HP Elitebook 6930p Review?

Wow! No mention of the new 24-hour battery that can be optioned on this notebook? I thought it would be big news among HP fans....

http://www.sync-blog.com/sync/2008/09/hp-breaks-24hr.html

 

^ the 24 hour battery wasn't available when I ordered mine. In order to do it you need to piggyback a 12 cell on top of the 6 cell, which is a lot of weight. The 12 cell battery wasn't available to buy when I ordered mine on 9/5.

You also need the LED display, which as far as I can tell also isn't available yet...so that's probably why it hasn't been discussed.

 

I ordered a 6930p model KS084UT#ABA direct from HP on August 27th. Just got an email today with a tracking number. I am on west coast.

 

Ok, some online resellers seem to have the KS081UT and the KS083UT in stock. Pity I would need either the KS082UT or the KS084UT. But things look good, so in a few days hopefully these will be in stock as well and I can get my hands on on this notebook.

 

^ don't tell me these things two days after I give in and order a different notebook somewhere else!

 

Looked all over the tech places in Beijing yesterday, the stores seemed to have everything BUT the elitebook...interestingly enough the price is over double the converted US prices.

To stay on topic:
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/buyersguide/article.php/3769846
http://www.digitgeek.com/hp-elitebook-6930p-review/

some reviews...someone at NR better be making one

 

Wow.. it's available for customization in the US (I might be slow as I don't check their website everyday)..

Gonna cost slightly over 1.9k for: P8600, 4GB RAM, X4500, 160GB 7200rpm, Illumi-Lite LED, 8x DVDRW, Vista Business

 

We have gone through that a few times already.

The only way this notebook could get about 24-hours with the 6+12 cell batteries is with most power efficient components (IGP, LED, SSD) and at IDLE (i.e. just staying and doing NOTHING), which is exactly what is meant with those UP TO 24 hours and exactly how HP advertises their battery life for years. The real battery will be way less, maybe 16-17 hours under light usage.

This is how the 12 cell battery looks like when attached to the bottom.

The 12-cell battery has been available for at least 3 YEARS now, since it the same battery that has been offered for the previous two generation notebooks. It's just that HP decided to create some hype around it now for obvious reasons.

 

There was no 12 cell appearing on the accessories page for the elitebook when I ordered. There was a spare 6 cell and 9 cell but no 12 cell. They've since added it to the page, I see. Anyway, it's moot, since the LED model isn't shipping yet.

 

You should have believed me. When I said they are shipping, they indeed are going off the production line as these things are being assembled.

Btw, the best moderate usage that HP can gain out of the 6930p UMA with 12-cell battery is 17.25 hours as listed here:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12152_na/12152_na.HTML

The real usage is around 12-14 hours on the Ultra capacity battery, even with SSD and LED screen.

 

Finally—customizable—but on the high-end when it comes to cost. AND there’s no 1440x900 LED LCD. Configuring this similarly to my current T400 would set me back an additional 800 dollars—so I’m VERY glad I went the ThinkPad, but I would still like to hear from 6930p owners.

 

That was before HP decided to compete with Dell and came up with marketing BS like " DUDE, YOUR DELL DIED 5 HOURS AGO".

The thing, however, is that the Dell E6400 could get 19 hours with their standard 9-cell battery and the 12-cell slice while the HP simply won't get anything close to 24 hours out of the standard 6 cell and the 12-cell UC battery.

 

Dell started it first. HP's marketing strategy only retaliates against Dell, but they rarely ever go on the offensive. Dell's 19 hour claim is also based off idle usage.

Another video from HP's latest press conference in HK where its Singapore execs outline their business notebook range for Asia-Pacific markets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3945vWx6eqQ

 

We have two reviews (T400, E6400) claiming that 6 hours w/ 6-cell and 9 hours w/ 9-cell is possible under very light usage, and if that's true, then the 19 hours w/ 9+12-cell Dell claimed are possible as well, or at least not that unrealistic as HP's ridiculous 24 hours with 6+12 rolleyes .

Anyway, this type of marketing is a bit lame but apparently popular and it seems to work since people still buy into it. Lenovo had similar charts last year showing how their notebooks are superior to HPs and Dells in any aspect, even battery life rolleyes .

Okay...

