HP Announces ‘Durable But Pretty’ Haswell Ultrabooks And Notebooks

HP has refreshed its range of business PCs with a number of new Intel-Haswell powered ultrabooks and notebooks that it claims will balance the needs of IT administrators and those of employees.

Headlining the announcements is the new EliteBook 800, which is up to 40 percent thinner and 28 percent lighter than previous generation, making them ideal for business travellers.

Jet-setters will also be reassured by its military grade MIL-STD 810 certification, which indicates the machines are protected against drops, shocks, vibrations, dust, altitude and extreme temperatures.

HP Haswell

HP promises such durability does not come at the expense of design, as demonstrated by the magnesium uni-body chassis, while employees will also benefit from a backlit keyboard and a durable drop-draw hinge Ethernet port for reliable connectivity.

The range is compatible with HP Sure Start, a self-healing BIOS solution that detects and remedies malware and security attacks automatically, saving IT resources and eliminating downtime.

The EliteBook 800 is available in 14-inch or 15.6-inch ultrabook models, with optional touchscreen functionality, and a 12-inch form that HP did not say achieved ultrabook specifications.

The ProBook 600 range of business notebooks promise to be highly configurable depending on the needs of individual companies, with 4G and long-life batteries among the technologies that can be included. The range is available with either a 14 inch or 15.6 inch display, powered by either AMD or Intel fourth-generation architecture.

Style and substance

Finally, the ProBook 400 series is powered by an Intel i3, i5 or i7 processor and again promises to combine durability with an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

“IT decision makers today are faced with history’s most diverse and technically savvy workforce, and their demands for devices that reflect personal style and productivity preferences present a unique business challenge,” said Enrique Lores, senior vice president and general manager, Commercial PCs, HP. “HP is leading the transformation of the workplace with innovative and mobile business PCs designed for style, but built for security and reliability.”

The EliteBook 800 series starts at $799 and is available in the US immediately, as is the ProBook 400 range, which costs $499. The ProBook 600 notebooks will be released next month, starting at under $699, but no UK availability or pricing has been confirmed.

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