option here was get the full hd model with this screen: Display: FHD UWVA eDP anti-glare LED Backlit + PSR

PSR should be Panel Self Refresh option provided by displayport technology to save energy.

It's a good screen? Ips like? My fear was it could be something more tn related... ( i guess is not dreamcolor eh? :\ )

Regarding the upgrades i'm buying also a Samsung 840 Evo 1tb and 16 gigs of ram...

The only problem regarding the ram is that i don't know what to buy...

The datasheet says: http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/14721_div/14721_div.PDF

Standard
DDR3L 1.35V SDRAM (1600 MHz)
Two SODIMM slots supporting dual-channel memory
4 GB and 8 GB SODIMMs
Maximum
Upgradeable to 16384 MB with optional 8192 MB SODIMMs in both slots
Dual-channel
Maximized dual-channel performance requires SODIMMs of the same size and speed in both memory slots

In past i bough for another laptop this ram banks:

Vengeance®

But i guess them are not compatible cause it says 1.5 V xD...

What i could chose for a good quality upgrade? My zbook default conf comes with a single 4gb bank

Thanks ;9

 

so? suggestions of what i could consider as a good brand? Crucial ? (I'm not a real fan of this brand after returning them one ssd and a false positive memory compatibility on a certain product). Or i would just ask hp for their part codes and try to buy them separately?

 

Sorry, wish I could help. The model I got already came populated with 16gb. If HP originals are out of your budget, I would go to a reputable, mainstream memory vendor (I have often used Kingston for desktops, but I honestly don't recall the last time I upgraded notebook memory), and buy whatever they say specifically works with this model laptop (or the Elitebook 840 G1). You will definitely need to stick with 1.35V.

 

Ok it seems that the actual original part name is 693374-001 (8gb bank - u need to buy 2)... each of this little banks costs u 110$ from amazon which is pretty pricey..

Trying to guess if kingston and corsair have effectively a valid alternative..

 

This is the 8GB RAM meant for Zbook/Elitebook line direct from HP. You might be able to get it a bit cheaper through another vendor such as newegg (search for the part number H6Y77UT). That being said, any 1.35v 1600Mhz DDR3 should work fine. If you have a local store that carries something like that cheaper than the HP ram, then go on ahead and try it!

 

Sadly direct hp parts are not available where i live so i bought this one: KTH-X3CL/8G from Kingston

 

Sounds perfect. It is what Kingston.com recommends for Zbook as well, so you shouldn't have any compatibility problems.

 

thanks i will try it... sadly things are all so much expensive... this notebook is awesome so far :d

 

Ok.. these are some things i could say after i tried my Zbook 14 a bit...

Regarding the design and weight i like it a lot.
For now i can say it is compatible with the samsung SSDs
Ram isn't arrived yet but i guess it will arrive soon..

In short my first need was an ultrabook light who can support good hardware (2tb ssd / 16 gigs ram, i7 processor, uber battery life) and regarding this i'm satisfied because the electronics seems to be good.

There are some problems anyways, some severe other less (even if on a machine so costly i would expect no problems at all):

- audio... lesser problem maybe but could be important for review movie stuff... audio is just ridiculously low.. speakers of this product are really quiet.. this means that u need to push it to the max to have just a quiet audio output compared to the other products around..

- trackpad: here we have a design problem i guess.. i don't think this is an error on mine... unless mine was sold for error without glue i guess we have a nice design problem... see the animation below:



- BUT the only thing i could address not as a design error but as personal problem i guess is the screen... look what happens here.. I think i have a bugged screen.. and I'm very angry about this:



I just received the notebook yesterday... suggestions on what i could do?

Send it back and ask for a refund?
Send it back and ask for a product swap?
Or is secure enough sending it to HP and have it returned from warranty?? Them will give exchange only the display?

If possible i want all the product be exchanged at this time..

Thank you for your fast and interested replies..

 

Regarding volume level, check in the SRS Premium Sound control panel on the listening experience tab for an audio "enhancement" feature. If I recall it greatly increases the volume of the internal speakers, atleast on the Zbook 15.

