HP Unveils new EliteBook and Compaq Business Notebooks in Berlin

HP announced several new notebooks to its expanding Business line in Berlin today. Among the 10 new products are: the HP EliteBook, Compaq 6530 series, Compaq 6730 series, and 6830 series.

These new business notebooks will offer a choice of the latest AMD and Intel processors as well as HP Mobile Broadband, a feature that supports multiple mobile broadband networks and will increase users' options when choosing a mobile data plan.

ELITEBOOK

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The HP EliteBook 6930p 14.1" screen notebookis getting the most hype from the company, labeled as the "first in a new family of notebooks" that HP hopes will "create one of the most versatile business notebook portfolios in company history."

The innovations include but are not limited too: HP DuraCase, a set of new exterior features including a brushed anodized-aluminum outer shell; HP Quicklook2 software, which allows quick access to your e-mail, calendar and other contact information; and the HP SpareKey, a feature created to navigate around a forgotten password.

Checkthe data sheet for a look at all the specs:

HP EliteBook 6930pdata sheet

Compaq 6530 series

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The Compaq 6530 series features four new 14.1" screen notebooks: the Compaq 6530b, the Compaq 6535b, the Compaq 6530s, and the Compaq 6535s.

All four notebooks can be configured with AMD or Intel processors and offer Wi-Fi certified WLAN and Bluetooth wireless technology.

The budget b-series will focus more on mobility and includes HP Mobile Broadband along with enhanced security features.

The standard s-series will also focus on added security measures with the inclusion of HP ProtectTools Security Manager, featuring a drive encryption that encodes information on the hard drive.

For a look at more detailed specs check out the data sheets:

• Compaq 6530b data sheet
• Compaq 6530s data sheet
• Compaq 6535b data sheet
• Compaq 6535s data sheet

Compaq 6730 series

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The Compaq 6730 series also features four notebooks, all having 15.4" screens: the Compaq 6730b, the Compaq 6735b, the Compaq 6730s, and the Compaq 6735s.

These notebooks will share the same features and upgrades as the 6530 series: the choice between the latest AMD or Intel processors, security and mobility upgrades and other standard HP options. The s-series notebooks will have options for discrete graphics, nicer screens, etc. that the b-series lacks.

For a look at more detailed specs check out the data sheets:

• Compaq 6730b data sheet
• Compaq 6735s data sheet
• Compaq 6730s data sheet
• Compaq 6735b data sheet

Compaq 6830 series

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The Compaq 6830s notebook is a 17.1" screen business notebook extremely similar to the 6530s and the 6730s notebooks in design: it comes with the same security features and upgrades but will only feature Intel processors. The 6830s offers multiple graphics options including ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 and ATI HyperMemory.

Check the data sheet for a detailed specs list:

6830 series data sheet

 

Nice, I hope more manufacturers start having modular bays in their notebooks to swap the optical drive with another hard drive or battery.

There won't be a 12" version?

 

I should highlight the one important addition that will feature in HP's premium notebook line up this year, i.e. the Night Light feature (similar to IBM's Thinklight).

 

Not announced, but it is coming:

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press_kits/2008/connecting/images/bn_compaq2230s.jpg

 

Anyone think that putting the ATI 3410 or 3430 into the 6830s seems to be moving a step back in performance? I'm guessing better cards will be options later on though...

 

This is a consistent move and actually an upgrade from the current 6820s which only has integrated graphics. Remember, this launch consist of budget mid-range business laptops, not the high performance series. Those will come in due time with more powerful graphics card (around October/November timeframe).

 

Is HP announcing any non-business ones with the ZM-82/6 w/ a 3600 or 3800 series vga?

 

Very nice, I like the look of the EliteBook a lot. HP is carpet bombing everyone with news releases today.

The 6530 series is not a radical change, but it certainly has a refreshed and more modern-looking design than the current HP business notebooks. I was very impressed with the HP 8710w I tested last year, I hope that these new ones keep up the same high-quality standards.

 

Do you know what will be the price of EliteBook? I read on some websites that it will be around 1179$, which is very competitive price.

