Review-HP EliteBook 8570w Mobile Workstation

I tested the HP EliteBook 8570w Workstation.  Here is my review.  It is broken down into two parts; Brief Overview and Full Review.  The brief review is short and covers the major points.  The Full review goes into far greater detail.  Sometimes you just want to know the basics and sometimes you need to know everything.

Brief Overview

Main Specs

The EliteBook 8570w that I tested was on the high end of HP’s spectrum.  Here is a list of the main specifications for the hardware:

• CPU:  Intel® Core™ i7-3740QM (2.7 GHz, 6 MB cache, 4 cores)
• Display: 15” LCD (15.6”) active color with built-in webcam (1920x1080)
• Memory:  16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
• Graphics: Nvidia Quadro K2000M 2GB 
• Storage: Seagate 750 GB 7200 rpm SATA
• Multimedia Drive: DVD read/write & SD Card slot
• Security: Fingerprint reader, Face recognition
• Operating System: Windows 7 Pro 
• Wireless/Communications: Wi-Fi, 56K v.92 Modem, Optional HSPA+ Broadband Radio

The Good

The HP EliteBook 8570w mobile workstation is just that.  It has the full power of a desktop workstation, good graphics, interesting security options (fingerprint scanner), plenty of ports (USB, VGA, Display Port, Esata), the keyboard was easy to use, good looking screen, possible broadband data connection (built in), wi-fi, DVD player/recorder, and a backlit keyboard.  This mobile workstation has everything.  It is very expandable (up to 32 GB RAM on quad core i7), has a PCI slot, SD Card slot, and a great industrial design look.  It is very sturdy and rugged feeling.  A bonus is that the keyboard is full size and has a full numeric keypad.  Most laptops lack this feature.

Google Chromebook Pixel – Mobile CAD Workstation or Overpriced Web Browser?

image from Pixel order page

Google just announced their newest piece of hardware, the Google Chromebook Pixel.  It’s a Chromebook so it runs on Google Chrome.  Want to know what that’s like?  Run the Google Chrome browser and nothing else.  That’s an over simplification but you can get a good idea of what it is like.

Google has been trying to sell Chromebooks for a while now and I have always been interested in them.  None of them have been powerful enough for my liking but they have been set at a good price.  Now that the Pixel is out and available for purchase and that Autodesk is making a major push for in the browser cloud based CAD software, could the Google Pixel be a viable candidate for a mobile CAD station?  I can’t honestly say yes or no until I get one (Google can you send me one to test please?) and try it out but my gut feeling is that it could be useful in certain situations. 

Dell Announces New Precision Mobile Workstations – M4700 and M6700

Dell adds to its workstation product line with two new systems, the Dell Precision M4700 and M6700.  The M4700 is Dell’s 15-inch mobile workstation and the Dell Precision M6700 provides higher performing graphics with a 17-inch display.  The popular Covet Edition is back on the 17-inch version, featuring a Phoenix Red color finish and edge to edge Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2 for brighter images and increased resilience and protection.
 
The Dell Precision M4700 and M6700 incorporate the latest Intel Core i5, i7 and Extreme Edition processors with Turbo Boost Technology for optimal performance and an choice of professional graphics including the NVIDIA Quadro K-series GPUS and AMD FirePro graphics. The M6700 is the first and only to offer AMD FirePro M6000 with PCIe x16 Gen 3 for fast data throughput.

HP Announces new HP Z220 Workstations and EliteBook Mobile Workstations

HP Z220 Workstations

HP has announced some new additions to their workstation lineup.  First up is an entry level workstation called the Z220.  It features next-generation Intel® Core and Intel® Xeon® processors, the latest integrated and discrete professional graphics from Intel, NVIDIA and AMD and four integrated USB 3.0 high-speed ports. The Z220 entry-level workstation is available in a choice of an exceptionally expandable, Convertible Mini-Tower (CMT) or a highly compact Small Form Factor (SFF) that’s 65 percent smaller.