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    ZBook Studio now shows up in HP Store

    Discussion in 'HP Business Class Notebooks' started by Billy Cantor, Dec 11, 2015.

  1. johnny fear

    johnny fear Notebook Enthusiast

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    Slightly off-topic, but with the studio not shipping until January now, has anyone heard anything about when the regular ZBook 15 G3 might go on sale?
     
    johnny fear, Dec 22, 2015
    #51
  2. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Has anyone been able to order a custom HP ZBook today, perhaps over the phone? I know, I know...it's still early on December 22nd. I may be a bit impatient :)
     
    Billy Cantor, Dec 22, 2015
    #52
  3. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    The customizable ZBook Studios just went live on the HP Store.
    http://store.hp.com/us/en/SearchDisplay?client=&searchTerm=zbook+studio

    Here are some of the new options offered by the customizable SKUs:
    • 2nd HP ZTurbo (fast SSD) drive
    • 32GB RAM
    • Microsoft Office
    • vPro vs. non-vPro
    • Fingerprint reader vs. no fingerprint reader
    • Webcam vs. no webcam
    • FHD vs. UHD (apparently both are non-dreamcolor)
    The MSRPs on these seem really high, but I am told that calling HP SMB sales and asking nicely can often get you a discount.

    For comparison, I just configured a Xeon machine with what I believe are the same specs as the $2899 model. The customized price came out to $4,010 -- almost 40% more.

    Here is a link to the customizable top-end Xeon machine:
    http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/business-solutions/zbook-studio-g3-notebook-pc-m6v81av-1

    I also decked out a customizable Xeon machine with 32GB of RAM and a second 512GB ZTurbo drive. Price? $4,839.

    The ZTurbo drives seem pretty expensive for SM951 drives. Maybe better to go with the low-end 256GB drive and then pick up a Samsung Pro 950 SSD.

    One last interesting thing...picking a UHD display requires getting a 2 DIMM configuration. You can order a 16GB config with only one DIMM and add another later--but not with UHD.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2015
    Billy Cantor, Dec 23, 2015
    #53
  4. johnny fear

    johnny fear Notebook Enthusiast

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    Wow, they seem a bit proud of their creation, even allowing some discount if you call in. I really don't want a Precision but the price difference may be hard to justify.
     
    johnny fear, Dec 23, 2015
    #54
  5. Pirx

    Pirx Notebook Virtuoso

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    Very interesting. Yep, those prices are sky-high, much higher, in particular, than the ones for the very similar Dell Precision 5510. Hard to see how they could sustain such a price differential. I do like this machine, however. With two 1TB ZTurbo drives this could be pretty much perfection. I think I'll bite once these become available; I wonder when that might be. I don't think these SSDs can currently be bought anywhere outside of OEM purchases.
     
    Pirx, Dec 23, 2015
    #55
  6. pokenguyen

    pokenguyen Notebook Enthusiast

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    Dell Precision 5510 has same low response time display panel with dell xps 15, which can show ghosting in many cases.
     
    pokenguyen, Dec 23, 2015
    #56
  7. j.murphy

    j.murphy Notebook Enthusiast

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    I can't help but wonder if they're deliberately inflating the prices at release so they can offer big discounts in the post-Christmas/January sales and basically just end up selling it at the price you'd expect. I can't see them selling too many at the prices currently being shown.
     
    j.murphy, Dec 23, 2015
    #57
  8. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    The Z Turbo SSDs seem to be re-branded SM951s. They may have some extra features (extra-secure erase, maybe?). But if not, you might consider picking up two Samsung 950 Pro SSDs which are a little bit faster. Of course you're then dealing with a separate warranty.
     
    Billy Cantor, Dec 23, 2015
    #58
  9. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, it's almost as if they're putting prices out there which scream "i need a 30% off coupon". Dell actually puts these sky-high prices on their Precision 5510s as well--but then automatically includes a strike-through pricing discount in their online sales system. I wonder how much of a discount the HP Store phone reps can offer for an order.
     
    Billy Cantor, Dec 23, 2015
    #59
  10. pipspeak

    pipspeak Notebook Deity

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    Woah... those prices are nuts. Interestingly, the price listed a few days ago for the base config I was coveting was about 35% lower than it is today.
     
    pipspeak, Dec 23, 2015
    #60
  11. Pirx

    Pirx Notebook Virtuoso

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    Interesting. But, can those drives be ordered anywhere? Maybe I missed something, but a quick Google Search did not turn up anything in the M.2 for factor and 1TB capacity. I can see them in 512GB, however. $329.99 at Newegg, not bad at all. This says the 1TB version will be available early next year.
     
