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Dell's Latitude E6400 reviewed: lovely, save for minor annoyances
If your Latitude D630 is growing a bit long in the tooth, it sounds like the Latitude E6400 is the perfect replacement. Critics over at NotebookReview had no qualms mentioning the unit's strengths, from the rugged chassis to the excellent port assortment to the remarkable 19-hour battery life. Of course, it did point the majority of the review at business-minded users, but it's not like you're really looking at the Latitude line to run Crysis, anyway. Overall, reviewers couldn't find any "major reason" to dislike the E6400, though it couldn't help but mention a smattering of "minor annoyances." Like, you ask? Frustrating ControlPoint software, a less-than-awesome trackpoint / touchpoint and a general build quality that made the unit "feel less durable than it really [was]." If you can overlook those gripes, however, you could be staring at a winner.
HP joins the Centrino 2 crowd, ships lots of business laptops
Hey, what do you know? More Centrino 2 news hot on the heels of Intel's official announcement. Today we've got HP shipping the Centrino 2-based EliteBook, Pavilion and a number of HP Compaq business laptops, with specs and pricing varying pretty wildly based on what you're looking to squeeze out of your rig. If you're looking to wrap your noodle around 'em, tap the read link and bust out the reading glasses.[Via Electronista]
HP goes wild: 16 new business / consumer laptop models
Over at HP's Connecting Your World event, there's a lot more to see than a new color-critical display and ultrathin all-in-one PC. More specifically, the outfit has rolled out 16 new laptop models, so we'll just cut right to it. Up first is the business-centric EliteBook premium series, which now arrives in a new slate of sizes and configurations. You'll also find a new selection of Pavilion Entertainment notebooks (dv4, dv5 and dv7) with ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection, and there's even a few HP Compaq Presarios (CQ45, CQ40 and CQ50) out there with a fresh "industrial design and HP Imprint 2 surface finish." As you can imagine, there's far too many hardware specifications to cover in this space, so bury your face in the read link for more details on the whole July-bound lot. %Gallery-24786%
HP Compaq adds Penryn to 8510p, 8510w, 8710p and 8710w laptops
We've already witnessed Intel's Penryn family filter into a select few of HP Compaq's business-minded lappies, and similar to Dell's update-as-we-go mindset, the firm is refreshing four more models today (while leaving others to age further). As of this very moment in time, the 8510p, 8510w, 8710p and 8710w laptops can be configured with the 2.1GHz T8100, 2.4GHz T8300, 2.5GHz T9300 or 2.6GHz T9500, depending on machine. Granted, you'll pay a pretty penny for those smaller, cooler processors, but we're sure the corporate card won't even notice the added weight.[Thanks, Christopher]Read - HP Compaq's 8510pRead - HP Compaq's 8710pRead - HP Compaq's 8510wRead - HP Compaq's 8710w
Penryn sweeps across HP Compaq business laptops
Although HP has already stuffed Intel's latest Core 2 Duo chips into its Pavilion lineup, now it appears that some of its business-minded units are also getting the Penryn treatment. As of now, the 2.1GHz T8100 is an available option on the 6720s and 6820s, while the 2.4GHz T8300 becomes available on the 6510b and 6710b. Reportedly, the firm's 8700 lineup will be joining the club within "the next two weeks," but we won't blame you if you head elsewhere in the meantime.[Via CNET]Read - HP Compaq 6720sRead - HP Compaq 6820sRead - HP Compaq 6510bRead - HP Compaq 6710b
HP Compaq's 2210b/CT ultraportable aims for the suits
As you'd expect with any laptop carrying a corporate agenda, the 12.1-inch HP Compaq 2210b/CT isn't anything too riveting, but it's not a half bad option if you're scouting something small (and strictly for the office). Weighing in at just 3.7-pounds, this ultraportable packs a modest 1.86GHz Celeron processor, 512MB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, an optional integrated optical drive, a 1,280 x 800 resolution panel, Vista Home Basic, and your choice of a four- or eight-cell battery. Additionally, you'll find an SD card slot, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, VGA / S-Video outputs, gigabit Ethernet, audio in / out, and an ExpressCard slot to make that 3G wireless card feel at home. Get your boss' credit card ready -- this one lands next month for a mere ¥89,880 ($760).[Via Impress]
Fujitsu's LifeBook S2210 and P7230 laptops reviewed
It'd probably be tough to find anyone eying an ultralight laptop that hasn't given either the S2210 or P7230 (pictured after the jump) at least a glance, but just in case you're only moments away from pulling the trigger on either, you might want to reconsider. Unfortunately, it sounds like both of Fujitsu's latest LifeBooks underperformed in the areas that mattered most, and as PCMag put it, shoving a full-fledged PC (with an integrated optical drive, no less) into a three- to four-pound frame requires quite a few tradeoffs. Reviewers found the choice of processors somewhat necessary considering the tight spaces, but the sluggish performance within Vista was irritating to say the least. Additionally, upgraded machines tended not to be good values, as boosting the RAM, hard drive capacity, and optical drive drove the price "beyond the reach" of most business laptop customers. Still, the highly portable nature of both machines is impossible to knock, so if you're willing to be a tad more patient whilst working, and don't mind unusually small keyboards, both machines should handle whatever you throw at it -- albeit at its own lethargic pace.Read - Fujitsu's LifeBook S2210 ReviewRead - Fujitsu's LifeBook P7230 Review
HP busts out Compaq 6515b and 6715b laptops for the suits
A business laptop is a delicate balance of premium price, somewhat dated components, good connectivity, and boring enough looks to sneak into a meeting undetected. HP seems to have hit all those main points with its new Compaq business laptops. The 6515b and 6715b sport AMD processors, 80-160GB HDDs, XP Pro on up to Vista Business, EV-DO or HSDPA 3G connectivity, ATI X1250 graphics and 802.11n WiFi. There's room for the up to 4GB of RAM, and the standard selection of optical drives, including a DVD+/-RW SuperMulti drive with LightScribe, if you want to get all fancy. The 6515b goes for a 14.1-inch 1280 x 800 display and weighs 5.6 pounds, while the 6715b sports 15.4-inches of screen, though we're unsure of further specifics. Both laptops are available now, and luckily the last part of the traditional biz laptop equation rings untrue here: both start at a budget friendly $649.
Lenovo's T60 goes widescreen for the suits
Lenovo just launched a new, widescreen version of their T60 laptop. Already, NotebookReview have posted their thoughts on Lenovo's Core 2 Duo, flagship business lappie. The new 15.4-inch widescreens feature a hefty WSXGA+ (1680x1050) resolution; pixels-a-plenty for side-by-side windowing action. However, unlike Dell's and HP's 15.4-inch offerings, Lenovo has simply made widescreen an optional config as they'll continue churning-out 15.4-inch models with 4:3 displays that execs traditionally prefer to bumble about on. The IPS display is made by Samsung and is the same "solid" panel found in many Dell laptops. It offers good brightness (for a business laptop) and superb viewing angles -- something which may or not be desirable when working on your M&A strategy from the airplane. And the 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo performs as Core 2 Duos do, no surprises there. Overall build quality is rated as "top notch" coming in at just over an inch thick and 5.5-pounds. And while you might expect an enhanced keyboard due to the extra space, forget it, it's the same keyboard we've seen before (not a bad thing). With the all-business T60 gone wide, there should be little doubt about the future of widescreen laptops in the office now.
