HP refreshes business notebook lineup with new EliteBook, ProBook laptops
Just a couple of weeks after announcing its first Ultrabook mobile workstation, the ZBook 14, HP is further revamping its business laptop lineup, introducing a number of new notebooks today with more style and more security, according to the company.
For the most budget-conscious companies, the ProBook 400 series starts at just $499. That model, the ProBook 455 G1, features AMD processor options and a 15.6-inch display. Other models, like the 14-inch 440 (starting at $559) and 13.3-inch 430 (from $649) are equipped with Intel's latest Haswell processors instead. The 455 G1 offers a touchscreen option, as well as an optional hybrid hard drive. These mainstream laptops are available today on HP's site.
The ProBook 600 lineup will begin shipping in November as a step up from the 400 series, featuring such options as full 1080p HD screens and 4G LTE support. Your can choose between various AMD and Intel processors, and HP claims the ProBook 655 G1 is 19-percent thinner than the previous generation's models. Prices will go from $699 up for the 640, 645, 650, and 655.
The EliteBook 800 series adds a pair of Ultrabooks to HP's business roster. The 14-inch EliteBook 840 G1 is Ultrabook-certified from the get-go, while the 15.6-inch 850 G1 will offer a configuration that qualifies as an Ultrabook. Ironically, the smallest EliteBook 800 -- the 12-inch 820 G1, which weighs under 3 pounds -- is not an Ultrabook.
These EliteBooks are starting at $799, thanks in part to the magnesium chassis that meets MIL-SPEC-810G military standard for ruggedness and HP's hardware-based Sure Start technology, which works to block BIOS attacks automatically. If the BIOS has been attacked or corrupted, the Sure Start Crisis Recovery Mode replaces the impacted BIOS. The EliteBook 840 G1 can also be equipped with an optional battery slice that boosts battery life to 33 hours, according to HP.
While HP is clearly trying to freshen up the staid corporate notebook with these new offerings, not everyone is convinced that the company, which not so long ago was ready to abandon producing PCs altogether, has found a recipe for renewed success. For more on HP's strategy, check out my colleague Zack Whittaker's rundown of his recent meeting with company execs.