    Pirx, Dec 23, 2015
    #61
  12. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    The 1TB HP ZTurbo SSDs aren't available yet, and the retail 1TB Samsung 950 Pro SSDs aren't available yet.

    We'll probably see both in the first half of next year. The OEM versions sometimes ship before the retail versions.
     
    Billy Cantor, Dec 23, 2015
    #62
  13. maunakea

    maunakea Notebook Consultant

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    Re: ZDrives. The Datasheet states that the ZDrives are Sammy SM951 NVMe. My sales rep thought they were stock 951 NVMes. There was nothing special about the SODIMMs in my previous HP workstations, but I stopped buying HP (went to ASUS UX301LA) when they capped the panel res at HD. I waited. Now I'm back.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2015
    maunakea, Dec 23, 2015
    #63
  14. johnny fear

    johnny fear Notebook Enthusiast

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    The other weird thing about the pricing is that I haven't received the notice I signed up for that the Studios were available for configuration, and you can only get to them via search, not by the normal mobile workstation link.
    I really hope there's something more to this pricing.
     
    johnny fear, Dec 23, 2015
    #64
  15. RTbar

    RTbar Notebook Consultant

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    I asked the CS in a chat weather the prices were correct or if they were still being loaded into the system, and she replied that they are correct. HP are absolutely nuts, the lowest end config that you can customize is $2700 and it doesn't come with a discrete GPU
     
    RTbar, Dec 23, 2015
    #65
  16. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    HP's configure-to-order business notebooks have been priced sky-high for as long as I can remember. They are not like Dell or Toshiba in this regard, who cater to customized configs. I noted this a few pages back, but you have to call if you want a good price. I customized my 8740w back in 2010 and got it for 24% less than the price on the configuration page, and remember people getting close to 30% off - it depended on the rep. As a matter of fact, I also remember HP was posting coupons for 20% off right on the configuration page for the CTO business models for the longest time. It's almost like they know their prices are stratospheric.

    The online configs and buy now options for the Studio look to me like they're a soft launch - there's no firm shipping dates, and as far as I can tell, no customer has received a product. The other ZBook G3 models are nowhere to be found. I'd recommend waiting it out until HP actually starts shipping product. Not like we have a choice, anyway.

    Charles
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Dec 23, 2015
    #66
  17. maunakea

    maunakea Notebook Consultant

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    The ship date on my Studio (i7-6720/16/512/UHD) just slipped from 05 to 13 Jan. 2016. I can't remember any previous HP mobile workstation launch as "curious" as this one.
     
    maunakea, Dec 23, 2015
    #67
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  18. Comal

    Comal Notebook Consultant

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    Why doesn't the Dreamcolor screen specs say 10 bits per color or 30 bits per pixel?
     
    Comal, Dec 23, 2015
    #68
  19. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    We're still waiting to find out if the ZBook Studio's DreamColor display is 24-bit or 30-bit. We do know that it has really accurate color representation for sRGB, etc. I'm really hoping for 30-bit (like the graphics card should support and like other DreamColor displays).
     
    Billy Cantor, Dec 24, 2015
    #69
  20. Comal

    Comal Notebook Consultant

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    If it's only 24 bit that's a deal breaker. With a wide gamut monitor you really needs those extra bits to get accurate color otherwise the colors would be too far apart to fill in all the gaps.
     
    Comal, Dec 24, 2015
    #70
  21. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Good news. The ZBook Studio is now in the main HP.com catalog. The pages detail which units feature which display (FHD vs. UHD).

    Comparison of all ZBook Studio models:
    http://www8.hp.com/us/en/products/workstations/product-detail.html?oid=8934839#!tab=models

    Here are the specs for the $2899 model. It appears to be the only standard configuration with the UHD 4K display.
    http://www8.hp.com/us/en/products/workstations/product-detail.html?oid=9789487#!tab=specs

    These machines are supposed to start shipping on Monday. :)
     
    Billy Cantor, Dec 29, 2015
    #71
  22. maunakea

    maunakea Notebook Consultant

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    My order for a Studio still recites 13 Jan. 2016 as the shipping date.