However, even Sony realized they could go far with BS marketing and propaganda...
http://www.sony.com.sg/microsite/vaio/products/vaio_z/f5.html
http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/gb/en/vaio10/flash.jsp

Now, I expect Lenovo to come up with tractors being driven over ThinkPads just to complete the picture.

Maybe Dell needs to do something in that aspect as well.

 

Yeah, but the 12 cell battery will cost you some 400 USD at dell, while only 150 USD at HP. I was really shocked when i saw the price they charge for it. I already have the 12 cell HP battery with my nx6325 so I will stay with the 6930p. Also the graphic card with the HP is way better than the one in the Dell.

 

I don't compare performance, price or anything else, that wasn't the point, and I don't care, honestly.

The dedicated GPUs will probably be similar, however.

 

Well, this is the info from HP directly. For KS082UT and KS084UT the ship date is past 6th November. For the KS085UT they could get it out on the 6th October. Interestingly if you would go for some customized model with a price tag of +1900 USD, they could get it out by 29th September. That sounds very odd. I guess that unless some other retailer will have some of mine on stock, i will go with some other brand than HP this time. I can not wait that long

 

Just called HP. The quantity now shipping is backfilling orders from August. They are still predicting 10/10 for my original order placed 9/5. So while they might be in production, they are still shipping on a one month lag time.

I was told that a new order for the $1559 stock configuration would ship first week in November.

 

I ordered a KS084UT August 27th, and was given a shipping date of 10/10 also. Today the unit shipped and I should have it Wednesday. The unit shipped out of Indianapolis.

 

I was also thinking of ordering the 6930p, and had a question for someone who has the unit or otherwise knows the answers:

1. I hate loud fan noise. How quiet is the system in idle, and then how quickly does the fan kick in under load, how loud does it get, and does it seem to stay on for long minutes even after the CPU is back in idle? (I realize you can't give an answer in dB, so just give me your impressions--my study is VERY quiet).

2. Many MP3 players and cell phones come with stereo Bluetooth--does this HP or other laptops come with that as well?

3. I know Windows 7, which could come out as early as next summer, will reportedly have multi-touch touchpad support. I take it no current notebooks have this feature??

4. Regarding security, I basically have one need: that if my computer is stolen, no one will have access to my proprietary information unless they supply the password, even if they take out the hard drive and connect it to an external HD enclosure. Does that mean I need a fingerprint reader, TPM with Bitlocker, or hard disk with full disk encryption??

5. The 6930p seems perfect, with two exceptions. I wish it were at least .5lbs lighter, but I'm greatly disappointed that it doesn't have a DVI or HDMI or DisplayPort connector? Any way around that? Is there a dock that provides that?

Sorry for my long, first post!
Mike S.

 

2. Not sure what you're asking, but you can pair BT headphones w/ a BT-enabled laptop

3. No multi-touch

5. AFAIK, none of the docking stations have HDMI/DisplayPort

 

Hi Mike,

1) Hard to say since no one already has an 6930p?! I've seen an engineering sample here in Germany when HP launched this notebook. As it was some kind of loud there, I couldn't get any useful impressions about that.

2) The Notebook has BT, so you can use a BT Stereo Headset

3) don't know

4) HP uses a software-suite called "Protect Tools", which includes Drive Encryption with the build-in TPM-chip. So no Bitlocker is necessary. Data couldn't be read when the drive is connected to an external enclosure. To enhance the protection, the fingerprint-reader could be used for secure access to the notebook.

5) No Docking-Solution provides HDMI/Display Port. But the EliteBook 8530p has build-in HDMI. But of course, this model is more heavy than the 6930p.

Hope this helps.

 

Data security features are actually one of the major selling points of the HP business laptops. Check out the following PDF:
http://h20219.www2.hp.com/Hpsub/downloads/2008%20Business%20Notebook%20Security%20Features.pdf

EDIT: For more in-depth info:
http://www.hp.com/products/security

 

Small bus. doesn't accept returns right? Just in case i'm not satisfied. I want to order a customized one sight unseen.

 

I do have this machine.
I have played with it for one day.
Here are some points that I don't satisfy with it.

1) The battery is not fixed onto the machine tightly. The design of the basic battery pack has 2 receiver slots for the machine's hooks. However, it comes with 1 hook only. And it is now fixed with 2 hooks (1 the above mentioned and the other from the battery to the body).

