5. HP EliteBook Folio 9470m
The EliteBook Folio 9470m is HP’s enterprise-focused Ultrabook and is based on Ivy Bridge (and thus is currently in release-limbo likely until after Computex). The Folio 9470m is not only included in this list because it has a good set of on-device ports, but it also has something that most Ultrabooks do not: a docking port. With a docking port you don’t need to set your Ultrabook down and connect it to each device individually. Instead just set it down on the dock, which already has your desk-devices connected, for a painless connection to all of your devices (printer, HDD, mouse, screen, etc.) in one fell swoop. The ports on the docks vary from dock to dock, but here’s what you’ll find on the Folio 9470m itself:
- 3xUSB 3.0
- full VGA
- full DisplayPort (1.1a)
- 3.5mm headphone
- full SD
- ethernet/LAN (RJ45)
- docking port
- (optional) SC card slot
The inclusion of DisplayPort instead of HDMI also makes the Folio 9470m unique in the port department.
HP has not yet provided pricing details, but the 9470m is expected to be available in October.
Nice job Ben.,
The Ultrabook buying advisor is being updated this weekend to include more information about ports too and I have an article being prepared about desktop usage. Ports can play a big role in desktop usage although there are some USB docking solutions which are quite interesting.
Chippy.
I honestly don’t know how you & Ben are going to keep up with all these new UB’s over the next few years. UB’s are about to become the “new” Android phones! Brilliant move by you Chippy for seeing the new trends coming & getting in on the ground floor, even though it was slow for the 1st year or so.
This is excited as I’ve been about the PC market since the netbook & UMPC days. MS & Intel are so desperate to stay relevant in the new world of Apple/Google/ARM that I expect to see the biggest marketing push in the history of PC’s coming up.
The Z835 is the retail version of the Z830, not the US version.
Also, I’m surprised the first one on the list is the UX32 considering it lacks full sized VGA and Ethernet which are very important ports imho.
Other than that, great article.
Thanks Tsuki, updated the article.
It depends where you are in the world. The retail version in UK and Germany is the Satellite z830. Confusing.
That is confusing… All I knew was that you could get a Z830 in the US if you got it directly from Tosh.
The vario z actually uses Intel’s Light Peak, not the USB 3 interface ( but it use the USB port ) :)
very minor detail, awesome article
All I really, really need are USB-ports. The rest can be solved wirelessly or in worst case scenario with a dongle.
I can see why a business user would want three different video-out ports, but I suspect that it’s just wasted space for a lot of people like me, mostly using the laptop at home for music, video and internet. Sure, at times I bring it to school or to the library, but even then I rarely use any other ports than the USB ports.
If I was a business user I probably couldn’t get enough ports though. If I’m at some new place and I need to give a PP presentation I just want to be able to set it up right away without any hassle. But then I probably wouldn’t care much about screen or sound quality.
I wish they would separate the different types of laptops a bit more to be able to cater to our needs a bit better.
These ultrabooks are so well endowed. I’m jealous.