M4600 vs. W520 vs. 8560w

[5150cd]

Until mSATA drives are move available and are supported better, I prefer to roll with a 2.5" SSD and a 2.5" HDD. The M4600 only supports a mSATA and a (1) 2.5" drive.

The W520 supports Optimus in both graphic configurations. The M4600 does not support Optimus when using the IPS display and the AMD graphics card available offers no kind of graphic switching.

[wow]

yes, it is all about IPS panel. W520 with decent screen+Optimus and 2 HDD/SSD+mSATA drive looks more attractive compared to M4600 with similar configuration(-1 HDD/SSD slot). But IPS display is a big deal. I think I am moving towards M4600 with IPS display depending reviews will be good(there are none at the moment, which is kind of annoying for such advanced product not to have a professional review). For me laptop is a 100% desktop replacement, I favor good monitor and ready to sacrifice battery life and other perks for it.

[lovelaptops]

To All: keep in mind that HP has a terrible reputation for quality and driver problems on new models. I'm not clear as to whether the M4600 is an all new model or just a refresh (as is the W520) nor am I aware of whether the new Dells are as bad as new HP's (it's a general rule of thumb with all new complex products - computers, cars, etc. - to stay away from brand new models. But HP is notorious for problems with even refreshes - eg, 2540p, 2740p - and buying a completely new models such as the 8x60s is just asking for trouble. Caveat emptor.

The Dell and HP are a complete redesign, while the Lenovo hasn't really changed in years... What specific issues have you experienced or heard of with the new HP Elitebook line?

I haven't heard anything about the new Elitebook 8X60 line. They're only just hitting the market. I'm commenting from personal experience with the 8540w, 8730w, 2730p and 2740p over the last 2 years. These were either new models or refreshes and in all cases I had at least one return and, in the case of the 2740p, 4 returns until I finally got a unit I could live with, and it took a $1,000 added discount for me to accept the 5th unit. HP is great about throwing money at you when they delay shipments or sell you poor quality machines - though the $1,000 off an already discounted $1,700 tablet PC was truly unprecedented - but you do go through a lot of aggravation and time wasted as you help them do what should be their own beta testing but they do it with version 1.0 general releases instead.

But again, I am not familiar with any experiences, good or bad, with the newest Elitebooks; I'm just speaking from fairly extensive experience with their predecessors over the past several years.

[ostler]

Yes, I read from another post that there is a bug in power unit of 8540w or elsewhere that may make the notebook down. Though this is corrected after a few months, but HP should do this in their internal test.

[Out of the Maelstrom]

Until mSATA drives are move available and are supported better, I prefer to roll with a 2.5" SSD and a 2.5" HDD. The M4600 only supports a mSATA and a (1) 2.5" drive.

The W520 supports Optimus in both graphic configurations. The M4600 does not support Optimus when using the IPS display and the AMD graphics card available offers no kind of graphic switching.

Are you saying the AMD card absolutely will NOT allow optimus to run?? Only the Quadros will allow optimus?? Even in BIOS?

[sgogeta4]

Optimus is nVidia technology, so far AMD doesn't have an equivalent for their workstation models (not sure about consumer ones). Only the Quadros will run Optimus if there is no 10-bit panel (IPS) installed since the integrated GPU only supports up to 8-bits.

[Out of the Maelstrom]

Optimus is nVidia technology, so far AMD doesn't have an equivalent for their workstation models (not sure about consumer ones). Only the Quadros will run Optimus if there is no 10-bit panel (IPS) installed since the integrated GPU only supports up to 8-bits.

Thanks very much. I thought Optimus was something Intel offered on their newer CPUs, the ones with on-board graphics.

[Kuroi-Tsubasa]

If it helps you sgogeta, I bought my W520 for the battery like (#1 reason) and for the great, inexpensive (compared to the IPS panels) 1080p display.

[ksna]

Mine arrived today. Haven't tested out the battery life but I expect it only to be a few hours because of the IPS screen (which is great, btw).

Only complaint is the size of the power supply (see below). Would be interested to see the adapter for the HP and the Lenovo.

[Out of the Maelstrom]

Mine arrived today. Haven't tested out the battery life but I expect it only to be a few hours because of the IPS screen (which is great, btw).

Only complaint is the size of the power supply (see below). Would be interested to see the adapter for the HP and the Lenovo.

The w520 adapter is a beast in size, similar to yours in the photo above, but supposed to actually weigh *less* than the w510's.


Btw, report please on your M4600!



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