HP is refreshing it’s first entry into the Ultrabook space, the Folio 13, with the business oriented EliteBook Folio 9470m. This is a business focused machine which HP has brought up to speed with a third-generation Ivy Bridge processor a larger screen, a removable battery, docking connector, secondary-battery port, and more.
The Folio 9470m is the first of HP’s Ultrabooks to include a docking connector for compatibility with the company’s docking station. The 9470m is also compatible with HP’s secondary ‘slice’ battery which can be attached for even greater battery life. The primary battery is also user-removable in case you want to carry a spare. There’s also optional integrated 3G/4G (LTE) data connectivity for road warriors. The Folio 9470m is also part of the HP Global Series Program which ensures that companies can purchase the 9470m in a standardized configuration across 151 different countries.
The only major spec missing from what HP has released thus far is the exact CPU options. We know that it will be Ivy Bridge because of the listed HD 4000 integrated graphics. You can bet on Intel’s Core i5 CPU being offered at the least, and there is a chance that we’ll see Core i3 and Core i7 options as well.
The screen size has been increased by 0.7″ diagonally from 13.3″ to 14″, but the resolution remains the same at 1366×768. The Folio 13 supported up to 4GB of RAM while the Folio 9470m supports up to a whopping 16GB! The Folio 9470m adds one additional USB port over the Folio 13, and upgrades them all to USB 3.0, bringing to total to 3xUSB 3.0.
The port spread is pretty good, including the aforementioned USB ports, full VGA, full DisplayPort (1.1a), combined mic/output 3.5mm headphone jack, full SD, and a full RJ45 (ethernet/lan) port.
The Folio 9740m release date is still a little ways off, not expected to hit the shelves until October. Price has yet to be specified (likely because it is expected that the 9740m will be bought in bulk for enterprise use). After Dell’s enterprise success with the XPS 13 Ultrabook, I’m curious to see if HP will see similar interest from the business sector.
Here is the full spec breakdown for the Folio 9740m from HP:
| Operating system | Windows® 7 Professional 32 Windows® 7 Professional 64 Windows® 7 Home Premium 32 Windows® 7 Home Premium 64 FreeDOS |
| Environmental | BFR/PVC-free |
| Dimensions and weight | |
|---|---|
| Weight | Starting at 3.6 lb (Starting at 1.63 kg) |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 13.3 x 9.09 x 0.75 in (33.8 x 23.1 x 1.89 cm) |
| Memory | |
|---|---|
| Memory, maximum | 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM |
| Memory slots | 2 SODIMM |
| Storage | |
|---|---|
| Internal drive | SATA II (7200 rpm) From: 320 GB Up to: 500 GB SED SATA II (7200 rpm) Up to: 500 GB mSATA Solid State Drive Up to: 256 GB Solid State Drive Up to: 256 GB |
| Graphics | |
|---|---|
| Display | 14″ diagonal LED-backlit HD anti-glare (1366 x 768) |
| Graphics | Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 4000 |
| Expansion features | |
|---|---|
| Ports | 3 USB 3.0 1 docking connector 1 secondary battery connector 1 DisplayPort 1.1a 1 VGA 1 AC power 1 combo stereo headphone/mic jack 1 RJ-45 |
| Slots | 1 SD/MMC |
| Audio | SRS PRO Audio; Integrated stereo speakers; Integrated dual-microphone array; Button for volume mute; function keys for volume up and down; Headphone/Microphone combo port |
| Integrated camera | 720p HD webcam (select models) |
| Keyboard | Spill-resistant keyboard and drain |
| Input devices | Glass Touchpad with on/off button, two-way scroll, gestures, two pick buttons; Pointstick with two additional pointstick buttons |
| Communications | |
|---|---|
| Network interface | Integrated Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (10/100/1000 NIC) |
| Wireless | HP hs2350 HSPA+ Mobile Broadband HP un2430 EV-DO/HSPA Mobile Broadband Intel Centrino 802.11a/b/g/n Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 802.11a/b/g/n (2×2) and Bluetooth 4.0 combo Atheros 802.11a/b/g/n (2×2) with Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Broadcom 802.11b/g/n with Bluetooth 4.0 combo (1×1) |
| Power and operating requirements | |
|---|---|
| Power supply | 45W Smart AC adapter (models with integrated graphics with dual core) |
| Battery type | Primary: 4-cell (52 WHr) Li-Ion Slice: 6-cell (60 WHr) Li-Ion |
| Security management | |
|---|---|
| Security management | Optional: Computrace (sold separately and requires the purchase of subscription) Intel Anti-Theft Technology (requires Absolute Computrace subscription) HP BIOS Protection Security Lock Slot HP Fingerprint Sensor (select models) |
| What’s included | |
|---|---|
| Software installed | Microsoft® Office Starter: reduced-functionality Word and Excel® only, with advertising. No PowerPoint® or Outlook®. Buy Office 2010 to use the full-featured software; Microsoft Security Essentials; HP Connection Manager; HP Hotkey Support; HP ProtectTools for Central Management; HP ProtectTools Security Manager; HP Recovery Manager; HP Support Assistant; HP Webcam Software (select models); Adobe® Flash Player; Corel WinDVD (select models); PDF Complete Corporate Edition; Roxio MyDVD Business 2010 (select models); Roxio Secure Burn (select models); Skype ready (Internet access required); WinZip Basic |
| Manageability features | HP 3D DriveGuard (Windows only) |
It’s my clear impression that all of HP’s new models have a screen bigger than 11.6 inches, so that in fact that the small and very attractive 11.6 models no longer are produced: Is this impression correct? If so, I hope that HP again soon will make the 11.6 models, for the minor footprint is of great importance to many of us traveling a lot.
In the EliteBook announcement, HP also showed the new 2170p. It’s an 11.6″ ultraportable. Since it’s not “thin,” hardly any sites makes much mention of it. I’m interested in it, as well as, the 12.5″ HP 2570p and Lenovo X230.
So far, none of these ultrabooks are getting any of my money. Looks like I’ll be buying traditional ultraportables for a while.
I’m looking forward to the HP 2170p too. It has a small footprint, weights 1.3 kg and an “advertised” 9 hour battery life.
If neither the 2570p nor the X230 can be configured with the 3612QM then I’ll just go for the 2170p. I’ll just not use my virtual machines running multi-threaded software. I’ll still keep an eye on ultrabooks though. Maybe one of these companies will come out with a fairly tough <= 12.5" ultrabook with long battery life.
A second thought: Try and make the formfactor so that the width and length of the machine are lesser/smaller than 20 and 30 cm respectively, and – furthermore – try and keep the bezel as narrow as possible. Such small PCs will be great, and the screen and keyboard will still be big enough for most of us to use even for prolonged working periods.
looks like a matt type screen which is welcome it would be nice to have it on the new spectre as well with higher res.
I also really hope that the HP models that are less than 12.5″ also will have the option of glossy screen. I am so unsatisfied with matt screens, which I think are too dull and too little “vibrant”.
That’s not likely to happen on any business targeted notebook. I personally would like to see a PixelQi option myself.