14 DAY TRIAL // When you think of a business laptop, you probably think of a big bulky machine with no style. But leave it to HP to provide a fashionable alternative to this stereotype by introducing a new member of the EliteBook Folio family.
The newest and thinnest addition to the family yet is the 1040 G1 which measures just 15.9 mm / 0.62 inches and weighs 3.3 pounds / 1.49 kg. But there’s something special about this particular product, except for its anorexic frame. The 14-inch notebook is one of the first of its kind to use the Synaptics ForcePad technology.
The ForcePad is basically a different type of clickpad. As the name indicates, getting this done on the laptop won't entail clicking anymore, as there are no buttons left to click.
Instead, the system has been replaced with a pressure-sensitive surface, so if you want to access a program, you’ll need to sort of push against the palmrest of the laptop, which might prove a little bit counter-intuitive at fist.
The EliteBook Folio 1040 G1 boasts MIL_STD 810G certification, meaning the device can survive some standard drops, bumps and bruises.
The product has been designed for mobile professionals who need powerful configurations to get the job done on the go, thus HP offers a choice in processor configuration between Core i7 and Core i5 4th gen Haswell processors coupled with 8GB of RAM.
Business users also get to opt which operating system to have onboard, with choices ranging between Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Pro.
The HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G1 features a 14-inch screen with a resolution of 1600 x 900 or 1920 x 1080. Note that the display boasts a matte finish that nicely reduces glare. HP also awards the touch-screen option, if you’re more comfortable working like that.
As security is very important for professional users, HP has also added a subtle finger print-sensor, located on the right side that will help safeguard sensitive information. On top of that, we have a backlit keyboard, Smart Card reader and docking port.
Will all these functionalities on board, the EliteBook Folio 1040 G1 won’t come cheap, but then again no business device ever does, so expect it to bear a lofty $1,299 / €944 price tag.