HP Compaq 8510w Review

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by Greg Ross

The HP Compaq 8510w is the latest 15.4” workstation offering featuring a Santa Rosa and DX10 update.  The 8510w and 8510p (non-workstation version) replace the nw8440 and nc8430, respectively.  So take a look and see what we has to say about this powerful workhorse!

Price &amp; Review Model Specifications

The 8510w starts out at $2,199 but more powerful configurations top out at $3,399!

Our review unit as configured:

• Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 Processor (Santa Rosa, 2.2GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
• Microsoft Genuine Windows Vista Business
• 15.4” WUXGA Display (1920 x 1200)
• 256MB NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M Workstation GPU
• 2GB DDR2 667MHz RAM (1 x 2GB Configuration)
• 100GB 7200RPM Seagate 2.5” HDD
• Blu-Ray and DVD+/-RW Optical Drive
• WiFi, Ethernet, Modem, and Bluetooth Connectivity
• 8-Cell 73WHr Battery
• 3-Year on-site Warranty
• Dimensions: 14” x 10.24” x 1.1”
• Weight: 6.2lbs

The notebook that was provided to us is a pre-production unit, and this specific configuration for our notebook did not fit any of the preconfigured models available online, but I would estimate this laptop would cost about $2899 if ordered via HP.com.

Build and Design

The HP Compaq 8510w is a business notebook, and as such consumers and corporations expect the highest quality of materials and the best designs for their money.  Do they deliver?

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The main body of the laptop has an exterior hard plastic shell and a strong magnesium alloy inner shell much like its predecessor.  The base of the laptop feels very firm, strong, and would definitely survive many bumps and bruises that other laptops might not.  There is no flex in the keyboard, nor any other area on the keyboard deck.  The underside of the notebook is also similarly rigid and strong with the exception of the area immediately underneath the notebook’s optical drive.  At that point I can push against the shell and it will bend in just a little bit.

The outer shell of the screen casing is made of metal, but the inner screen bezel is plastic.  As some of you may remember, my review of the nc8430 revealed that the screen bezel of that notebook was slightly ‘loose’ and could be pulled away a little bit with your finger and also pushed in towards the LCD.  The 8510w improved on the construction so that the bezel would not give when you pushed in towards the screen, but the bezel can still be pulled away somewhat.  The laptop screen housing also could be twisted a little bit too much.

Despite that aspect of the design, the laptop casing does do a good job of protecting the screen from damage.  I could never produce any ripples in the screen by pushing on the back of the notebook, and I do believe that the housing is a little more resistant to damage from things hitting the back of the screen than the previous design.  Based on my experience with the nc8430, the 8510w appears to have improved upon this aspect of protection and it will fare a little better than the previous generation did, but I would recommend users take care not to apply long term pressure to the back of the LCD.

Finally, the 8510w also features hard drive shock protection which will help to protect your hard drive in the event the laptop gets dropped or violently bumped.  However, I was never able to actually trigger this protection feature so there may still be some driver issues with the prototype.

Finally, the appearance of the notebook truly does suit a professional environment.  Shades of gray and black dominate along with sharp lines in the design, and at a first glace one realizes this notebook means business.  The exterior of the notebook is a two-tone combination of jet black and gun metal gray.  After opening up the laptop you see the same color scheme repeated, in which the keyboard deck is gray with a black keyboard and touchpad.  HP also changed the media button layout to include a strip of touch sensitive buttons rather than physical ones, which mimics the design of the HP Pavilion laptops.

Screen and Speakers

The 8510w comes equipped with a 15.4” screen with the highest resolution possible for a screen of this size.  At 1920 x 1200 pixels, this high definition display is capable of displaying the finest details in workstation applications like CAD, 3dsMax, Maya, and more.  Paired with the BluRay optical drive in our review model, the display is also capable of playing high definition video content at 1080i and 1080p without the need for down-scaling the movie resolution.

Front and Center (view large image)

When viewing the screen up front and center, colors are vibrant and our high definition movie (compliments of the BluRay drive) is crisp and clear.  The 8510w’s screen is a Samsung LCD screen whereas my previous generation laptop has an LG screen .

