HP ProBook 6460b 14-inch Review

As with any other member of HP’s b-series notebooks, ProBook 6460b grabs the attention with its sleek and striking design. It is incorporated with features that complement its stunning looks. As its description goes, it is a professional assistant that can handle mobile meetings and also prepare reports. HP ProBook 6460b is surely remarkable with its durability and efficiency. It stands out with following features.

Specifications:

• Dimensions (WxDxH): 33.8 cm x 23.1 cm x 3.4 cm
• Weight: 2.2 kg
• Localisation: English / United Kingdom
• System Type: Notebook
• Built-in Devices: Stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial, Bluetooth aerial
• Embedded Security: Trusted Platform Module (TPM 1.2) Security Chip
• Processor: Intel Core i5 2520M / 2.5 GHz ( 3.2 GHz ) ( Dual-Core )
• Cache Memory: 3 MB - L3 Cache
• RAM: 4 GB (installed) / 16 GB (max) - DDR3 SDRAM - 1333 MHz - PC3-10600
• Card Reader: Yes
• Hard Drive: 500 GB - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 rpm
• Optical Storage: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - removable plug-in module with LightScribe Technology
• Display: 14" LED backlight HD+ anti-glare TFT 1600 x 900 ( WXGA++ )
• Graphics Controller: Intel HD Graphics 3000 Dynamic Video Memory Technology
• Audio Output: Sound card
• Telecom: Fax / modem - MDC - 56 Kbps
• Networking: Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
• Notebook Camera: Integrated
• Input Device: Keyboard, touchpad
• Power: AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
• Battery: 6-cell Lithium Ion
• Run Time (Up To): 7.25 hour(s)

The keyboard on the computer is full-sized including a dedicated number pad and a large touchpad and optional pointing stick. There are also special launch buttons which can be used to launch popular apps and power the QuickWeb as well as volume. These come with HP’s ProtectTools for enhanced security and data protection, HP Power Assistant which should provider better HP ProBook 6460b battery life, and HP QuickWeb which allows user to get online quickly without having to do a full boot into Windows.

If you dig the ProBook's style but want better performance, there are multiple options at reasonable prices. HP is currently selling a 2.3-GHz Core i5 version of this laptop for just $14 more than the configuration we reviewed, though it previously cost $100 more, at $899. You can also step up to a 2.5-GHz Core i5 CPU and order the 6460b with a touchpad and pointing stick.

Located on the bottom-left side of the laptop, the ProBook 6460b’s speaker produces plenty of volume. Not only could we hear over medium background noise, but the audio also had a modicum of depth to it. That’s thanks to the SRS Premium Sound drivers. On the audio configuration screen, we were even able to improve the quality of John Barrowman’s “All Out Of Love” by choosing the Voice audio enhancement, which brought the center forward. We noted present, but not strong, bass when listening to Tricky Pixie’s “Alligator in the House.” The Harry Potter trailer also got surprisingly loud.

Magnesium-reinforced ABS plastic used as a casing and to prevent damage from spills, 6460b using a drain down the case, which works in combination with a spill-resistant keyboard. At 13.3 x 9.1 x 1.3 inches and 5.2 pounds, the 6460b ProBook certainly not 14-inch business laptop is the lightest around. Island-style keyboard on the HP ProBook 6460b AC adapter get the job done, but could be better, the layout is fairly wide, flat keys and do not offer the strongest tactile feedback. The ProBook 6460b’s 3.9 x 1.8-inch touchpad is Comfortably wide and has a friction-free matte texture for easy navigation.

A strong wireless signal is always a good thing for a laptop that's designed to be portable, and the Broadcom 43224AG radio inside this notebook didn't disappoint. We measured throughput at a blistering 50.7 Mbps at 15 feet from our router. This only dropped to 30.5 Mbps 50 feet away. In this category, the 6460b beats the average (35.5/21.8) and all of the competition.

Not only did the fan get louder as time passed, the case also got noticeably warmer. The HP ProBook's surface remained cool as expected in idle. We could measure temperatures between 25.4 and 28.8 degrees Celsius in an ambient temperature of 22.6 degrees. There were areas on the bottom that exceeded 34 degrees Celsius.

The HP Power Assistant utility is more robust than Windows 7's existing power options, though it mirrors some of that functionality. Not only can you control what power profile the notebook is using, but it also shows how many watts are being used and how much wattage certain elements take up, and HP ProBook 6460b adapter can give a summary of your power usage over time. The tool can also collect and export power data--something more useful for IT managers than for many SMB users, but nice to have on board. We particularly like the ability to schedule changes in power profiles. This utility also has a Battery Health Checker, which is useful as batteries get older.

Touchpad of ProBook 6460b is wide and perfect for navigation. Matte texture of touchpad prevents friction and makes navigation simple and effortless. Synaptics pad of ProBook 6460b facilitates multitouch service but it is unreliable; zooming also becomes problematic. Furthermore, provided mouse buttons are not quite good with their narrow pattern.

Boasting an elevated level of design in a tungsten color, the HP ProBook 6460b sports a bead-blasted aluminum display enclosure, a magnesium-reinforced ABS chassis, and a bottom case with drain that helps protect against accidental minor spills. The full-sized keyboard allows you to type quickly and is conducive to using gestures.

HP ProBook 6460b laptop comes with a sleek, professional design offers good performance with a powered core processor i3 in it. Laptops are sold at a price of $ 799 also offers a HP BB09 battery life long enough, with 6 cell HP ProBook 6460b battery is able to live up to 7 hours and 15 minutes for normal use, and 6 hours 56 minutes when it used to surf the internet with a connection wifi.

The $899 HP ProBook 6460b is an attractive business notebook for a good price with robust security features. If you don't need a lot of muscle, the Core i3 version we reviewed is a solid choice, but those looking for more performance should upgrade to the Core i5 version. Among 14-inch small business laptops, we prefer the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s, which has a superior keyboard and touchpad. But the ProBook 6460b's long HP BB09 battery life, durable chassis, and strong audio make it a viable choice.