HP EliteBook 8730w review specs, price

The HP EliteBook 8730w is a high-end, transportable workstation-class notebook. Like Lenovo's ThinkPad W700 series, the EliteBook 8730w offers high-end options such as a quad-core mobile processor and color-accurate LCD.

Featuring the latest Intel processors and Nvidia Quadro graphics and available with HP's exclusive 17-inch "DreamColor" display, the EliteBook 8730w might be a graphics artist's best friend.

EliteBook 8730w features

* Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300 Processor (2.53GHz, 12MB L2 cache, 1066MHz FSB)
* Microsoft Windows XP (downgrade from Windows Vista Business)
* 17.0-inch WUXGA+ anti-glare DreamColor display (1920 x 1200)
* 1GB NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M Workstation GPU
* 4GB DDR2 800MHz RAM (2 x 2GB Configuration)
* 250GB 7200RPM HDD

* Blu-ray burner and DVD+/-RW Optical Drive
* 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Modem, and Bluetooth Connectivity
* 8-Cell 73WHr Battery
* 3-Year on-site Warranty
* Dimensions: 1.3" x 15.5" x 11.1"
* Weight: 7.5lbs
* MSRP: $4,958 ($4,065.56 at time of writing with 18% instant discount)

The 8730w starts out at $1,699 but more powerful configurations top out at $4,879.00 after instant discount.
(Source: noteboookreview)

Pros

* Extreme processor and graphics performance
* DreamColor display is bright with vivid colors
* Reasonably thin and light for a 17-inch workstation
* Attractive and sleek design

Cons

* DreamColor display is pricey, but still reasonable
* Third touchpad button sometimes gets in the way
* Less than ideal location for speakers
* Fan can run loud and push out a lot of hot airBuild and Design
With its 17-inch screen, the 8730w is never going to be a lightweight, but it's actually quite svelte-looking - apart from the footprint - and weighs a luggable 3.4kg. The HP EliteBook 8730w is a business workstation notebook, which means the 8730w has to meet very specific requirements for performance, durability, power consumption and a host of other features. At 8.1 pounds, it's no lightweight, but it's lighter than the heaviest workstation-class notebooks, which can top 10 pounds.



The main body of the laptop is covered in the "HP DuraCase" and "HP DuraFinish" which is essentially a hard plastic and strong magnesium alloy inner shell much like its predecessor strengthened by a brushed aluminum outer shell that is scratch resistant. The entire chassis from the base to the screen lid feels exceptionally strong and resistant to flex when heavy pressure is applied. The outer shell of the screen casing is made of metal, but the inner screen bezel is plastic.

Screen and Display

The most striking aspect of the EliteBook 8730w is its optional 17-inch WUXGA DreamColor display. Boasting a 1,920x1,200 resolution, this LED-backlit screen features the DreamColor technology that HP developed along with DreamWorks Animation.



This bright, crisp display shows millions of colors, as opposed to the 262,000 of many laptop LCDs. While the EliteBook 8730w doesn't offer an automatic color-calibration sensor as the Lenovo Thinkpad W700ds does, thorough calibration software is included.

The screen's matte finish makes for glare-free viewing, and it has a very wide viewing angle. The EliteBook 8730w's case features anodized aluminum around the keyboard and on the outside of the lid, black plastic elsewhere, and a magnesium-alloy chassis to protect the system.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The full-size keyboard on the 8730w is nice and large and features the new "HP DuraKeys" which is a highly durable textured finish applied to each key have a nice matte appearance and prevents the "shine" that appears on old keyboards after the buildup of dirt and oils from your fingertips.
All the keys are full size, except for the row of half-height function keys at the top. The action is positive, with an audible click, and there's no flex in the keyboard at all.



The 3.5-inch diagonal touch pad features three mouse buttons, and there's a pointing-stick controller as well. The Synaptics touchpad is very responsive to my touch, and the three rubber mouse buttons are quiet and about the right size. A fingerprint reader sits in the lower right corner of the touch pad.

Battery

The battery life is basically unchanged from the last refresh in which HP claims that the laptop will achieve more than 4 hours of life when unplugged. While the battery life we saw in our DVD-rundown test won't impress owners of ultraportables, the 2 hours and 27 minutes the EliteBook 8730w lasted is about half an hour longer than we expect for a notebook of this size.