Bottom view (view large image)

Top view (view large image)

As with most laptops, viewing angles are rather bad.  Once you get significantly off the center plane, colors and clarity get washed out or too dark.  However, this laptop does better than most screens I have seen.  You can still see well enough at twenty or thirty degrees up and about ten degrees down.

Horizontal viewing angle. (view large image)

Horizontal angles were slightly below average.  After moving about sixty degrees to the left or right, colors started washing out but the screen was still useable all the way over to ninety degrees off center.

I believe that part of the problem with the viewing angles is the screen itself.  The brightness is only rated at 200nits, while many other laptops are 50% brighter or more.  While this does contribute to some additional battery life, the screen cannot be set to less than 50% brightness (100nits).  Below 100nits the screen is too dark and absolutely useless.

The speakers are a little above average, and do not sound tinny or squeaky to me.  While I am not a great judge of speaker quality, these speakers sounded better to me than most laptops.  At the highest volume settings were significantly loud enough to make me want to back away, but they were still clear and not distorted.

Processor and Performance

The T7500 is part of Intel’s latest lineup of Core 2 processors that features an 800MHz FSB powering a CPU at 2.2GHz.  Also, the Santa Rosa platform supports up to 667MHz DDR2 RAM, 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, TurboMemory, and more of the latest technologies.  So how does this processor perform?

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Clearly, we see how the T7500 can pull ahead of its brethren here.  When compared against the Merom T7400 (score of about 4650), we can see how some of the newer technologies (faster front side bus, our RAM configuration, etc) contribute to more performance per clock.  The T7500 clock is only 1.85% faster yet scored 5.8% higher.

Additionally, SuperPI is a useful tool to help evaluate how single threaded applications will run in a dual core environment as it forces the processor to calculate a lot of information but only on one core.  As you can see, the T7500 can calculate 2 million digits of PI in one minute flat.

The hard drive that came with our 8510w is a Seagate 7200RPM 100GB hard drive which also uses Perpendicular Magnetic Recording to help speed up transfer rates and overall performance.

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Last and least is the Windows Experience Index score.  As usual, I highlight that this benchmark is not an industry standard benchmark.  It is highly dependent on the quality of your drivers and the software running in the background.  This laptop scored 4.7 with the RAM as the limiting factor.  All the other scores were remarkably impressive.

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During my evaluation of the 8510w, the T7500 pared with the Seagate hard drive and 2GB of RAM was able to do anything I asked of it.  Vista was always fast and responsive, and the Aero interface was also similarly snappy.  Multitasking a lot of things was a breeze as well and nothing slowed down by any measurable amount.

Gaming

The 8510w features nVidia’s latest DX10 workstation graphics card technology.  The nVidia Quadro FX 570M is a top performer, with 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 128bit bus memory that is capable of running at a core clock speed of 475MHz and a memory clock speed of 700MHz.  With those reference specs, it is clear this card is the workstation equivalent of the 8600M-GT – the highest end card currently shipping in nVidia’s DX10 lineup.

3dMark05 and 3dMark06 are the latest in graphics benchmarking programs that stress the GPU to the max.  And this card certainly does smash a few records for 15.4” laptops.  3dMark05 was running at 1024x768 and 3dMark06 at 1280x1024.  For all gaming tests, the laptop was set to the ‘Performance’ profile, no overclocking, and plugged in.

3DMark05 (view large image)

3DMark06 (view large image)

Need For Speed: Most Wanted

Resolution: 1280x1024

Settings: No AA, 50% Texture Filtering, No Vsync, 100% World Detail, 100% Road Reflection Detail, 0% Shadow Detail, Car Geometry Detail: High, Car Reflection Detail: Low, 33% Car Reflection Update Range, Rain: ON, Over Bright: OFF, Visual Treatment: High

Average: 59

This is definitely an improvement from the last generation 15.4” model, as we get more FPS at a higher resolution than before.