2) The HP Recovery Manager is missing in my computer after the first boot. I did contact HP for clarification and the representative said the utility was removed. So I am not looking for some software to backup my new notebook.

Which software should I use to backup that HP_RECOVERY partition?
I want one that can back up it bit-by-bit.

I find an interesting thing about the recovery partition. Initially I can't see anything inside it, only a small useless file. Then I go to use search function of Windows and use null as the search name and select D: as the target. It gives me all the stuff inside it. Very good security.
After finding this interesting stuff, I am now thinking to direct copy all of them to a DVD-DL disc. It is because the file are less than 8.0GB

 

Since you have the unit, can you tell me how quiet the unit is (is the fan particularly quiet, average, noisier than average) in idle and under load?

Thanks to everyone else who answered the other questions.

Mike

 

These are now reaching online retailers in large quantities. will buy one tommorow

 

Seems quiet. / HP has Bluetooth. / No Idea. / There is drive encryption / My HP laptop dock has DVI. /

 

Another question: Can I toggle between the ATI graphics and the built-in graphics (if one exists) in order to squeeze out another 30+ minutes of battery life when needed?

 

I don't believe the 6930p has the hybrid SLI graphics system, such that there would be 2 graphics processors to toggle between. All models except the very base one only have dedicated GPUs.

 

No! You can choose BEFORE you buy. Certain models of the 6930p have ATI graphics, others have build-in Intel graphics.

 

only some vaios and thinkpads have that feature at this time.
jaydee, what's so extraordinarily dumb about that question? :rolleyes2:

 

Sorry, my keyboard has had a malfunction! ;-) Time to buy a 6930p!

 

nope HP has not chosen to integrate this option in their offerings yet, but i read in some posts here, who have contact HP about that, that they would soon in the future (dunno how they define future)

 

Has anyone received a 6930p with ATI graphics?
What are the clocks of the ATI 3450 ?
How loud is this laptop when connected to the power supply under heavy use (games&rendering)?
What are the highest temperatures of the CPU&GPU under heavy use,using the power adapter?
I have really liked the HP business laptops before the 8510p.
It is too loud for my personal taste....

 

I'm also curious how much noise this notebooks makes. Is it louder or more quiet compared to the 6910p?

 

Some more questions I have before buying the 6930p:
1. I'd like to get the AC adapter that also has a car cigarette lighter adapter/'tip', but it looks like I can only do that if I get another whole adapter (i.e., it's not a 'tip' or 'adapter' I can just buy, and I can't replace the one that comes with the unit for the one with the one that comes with car adapter). Worse--because I'm getting the LED screen, it's not clear what AC adapter options work with that screen!

2. Why is 160GB 7,200 RPM the biggest drive HP offers, when dell offers a 200GB and a 250GB 7,200 RPM drives??

3. Why is the P9500 with it's 10W less power draw than the T9400 not offered??

4. Will the discrete ATI graphics make Vista run a little faster and also video editing run faster, or just games?

Thanks, Mike

 

1. I do not think LED screen has to do anything to do with the AC adapter, just go with the same power ratings that comes default, 90 W i think.

2. This is a biz laptop, and in corporate environment you hardly carry tons of info, you have servers for it. 160 GB is much much more than what you would require in a typical office layout. You get higher offering in consumer lines.

3. LoL similar ans as my point # 2.

4. Its not a matter of running faster, it is how much ram memory you free and the ability to get higher contrast gradient / color offerings out than an integrated card. Vista and Video editing software depend on RAM and processor. Graphics card would mostly be used in games and photoshop and stuff.

MadEngineer

 

So what's the battery life on this?

 

I´m also very much interested in more details about how much noise the 6930p makes.

 

First of all, the most annoying noise would be from the CPU whine.
You can listen to it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTRp2F0zRI

Apart from that sound, even when I am gaming with the ATI HD3450, the fan is relatively quiet. Its even quieter than an Xbox 360 on idle. The DVD drive is another story. It roars like a plane, and because the tray cover isn't fixed tightly on the DVD tray, it would vibrate against the side of the notebook and make a very loud grinding noise.

 

Am I wrong or is this youtube video not related to the 6930p?! The Pavilion series should be much cheaper and therefore could not be compared to the 6930p, I think!

I am also using a 6930p and noise seems to be "ok"! Not absolutely quiet, but comparable to similar notebooks (like the 6910).

