The good: Excellent performance; slim and light for 17-inch notebook; dedicated number pad; strong security suite; ambient light sensor; sturdy laminated magnesium-alloy case; spill-resistant keyboard.

The bad: Few USB ports and no ExpressCard slot; short warranty period for a business notebook; fixed optical drive.

The bottom line: Despite throwing everything but the kitchen sink--in terms of business features--into the HP Compaq nx9420, this notebook still manages to retain a relatively slim and light profile for a 17-inch desktop replacement.

Read full review of the HP Compaq Business Notebook nx9420 »

By Darius Chang, CNET Asia
May 22, 2006

The HP Compaq nx9420 is the US-based company's newest dual-core 17-inch business laptop. Unlike the budget Dell Inspiron 9400 or entertainment-centric units such as the Fujitsu LifeBook N6410, Sony Vaio AR190G and Toshiba Qosmio G30, the S$3,999 (US$2,863.38) nx9420 targets power users with its strong security suite, tough chassis and compatibility with HP's business notebook accessories.

	Not exactly an awe-inspiring design, but generic enough to blend in an office environment. (Click for larger image)

Design
Without the logo, the HP Compaq nx9420 is so similar to the iconic bento-box design of ThinkPads that it's uncanny. Just by looking at the pictures alone, the 33mm thickness of the unit gives the impression of a thin-and-light notebook, though in the flesh, its 393mm width and 275mm depth dispel such thoughts. Nevertheless, at 3.36kg, it is one of the lightest 17-inch laptops in town--though it is still not advisable for frequent commute unless you are a squinty-eyed sailor who gets his kicks from spinach. Though the design is, to be honest, boring, it does blend in well in the office.

The magnesium alloy provides strength to the chassis and is treated with a scratch-resistant laminate. The keyboard with a separate number pad is designed to be spill resistant and prevents water from entering the interior, though it does not incorporate the drain holes found in the ThinkPad T60. A row of dedicated buttons line the top, which allows control of the volume, Wi-Fi, calculator, presentation system settings and HP Info Center system management utility (which accesses the security and wireless functions as well as searches a preinstalled troubleshooting database).

Features
HP has thrown everything but the kitchen sink in when it comes to corporate features. Besides the ports and network connectivity expected of a desktop replacement, the nx9420 also incorporates a strong security suite for power users. However, it does not come with the bells and whistles from entertainment notebooks like the Toshiba Qosmio G30, lacking a bright transflective screen, TV tuner, subwoofer and remote control.

Most of the ports are located on the sides of the unit. (Click for larger image)

The nx9420 has four USB ports, one FireWire and a Type II PCMCIA slot for external peripherals. Though this may be sufficient for most people, power users whom HP is targeting with this model may find the USB ports insufficient as well as bemoan the lack of an ExpressCard slot. Even the budget Dell Inspiron 9400, which retails for around S$2,000 (US$1,432.05) less, offers six USB ports and ExpressCard interface. An integrated memory card slot can read SD/MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, SmartMedia and xD-Picture Card without requiring adapters. Network connectivity consists of optional Bluetooth, 802.11a/b/g, modem and 10/100/1000 Ethernet device.

When it comes to business machines, data security and protection are of utmost concern. In this aspect the nx9420 does not drop the ball. Sensitive information is kept secure with a combination of SmartCard slot, Trusted Platform Module security chip, biometric fingerprint scanner and HP Enhanced DriveLock technology (which prevents data theft should the harddisk be transferred to another system in order to bypass security). Physical protection of data is achieved using an accelerometer that detects if the notebook is being dropped or vibrated and prevents the hard drive reader head from scratching and corrupting the magnetic disks.

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