The Bottom Line
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In comparison, a similarly equipped 12.1-inch Elite Lenovo X201 with an Intel
i5-540M processor, a six-cell battery, 4GB of RAM
and a 250GB hard disk lacks the optical drive option and doesn't have as great
a variety of display options. In a 12.1-inch screen form factor, Dell doesn't
offer an Intel Core i7 ultraportable processor. Thus, HP has managed to pile on
the computing power and features that will be hard to find elsewhere in as
small a package.
Putting it all together
The EliteBook 2540p earned a respectable 5859 PCMark score using the Futuremark
PCMark Vantage 64 benchmark. I ran all the suites in Vantage, including
communications and productivity along with games and music. The EliteBook 2540p
I tested received a middle-of-the-road 3.3 Windows Experience Index on a scale
from 1.0 to 7.9. The only low-scoring component was the "desktop
performance for Windows Aero." The ones that really matter for business
users scored higher: processor at 6.6, memory at 5.9 and hard disk at 4.5.
During test runs of normal office use, the EliteBook 2540p was comfortable to
use, but just barely. On the positive side, the low-voltage processor means that
everything about the small-framed notebook is cooler than previous-generation
notebooks. The screen is relatively bright and presents text and images well.
On the negative side, the keyboard experience is "pushy." While there
is an adequate key press depth, the key tension is quite firm and made rapid
typing a challenge.
Other features include evolved versions of HP QuickLook, QuickWeb and Power
Assistant. All of these previously available tools make it easier to read-and
now compose a response to-e-mail, go online and manage power usage in the
EliteBook 2540p. Power Assistant now uses a newly added circuit to monitor AC
power and provides user-definable templates for controlling power flow to
various hardware components that are sometimes beyond the reach of the Windows
operating system, thus enabling users to prolong battery life.
The EliteBook 2540p, as is true of the entire line, is generously equipped with
external I/O ports, including three USB 2.0
ports, VGA, DisplayPort, 1394a, RJ-11, RJ-45 and a special docking connector.
There are also slots for one each of an Express Card/34, Smart Card reader and
Secure Digital card.
Cameron Sturdevant has been with the Labs since 1997, and before that paid his IT management dues at a software publishing firm working with several Fortune 100 companies. Cameron also spent two years with a database development firm, integrating applications with mainframe legacy programs. Cameron's areas of expertise include virtual and physical IT infrastructure, cloud computing, enterprise networking and mobility, with a focus on Android in the enterprise. In addition to reviews, Cameron has covered monolithic enterprise management systems throughout their lifecycles, providing the eWEEK reader with all-important history and context. Cameron takes special care in cultivating his IT manager contacts, to ensure that his reviews and analysis are grounded in real-world concern. Cameron is a regular speaker at Ziff-Davis Enterprise online and face-to-face events. Follow Cameron on Twitter at csturdevant, or reach him by email at csturdevant@eweek.com.
