New HP EliteBooks Are Ready, Willing, and Able

In need of inspiration for an EliteBook design update, HP looked to the sky, ultimately finding it in the sleek and resilient look of a gunmetal aircraft, which they then incorporated into their new mobile workstation EliteBooks. HP announced the newly redesigned notebooks at CES, unveiling four new EliteBooks in all: the 14-inch EliteBook 8440p and 8440w (HP’s first 14-inch notebook), and the 15-inch 8540 p and 8540w.

Military Grade
HP claims these EliteBooks are both powerful and durable, engineered to meet MILSTD 810G military standards for vibration, dust, humidity, altitude, and high and low temperatures.

HP accomplishes this by casing the EliteBook w series mobile workstations in an anodized-aluminum finish with metal alloy hinges. The p series notebooks retain the platinum anodized-aluminum finish and the full magnesium-alloy chassis. HP claims the EliteBooks are six-time more scratch resistant than other notebooks.

How Do You Like Your EliteBook?
The EliteBook models are highly configurable, including the choice of UMA or NVIDIA discrete graphics, Intel Core i7 processors or future Intel Core or Core vPro processors (depending on the model), and an LED backlit HD or HD Plus display. Being that the EliteBook is geared toward the professional user on the go, all models feature HD videoconferencing software, HP SkyRoom.

The w series is especially designed for photographers and in-the-field designers using graphic intensive software, as such it supports up to 16 GB of memory.

Environmentally Friendly
Though tough on the outside, the EliteBook w series models are BFR/PVC free. Also both the p and w models are Energy Star 5.0 qualified and EPEAT Gold registered.

Pricing and Availability
The EliteBooks start at $1,299 and will be available in the US in February.

Related Articles:

• HP EliteBook 8440w Review

 

Little correction in the article, the 8440w isn't HP's first 14 inch notebook, but HP's first 14" workstation Elitebook.

The 6930 was an Elitebook as well.

 

No ATI option? Bleh. I much prefer ATI's Windows drivers over nvidia's.

 

No news about the 8740w yet?

 

...........who are you?


Anyway, it is a simple but elegant update.

 

Is this question meant for me? I'm only a new user on this forum interested in the 8740w for future purchase.

 

Lol, no i was talking to Jamison heh.

the 8740w is a fine choice though.

 

the 8540w/8540p/8440w/8440p spec sheets are available at hp and there is definitely no ati option and the 8540 p/w display will be 15.6".

there is another thread here with the links to the specsheets : http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=449154

 

@Red_Dragon:
Ok, it doesn't matter

And yes, I'm desperately waiting for that beast called EliteBook 8740w (to replace my 7 years old desktop PC). I've cancelled a previous order for a 8730w (CTO, €3900, VAT included) when I saw the new generation (it's not well worth to waste such high quantity of money for a Core 2 Duo processor). I hope the waiting is well worth...

 

I wonder if they have those in display for CES. I'm gonna check them out at HP booth tomorrow.

 

Nice, this means current Elitebook prices will begin to fall

 

I could have made a bet that this question will be asked sooner than later by one of NBR's long-timers! I even thought about doing that myself as I've been reading past few news/announcements and noticed this new NBR-employed forum contributor.
So, now there are two of us asking you to introduce yourself!

 

Does it seriously say MobileWorkstation on the palmrest?

 

I am a mechanical engineer and about to buy a mobile workstation to replace my old Fujitsu-Siemens Lifebook E8010.

I think it would be nice to see a comparison between Dell M6500 and HP 8740w when the last comes available since both fall in the mobile workstation category with similar features and target groups.

I expect (hopefully) though HP to be in a lower price range.

 

Yeah. My current one does too. They've been doing it since about two generations ago (HP Compaq nw9440).

 

Wasn't it more discreet? And not MobileWorkstation?

 

The 8540w has me quite intrigued. Quad core, full keyboard and 1920x1080 res screen plus it will fit in my current bag. I just don't know if I am ready to jump back into HP after all the heatboxes I have owned and supported the past 8 or so years form HP.

 

will we ever see an elitebook with hdmi?

 

Well it says Mobile Workstation, though I suppose it's a bit more discrete, since it's white on silver instead of white on grey.

 

Ughh, what is with the obsession with HDMI on a business laptop? I count zero HDMI connections in the office atm. If anything, there should be lazer to shoot pesky coworkers.

More displayport is more like it. Smaller and cheaper.

 

The previous EliteBooks had it. Well some of them do (mine sure does).

 

surfasb is right, HDMI is not on these laptops for a reason.

My post here sums it up:

DisplayPort is where PCs should be headed.

 

Yes, DisplayPort is now used on all EliteBooks instead HDMI. I think HP has chosen this port because is royalties-free (HDMI not) and it has more bandwith than HDMI (I'm not fully sure about this). You always can buy a DP->HDMI adaptor in order to connect the laptop with your HDTV or monitor (without DP).