Lost Planet

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Resolution 1280x720

Settings: No AA, Medium HDR, Ansiotropic 4X Texture Filter, High Texture Resolution, High Model Quality, Medium Shadow Quality, Default Shadow Resolution, Low Motion Blur Quality, High Effect Resolution, Low Effect Volume, High Lighting Quality, Vertical Sync Off

Average (DX9) FPS: 20 Outdoor, 29 Indoor

Average (DX10) FPS: 12 Outdoor, 13 Indoor

The game was definitely playable in DX9 mode, but you’ll have to turn the settings down to get the DX10 eye candy that I could not even notice.  Seriously, DX10 will be overrated until games designed solely for DX10 come out and we start getting games that are not horrible ports from other consoles.

Star Wars: Battlefield II

Resolution: 1920x1200

Settings: All maxed except for AA at 4x (not 8x).

Extra Info: Maximum number of units per team to stress the AI engine.

Level: Death Star (Indoors)

Average FPS: 28

Level: Yavin (Space Outdoors)

Average FPS: 26

Frames rarely dropped below 22-23 and the game was always playable at these settings.  Dogfights with 64+ units on the battle field was definitely entertaining at this resolution and level of detail.

F.E.A.R. Combat Multiplayer

Resolution: 1280x960

Processor Settings: All maxed out.

Video Settings: Effects Settings maxed out, 4x AA, Maximum Light Detail, Shadows ON w/ max Detail and Soft Shadows enabled, Anisotropic 16x Texture Filtering at Maximum Texture Resolution, Maximum Shaders.

Average (Campus) FPS: 43

Average (High Tech) FPS: 40

Average (Docks) FPS: 42

Almost every setting was maxed out at 1280x960, and the game was always playable with smooth frame rates.

Heat and Noise

There is no denying that this laptop can be loud.  When doing tasks that stress the processor and graphics card, the laptop’s fan (read: not fans) works hard to keep this laptop cool.  While noisy, it does do its job of keeping temperatures down.

HP has made some improvements to the cooling ability of this laptop, such as a 2^nd vent underneath the keyboard to address the complaints of its predecessor.  Remarkably, this small addition did help to keep the keyboard and the internal components cooler.

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Inside you can see the single fan and the dual heat sinks that cool the laptop’s processor (bottom in the middle) and the graphics card (top right).  It appears that HP has also removed the copper piece of heat sink that was sitting right on top of the fan in the nc8430 which is also another good move towards keeping the 8510w’s keyboard cooler.  However, it is still a disappointment that there is a single fan and that the two hottest parts of the laptop continue to remain next door neighbors.  This was especially evident when watching a Blu-Ray movie, as the exhaust was hot and the fan was running to the point where I could hear it from a few feet away if I did not have the audio playing.  HD decoding is done by both the CPU and GPU, so it is no surprise that the cooling system must work hard.  At least sounds and music can drown out the fan.

Also, from looking at the picture it is very clear that the graphics card of the 8510w is a modular card.  It is possible this is the real MXM technology here, but it is more likely that this is an HP variant of it.  However, the possibility that the GPU in this laptop may be upgradeable in the future is enticing.  8700M anyone?

Finally, here is a summary of all the temperature tests done and how hot/cool the notebook was.  The CPU and HDD temps were obtained via Notebook Hardware Control, and the GPU temps read through RivaTuner.

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Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard on the 8510w departs from the design of its predecessors as HP decided to use keyboards similar to their Pavilion consumer lines of computers.  The layout of keys has been changed, and not for the better in my opinion, as several important keys for me were located in odd spots.

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The layout of the keyboard is just slightly different, and with practice one would probably get used it.  But I do not like change when it concerns the layout of the keyboard.

While we are talking about change, I must mention that several other aspects of the keyboard have changed as well.  The travel distance for the keys has lessened, and the keyboard itself is quieter and does not make as loud of clicking sounds as one types.  Keys are flatter and have a little less space in between them, but that is because the keys themselves appear to be slightly larger compared to the previous version of this laptop.  Overall, typing was a comfortable experience but is just ever so slightly worse than its predecessor.  Ultimately, the keyboard is definitely better than many of the keyboards I have used, but HP has done better in the past.