 

It's nice, but I'll wait for the 1337B00K!!1! to come out.

 

All of them follow up HP's wonderful bussiness` laptop tradition.
May the be as good as all the others...
HP will allways be the brand closest to me

 

Release date is planned for July but will see

 

Ahh the little siblings of my 8510p are revealed Too bad they aren't releasing a high performance card right off the bat...none of those in the 15.4" beat my old card I think

 

Dang, I want an HP.

 

Wow i like the 6930p, now i will have to sell my 6910p.

 

Am I the only one who thinks the design of the 6930p is a move in the wrong direction. AKA ugly. AKA what were they thinking?

 

Yeah, I was all excited by the Elitebook reading the announcement, but then I saw it. It's hideous.

And that 12" someone linked to is from the S line, which I liken to the R series Thinkpads, or maybe their new SL series. That is, absolutely nothing to get excited about. I hope they have a B series 12", or a P series that doesn't look like crap.

 

I like it. It's same as the 6910p except with some silver.

 

Yah, and the silver looks tacky.

 

That's not a reason NOT to buy a very good Business Notebook, well for me anyway. Else i wouldn't have bought the back then ugly 6910p when i 1st saw it.

 

I for one like the looks of the Elitebook. It manages to not only look sharp, but professional at the same time.

The only setback I see is the HD3450 graphics. The HD3450 desktop card is half as fast as the 8600GS on my current laptop, and what's worse, laptop cards are known to be downclocked for better cooling and lower power - meaning yet lower performance.

If it comes with a HD3650, we'd see... but right now, I'm content with my LG P300 thank you very much lol.

 

Looks like the HP Compaq Business Line has caught a bit of the HP 'fashon bug' from the consumer line. I think the business line looks way too consumerish and unprofessional now. The older notebooks looked far better. Too bad.

 

I strongly disagree, this is even uglier than the current Latitudes and last (before the current) business line HP's with the contrasting outlines around the keyboard and touchpad. If you want sharp and professional at the same time, look up the early shots of the next gen Latitudes, with their black brushed metal look. That's what I was expecting as I read this announcement today, and was truly excited until I saw the picture.

To each their own, though.

As is, I'll be looking at reviews of the next gen Latitudes and Thinkpads, unfortunately HP is out of the running for me yet again. At least it sounds like they might have gotten their build quality up to par with an answer to the Thinkpad rollcage.

 

Wow... That elitebook looks pretty fugly. Whats up with the massive bezel along the top too? I'm guessing the button is for the LED lights over the keyboard(why even go in that direction? IBM does it because of legacy to the name. Seems a smarter direction would be back-lit keys, like in the macbookpro) which seems like pretty horrible placement.

I guess this is going up against the M1330/M1530... I guess if you're really attached to the 14.1" form factor its probably the best affordable high end laptop(asus makes a few, but they cost quite a bit, right?) but otherwise i cant imagine someone taking this over a similarly specced non-gaming XPS laptop.

 

Eh ?
The b series have WSXGA+ screens while the s series only have WXGA ????

Also, I'm terribly dissapointed that there is no WUXGA screen, not even for the 17" model

 

I've got to be the only guy who likes how it looks heh.

About the choice of the Radeon HD3450, I really don't know what HP was thinking. From what I can tell right now, the GMA X4500HD can already achieve 1000 points at 3DMark 2006 - and that's with alpha drivers. Exactly how much faster is the Radeon going to be? 5-10%? At the cost of what? 30% less battery life?

 

My thought is it's a good compromise between someone who needs all their system memory to be system memory (when will we finally see integrated graphics that can address dedicated VRAM? they've been rumored for years now,) and HP's need for marketing. Personally, I'd be happier with a Matrox chip in that situation, but that doesn't give HP much to talk up.

It's quite possible that it will look more attractive once we see some more angles.

 

Will HP's next-gen highend business laptops share the same designs? I'm really liking the stylish looks.

 

too bad they missed out a HDMI port =\

 

Where are you getting the "October / November" timeline from?

