With EliteBook laptop, HP gets tough

Go ahead, use steel wool to clean that laptop.

(Credit: HP)

As part of its massive product announcement on Tuesday, HP is introducing the semirugged EliteBook 6930p, a 14.1-inch laptop that's built to MIL-STD-810F specifications for vibration, dust, humidity, altitude, and temperature. That means the EliteBook's brushed anodized aluminum casing and magnesium-alloy chassis can withstand temperatures ranging from -20° F up to 140° F, humidity up to 95 percent, and altitudes up to 15,000 feet, among other feats.

Like most 14.1-inch laptops, the EliteBook 5930p will include a full-size spill-resistant keyboard that's as useful around the office as it is in extreme conditions. The keyboard deck includes a fingerprint reader and a row of touch-sensitive media controls. Buyers can opt for a backlit-LED display; every model includes a 2-megapixel Webcam in the display bezel.

Inside the case, you'll find Intel's Centrino 2 platform, with Penryn-class Intel Core 2 Duo 9000 and 8000 series CPUs, the Intel Mobile 45 chipset (with optional vPro support), and a choice of integrated Intel or discrete ATI graphics. Based on Intel's delayed release dates for the Centrino 2 components, we expect the ATI-based EliteBook to ship in July, with the integrated-graphics version to follow in August.

Pricing starts at $1,179; a full list of specs is after the jump.

HP EliteBook 5930p

• Intel Core 2 Duo 9000 and 8000 series (Penryn) CPUs
• Intel Mobile 45 chipset
• 128 or 256 MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450 or integrated Intel graphics
• Up to 8GB of 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
• 120/160/250 GB (5,400rpm) or 160GB (7,200rpm) hard drives
• DVD burner (optional Blu-ray burner) in a swappable bay
• 14.1-inch display, WXGA or WXGA+ resolutions, optional LED backlighting
• 2-megapixel Webcam (with business card reader function) and dual mic array
• Modem, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, optional WWAN
• SD card slot, ExpressCard reader
• Three USB 2.0 ports, mini-FireWire jack, VGA-out
• Touchpad and pointing stick
• 4.7-pound starting weight
• 13 inches wide, 9.6 inches deep, 1.2 inches thick at front
• One-year or three-year warranty, depending on where you purchase it

[opwann]

This laptop might persuade me to look at HP before the new Macbooks hit the shelves sometime in late summer. I really was looking forward to trying out the Apple OS, but the added durability of this offering would certainly give me piece of mind. I've had way too many repairs due to bad craftsmanship on Ol' faithful, my 3-year-old Toshiba Satellite. Furthermore, I've heard there are similar issues with the plastic-enclosed Macbooks, i.e. cracking.

I should note that the price seems quite reasonable for a notebook in this category. From what I've researched, the closest thing would be a Panasonic Toughbook, and you're looking at nothing below $2100 for their business series. The Elitebook is potentially, or should I say 'certainly', going to be a smash success for HP.