Above the keyboard also rests a series of media and functionality buttons that many people want one-touch access to.  There is an Info, WiFi Toggle, Presentation Mode, and Mute touch buttons on this glossy strip.  Additionally, next to the Mute button is a volume control slider that enables the user to raise and lower the volume by sliding their finger across that area.

The touchpad has not changed since the last refresh of this series, and remains to be its snappy and smooth self.  It is very responsive to my touch, and the three rubber mouse buttons are quiet and about the right size.  There is also a secondary set of mouse buttons above the touchpad to work with the touch stick that comes with all 8510w’s.  The touch stick is also equally comfortable to use.

Input and Output Ports, Wireless, and Battery

The 8510w features a good number of ports on all sides, so let us take a brief tour…

Left side view (view large image)

Here we see the security lock slot, GigE Ethernet, Firewire 400, HDMI-out, two USB ports, a PCMCIA card slot, smart card slot, and an SD card slot.  It is a disappointment that this laptop does not have an ExpressCard slot integrated into it, but one would be available via the HP Advanced Docking Station (not reviewed) which costs an additional $229 USD.

Right side view (view large image)

Audio-out jack, microphone/line-in jack, two USB ports, BluRay optical drive, and the modem port.  Shown in the keyboard picture is also an integrated microphone, which was thankfully moved away from the hard drive in this design refresh.

Rear view (view large image)

The battery, AC power jack, and the VGA out jack.

Bottom view (view large image)]

Also, on the underside there is a docking connector and the 2^nd battery port.  Please note the RAM access panel, as it is much larger than the previous design.  Yup, both RAM slots are accessible from the bottom!

The 8510w features the Intel 4965 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n WiFi card, which always worked without fuss and reception was never a problem.  It also features Bluetooth, but I have no devices to test it with.

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The battery life is basically unchanged from the last refresh in which HP claims that the laptop will achieve up to 4 hours of life when unplugged.  During our timed tests, the laptop was set up for the ‘Power Saver’ profile, screen brightness at about 60%, WiFi on, and I also had WMP playing a list of songs throughout the test in order to force Vista to not enter standby.  Also, some of this review was typed up on that battery test and general internet browsing was done as well.  The laptop shut down exactly at the 3 hours and 15 minutes mark with 3% of the battery left, which is reasonable for a laptop with so much power.  Battery life can also be extended via a secondary 8-Cell or 12-Cell battery which can more than double the battery life according to HP.

Operating System and Software

The 8510w comes equipped with Vista Business Edition as the OS of choice, with no known options for XP.

There was almost no bloatware, and what was there consisted of Norton (installed by default) and HP ProtectTools Suite (installed by default and required to use the finger print reader or smart cards).  Additionally, other useful applications like PDFComplete, WinDVD with BluRay support, and Sonic MyDVD were either installed by default or you could install them yourself by browsing the C:SwSetup directory.

The notebook also comes equipped with an HP Backup and Recovery Utility that allows you to create your own backup discs and do regular backups of your OS and data.

Conclusion

The HP 8510w is one of the lightest and thinnest 15.4” notebooks out there, and with this much power in such a thin case (and only one fan!) it is surprising that the laptop can keep itself cool.  But it does, and this laptop definitely does any job asked of it.  It laughs at current games and processor intensive applications, and as long as you aren't a hardcore gamer you will be fine.

While the laptop does have its flaws, this is indeed a business class machine with a business class build.  However, laptops equipped with a workstation class graphics card are always more expensive (due to required certifications for industrial applications) and unless you need the workstation card I would recommend the similarly built and similarly equipped 8510p with the ATI 2600 GPU, which will be released soon and with (hopefully) a more attractive price for consumers.  If you need the workstation card though, this laptop must be one on the short list of choices.

Pros

• One of the thinnest and lightest 15.4” notebooks.
• Extreme graphics power, top notch overall horsepower.
• Extreme screen resolution with better than average vertical viewing angles.
• BluRay drive is available on the more expensive models.
• Good range of connectivity ports available, with more legacy ports available via a docking station.  All 8510w’s feature an HDMI port!
• Options are available to extend the battery life via a 2^nd battery port.
• Base of laptop built extremely sturdy, with a shock protected HDD too.
• Useful library of software included.
• Attractive and sleek look.