 

I'd have to kill you if I told you.
Let's just say I'm the resident HP business notebook analyst here....

 

"Some internal source" is a good enough answer, if that's what it is.
It's a bummer they won't be updating the Performance line before then -- my current notebook is gradually reaching "old age" (random failures and such), so I should get my next notebook during the summer break from school. Too bad there's not a "trade-up" program that'd let me swap for the newer model -- I'd like that even if the total cost (for both) would be higher than just the price of the later model.

 

These are the following specifications of the HP Elite notebook:
Processor: Intel Mobil 8000 series or 9000 series
RAM: up to 8 GB DDR2
Display: 14“ display with a resolution of 1.280 x 800 or 1.440 x 900 pixels
HDD: up to 250 GB
Multi function bay: for DVD-RW, DVD-ROM, HDD, BluRay
Graphics: integrated graphic card or Radeon HD 3650
Wireless: WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n; optional HSDPA
TPM chip, finger print reader
VGA, 3 x USB 2.0, Gigabit LAN, Firewire, 56k-modem
Express card slot
Additionally, the notebook is protected against splash water and bears up against minus 29 degrees Celsius and plus 60 degrees Celsius.

This notebook looks great! And with a starting price of $1179, it is definitely going to be a winner and the ELITE of all other notebooks, considering the price range.

 

I like the Elitebook, and for the other models, they look just like the older 20-series but they're black instead. If they're too consumer-like in the looks then so were the older ones as well, nothing new here except for some minor differences. And I don't see how the addition of the ATI HD 3450 can be a step backwards since the last models hade only integrated graphics?

Just compare these pictures of the 6720s and the 6730s, I have to say that it looks better in black.
Does anyone really think that the older one looked better?

Don't compare them to the 8710p and the other high end models because that is something different.

 

The older notebooks did not look better. They look dull. I like the Elite notebook though. It would be great if they offered several color options. I wonder if HP will release a 15.4 inch version of the Elite notebook with even better graphic cards? Maybe the FX3600? Or the ATI HD3870 on the AMD PUMA Platform?

 

I believe you meant HD 3450:
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press_kits/2008/connecting/ds_bn_6930p.pdf

 

That's the other notebooks. See Notebookcheck.net.

 

It's also missing eSATA

 

I just checked the site and it indeed says HD3650. Question is, what exactly is their source? HP's official announcement says nothing about it using anything but the HD3450 for discrete graphics.

 

Seems like Lenovo is not the only one switching to AIT. I'm curious to see what Dell will come up with.

 

HP isn't exactly "switching" to ATI per se as HP's preference has always been ATI for their mid to professional business notebooks and ATI or Nvidia for the high end workstations. They have been pretty consistent with their graphics solution and seem to always balance out their portfolio across ATI,/Nvidia and Intel/AMD to avoid platform affinity. Dell and Lenovo, on the other hand, switch vendors across the range and remain Intel exclusive.

 

The EliteBook looks good. Here are some other pics:
http://www.hp.com/large/campaigns/personal_again/products.html
Go to the 6930p and click Images.

 

The 6930p looks awesome and according to HP, it meets military standards of durability

 

I also would like to know this. Notebookcheck.net seems to be the only one site that says it has a 3650.

If they have a 3650 in that 14", then I may consider getting it... otherwise, I'll have to either buy something old (8510p), or wait until October .

 

HP claims also an all-day battery life...hmmm.I hope it won't be 2k, 1.3k max and I`m sold.

 

I think I'm going to buy an Elitebook. Why did they take away the Multibay though? I'm also concerned about the graphics chip, which the HP specs say is an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450. How does it stack up against existing discrete graphics options in a 14.1" screen package (ie nVidia FX570M, NVS140M, etc.)?

 

as usual , they are very boring HP products..........I think HP is losing something very important, I will never buy HPs , I will stick with my Dells , also , the sells about HP leading the market is not true , it is only true in the US.

Acer is the market leader now.

 

I haven't seen anything to demonstrate that.

 

Acer is #2 or #3

 

how come they don't make LED WXGA+ 1440x900? is the cost too high?