When HP offered to send me a workstation-class 17-inch laptop to review, I thought it would be fun—who wouldn't want to play with a loaded-to-the-gills lapzilla? I told them to give me a maxed-out model and I'd put it through its paces. When the laptop actually arrived, though, I realized that I'd gotten far more hardware than I'd expected to receive.
| Specs at a glance: HP 8770w | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 1920×1080 17.3-inch "DreamColor" IPS, 127 PPI |
| OS | Windows 7 Professional 64-bit |
| CPU | 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-3820QM (Turbo Boost 3.7GHz) |
| RAM | 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 (upgradeable to 32GB) |
| GPU | Nvidia Quadro K5000M with 4GB DDR5 VRAM |
| Storage | 256GB SATA III SSD (Micron C400) |
| Networking | Intel Centrino 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, gigabit Ethernet |
| Ports | 1x VGA, 1x DisplayPort, 1x RJ-45 (Ethernet), 1x RJ-11 (modem), 1x IEEE 1394a, 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 1x eSATA/USB 2.0 combo, stereo mic in, stereo headphone/line out, docking connector |
| Battery | 8-cell 83Whr Li-ion |
| Size | 1.47 (at front)/1.68 (at rear) x 16.4 x 10.7 inches, 37.4 mm (at front)/42.7 mm (at rear) x 416.5 mm x 272.7 mm |
| Weight | 7.69 lb/3.6 kg |
| Starting price | $2658 (base 17" model starts at $1649) |
| Price as configured | $6435 (includes upgraded CPU, GPU, display, RAM, and storage) |
The Hewlett-Packard EliteBook 8000 series encompasses three models: the 14-inch 8470w, which is designed to be a travel-friendly entry-level mobile workstation; the 15-inch 8570w, a slightly larger laptop with more powerful pro-level features; and the hefty 8770w, which HP positions as a potential replacement for even a high-end desktop workstation. The model HP sent me was the 17-inch 8770w, packed with upgrades. When I popped over to the HP Web store and built an 8770w configuration to match the one sitting on my desk, my eyes bugged out a bit.
HP had sent me a $6,400 monster. This wasn't just more laptop than most folks need, it's also more laptop than most folks even have the ability to purchase. However, this isn't anywhere near a laptop for "most folks"—there's a very specific subset of users who require the high-dollar components packed into this 17-inch frame.
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via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com