    BTW, I got a 5% rebate by paying for the Studio with my Amex card. I didn't know about the Amex/HP promotion, but noticed the $122.xx credit on my statement tonight.
     
    maunakea, Dec 30, 2015
    #72
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  23. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Has anyone received their shipping confirmation on a ZBook Studio G3 yet?
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2016
    Billy Cantor, Jan 4, 2016
    #73
  24. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Billy Cantor, Jan 6, 2016
    #74
  25. j.murphy

    j.murphy Notebook Enthusiast

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    When I tried calling the HP sales line in the UK on Monday I was told they had been delayed but that they had no information about when they might be released here. The lady I spoke to said they weren't showing on her system at all yet, couldn't be ordered and she hadn't heard anything about when that would change.

    One thing I did notice today was that B&H have them listed now in the US and expected availability of 15th January. No idea if that's based on any real expectation of getting them or just a punt on the middle of the month.

    I can only assume one or more components have been delayed otherwise this launch has been a slow motion car crash as far as I can tell!
     
    j.murphy, Jan 6, 2016
    #75
  26. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Billy Cantor, Jan 7, 2016
    #76
  27. Pirx

    Pirx Notebook Virtuoso

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    Pirx, Jan 7, 2016
    #77
  28. GosuDesign

    GosuDesign Notebook Guru

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    works for me fine :D
     
    GosuDesign, Jan 7, 2016
    #78
  29. Pirx

    Pirx Notebook Virtuoso

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    Now it works for me, too. Temporary glitch I guess.
     
    Pirx, Jan 7, 2016
    #79
  30. pipspeak

    pipspeak Notebook Deity

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    And still the model specs are incomplete. No mention of screen, wifi card and various other components. What a strange way to sell $2K+ laptops
     
    pipspeak, Jan 7, 2016
    #80
  31. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, oddly the HP store doesn't list all the specs. You can grab more (but not all) details from the official product listings on the non-store HP.com pages.
    http://www8.hp.com/us/en/products/workstations/product-detail.html?oid=8934839#!tab=models

    You can also get more details over at CDW, who has specs listed:
    https://www.cdw.com/shop/search/Com...=1&key=zbook studio&searchscope=all&sr=1&ln=0

    Unfortunately (maddeningly?), HP's shopping cart spec listings are inconsistent with the hp.com spec listings in some places, and CDW's listings give different specs for some machines than HP does on their own site. Two examples: the $2899 model lists a UHD display on hp.com, but a FHD display when you add it to a cart at the HP SMB store; and the $2499 model lists a FHD display on hp.com, but a UHD display on cdw.com.
     
    Billy Cantor, Jan 8, 2016
    #81
  32. win32asmguy

    win32asmguy Moderator Moderator

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    I would trust the specs from the HP SMB Shopping Cart (the one where the styling looks like it was designed in the 90's). The new site definitely has some specification inconsistencies, and not just with this model. I picked up one of their tablets last week and it was painful to figure out which model actually had an LTE card and 8GB of ram.
     
    win32asmguy, Jan 8, 2016
    #82
  33. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Aargh, I hope not. If that's the case, then the $2499 model has a 4K UHD display and the $2899 upgrade (which adds Xeon) has a regular old FHD display.

    Maybe we should make a list of all the inconsistencies and errors in the datasheet and find someone at HP to send them to?
     
    Billy Cantor, Jan 8, 2016
    #83
  34. win32asmguy

    win32asmguy Moderator Moderator

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    Yep, there are definitely some inconsistencies. It sounds like T6E86UT does actually have a UHD display. If that is the model you want, I would suggest ordering it via hp.com so you have the ability to return it just in case it comes with a FHD display. You might be able to contact a business sales representative and get them to confirm the specs. This is definitely a bad situation... hard to suggest someone to spend money on it like this...
     
    win32asmguy, Jan 8, 2016
    #84
  35. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Has anyone received their ZBook Studio yet? Or at least a tracking #?
     
    Billy Cantor, Jan 10, 2016
    #85
  36. kriszty99

    kriszty99 Newbie

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    what a idiot pricing, oh my god .... more then 3000 euro for Zbook G3 with 6700hq and UHD ,, for that price i will get a nice XPS 15 with the same specs , and keep
    1000 euro in my pocket.
     
    kriszty99, Jan 10, 2016
    #86
  37. TechAnimal

    TechAnimal Notebook Evangelist

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    Yup, the pricing is quite disappointing. I refuse to go back to the days of 3-5k laptops.
     