 

Displayport theoretically has more bandwidth because of its transmission format. But currently the bandwidth isn't a factor.

 

Ehh, I'm not a business person by any means. I just like the more mellow designs of business notebooks and want to use them for personal use.

I'll look into DP (hehehehehehe)-to-HDMI adapters.

edit: from Direct2Dell article I'm assuming DP doesn't transfer audio?

 

DisplayPort CAN transfer audio. Currently it does not.

Edit:

That is one of DisplayPort's advantages. It can technically transmit almost any kind of information. Video, audio, files, etc etc etc.

 

I haven't seen HDMI in the offices here. I have seen DVI, VGA projectors. Displayport is becoming quite popular on the desktops (replacing the DVI, still have VGA)

 

Hmm ... 8740 eh? Looks interesting!

 

It should be quite interesting when we get to some infos on it, as it is not yet available on HP's site. Did you find any other URL about it?

 

Like a lot of people I'm also waiting for the 8740w, but there doesn't seem much info about it, other than it seems to exist --- it's sort of funny that Dell released the M6500 before their other workstations and HP seems to be releasing the 8740w after...

 

I'm more and more impressed with Dell's early lead with the next generation workstations. Lenovo recently released their W510 but has since stopped taking orders. So the M6500 is once again the only workstation with up-to-date components available and there is no word on when the W510 will come back or when the 8540w will be released...and those aren't even going to be in the same class as the M6500...who knows when the real competitors to the M6500 will come out.

 

I totally agree with you... I am currently holding myself back from ordering Dell M6500 until I see some specs for the 8740w. I hope it is worth waiting a bit, although M6500 seems to be quite a notebook excellency.

 

I wonder what Lenovo has with the W710 compared to the 8740 and 6500

EDIT: Whoops, I meant W710 instead of W510...sorry

 

Serg, are you asking what the Lenovo 17" mobile workstation is called? If so, it will be the W710. Their road map was leaked this summer which indicated it would be released in Q2 (if I remember the map right, that is).

 

So, DPs are quiet????

 

Unfortunately I did not ... I was primarily responding to the little bits of info mentioned in the posts above me.

 

I'm not sure where I picked it up (maybe the article linked earlier?), but I seem to remember someone/something saying that the 8740w, or more information about it, is supposed to come out about the end of January.

 

Yumi...yumi....

 

It seems like pretty slim pickings for reliable info. Not sure that information from some random guy on the internet called Brad is to be trusted --- actually, I'm sure in general it isn't --- but FWIW:

http://hpfansite.com/hp-elitebook/hp-launch-spring-10-consumer-business-computers-separately/

 

You are probably right; I've been googling for 8740w for some time now and no sound indications that it will be out there soon...

 

Oh, certainly. The thing is, though, I'm not sure how long HP can afford to let the 8740w sit out on the sidelines, seeing as the Dell Precision M6500 has already been available for over a month. I'd have to imagine that unless there are serious problems implementing i7 in the chassis, the 8740w should probably be out in the next month or so, or they'll risk losing way too much business to Dell.

 

well if the 8740w is anything like the 8530p it will defiantly be worth the wait. I'd rather HP take there time than put out a half baked product.

 

I don't think so. I debated waiting but eventually figured it's easiest to stick with what I know, but the fact is that most corporates don't jump on to buy stuff immediately after it's refreshed - sure, it might put some off now, but in the long run it's not going to change sales a great deal.

Besides, I definitely prefer a charismatic blood orange to " MobileWorkstation" What was wrong with " mobile workstation"?

 

I personally can't stand the orange, but I can just get it in silver, so I'm content. I don't think losing that E2E screen cover is that big a deal.

 

Any ETA on the 8540w?

 

@liquidxit2:

It seems a guy named "Brad" will review that model soon (I read this from him). Stay tuned: http://hpfansite.com .

 

Heh --- I'll be very interested to hear what A Guy Named "Brad" has to say.

 

@Thecla: Don't understimate this boy. He has already reviewed (slightly though) the 8440w (see this).

I already know that a NBR review will be more professional and in-depth than a review made by an enthusiast. But believe or not, this guy spends several hours on getting breaking news about HP products, and he writes reviews too. In addition, he has contacts at HP and I think it's better to have one review than none.

Thanks for your subtle irony.

 

I won't, any more than I'd underestimate Richard Harris as A Man Called "Horse". But seriously, any real first-hand info about the 8740w will be great.

 

My post was meant for the 8 540w, not for the 8740w. There are no news about the 8740w for now (BTW, I'm very interested in this model), and Brad said this before. I don't think he's lying to anyone. He predicted some of the standard features in the upcoming Elitebooks and he posted exclusive photos of the 8440w before anyone (see this). Ah, and I'm not Brad's friend nor I know him, of course.