Regarding the trackpoint, they are meant to come off. However it shouldn't just fall off either. If it is loose, it is relatively easy to request a replacement (I would be surprised if they didn't mail you a pack of them if you requested). If its an issue with the connection on the side of the keyboard, then that just means it needs the keyboard exchanged.

Regarding the backlight bleed, it does look pretty bad. Sometimes its something silly like a screw being overtightened during assembly but it could also be a defective screen. Maybe a couple of the other Zbook 14 owners can chime in if they have seen anything like this on their displays? If you do otherwise like the machine, you might consider purchasing an onsite warranty upgrade. Then they will dispatch a technician to your house / work to replace the display. Either way I would probably atleast use the machine a couple of days before deciding what to do.

 

well thanks for your support... actually i'm in trouble and struggled between asking a full replace if possible or use this as is as long i can.. because also for me times = money...

I'm not happy to lose tons of time in sending the stuff away, have it exchanged and so on

this morning i will call HP Europe and get some advice

 

Hello i'am a proud Zbook 15 owner!

Now i want to replace the old memory but i cant remove the keyboard !?

I found a doc from HP,

remove the 2 keyboards screws, remove optical drive

and now i should use a small tool and press from the optical drive bay hole against the keyboard - but it does not work - and iam afraid the something will be damaged.


Can you please help me?

BTW: i want to install 32GB Ram from Corsair DDR3-1600CL @1,35V
http://www.corsair.com/en/memory-by...op-memory-upgrade-kit-cmsx16gx3m2b1600c9.html

Edit:

i did it: i have to press harder then the upper right corner will release the keyboard - then i use a credit card to move from the right corner to the left

at the buttom you cant do anything because you have to slide it to the top..

 

Antoher Question:

can i remove the WLAN card to switch to the Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 802.11 ac 2×2 WiFi + BT 4.0 Combo Adapter 710661-001

can i buy any card from intel - or did i have to order i the HP store with the part number

i read something about a black and whitelist for hardwareoption - dont know if the original intel card is blacklisted?

 

Another Question:

can i remove the WLAN card to switch to the Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 802.11 ac 2×2 WiFi + BT 4.0 Combo Adapter 710661-001
built in is: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 Combo

can i buy any card from intel - or did i have to order i the HP store with the part number

i read something about a black and whitelist for hardwareoption - dont know if the original intel card is blacklisted?

Edit:

an which card will fit?

Intel Wireless-AC 7260 + Bluetooth, PCIe Half Mini Card (7260.HMWWB)
Intel Wireless-AC 7260 + Bluetooth, M.2 (7260.NGWWB)

?

 

I bought the following

Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 7260.HMWWB

Works great in combination with my ASUS AC66 router

 

Did you bought it from HP (official part)? or this is the standard Intel card?

Just to know if they are still using whitelist restriction in their BIOS... because I recently bought the 14 (i7 4600U, 8GB, 180 GB), but even with its high price tag, and that's really mean, they didn't put the Bluetooth combo card version (N version). On the other side, the WiFi performance is far far far better than what I endured with the Vaio Pro. I don't know if the bluetooth integration has any side effect on the performance of this card, as some people stated.

I had a hard time finding a new laptop, and even if its heavier than the Vaio Pro, the weight is compensated by :
* the sturdiness of its chassis
* the very easy maintenance access
* the silence during web browsing, and not heavy tasks (fan being off most the time). It's funny how cool the CPU is with the fans off compared to the i5 4200U in the VP... with fans on (which don't move much air anyway)
* the touchpad
* the number of ports: 4 USB 3.0, the Ethernet port...

 

Standard Intel card. Bought it in combination with an intel 525 180GB ssd and an extra 8GB for virtual machines. No problems at all with the installation. I have the zBook15 but it should also work in the zBook14.

 

Thanks, that's good news if HP stopped this whitelist non-sens. I might be able to test a standard AC card too for the zbook 14 version. I will report back if I test it.

Edit: Wasn't the version I remembered. It's the previous one I got in stock at my work (6k generation).