By Darius Chang, CNET Asia
04/02/2009
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/notebooks/0,39050488,44008656p,00.htm

HP's business laptops have always been good value for money. The HP Compaq range is not only quite affordable, it is decked out with essential design features such as HP DuraKeys (for a longer-lasting keyboard) and HP DuraFinish (scratch-resistant coating on the top cover and palm rest). For businesses, having a laptop with a hardy exterior is important as the turnaround for corporate machines is usually much longer than consumer equivalents.

The new EliteBook lineup, however, takes HP business notebooks to another level. While the inexpensive HP Compaq models are good enough for the rank and file, the EliteBooks are meant for executives who want a little extra. Though not rated as semi-rugged machines, the EliteBook is test to military specifications for durability. It also looks quite stylish with a brushed aluminum top cover and palm rest. Though it is not the cheapest business portable on the block, the starting price of S$2,399 is not a high price to pay for the long battery life and generous feature set of this EliteBook.

Design

Out of the box, the EliteBook 6930p impresses with nice brushed aluminum accents and a sturdy feel. The chassis uses HP DuraCase technology which is a step up from the HP DuraFinish. Though both processes are used on magnesium-alloy bodies, HP DuraCase works the shell into a honey-comb pattern (for added strength without increasing the weight) and thermally bonds aluminum to it for added aesthetics. Despite its tough exterior, this EliteBook has a footprint of 331 x 243 x 31mm and weighs 2.2kg, which is hefty but still reasonable for a 14.1-inch laptop. We also like the fact that the laptop incorporates touch-sensitive controls for volume, Wi-Fi, presentation settings and the HP Info Center. the status icons light up with blue LEDs when activated. Overall, this is an attractive laptop which will stand out in a corporate setting.

Looks aside, this machine is also one tough laptop capable of withstanding abuse. Though HP does not consider the EliteBook a semi-rugged notebook nonetheless, it was test to military standards (MIL-STD 810F) for vibration, dust, humidity, altitude and high temperatures. Unless you work in the war zone or visit volcanic sites for National Geographic, the HP 6930p should be able to stand up to most work environments.

The port placement is also well-thought out. The VGA out and charging ports are hidden at the back, while the memory card reader is found at the front. The rest are distributed to the flanks of the unit. But for lefties, be aware that the heat vent is on the left side; when the machine goes full blast it can get a little toasty.

Features

For a business laptop, security and battery life are key concerns and the EliteBook delivers these and more. Like the HP Compaq range, this model uses a fingerprint sensor and TPM security chip with HP ProtectTools software to keep data safe from prying eyes. It even comes with a built-in SmartCard reader for added protection. But sometimes all the security can easily result in the user being locked out of his PC. HP SpareKey is an alternative method which allows you to access the machine by answering three personal questions should you forget your own password. Though a solid-state drive is not an option on this machine, the magnetic storage is protected with HP DriveGuard that parks the reader head to prevent the disk platters from being scratched when dropped.

Many users are unaware that simply pressing delete on the PC doesn't mean the file disappears into thin air. In fact, only the first character of the file name is deleted, leaving the main bulk of the data still on the platter. HP provides a File Sanitizer software which permanently shreds the information by rewriting junk data over the same space several times to make unauthorized recovery difficult, if not impossible. Another interesting application is the HP QuickLook 2. This is a pre-boot environment which allows access to emails, calendar, contacts and task information with the touch of a button. Though HP claims the startup takes only 10 seconds, it required 18 seconds on our machine. Still, this is much faster compared with having to boot up Windows Vista.

Like it or not, the widescreen format has come to business portables like the ThinkPad T400 and ToughBook CF-F8, so we were not surprised that the EliteBook has gone the same route. Based on the new Centrino 2 platform, the 14.1-inch WXGA display is capable of 1,280 x 800-pixel resolution and powered by the integrated Intel GMA X4500HD graphics processor. Higher-end configurations put in an ATI Mobility Radeon HD3450 for better video performance, though at the expense of battery life. We were pleased to see that the screen is of the matte variety instead of the glossy version found on consumer models. A matte screen is generally easier to read in bright office environments without the irritating reflections found in the latter. We were a little disappointed to find only a VGA port for linking to external displays, with no DisplayPort or HDMI to be found. However, we don't consider this a deal-breaker as most projectors and LCD TVs are equipped with VGA inputs.

The full-sized keyboard is protected with an HP DuraKeys finish which keeps the lettering from fading. The keyboard also spill-resistant, an important feature since most cubicle warriors tend to put their morning coffee near the workspace. We like the fact that this EliteBook comes equipped with both a touchpad as well as a trackpoint, since users tend to gravitate toward one or the other. The rubbery buttons provide a good tactile feel for mouse clicks. A nice touch is the LED keyboard light located next to the integrated Webcam. At the push of a button, the light pops out and shines on the keyboard. This is a useful feature for use on long flights and late-night rush jobs.

The EliteBook comes with all the ports and connectivity options expected of a laptop. The unit can hook up wirelessly to 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth networks, while wired connectivity is handled via the Gigabit Ethernet and modem ports. Three USB 2.0, ExpressCard/54 and mini-FireWire are available for external peripherals, though we would have liked to see an eSATA port for next-gen devices as well. Another gripe is that the memory card reader can only handle SDHC/MMC formats, but this is only a minor quibble for a business model. The unit comes with a LightScribe DVD writer as standard, though the optical drive can be removed and replaced with an optional US$199 harddisk bay for an additional 250GB storage.

Performance And Battery Life

Our review unit came with a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo P8600 with 3GB of memory and integrated Intel GMA X4500HD graphics processor on the Windows Vista Business operating system. The Windows Experience Index reported a score of 3.8, with 5.3 for the processor performance and 4.1 for Aero desktop rendering. The limiting factor is the gaming graphics, though this is to be expected for a corporate portable. The EliteBook 6930p should have no issues handling work-related tasks and movie viewing as well.

Battery life is where the HP6930p truly shines. The bundled six-cell went for an impressive 3 hours 44 minutes on the MobileMark07 DVD test and still had 3 percent power remaining. According to HP, using the optional US$199 Ultra Capacity battery will allow the machine to be unplugged for up to 24 hours. Though it adds about 800g to the overall weight, the external pack props up the rear of the unit and allows for an ergonomic typing experience.

Service And Support

The HP laptop comes with a three-year international onsite warranty. At HP's support Web site, laptop owners can download the latest drivers and manuals. In the event of a simple malfunction, the company offers an online knowledge database and support forum for troubleshooting. Further diagnosis or repair can be made at the service center or a technician can be called onsite. Telephone support is available during normal working hours and for current or potential customers who are not sure which HP notebook is right for you, a dedicated number is available for assistance in purchase selection.