Features

With a 14-inch screen and beginning weight of 4.7 pounds, the EliteBook creates no pretense of ultra-portability, but also copes to stock down many features from much bigger notebook computer. Main amongst them: A entire lay out of Intel Core i5 and even a few i7 C.P.U.s, which chip in the EliteBook ability starting from elegant to almost inhumane. Consumers in addition to get their choice of Intel integrated graphics, or Nvidia’s NVS 3100.

The EliteBook 8440p comes stocked with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 5 CPU, an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD, 2GB of RAM, 250GB hard drive, also accessories like a fingerprint reader and 2.0-megapixel web cam.

Design

HP’s EliteBook styling expressions a lot like the notebook computer of an officer: decent but not Spartan, elegant but not gaudy, and remarkably firm. Brushed aluminum blankets all of the lid and palm rest ,these sense like cut from the inside of a Lexus or Audi. According to HP they have been thermally welded to the magnesium subframe, not barely pasted all over plastic.

The EliteBook 8440p has been assembled about a light metallic frame that imparts it rigidity and durability. The keyboard even has a drain in the lower side to funnel spilled drinks aside from the electronics and directly through the bottom.

The lid opens and shuts with the preciseness of laboratory gear, the metallic surface display hardly a millimeter of bend. The sole weak spots in this technological fortress seem about the base, which appears to be made of vanilla ABS plastic and shows some bend close to the optical drive and other panels.

Ports

If you are able to find it, buy it or slip it, you are able to join it to the HP EliteBook 8440p. In addition to the common three USB ports, you will see an additional eSATA/USB for faster devices, a FireWire port for compatibility with a lot of Mac-centric accessories, an ExpressCard port for upgrades, an Ethernet jack and even a modem for those Wi-Fi-less business professionals . Even the private Smart Card reader – which can read the chips embedded in certain credit cards – bumps a home here, and a dock connector on the bottom lets it connect with one of those HP’s docking stations. Dedicated audio in and out jacks provide for discrete earphones and microphones, different than some compounded solutions, like on Apple’s newest MacBooks. The front has a standard SD/MMC card reader, and you will see both analog VGA and digital DisplayPort outputs on the back for video.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The keys respond to the hit of a finger with an hearable click so crispy, it almost feels like you’re pecking away at individual switches.

A intelligent LED overhead lamp busts out from alongside the webcam to light up the keyboard at night. Though not as brilliant as a backlit LED keyboard, it also depletes lower energy, and we like how easy it is to turn on an off.

The EliteBook 8440p includes both a conventional trackpad and the little popular “pointing nub” buried in the center of the keyboard. Besides being unnoticeable if you choose to follow the trackpad, the nub makes a convenient, accurate pointing device for situations where the trackpad is less approachable.

Display

The 14.0-inch LCD on the EliteBook comes in a 1366 x 768 resolution – about normal for a screen this size. HP shuns the mirror-sheen polish exhibits from a lot of it is popular consumer notebooks for a matte model on the EliteBook 8440p. Though not quite as bright and vivacious, it renders finer overall usability in a mixture of situations – from brilliantly lighted offices to park benches, trains and airplanes.

Testing and Performance

With a spirited Intel Core i5 2.4GHz CPU at the hand, there isn’t a lot that gives this system a pause. It glided through our series of desktop tests, including all type of multimedia hurled at. Even 1080p YouTube video, which typically loves to stammer, played perfectly smooth with the i5 decoding away in the background. With an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD rather than a discrete GPU from Nvidia or ATI inside, the EliteBook was no gaming force to be bet with, but as a work machine, it really doesn’t need to be. The GMA HD and powerful processor should cut through just about anything you could ask of it, when it comes to productivity. And if you really demand a Dawn of War session now and then, HP whirls the ability to order it with a 512MB Nvidia NVS 3100.

Battery Life

HP claims battery life of up to six hours and 30 minutes from the EliteBook 8440p, but during tests, it never saw that. Even with mobile mode on, battery life stretched over four hours, and with high performance, you’re considering more like three and change. Neither actually appears like an embarrassment for a machine this powerful, but unplayful road warriors will want to count on HP’s extended batteries to squeeze a full work day from the 8440p while away from wall outlets.

Sound

The front-firing speakers on the HP EliteBook 8440p create audio modest enough for YouTube videos and other light media, but not very well accommodated to music – not that it should come up as any surprise. At full volume, dialogue audios passable, but bass from music distorts badly and starts to rattle the chassis.

Conclusion

When should you view a business notebook over an ordinary consumer model? When the business notebook in question is HP’s outstanding EliteBook 8440p. In a place crowded with wry, plastic-cased blueprints, the EliteBook breaks away with a direct dash, build quality, features and performance. You plan to apply it for anything, the EliteBook 8440p offers a tough, stylish design you will keep using for years.

Highs:

• Spectacular fit and finish
• Built toughened for lastingness
• Powerful Intel Core i5 processor
• Business-class keyboard well-to-do for typing
• Matte displays works good in most lighting, angles back 180 degrees
• Fantabulous choice of ports
• Terrific 2.0-megapixel webcam
• Zero bloatware and sensible inbuilt utilities
• Pointing nub poses alternate to trackpad
• Multi-touch trackpad

Lows:

• Weak speakers
• Intermediate battery life
• Small trackpad