HP Compaq 6515b

Based on the just announced M690 chip set from AMD, the HP Compaq 6515 represents a new breed of business-oriented notebooks for the Palo Alto company. Moving away from the nx and nc prefixes which denoted the market positioning of its predecessors, three different suffixes now determine the features and target audience of the portable.

Common among the new series is the shift to the wide-screen format which offers more display real estate than the standard aspect LCD. Our preview unit, the HP 6515b, is a mid-range business model which includes extras like a fingerprint biometric sensor, touch-sensitive buttons and proprietary QuickLook feature. The initial launch will include the AMD-powered HP Compaq 6715s, HP Compaq 6715b and HP Compaq 6515b.

Upside
The key highlight of the 14.1-inch wide-screen HP Compaq 6515b is the proprietary QuickLook feature and the wide-screen format. Hitting the Info Center button on the touch-sensitive shortcut bar (which also includes controls for volume, Wi-Fi, presentation mode, num and caps lock), bypasses the usual system boot-up and allows you to access e-mail, appointments and other Microsoft Outlook information. Strong security features, the foundation of any serious corporate portable, are accounted for with the presence of a fingerprint biometric sensor, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip and hard disk encryption tools. Data integrity during drops is made possible with a 3D accelerometer protecting the magnetic platters in the hard drive from scratching.

The laminated chassis is hardier than most plastic-based portables while keeping the cost down. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet and modem are available to handle network access, with the option to include the faster 802.11n radio. The 6515b is compatible with HP Compaq Business notebook accessories, which include docking stations, high-capacity batteries and other peripherals.

Downside
Though its AMD Turion X2 processor and integrated ATI Mobility Radeon X1250 graphics chip has enough juice to run the demanding Windows Vista Aero Desktop Experience, heavy users of photo or video-editing software might find the system too slow for comfort. The lack of an integrated Webcam might hinder frequent travellers who depend on video conferencing to stay in touch.

Bottom line
Unless you are a strong proponent of wide-screen LCDs, we feel that the QuickLook feature is not strong enough to recommend upgrading from the current nx and nc series. But as one of the few wide-aspect ratio LCD notebooks in the market with a strong corporate feature set, the HP Compaq 6515b should find favour with corporate customers looking at value-for-money propositions.

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