Cons

• Pricey because of the workstation GPU, look into the 8510p to spare your wallet from certain doom.
• Screen housing needs some improvement, as it is about average now for a consumer laptop.
• Keyboard is not as good as predecessor, and is only a little above average for a consumer laptop now.
• No built in ExpressCard (though one is available in a dock).
• Below average maximum screen brightness, below average horizontal viewing angles (read: Samsung LCD).
• Fan can run loud, and laptop can run fairly hot…but only with gaming and 3D rendering.  Recommend an external laptop cooler!

 

Nice man, sounds like they've taken the already awesome nc8430 and made it better.

 

the fx570 scores better than the 8600 gt
impressive

 

Excellent review. I've always thought HP's business models looked better than their average consumer models. I wonder if it's enough to sway prospective ThinkPad buyers to HP? Will the models ever be configurable?

Even though I've already ordered an Asus G1, I'm looking forward to seeing the 8510p.

Also, bummer about the keyboard. I liked the old style layout much better. My old ZT3000 has the same configuration and I loved it.

 

The fact the screen and keyboard were changed this time around is kind of disappointing, as both these were positive points in the nc8430.

Regardless of that its still an awesome laptop but based on this I won't go recommending it as much this time around. I recommended the nc8430 regardless of its price because it hardly had any flaws. The keyboard/screen/fan noise bugs me =/

edit: I think they could have slowed down the fan and let the GPU get a little hotter, it can take it ... the temperatures on the lappy are really good though.

 

Well, my 2 year old nx8220 with WUXGA is still in a good shape, however, it screeches in every place now (keyboard, palmrest, screen lid). It seems ridiculous maybe but I cannot get PointStick cap replacement anywhere in the world. They say (in HP) the original one should work, period. Finally, I've found an old Dell-to-be-recycled with a less worn cap and use it.
Back to 8510w - I would rather like to find in it the "old" keyboard scheme rather this new one. On the other side - the memory access deserves now the RAM designation

 

Nice review Greg! Very detailed and insightful.

Some minor points that I observed and would like to add my comments on:
1) The keyboard layout now seems to carry over from what they started doing with the nc6400 and 6910p. With the speakers moved to the front, they now have this extra space on the sides which they can fill by reallocating the home, insert, etc. keys to the right. With the older 8000 series, the top right corners flex a little (there's complaints about this) as they lack support on the edges, so the new layout should be better in terms of that.
2) The plastic strip on the lid cover seems to resemble that on the nc6400/6910p too, being bigger and thicker than the older models. Are they by any chance flimsy, i.e. flex when you push them down because that happens on many nc6400's I've tried. It feels like they lack support underneath. This does not happen in the nc8430's I've tried.
3) What's up with the "mobile workstation" decals printed under the HP logo.
4) The screen quality seems a little disappointing. HP shouldn't be so cheap and should continue offering LPL screens. They're one of the best I've had.

Do you think this represents a good upgrade to those of us with the last generation of 8000 series notebooks (nx8420/nc8430/nw8440)? I'm thinking not, but would be a good upgrade for those with the older nx8220/nc8230/nw8240.

 

Great review! This looks like a serious competitor to the Thinkpads and Latitudes.

 

Awesome review. Definitely liking the WUXGA option. Only disappointment I see is that it still needs to be quieter and cooler. I personally think that the underside vent should be enlarged - the fan looks like it is bigger than the vent.

Does HP have the same LG / Samsung issue with some units shipping with the mediocre Samsung display vs the nicer LG displays ? (I dont know if LG makes a WUXGA 15.4" WS)

 

Nice review Greg. Detailed and non-biased.

I'm disappointed that this computer is noisy though - HP could have solved that by putting in two slower-running fans. However I didn't design this notebook.

Still, it's an impressive package overall. The battery life is nice, I am surprised.

 

Thanks for the review Greg. Overall this laptop seems to be very impressive. This is definitely one I will consider. Compared to the macbook pro, is it that much more dim?

 

Thanks for the review, an awesome replacement for the nc8430 series. Now to see that 8510p!

