FLYING ELITE BUSINESS CLASS

BILL BENNETT ROAD TESTS THE NEW HP ELITEBOOK FOLIO G1 AND DISCOVERS A LAPTOP THAT MEANS BUSINESS.

Laptops usually mean compromise. You can have thin and light, but that often means less computing power, fewer features and a smaller screen. Everyone wants long battery life, but that adds weight – so does replacing a standard display with a touch screen.

HP has managed to strike a comfortable balance with the HP Elitebook Folio G1. It is small, light and looks good. While you wouldn’t use it to edit complex movie clips, it can take just about every business task you’re likely to throw at it in its stride.

The Elitebook Folio G1 weighs between 1000 and 1100 grams depending on the configuration. At 17mm, it is thin, but not the thinnest laptop around. That title goes to its stablemate the HP Spectre, which is a skinny 10.4mm. The Spectre is sold to consumers, the Elitebook Folio G1 is designed for business.

If you think there’s a resemblance to the Apple MacBook, you’d be on the money. It is about the same size, with a 12.5inch screen and the same aluminium unibody construction. It has a dark grey, metal finish similar, but a different colour, to the anodised finish on MacBooks. It looks like a premium laptop that can go head-to-head against Apple’s competitor.

WINDOWS DRIVEN

The big difference between the Elitebook Folio G1 and the MacBook is that HP’s laptop runs Microsoft Windows. This is important for a lot of companies. Apple’s OSX operating system has its virtues, but it doesn’t always slot easily into Microsoft-based company set-ups. What’s more, most business people are comfortable with Windows. They don’t need to spend time learning how to use new software.

HP uses Core M processors in the Elitebook Folio G1 range. The chips are light, thin and sip battery juice, but you can say the same about most laptop chips these days. Where they differ is that they are quiet. There are no fans, so no fan noise. If you’re used to a laptop with a fan you’ll notice this difference.

OPTIONS

There are a number of configurations to choose from, starting with a non-touch screen Elitebook model that sells here for $2600. That model has 128GB of storage and an Intel Core m5 processor.

We tested the top-of-the-line model with an ultra-high definition (UHD) touch screen. That’s 3840x2160 pixels and comparable to a 4k TV screen. It also has an Intel Core m7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB solid state drive.

Although the price is not cheap at $3700 plus GST, it is an investment for people who depend on their computers. Elitebooks are sold in New Zealand with a three-year warranty, which adds to the value.

SHARP DISPLAY

Immediately you fire up the Elitebook you notice the display. The UHD display is so sharp that you can’t see individual pixels. Video displays beautifully. While text and normal business applications look fine, you may find yourself adjusting the software to make characters bigger. UHD screens are power hungry, but we found we could squeeze almost eight hours out of the battery.

HP has chosen simplicity over adding lots of connectors to the Elitebook. There are just two USB-C ports along with an audio jack. That’s enough for most people if you have Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet.