Preview: New HP EliteBook & ProBook Laptops

Engadget: Preview – New HP EliteBook & ProBook Laptops

There’s a notebook model for every small business user among the ten new products from HP. Screen sizes range from 13.3 to 17 inches, and the selection of processors available from i3 to i7.

“Two weeks ago “consumers” got totally redesigned HP Pavilion dv and g-series laptops, leaving those poor guys in the conference room with nothing but their “old” Calpella-based machines and sad Excel spreadsheets. Well, it’s their turn now alright — HP’s been stirring up brand new EliteBook and ProBooks for the guys and gals in suits (though, we’re really of the mind that these laptops are for anyone looking for some tough and powerful hardware). All ten of the new machines (yep, 10!) have been given new metal designs, Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge processors, facial recognition software, and an easy-access latch to get to the hard drive and RAM. And there’s more — hit the jump for a break down and impressions of each of the models, and don’t forget to check those galleries below for some shots of these rigs in the flesh.
HP EliteBook p-series hands-on

The 14-inch EliteBook 8460p and 15.6-inch EliteBook 8560p still look like they belong in the office, but the new bead-blasted magnesium-aluminum lid, edges, and palmrest, which are resistant to smudges, make the machines tough enough to take a serious beating on-the-go. They’ve even met the MIL-STD 810G military standards making them “business-rugged.” And that’s not the whole durable story — both models have a double-shot display frames and aluminum-alloy hinges (picture of that here).”