 

QFT! Hopefully HP gets the 8510p out soon

 

Hu ho, looks like the nw9440's replacement is around the corner. Gotta resell mine fast.

Sadly I don't think so. I've ditched my old T41p for a HP, and I feel like I've been sent back to second league. The screen is nothing to write home about (uneven lighting, leak), stiff trackpoint, unresponsive keyboard, no Thinkvantage: you name it, you'll miss how it is done on a Thinkpad. Now the nw9440 is in no way a bad notebook, it is a serious offering, solidly built, and quite powerful with that, but the user experience and build quality just don't compare. To me as a Thinkpad-biased user, that doesn't bode well for HP's other models.

Just my €0.02

 

I like the HP laptop's lineup, but how does that laptop cost $3,399!? I think I can get a similar Thinkpad T61P for over $1,000 less.

 

Great Review!

It looks like the 8510W is amazing.

I can't wait to see what the 8510p is going to be like.

 

Nice review.

Sadly, the machine seems to be a bit of a disappointment though for a business-class notebook, especially for that price. It looks like HP went out and took half of the features that business users want and decided to reduce them down to consumer-level quality.

Hopefully the T61P measures up better.

 

Well reviewed, enjoyed reading it.

 

Greg:
You mentioned the modular graphics card in the unit. After reading over the service manual, this is indeed a removable item, and HP part numbers are listed for it. I'm waiting to get my hands on the 8710W service manual to see if the gpu system is similar. If so, it would be a hop, skip, and jump to retrofit in a FX1600m GPU from that unit. (The FX1600m, from my reading is the Quadro version of the 8700GT).

I'll post up what I find out.

-Jeeves


Edit:
Just thinking some...the GPU seems to be the hottest running part of this system, and is the source of MOST of the heat dumping. I'm not sure how happy a more powerful GPU would be in this unless you beefed up the cooling somehow. How you'd go about that is beyond me at the moment, at least while still keeping the system portable. I'll post schematics for the 8710W's cooling system when I get them, so we can have all the guru's look over them and figure out if a swap even SHOULD be done.

 

It is possible the 8600GT scores you have seen were with DDR2 ram and not GDDR3 like this one.

The keyboard and screen are still okay, but the nc8430 was better. Now, it is possible the WSXGA+ option would be a better screen though...

The temperatures on this notebook are not even near the nc8430's temps, which is a good thing. In my experience, HP laptops with this much power tend to burn out more often...so they are definitely taking a step in the right direction here! But, maybe the step was more like a giant leap...

#2 -> There is very little flex in the strip, and the only spot where it does flex is fairly close to the power button...which is to the left of the GPU but still to the right of the fan. In otherwords, where there is nothing underneath. But it is not bad...the plastic is quite strong.
#3 -> Well, it is a workstation laptop with a workstation graphics card...
#4 -> Agreed. LPL was the best!

In your case, probably not as the nx8420/nc8430/nw8440 are still great notebooks. It just is not cost effective to continually upgrade! I mean, the graphics card can smoke the nc8430 (see my Oblivion settings in my nc8430 review and this one and you'll see what I mean)...but is it worth another $2-3k? Only for a hardcore gamer that WANTS the best. Otherwise, the extra performance benefit just is not worth the cost.

However, a nx8220/nc8230/nw8240 owner might like it. I do not remember the specs, but I think those were single core machines with a X??? series ATI card (and equivalents). That means the GPU is at least two generations old, and the CPU maybe three. Good time to consider upgrading if if you find your current lappy does not do everything you would like anymore.

Overall, I probably will not even think about replacing my nc8430 until the next refresh...aka the 8610p or something.

With my nc8430, which has had the screen replaced once, had and still has an LG screen. Several posts in the forums all list the 8510w as a Samsung screen...but they all had WUXGA. So maybe LG does not do WUXGA...or HP just didn't use their part this time around.

I would be interested in hearing from an nc8430/nw8440 owner who has a WUXGA screen. That might shed some light on the situation with parts...it is possible HP has always used SEC for WUXGA.

I didn't design it either, but I think two fans would have really helped. But, this one fan does well at least!

