Ultraportable HP EliteBook 2540p Notebook Packs in Power (
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The HP EliteBook 2540p is an evolutionary step forward in processor, power
and memory in HP's smallest and lightest professional notebook class that also provides
quick Web and Outlook access as well as management extras such as disk
encryption data wiping.
Durability features, including key coatings, a magnesium frame and loads of
peripheral ports, make Hewlett-Packard's EliteBook 2540p a compelling option
for desktop managers outfitting high-value mobile users that only need a 12.1-inch
screen to work while away from the office.
The EliteBook 2540p that I've been using in lab tests for several months was
released in March with a base cost of $1,099. As tested, my system came out to
$1,629. Through train commutes, car rides and airports the EliteBook 2540p
withstood bumps, bangs and slams without putting too much strain on my
shoulder. The six-cell battery (one of five battery options that include a
three- and six-cell standard or long-life option as well as a standard-life
nine-cell power house) easily handled my train commute plus moderate daylong
business use on a wireless network connection.
I tested an EliteBook 2540p that was configured with a 2.13GHz, quad-core, low-voltage
Intel Core i7-L640 processor, a six-cell, 65 Whr lithium ion battery and 4GB of
1333MHz DDR3 (double data rate 3) RAM.
The notebook in this configuration includes a read/write DVD
optical drive. The optical drive is not present in the standard-voltage
systems.
The test system also came equipped with a 250GB, 1.8-inch SATA II (Serial
ATA II) hard disk with HP 3D DriveGuard protection; an integrated 2-megapixel
camera; a swipe fingerprint reader; an integrated dial-up modem; and 802.11
a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 wireless support. The system comes with a three-year
warranty. The long-life batteries also come with a three-year warranty and are
rated for 1,000 charging cycles.
Big family
While the HP EliteBook family includes models that are as large as 17-inch
desktop replacement systems, the EliteBook 2540p's 12.1-inch screen makes it
useful for mobile workers who must use moderately compute-intensive standard
business applications but also need a system that is easy to carry and supports
relatively long battery-only operation.
The EliteBook 2540p meets the
Department of Defense's MIL-STD
810G standard for reliable operation in environments with dust, humidity,
vibration, and temperature and altitude variations. I routinely just closed the
lid, threw the unit into a courier bag and took off.
The small screen allows
the EliteBook 2540p to be easily used while sitting in a coach airline seat. As
with other EliteBook models, there is a pop-out work light in the top screen
bezel for keyboard illumination.
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