    TechAnimal, Jan 10, 2016
    #87
  38. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Well, good news... The pricing on the "custom" ZBooks just dropped dramatically. HP reduced the customizable SKU count and put a ~27% discount on them.

    http://store.hp.com/us/en/SearchDisplay?client=&searchTerm=zbook+studio

    The customizable SKUs are now in the same price range as the pre-built SKUs.
     
    Billy Cantor, Jan 12, 2016
    #88
  39. Pirx

    Pirx Notebook Virtuoso

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    Ahah! Now we're talking. However, I'm considering waiting for the next Xeon processors (with Iris Pro graphics). Any idea when those might come out? Dreamcolor would be nice, but I don't want UHD, so that's the end of that one. I'm in no rush, so I can wait for what's coming within the next five or six months if I have to. But, for me this really seems to be the ideal machine. Slap on one of those external Razr GPUs as a docking station, and I have pretty much perfection for what I need.
     
    Pirx, Jan 13, 2016
    #89
  40. win32asmguy

    win32asmguy Moderator Moderator

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    I am eyeballing the low end smart buy (T6E13UT#ABA) myself. It is available from resellers only, for about $1750. For that price you only get the 6700HQ, 8GB RAM, and the 256GB PCIe SSD. However it also only comes with the Intel P530 graphics, no Quadro M1000M, so running Linux on it should be a snap.

    What really kills me is that as awesome as the MSI GT72 in my signature is, the built in keyboard and touchpad make the machine almost unusable for me get work done on it. I have so much trouble typing on keyboards with short right shift keys. Half the time I end up hitting the up arrow which is just to the right of the shift key. The touchpad has no ridge on the palm rest, so its impossible to tell when you have hit the edge other than the cursor stops moving.
     
    win32asmguy, Jan 14, 2016
    #90
  41. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    I just got the official "launch" e-mail from HP. I signed up to be notified when the ZBook Studio was available.

    It reads:
    "Conquer the workday with your HP Zbook Studio"
    "The announcement you've been waiting for--the HP Z Book Studio Mobile Workstation is here. Get yours now while supplies last."
    "Buy from HP now."

    When I add one to my cart through HP SMB, the ship date is estimated to be January 26th 2016. When I add one to my cart through the regular HP.com store, the ship date is estimated to be about a week later, February 1 2016.
     
    Billy Cantor, Jan 14, 2016
    #91
  42. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    HP has changed the discount on customizable units from a 27% discount to a 30% discount. At least for now.

    This means that you can pick up the $2899 standard configuration for $2807 by going through the customizer. Or get the machine decked out with 32GB of RAM for $3038. Standard configurations and custom configurations both seem to have about a two week ship time.

    Fatwallet has a 3% refund on HP.com orders. I cannot confirm, but combined with using the configurator that would bring the $2899 machine down to $2722.79 plus tax and shipping. With a 1% cash back credit card...$2695.57 for the $2899 machine. Xeon, 512GB Turbo SSD, 16GB ECC RAM, 4K UHD.
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2016
    Billy Cantor, Jan 14, 2016
    #92
  43. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Just got my ZBook Studio tracking # from HP. Shipping today (Tuesday) from China, 3 day delivery.

    Has anyone received their machine yet? I'd love to see photos, etc. :) Oh, the anticipation...
     
    Billy Cantor, Jan 18, 2016
    #93
  44. win32asmguy

    win32asmguy Moderator Moderator

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    That's cool! I think you will be the first to get one here! What specs does yours have?

    I am thinking about pre-ordering the model T6E13UT from Macmall. Its a base model Zbook Studio without the dedicated Nvidia graphics. Should make for a very nice looking, portable and powerful Linux workstation.

    About two years ago I owned an Elitebook 850 G1. It was very similar to the Zbook Studio in both size and weight. It ran Linux like a dream other than the fact that the i5-4200u was pretty slow keeping up with my work tasks. I also had a Zbook 17, which while it ran much faster, was much heavier and the Nvidia GPU was more trouble than it was worth under Linux. I have owned a lot of different machines, but probably out of them all the best overall experience I have had by far was with the Elitebook 850 G1. I technically had to install my own IPS panel into it (they only came with a garbage TN panel) but the Zbook Studio doesn't have this problem. The dual Thunderbolt 3 ports are a very nice option to have, and hopefully if it is compatible with an eGPU it can satisfy my desire to do some gaming every now and then.

