HP EliteBook 8460p: Everything But The Screen
by Dustin Sklavos on May 10, 2011 5:50 PM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
- IT Computing
- Intel
- HP
- EliteBook
- Sandy Bridge
Conclusion: Everything But The Screen
The title of the article really says it all. While we're a little underwhelmed with the AMD Radeon HD 6470M beating at the heart of the HP EliteBook 8460p, the notebook is largely aces. HP's massive overhaul of their professional lines has yielded incredible dividends. The notebooks all offer tremendous connectivity and flexibility along with a sense of style that we could stand to see adopted by consumer-grade notebooks from vendors other than Apple. (Okay, that's not entirely fair, as the MacBook Pro line isn't really consumer grade either.) With these new notebooks, HP proves that a business notebook doesn't have to look like one. These are classy machines.
Under the hood there's plenty of power, too. The Intel Core i5-2520M in our review unit is as fast as last generation's entry level quad-core, and the Radeon HD 6470M is at least a modest upgrade on both its predecessor and Intel's integrated graphics. HP also thankfully ships these notebooks with 7200RPM hard drives standard, though a quality SSD will still pay huge dividends. The resulting configuration is smart and offers enough performance for the vast majority of tasks. While internal temperatures aren't great, they aren't dire either, and they don't transfer to the outer shell. You can use the 8460p on your lap without worrying that it'll roast your palms or render you infertile, and this is especially remarkable given the 14" form factor.
Of course, there has to be a fatal flaw, and that flaw is the 8460p's awful stock screen. If you can afford to move up to a model with the 1600x900 screen do so and do it with our blessing, because the 1366x768 matte screen HP uses standard in this notebook is horrendous. Colors are inaccurate, washed out, and dull. Viewing angles are among the worst, with particularly acute "sweet spot" issues. About the nicest thing we can say about it is that it has a matte finish.
If you can handle the dismal screen, you'll be left with a heck of a business-class notebook and one that makes a case for eschewing consumer-grade options entirely. Even as a gadget hound who replaces his notebooks nearly annually (it is a sickness and I cannot stop) I have a hard time resisting spending up on one of HP's new EliteBooks. The 8460p is definitely worthy of an Editors' Choice Award, but only if you can put up with the awful screen. Unfortunately, we've grown tired of bad displays on otherwise high-quality laptops and will thus give the 8460p an honorable mention (at least without hands on time with the 900p LCD upgrade). Add a quieter fan and a better graphics card, and this thing could go gold. We can't wait to see the big boys in HP's new lines.
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XiZeL - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - link
For an extra 15€ you can get the 1600x900 screen and for an other extra that theres is a fullDH optionbji - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - link
When I go to the HP web site and try to configure the model, it immediately bumps the price up to ~$2,000. Is it possible to configure this laptop for less than 2 grand?Also, even when doing so, there is no display option bigger than 1600x900, which is lame.
And, talk about a weird configuration system. They have all of these strange configuration options like the stickers that will be put on the laptop and if you upgrade the processor, you get a big red error until you go and change the sticker to match. That is just about retarded.
JarredWalton - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - link
Unfortunately, we don't know what quality of screen you get with the upgrade, but given it's a $75 upgrade I wouldn't expect a lot (and even less if it's only 15€). I've seen a lot of poor "upgraded" LCDs over the years, so there's no guarantee unless HP/whoever makes a point of stating the the LCD upgrade is a DreamColor or RGB LED or high-gamut or what have you.As far as the configurable models go, HP always charges a lot, but usually there are "instant rebate" codes floating around. I'm not aware of any for the 8460p right now, but if you can wait I would expect one to turn up. I've also heard you can get much better pricing if you call to place an order and ask for a lower price (though I've never tried that).
Ytterbium - Friday, May 13, 2011 - link
the 1600x900 screen is reported to be not that good either.The best screen HP do on the p serise is the 1600x900 WVA screen on the 8560p.
If you want dreamcolor you have to go to the 8560w or 8570w, the 8460w doesn't have dreamcolor :(
Penti - Friday, May 13, 2011 - link
Those dreamcolor screens are also rated to 15 W so I wouldn't run any of those portable. Which defeats the point of the screen to begin with.Souka - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - link
But is the fullHD screen better? or just higer rez?My co-worker has the 8440p... and I absolutely agree that the LCD is HORRIBLE.
but hey, who uses the LCD on a laptop right? Oh wait a minute....
smalM - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - link
One docking station at the office, one at home, and never using the built in screen does help alot...secretmanofagent - Monday, May 16, 2011 - link
I think HP tends to use crap screens. My work laptop is a 8530w Mobile Workstation, and it's easily one of the worst displays I've seen.bhima - Wednesday, May 11, 2011 - link
Lets put it this way, I've never seen a 1600x900 14" screen that looked horrible. But I've seen PLENTY of 1366x768 screens that are utter garbage. It seems when pixel density increases on these screens so do view angles, color and contrast.fordry - Wednesday, July 6, 2011 - link
I have a slightly older elitebook 6930p with the upgrade 1440x900 screen over the 1280x800 screen that was the base and I have seen both screens in action as well as the newer 1366x768 on an 8440w. The 2 lower end ones, 1280x800 and 1366x768 aren't good, particularly the 1280x800 one, its atrocious. My 1440x900 screen though is very nice. Looks clear, colors are good. Its not the best screen ever but its definitely not something that would go in a cons list and I imagine that the 1600x900 screens they offer with these would be similar.