I actually thought the battery life was average for a notebook of this power, and several 7900GS laptops boasted a 3+ hour life (E1705 anyone?). Now, maybe we are seeing this life because of the 8-cell battery whereas other machines might have a higher capacity battery. Maybe the 200nit screen contributes to long battery life.

Well, at 200nits you are fine. I just do not like (1) how you cannot get any brighter and (2) how you cannot get too much dimmer without it being a problem. I feel forced to stay in the 80-100% brightness range, but 60% is bearable.

I have not seen any Macbook Pro's so I really cannot say.

Well, BluRay for one, the 570M for another. Plus, I think this notebook is thinner than the T61P but correct me if I'm wrong.

The model starts out at $2199 though.

 

It is - by 0.1"

The T61P also has a 570M.

It's hard to compare exactly since HP isn't allowing customization yet, but it definitely is quite a bit more expensive than the T61P. The HDMI port vs Expresscard thing is there too. I don't think the price is outrageous, but for that price, all those build issue problems should have been solved.

 

Yeah..I agree that the T61P is definitely cheaper..atleast here in the US (especially w/ student discounts, etc). But I like the fact that the HP atleast offers wSVGA+. I do not understand why Lenovo would only offer one resolution (would have bought it otherwise). I guess I gotta wait for the 8510P. The 8510w is pretty sweet however, but I am actually surprised the build isnt up to par with lenovo.

 

How exactly is the build worse than Lenovo? They both seem fine to me, except Lenovo uses hard plastic, while HP uses a more flexible one for the top cover (palm rest and switch cover area). Lenovo's one seems more prone to cracks when stressed.

 

I do not know if it is worse...but from what I took from the review is that the build/feel was disappointing for a business class notebook of that price. Since I never really heard any such comments about a lenovo, I assumed it was safe to say that the build is not quite as good.

I hope the build is as good as the lenovos..since its a computer I am highly looking into..but I really can only take peoples word for it since I have never worked with this HP.

 

One of the biggest things that gets to me is the fact that this was a prototype. The optical drive weak area, and the twistable screen, could have been because this was a hastily constructed prototype unit that was not really meant for outside of HP testing. For all we know, it was a unit that was used only to prove that the hardware would work...not to evaluate build quality.

Now, if those problems are there in the production units...well, then I'd say do not spend more than 2300-2500 on this machine. Or get the 8510p. The biggest disappointments so far are the screen and the keyboard, both of which really just boil down to consumer preference. I do not like the keyboard...others probably do. Screen at max brightness, fine and no problem with 200nits. Do not have a large group of people looking at the laptop? - then you do not need better viewing angles...

The biggest flaws may or may not bother people. That's why I didn't rip HP over too much on them...because they may not be problems for some people.

I know the optical drive area give and twisting screen issues are not problems with my nc8430. Okay, well the screen twists a little but so do most laptops...they aren't solid rock.

I would like to hear from our forum members that have the 8510w...

 

How does the 8510w keyboard compares to dell's? Dell's keyboard's been pretty decent lately. If it's of similar quality I'll be more than happy. Of course the lenovo one still feels better imo. Tried the V1j's keyboard and it's pretty disappointing.

 

In my opinion, definitely better than the Dell Inspirons/Vostros. I would have to say about neck and neck with the recent Latitude offerings (D820/D830/D620/D630 and similar), and better than older Latitudes.

 

That's the problem with business notebooks, many of which you can't try out in a regular retail store. People also have different preferences, and build quality can often be random as these things are mass-produced so it's difficult to tell.

I'm really curious about the new keyboards. Would definitely like to be able to try one out. Hope they didn't use the Pavillion's mushy keyboards.

 

Well, the Latitudes are the last laptops with the keys all in the correct places (Ctrl left of Fn, separate Home/PgDown/Etc block) so that should tip the scales in the Dell's favor...

 

Actually Latitudes aren't really in the same niche market as the 8510w due to the types of GPU used unless i'm mistaken? I would think that the direct competitor would be the dell m4300. Unfortunately the m4300 GPU really disappoints. Having said that, the Latitudes/precision line quality is really good and sturdy.