    Overall I have high hopes for it and can't wait until they become available and I can pick one up.
     
    win32asmguy, Jan 19, 2016
    #94
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  45. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    T6E86UT, specs: Xeon E3-1505M v5, 512GB Z Turbo SSD, 16GB RAM, 4K display, NVIDIA Quadro M1000M.

    I'm really excited that these are finally shipping :)
     
    Billy Cantor, Jan 19, 2016
    #95
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  46. byronalpha

    byronalpha Newbie

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    Well, mine ships the 21st. Should be overnight shipping, so I hope to have it by Friday. Pretty excited.
     
    byronalpha, Jan 19, 2016
    #96
  47. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Woot! :)
     
    Billy Cantor, Jan 19, 2016
    #97
  48. bee144

    bee144 Notebook Geek

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    Are 16 GB 2133 DDR4 ECC SDRAM DIMMS available to purchase outside HP? $490 seems steep for the 32GB ECC kit and I feel like I could find it for less but crucial doesn't have it listed.

    Also, what are people's thoughts on the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 with Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 (Available in 1H16 )? Would this upcoming chip be worth waiting for since HP has stated it'll add the chip once it's released? Are there any rumors as to when it may release (end of January etc.)? Besides the Iris Pro graphics will the new Xeon provide anything else like clock speed increase?

    Thanks :)
     
    bee144, Jan 19, 2016
    #98
  49. Billy Cantor

    Billy Cantor Notebook Consultant

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    Right now, HP is offering 30% off of a customizable ZBook Studios. That makes 32GB of ECC RAM cost only $343. Honestly that's a pretty good deal for 32GB (two 16GB ECC SoDIMMs). And it should be good-quality RAM. Plus you'd get the 3/3/3 on-site warranty which comes with every ZBook Studio.

    I looked up the price of the 16GB ECC SoDIMMs in HP's "spare parts" locator (parts.hp.com/hpparts). You don't even want to know what they charge for them as add-ons.

    If one of your main focuses is on absolute maximum battery life but you still need to use medium performance graphics apps which would otherwise need a dedicated GPU, then the Xeon E3-1545M v5 with Intel Iris Pro Graphics may be a good choice. And yes, it'll be a speed bump. But personally I don't see any particular value in waiting months for a small bump in speed--since there will always be faster CPUs available "in a few months".

    Intel didn't show off the CPU at CES that I know of, and there doesn't seem to be any official information on it yet--which makes me doubt that a faster Xeon is going to ship in the ZBook Studio "any week now." March...or even June...is probably more realistic.

    All that said, if you want to make sure you get a DreamColor 4K display, then your only option seems to be waiting a while. In which case you might just be able to get that Xeon E3-1545M v5 speed bump at the same time.
     
    Billy Cantor, Jan 19, 2016
    #99
  50. bee144

    bee144 Notebook Geek

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    Wow, this is great information. Thank you for the quick reply!

    I've used Dell Precision laptops in the past but in my opinion the ZBook Studio G3 blows away the Dell 5510 so I'm considering a switch but I'm not that familiar with HP and their processes/offerings.

    After seeing your notes on the 32 GB, I think I'll just bite the bullet and get 32 GB. I think the standard 4K IPS display will be fine. The difference between the E3-1505M and the E3-1535M is currently 100 Mhz and I don't think that's worth the $200 price increase so I can't imagine the E3-1545M being anything mind blowing anyways nor worth any price increase.

    I do have 4 additional questions since I'm new to HP if you don't mind. :)

    1. You mentioned the 30% discount. I assume this is the discount that I'm seeing when configuring a machine at store.hp.com? I'm buying the machine personally so I don't have a business account. Are there any other ways to get discounts?
    2. How does HP warranty work? I see the 3/3/3 warranty. Dell makes their offering rather confusing with 3 tiers of warranty each offering 3-5 years of support. Does HP only offer 3/3/3 and do you consider to be 'good'?
    3. The quick specs guide states, "This product ships with TPM 1.2 with option to upgrade to TPM 2.0. Upgrade utility is expected to be available by the end of 2015 via HP Customer Support." Do you know if the TPM 2.0 chip is available yet from HP?
    4. What are your thought on the HP Thunderbolt dock? Has anyone stated when it will ship?

    Thank you again for any additional input you can provide!
     
    bee144, Jan 19, 2016
    #100
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