HP EliteBook 8540w

61 reviews

May, 2013

Positive
Keyboard (19)
Screen (17)
Performance (13)
Resolution (4)
Build quality (4)

Negative
Connectivity (4)
Portability (1)
Sound (1)

General overview
Price comparison
Product Specifications

alaTest has collected and analyzed 61 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviews about the build quality and battery are overall positive. The performance and screen also get good feedback. Many are negative about the sound and portability, while the touchpad and value for money get mixed opinions.

keyboard, screen, performance, battery, build quality

energy, connectivity, portability, sound

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Laptops the HP EliteBook 8540w is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 87/100 = Very good quality.

See all Hewlett-Packard Laptops

Review analysis

(Based on 61 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(32% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (50% of reviews)
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(5% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (13% of reviews)
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Features

Keyboard
Show positive (67%)Show negative (13%)(Show all)

Screen
Show positive (57%)None yet(Show all)

Battery
Show positive (47%)Show negative (29%)(Show all)

Performance
Show positive (92%)Show negative (8%)(Show all)

Value for money
Show positive (26%)Show negative (32%)(Show all)

More features

Showing 46 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Showing 1 - 10 of 46 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (20)

Expert review by: J. Simon Leitner (notebookcheck.net)

Review: HP Elitebook 8540w Notebook (ATI M5800)

Worker Bee. Reaching a rating of almost 93%, the HP Worksation le ...

Good Variety of Ports ; Good Display ; Very Good Case ; Very Good Performance ; Very Good Keyboard ; Broad Spectrum of Uses ; Good Graphics Performance ; Numerous Additional Features ; Various Accessories (optional) ; Relatively Low Noise and Heat...

Short Battery Life Under Heavy Use ; Little Space Between Ports (in some cases) ; Fairly Heavy Weight

Not much. Above all, a full-HD resolution so as to see as many open windows on the screen as possible at once

Nov, 2010

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Expert review by: Tobias Winkler (notebookcheck.net)

Review HP Elitebook 8540w Notebook

CAD Expert + X. Primarily created for professional work, the tech ...

Comprehensive interface options ; Very good display ; Very good case ; Very good performance ; Very good keyboard ; Very wide application range ; Good graphic performance ; Good expandability ; Many optional accessories available ; Relatively low...

Accuracy of hinge component mounting in detail ; Cardreader very slow ; Fan control after load phase ; Poor accessibility of telephone support ; no email or live chat support ; Short battery life under load ; Ports partly very tight ; Somewhat high weight

That HP has achieved setting up an overall successful notebook so well. There is hardly anything left to desire

Jun, 2010

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Expert review by: Joshua Goldman (cnet.com)

HP EliteBook Mobile Workstation 8540w

With rare exception, mobile workstation laptops are not glamorous. It's a category that puts performance, security, and practicality before portability and stylish design. The HP EliteBook 8540w, though maybe not a full exception, proves that a...

Excellent configuration options including a color-accurate LCD; great tools for fine-tuning performance and power usage; rugged, but attractive design; lots of security.

Heavy; short battery life; small touch pad.

The HP EliteBook 8540w is an attractive and versatile mobile workstation that's tougher than it looks.

Nov, 2010

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Expert review by: Kevin O'Brien (NotebookReview.com)

HP EliteBook 8540w Mobile Workstation Review

On most notebooks the strength of the lower chassis is usually overlooked, especially around the optical drive which is the widest open bay. Pressing on the edge of the opening it flexes slightly until it makes contact with the bezel of the...

Great build quality ; Stylish and functional design ; Solid performance

Custom configurations skyrocket in price ; Still no backlit keyboard option

Compared to the EliteBook 8540p with the NVIDIA NVS 5100m graphics card, the Quadro FX 880M was able to perform certain 3D duties with higher speeds. Its 3D gaming performance was also higher, but only slightly. The Quadro cards are generally tweaked...

Sep, 2010

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Expert review by: Ryan McLaughlin (justechn.com)

Review: HP EliteBook 8540w Mobile Workstation

The Elitebook laptop is HP's top of the line business notebook, and the 8540w is near the top of that series. The Elitebook 8540w includes several upgrade from last years model, including a faster processor, better screen, and a better video card.

In the end I am impressed with the strength and quality of the of this laptop. It is put together with some top quality parts. My main concern is the battery life. A 15″ laptop is a good travel size and is going to be taken on the road, but with just...

