HP Intros ProBook 6445b/6545b Notebooks

Charles P. Jefferies · 10-13-2009, 07:05 PM

HP Intros ProBook 6445b/6545b Notebooks

HP is hoping to capture business from companies upgrading their notebooks to Windows 7 models with the introduction of the value-based Probook b-series. The b-series notebooks, including the 6445b and 6545b, feature AMD processors and graphics. The 6445b features a 14-inch display while the 6545b features a 15.6-inch; both displays have LED backlighting. HP claims power consumption improvements over previous HP AMD-powered notebooks and a battery life of up to eight hours.

The ProBook b-series will be available worldwide on 22 October starting at $799 and in mid-November in the United States starting at $789.

HP Press Release (BusinessWire.com)

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Darwin11 · 10-13-2009, 09:04 PM

If they got rid of the plasticky feel of the old ones these will do better i think. i liked the way the old ones looked but these look better.

Charles P. Jefferies · 10-14-2009, 12:39 AM

These do look nice, I'll be keeping an eye on them. $789 starting sounds a little steep, though I will wait until they're released to make a judgment.

Greg Ross · 10-14-2009, 12:40 AM

That 15.6" laptop better not have a 1366x768 screen. At least give us the option for something more.

Charles P. Jefferies · 10-14-2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Ross

That 15.6" laptop better not have a 1366x768 screen. At least give us the option for something more.

Yeah, especially in a business environment. Only 768 pixels of vertical res is a productivity killer, unless you only need to see a couple of rows in Excel or a third of a word document.

Currently HP offers WXGA and WSXGA+ on their 15.4" value notebooks and WXGA and WXGA+ on their 14" models.

MGS2392 · 10-14-2009, 12:46 AM

I really hate HP's port placement. Looking at the 6545b picture there's 3 USB ports right next to each other. 3. That's absolutely asinine. Try using a USB drive, USB mouse, and USB cable next to each other. Not going to happen. They managed to do it on my 8730w too. 1 on the left side (I'm guessing for mousing convenience), 3 scrunched together on the right. HP needs to engineer usability.

siLc · 10-14-2009, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGS2392

I really hate HP's port placement. Looking at the 6545b picture there's 3 USB ports right next to each other. 3. That's absolutely asinine.

You haven't seen a bit of it yet - some older unknown laptops such as ECS G335 have them 4 in a row and on the right-handed side

I'm a bit confused about the HP suffixes. Previously HP used to suffix the most basic models with "s" and small business with "b". Now its the other way around?

John Ratsey · 10-14-2009, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Ross

That 15.6" laptop better not have a 1366x768 screen. At least give us the option for something more.

The HP specs for the 6545b say:

Quote:

15.6-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD anti-glare; 15.6-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD+ WVA anti-glare

Can someone translate what that means? Specifying screens for business use using HD is meaningless.

John

Greg Ross · 10-14-2009, 02:37 AM

Maybe 1600x900 then? That would maybe be acceptable, though I'd like to see 1920x1080.

Red_Dragon · 10-14-2009, 02:42 AM

Hm, these are probooks, but they look like elitebooks. Very weird