 

Actually, the T61 does NOT have hard plastic for the palm rest; in fact, many complaints are about the palm rest having a bit of flex. Of course, the hidden blessing is that the material is more pliable and less likely to crack, as you said.

 

From my memory (my 8510w is packed atm to move), I have not noticed there being a weaker area under the disc drive. When I get moved, I'll poke and prod at it a good bit, and see what happens.

-Jeeves

 

Can the SD slot really read only SD cards, no MS, MS Pro, …? I will buy it anyway! I finally decided on a computer...

Thanks!

 

Great work, Greg!

Neat idea to try DX9 and DX10 tests...

 

I have both nx8220 (Pentium M and X600 if somebody asks) and z60t. There is a huuuge difference between them in terms of built quality! The former (which I really like to work with) has poor hinges which began to flex after 3 moths of usage. It looks like 8510 line has the same hinges. HPs have also awful bumpers between the palmrest and keyboard put there to protect the screen against the keyboard. These bumpers collect grease from your hands during typing and transfer it to the screen when a laptop's lid is closed.

In general, ThinkPads are better long-distance runners. I've replaced broken power socket, worn PointStick cap in my HP. And z60t still looks like a new one!

Hold on! :wink: Wait for T61p review...

 

How is the heat when in your lap while just web surfing? Does it get too uncomfortable?

 

That is good to hear...and just makes it more likely that the the problem was because it was a hastily build pre-production model.

I do not know for sure, but I do not have any other media that I could try. Sorry!

Web surfing and the like? It got a little warm, but not bad by any means.

 

The SD card reader does MMC as well. Thats it.
The keyboard does have dedicated pg up, pg down home, end ,delete, insert, pause and scroll keys - the keyboard is exactly the same as all the other new HP Compaqs (business line) - eg my 6910p is exactly the same as the pictures.
The HP durafinish is slightly 'rubbery' and has a nice tactile finish, better than that on the nx8220 (and therefore the previous business line notebooks from HP as the keyboard again is the same as the nc/nw series). The ctrl key is on the left, with the fn key next to it between the windows key, and you can use the BIOS to swap the fn/ctrl keys if you prefer.

The keys have a larger surface area, and I much prefer the keyboard. I won't comment on flex, as it could be completely different on the 8xxx with different components underneat, but there is no flex anyway.
The touch sensitive panel is also nice, and once you get used to it and figure out how to work the volume controls effectively, you begin to really like it as well (although it does attract fingerprints )
Hope that helps

 

Thank you! I just ordered 8510w and can’t wait to get it!

oh, 15 more days...

 

I believe I also have a pre-production model because I can make the underside of the 8510w flex slightly towards the bottom of the DVD RW drive, but then again, I could also do this with my 8440. I think it's due to the fact that the CD tray is shaped like this from a left side profile view

======|

The "|" being the side where you eject the disc from, and so there is a gap between the true core, if you will, of the DVD drive and the bottom of the laptop's plastic shell.

 

You don't get preproduction units if/when you purchase the notebook.

 

I didn't purchase it, my school ordered several units while the HP site still said Coming Soon.

 

just wondering, are the keyboard spill proof or just durakey coating? Thanks

 

Greg:
LG offers 15,4" WUXGA screens; but HP has not bought these screens from them. nw8440 had Hitachi as far as I know...

But there seems to be a problem with Samsung screens - jeeves915 already had one and I experience another with 2 8510w laptops. One just flickers and the other has "really liquid" crystals that just whirl whenever you move the laptop...

 

Yeah, I'm not too sure about these Samsung screens

 

It is regardless of OS and settings, I can see it even during boot sequence... Why me again? (my brother already had some issue after buying nc8430, now we BOTH have issue with LCD...)

 

Was the memory installed on your laptop one 2gb chip? or was it 2 1gb chips?

 

Nevermind, I saw that it was one.

 

Well, yes, but it does not have dedicated key block for those keys (like on a normal desktop keyboard). The previous generation had that...

 

True, but it doesn't take that much of an effort to get used to it. I've noticed a lot of laptops have this set out nowadays anyway.
I guess you need to ask yourself how often you actually use these keys aswell.