Feb, 2011

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Expert review by: Edward F. Moltzen (crn.com)

Review: HP EliteBook 8540w

The HP EliteBook 8540w is the highest-performing notebook evaluated to date in the CRN Test Center lab, and also sports an attractive price point for a system in this class.

The bottom line: the HP EliteBook 8540w is a screamer, is absolutely great for desktop replacements and occasional mobility and is built to have staying power. It's a notebook we can enthusiastically recommend.

Feb, 2011

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COMPUTER SHOPPER - EDITORS' CHOICE

Expert review by: Denny Atkin (computershopper.com)

HP EliteBook 8540w Mobile Workstation with DreamColor Display

A stylish, highly configurable notebook with a class-leading screen and solid design, this EliteBook is an excellent mobile workstation for photographers and graphics pros.

Superb screen; good overall performance; little bloatware

Short battery life

Double your display real estate by adding a second monitor. It's a snap: Here's how

Sep, 2010

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Consumer review by: ibsurfun (cnet.com)

"I work with all sorts of laptops this is the best."

One great computer that can do more than most desktops well worth the $. Where it is true that the battery life is not as long as you would like you can't expect more with this kind of power.

Mine has win7 64 bit and the full 16 G of ram this is an fast computer by any standards and the light scribe blueray DVD burner works great.

Pointer in the keyboard and the buttons for the touchpad once in a rare while the soundcard will get quirky

Nov, 2011

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Consumer review by: frenzycapri (cnet.com)

"Houses lot of power to allow multi-tasking."

I am using a lighter power adapter which makes this mobile.

Very Sturdy

The power adapter is very heavy. You just can't think of carrying it around.

Jul, 2011

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Consumer review by: mattfreddy (cnet.com)

Not satisfied

Coming off a Lenovo X61 Core2Duo laptop, I had high expectations on this laptop. But I am sorry to say, it did not meet my expecations. It is less than a month since I had this laptop keys on keyboard started poping out. Since I am on call most of...

Relatively fast, (compared to old Core2Duo processor) ; Keyboard feels smooth and not hard on fingers

Not suitable for rugged use ; Graphics issue, looses colors

Apr, 2011

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Product Specifications

Audio Input

Type:Stereo microphone

Audio Output

Type:Sound card

Battery

Run Time (Up To):5.5hour(s)

Technology:Lithium ion

Cache Memory

Installed Size:3MB

Dimensions & Weight

Depth:9.9in

Height:1.3in

Weight:6.4lbs

Width:14.7in

Display (Projector)

Diagonal Size:15.6in

Diagonal Size (metric):39.6cm

Max Resolution:1600 x 900

Technology:TFT active matrix

Widescreen Display:

Yes

Environmental Standards

ENERGY STAR Qualified:

Yes

Header

Compatibility:PC

Country Kits:United States

Localization:English

Manufacturer:Hewlett-Packard

Model:8540w

Packaged Quantity:1

Product Line:HP EliteBook Mobile Workstation

Input Device

Type:Pointing stick / Touchpad / Keyboard

Miscellaneous

Manufacturer Selling Program:HP Smart Buy

Modem

Max Transfer Rate:56Kbps

Protocols & Specifications:ITU V.80 / ITU V.251 / ITU V.250 / ITU T.4 / ITU T.30 / ITU V.92 / Bell 103J / ITU V.8bis / ITU V.27ter / ITU V.23 / ITU V.17/ITU V.80 / ITU V.251 / ITU V.250 / ITU T.4 / ITU T.30 / ITU V.92 / Bell 103J / ITU V.8bis / ITU V.27ter / ITU V.23 / ITU V.17 / ITU V.34 / ITU V.32bis / ITU V.29 / ITU V.22bis / Bell 212A / ITU V.21

Type:Fax / modem

Networking

Data Link Protocol:IEEE 802.11n / IEEE 802.11g / IEEE 802.11a / IEEE 802.11b / Gigabit Ethernet / Bluetooth 2.1 EDR/IEEE 802.11n / IEEE 802.11g / IEEE 802.11a / IEEE 802.11b / Gigabit Ethernet / Fast Ethernet / Bluetooth 2.1 EDR

Type:Network adapter

Wireless LAN Supported:

Yes

Wireless Protocol:802.11 a/b/g/n / Bluetooth 2.1 EDR