a list of laptops, which one would you pick?

Take the 4530 as it is a much better overall package including much better battery life and graphics, whereas the 6560b (b stands for business class) has a 1600x900 screen to the 1368x768 on the 4530. My understanding is, and Lucero can probably correct me is that the 4xxx series is aimed at the sole trader / home business whereas the 6xxx series and the HP elitebook are aimed at the SME (10 to 15+ employees) or larger corporate solution. As soon as they hit that corporate classification, the price goes up much like the dell latitude.

However, slight curve ball, consider the 4520s (XX784EA) as like the 4320s it has £100 cashback at the moment so you can get the i3 380m version for £350 inc vat after cashback. You can upgrade the ram etc pretty cheaply. Check here for which systems are on cashback http://www.hpcashback.com/uk/laptops/?all or you can get a £150 trade up to the newer 4530 probooks here http://www.tradeuptohp.com/business/tradeup-150/
 
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mrk1@1 said:
Take the 4530 as it is a much better overall package including much better battery life and graphics, whereas the 6560b (b stands for business class) has a 1600x900 screen to the 1368x768 on the 4530. My understanding is, and Lucero can probably correct me is that the 4xxx series is aimed at the sole trader / home business whereas the 6xxx series and the HP elitebook are aimed at the SME (10 to 15+ employees) or larger corporate solution. As soon as they hit that corporate classification, the price goes up much like the dell latitude.

However, slight curve ball, consider the 4520s (XX784EA) as like the 4320s it has £100 cashback at the moment so you can get the i3 380m version for £350 inc vat after cashback. You can upgrade the ram etc pretty cheaply. Check here for which systems are on cashback http://www.hpcashback.com/uk/laptops/?all or you can get a £150 trade up to the newer 4530 probooks here http://www.tradeuptohp.com/business/tradeup-150/
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have you used that cashback thing before, i take it the cashback offer has to be still valid after the 30days? so the ones offering cash back that expires in the 30th wouldn't be any use as the claim date would have to be after that?! i think my head might explode with this!
 
As long as the order is before the end of August you can still claim the cashback AFAIK.

Just an FYI, the "b" at the end of the model number doesn't denote business class, as both "b" and "p" 6x series are "corporate" laptops. It's just denotes a model. Generally, the "b"s are worse than the "p"s.
 
the_r_sole said:
have you used that cashback thing before, i take it the cashback offer has to be still valid after the 30days? so the ones offering cash back that expires in the 30th wouldn't be any use as the claim date would have to be after that?! i think my head might explode with this!
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What it means is that you purchase during the cash back open period for purchasing the hardware, then have to wait 30days before submitting your claim to HP

Email to mrk1@1 from HP regarding the cashback said:
Dear Mr mrk1@1

As of 1st August and the new promotional period, claims must be submitted no sooner than 30 days but no later than 60 days, this includes purchases made after 2nd July.

After 30 days please go to our website and complete a claim form.


Kind Regards

(name removed)
HP Cashback Customer Support
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Lucero said:
As long as the order is before the end of August you can still claim the cashback AFAIK.

Just an FYI, the "b" at the end of the model number doesn't denote business class, as both "b" and "p" 6x series are "corporate" laptops. It's just denotes a model. Generally, the "b"s are worse than the "p"s.
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I got the b designation definition from an online review lol but thought it may be dubious. I notice the 6 series has the serial docking port underneath but I don't on mine (although there are USB docking drivers). I wonder if the 4 series doesn't have the same docking set up which could also explain the price difference?

##edit, yep after looking on the HP site at the accessories available, it appears the 4xxx series are only compatible with USB docking stations and not the lock in serial ones. The 6xxx series defo have the proper underside docking ports which will be the price and model class difference. The down side of this means that you won't be charging or powering your laptop from a USB docking station and will still have to plug in the power lead whereas, with a docking station it is usually plug and go so you don't need anything else connected to the lappy inc power.
 
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yeah, docking won't really be an issue unless the machine is so good it puts my desktop out of service, which i can't see really!
I think i'm going to look at the 4 series ones, will get them on the blower to see the cost of upgrading ram/hd etc
 
the_r_sole said:
yeah, docking won't really be an issue unless the machine is so good it puts my desktop out of service, which i can't see really!
I think i'm going to look at the 4 series ones, will get them on the blower to see the cost of upgrading ram/hd etc
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Lol, the official HP ram is £152 for 4GB unless you are talking to the reseller rather than buying direct from HP in which case it should be cheaper.

From your previous specs you mentioned a 5400rpm drive, I am pretty sure the probooks all have 7200rpm drives or are the 4530s 5400 drives, the 4520s are defo 7200rpm?
 
the_r_sole said:
the 4 series ones seem to be default 5400, i may just put the cashback to a nice ssd!!
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The 4520 series are still coming up as 7200 drives for me, what is the exact product code of the one you are looking at, it will be something like XX749EA or XX784EA (these are the two the cashback are valid for)

spec being on the XX784EA#ABU @£455.99 pre cashback

HP ProBook 4520s Notebook PC / Intel® Core™ i3-380M Processor (2.53 GHz) / 3GB / 320GB / 15.6" diagonal LED-backlit HD / DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL / Intel® HD Graphics / Gigabit Ethernet - Wi-Fi - Bluetooth / Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64bit
 
Oh, in case you were thinking of it, don't buy direct from HP esp if you want upgrades, plus those arn't eligible for cashback only trade in, so by the time you add vat in to those prices you are going to be at the toshiba pricing, which is probably better value for money.

Best value seems to be the 4530s LH282EA#ABU (not from HP direct) and has the i5 2410-m, 4GB ddr, Ati 6470 (not much worse than the 6490) which comes in a £588.97 inc vat. This does however qualify for a £150 trade in which works with pretty much any working desktop (base no monitor afaik) or laptop incase you have something you could use.
 
back again... if i was to get one and put in some ram, maybe an ssd, i assume that would void the warranty so no point in getting the extended one? as it's a work machine i can justfiy the extended warranty but only if i could actually use it!! or could a reseller install it so that the warranty would be fine?! questions questions
 
nope, won't void warranty but if you have a problem then you can always drop the original HD and memory in. just install it yourself, unless you are totally not tech savvy. obviously don't mash the screws up and if you physically damage anything then it will be pretty obviously, but there are no warranty void if removed stickers to remove. Have a look here at the service manual to see if you would feel happy upgrading stuff. http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c02287265/c02287265.pdf if so, no problem.

If you are dropping the SSD in you will loose the F11 boot recovery option so you may want to image the whole hard drive to ensure you keep the HP tools and recovery partition. You loose the quick web and quick outlook (web and outlook boot from dos and not into windows) if you loose the tools/recovery partition. There really is no need to delete the HP software as it isn't too bloaty and actually very functional. you may want to not install the AV though and stick with MSE etc.

unless the laptop goes wrong in the first few days then you are probably better dealing with HP directly for hardware issues unless you feel you have a real lemon or need to push the reseller for a refund. HP have a pretty quick turn around on their collect and return service.
 
Hmmm... have built pcs before, and fixed some laptops, will wait and see exactly how much the reseller would want to put it up to 8gb- only ever taken laptops apart when they are already buggered!!
 
it is really easy, just remember not to yank the keyboard or you could damage the connector. The link to the service manual shows you how on page 118-122.

I have had the whole front off to get the hard drive out no probs.
 
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