Talking about the dvd drive: I haven't noticed such problems like zyber sniper, my drive seems to act "normally" without any heavy vibrations.

 

That is not an Elitebook, but other users have reported that the same issue happens on the Elitebook. This video was simply used to explain what kind of "whine" the Elitebook makes, at least in my case. I'm glad to know that your Elitebook is working perfectly, however, there have been another user who reported the exact same issue with their Elitebook.

Can you list out your specs so we can determine if its related to certain hardware components?

Are you using the Readon HD3450 with 2 RAM modules installed? Also, do you have a TPM chip built-in? Also, is your DVD-drive the Optiarc Dual Layer DVD writer with lightscribe?

 

Sure: P8600, WXGA LED Display, 4GB RAM (2*2), 160GB HDD 7200rpm, ATI HD3450, TPM (as far as I know, the TPM-Chip is built into every 6930p?!), Optiarc DVDRW with LS, Intel a/b/g/n WLAN-Module

 

TPM is only in certain countries. I believe it is disabled in China and Russia.

 

Right on.

I got a replacement today. I finally took apart the whole thing to see where the sound is coming from. I took off the keyboard and it was very obvious that the sound is coming from the CPU (P8600). They seem to have fixed the locking mechanism for both the lid and the battery. The battery is no longer lossely fitted into the slot, i.e. no more wobbling.

 

notebook looks good but how good is the graphics card on the laptop?

 

It's adequate. But don't think that it will run newer FPS games with breath-taking graphics. It will decode HD movies without a hitch.

 

I'm actually quite interested in this laptop
I was just reading a review on Laptop magazine and the primary pros and cons they listed are as follow:

Pros
Elegant, business-rugged design
Fast performance
Bright display with good viewing angles
E-mail and calender access without booting Windows

Cons
Finicky touch-sensitive controls
Wifi throughput from 50 feet slightly below average of 12.3Mbps

With the radeon HD 3450, FEAR test on the 6930p notched a low buy playable average of 29 fps with settings on autodetect (1024x768)

Laptop magazine also reported that the 6 cell battery lasted 3 hours 32min but lacked to mention what tasks and settings were performed/used. Can anyone confirm any of this information?

 

I am basically confirm most of what is said.


Elegant, business-rugged design

The notebook is covered with a metal alloy. I can basically lift the notebook by holding the LCD monitor and there are no signs of flex. However, my 6930p suffers from many QC problems, and they do get better with each exchange (I've had 5) including the metal cover seperating from the plastic LCD frame. The thin piece of metal casing to the right of the keyboard is way too thin and flexes and creaks when I hold the notebook using just my right hand.

Fast performance

A business notebook with discrete graphics. I'd say this helps make office work extremely snappy. I've had no lags doing normal office work and with many IE windows open.

Bright display with good viewing angles

The display is way brighter than the HP 540 I compared to and along with the non-glossy screen, I have no problems using the LCD is broad daylight. Viewing angles are a bit poor, with my focus on the middle of the screen, slight moving my head I can see the lower right and left corner of the screen shift in color. The monitor is a TN AUO panel (according to PC Wizard) and would be inferior in viewing angles compared to PVA LCD panels used in some entertainment notebooks. The contrast isn't bad, but in movies with dark scenes, it requires me to find a "sweet spot" to see the screen clearly.

E-mail and calender access without booting Windows

This function is called "Quicklook 2" and is activated by pressing the Info touch-sensitive button to turn on the notebook. However, it requires "Microsoft Outlook" and only draws information from its database and does not update it without booting windows.

The touch buttons are pretty sensitive and requires zero pressure to activate. I did have one that requires a hard push and HP confirmed that this was a faulty "Quick Launch" button and exchanged it with no problems. However, the volume buttons does get some getting used to and is not that reliable. Another note is that the pointing stick is very hard to use compared with Lenovo Thinkpads. Its very stiff and not very accurate.

I have no complains with the Intel 5300 Wifilink on a 802.11g network. I'm using it with 2 concrete walls between the notebook and the router and I'm still picking up full signal.

Battery life is not that great. Using the HP Optimized battery mode with the screen at 70% brightness and wifi/bluetooth on, the 6930p lasted a bit under 3 hours. On performance mode, it lasted around 2 hours.

I would suggest you reading this thread for more user impressions on the 6930p:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=309753&page=10