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- Best laptop for business HP EliteBook 2560p *Est. $1100
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Best laptop for business
- Lightweight
- Excellent performance for its class
- DVD burner
- Meets MIL-SPEC 810G durability standards
- Unimpressive pointing stick
- No USB 3.0 ports
When it comes to business, critics say no notebook surpasses the HP EliteBook 2560p (*Est. $1,100 and up), although the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 (*Est. $1,300 and up) comes close. The laptop is designed to be useful for enterprise users on the run: the EliteBook 2560p is lightweight, small and meets MIL-SPEC 810G durability standards in hazardous environments and extreme temperature conditions.
Experts say performance isn't lacking, either: while the base configuration includes an Intel Core i5-2410M processor, most experts recommend spending $100 to upgrade to a Core i5-2520M processor. Other components include 4 GB of RAM and a 320 GB hard drive along with features like fingerprint and facial recognition technology, Bluetooth connectivity and an optical drive with DVD burning capabilities (not available in the base configuration). Performance is top-notch for everything but gaming, easily beating ultraportable category averages in a number of publications' tests. Battery life is also good at six to eight hours. Fans of pointing-stick technology will be disappointed to learn that the one on this laptop is subpar and prone to stuttering, especially compared to the excellent pointing sticks found on Lenovo ThinkPads. The lack of a USB 3.0 port also disappoints. Upgraded configurations are available, and those add even more connectivity and hard-drive options.
The best reviews of the HP EliteBook 2560p are conducted by PCMag.com, Laptop Magazine, ComputerShopper.com, PC World and NotebookReview.com, all of whom conduct extensive hands-on testing with the machine. Each provides an overall numerical rating for the product.
| HP 2560p LJ534UT#ABA 12.5-Inch Laptop | |
(2 reviews) In Stock. |
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Our Sources
PCMag.com gives the HP EliteBook 2560p an overall rating of 4 stars (out of 5). Cisco Cheng appreciates the performance of the upgraded Core i5-2520M processor, sleek design and abundance of extra features, but misses a USB 3.0 port and says the pointing stick is too stiff.
Review: HP Elitebook 2560p, Cisco Cheng, Aug. 19, 2011
2. Laptop MagazineDetails/Subscribe
Sherri L. Smith gives the EliteBook 2560p high marks for performance, design, ruggedness and battery life and calls it "an impressive business notebook that would be a great addition to any road warrior's arsenal."
Review: HP EliteBook 2560P Review, Sherri L. Smith, Sept. 16, 2011
ComputerShopper.com gives the HP EliteBook 2560p an Editors' Choice award and a business-ready tag. "The EliteBook 2560p is an impressive little machine with lots to offer serious business road warriors or those who just want a small, light machine that does nearly everything," William Harrel says, although he too bemoans the lack of a USB 3.0 port. He says the notebook has a short battery life, but ComputerShopper.com's battery-draining test is much more intense than similar tests at other publications, who focus more on real-world performance. Like most reviewers, Harrel looks at an upgraded configuration that includes a Core i5-2520M processor.
Review: HP EliteBook 2560p Review and Ratings, William Harrel, Aug. 24, 2011
NotebookReview.com puts the HP EliteBook 2560p through some of the most comprehensive testing sets around. Amber Riippa praises the laptop's strong performance, sleek design, battery life and cool-running temperatures. The lack of a USB 3.0 port sits poorly with her, as does the slightly-too-small touchpad. She also says that you can feel vibrations on the palmrests when the audio is cranked to high levels.
Review: HP EliteBook 2560p Review, Amber Riippa
PC World breaks from the pack to look at the base configuration of the HP EliteBook 2560p, and even configured this way, it impresses enough to receive a 4-star rating and a Business Ready tag. Jon Jacobi sings the same praises as many other reviewers. He also appreciates that the entire bottom panel removes for easy access to the internal components.
Review: HP EliteBook 2560p, Jon L. Jacobi, Aug. 23, 2011
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