- Solid, smart-looking chassis
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
- Good battery life
- Removable battery and second battery (slice) option
- Windows 7 downgrade option
- Most models have a low-resolution screen
- No touchscreen option for Windows 8 fans
- Expensive
The HP EliteBook Folio 9470m is technically an ultrabook, but you could be forgiven for neither noticing nor caring. Its 14-inch screen makes it large enough for serious working, its build quality is solid and you can specify either Windows 7 or 8. There's even a legacy VGA port if you need to hook it up to an ageing monitor or projector.
Starting at £1,133 (ex VAT), the HP EliteBook Folio 9470m can't be described as "affordable". But does it justify the price tag?
Design
We don't often describe business notebooks as good looking, but that's precisely what we say in this case. Even before you open it, HP's EliteBook Folio 9470m looks good. Its mercury-silver shell is a shade different from the norm, and HP's branding on the lid is gratifyingly subtle.
We don't often describe business notebooks as good looking, but that's precisely what we say in this case. Even before you open it, HP's EliteBook Folio 9470m looks good. Its mercury-silver shell is a shade different from the norm, and HP's branding on the lid is gratifyingly subtle.
Features
With 16 configurations of the EliteBook Folio 9470m available on HP's (UK) website, there's plenty of choice. At the entry level you get a 1.9GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-3437U processor with integrated (HD Graphics 4000) graphics. The GPU remains unchanged throughout the range, but you can boost the processor to a 2.1GHz Core i7-3687U. You get either 4GB or 8GB of RAM as standard, expandable to a maximum of 16GB.
With 16 configurations of the EliteBook Folio 9470m available on HP's (UK) website, there's plenty of choice. At the entry level you get a 1.9GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-3437U processor with integrated (HD Graphics 4000) graphics. The GPU remains unchanged throughout the range, but you can boost the processor to a 2.1GHz Core i7-3687U. You get either 4GB or 8GB of RAM as standard, expandable to a maximum of 16GB.
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit is available as a downgrade from Windows 8 Professional on 14 configurations and preinstalled on two. The HP EliteBook Folio 9470m doesn't have a touchscreen, so the merits of using Windows 8 are questionable to say the least. Out-of-the-box availability of Windows 7 Professional will doubtless chime with many current corporate IT policies.
Storage options include 128GB or 180GB SSDs and a 500GB physical hard drives. Some models also include 32GB of flash cache, which is designed to accelerate disk performance.
Gigabit Ethernet is a common feature throughout the range, and there's a full-sized RJ-45 port — not something you see in every ultrabook — on the right-hand side, by the screen hinge. Also ubiquitous is 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi via Intel's Centrino Advanced-N 6235 chipset, which also includes Bluetooth 4.0. Some models add mobile broadband (HSPA+ or EV-DO/HSPA) connectivity.
The EliteBook Folio 9470m has just three USB 3.0 ports, one of which supports sleep-and-charge. The charging connector is on the left edge, while the other two USB ports are side by side on the right. The left edge also houses a combined microphone/headphone combo jack and the power connector, along with a SmartCard reader.
Behind the two USB 3.0 ports on the right side, which are towards the front, sits a DisplayPort adapter, and behind it a VGA port — which will be welcome to those who need to use legacy equipment, either in their own offices or when visiting clients. Further back on the right side is a SD card slot, just in front of the RJ-45 Ethernet port.
In some models, the upper screen bezel houses an HD webcam capable of capturing 720p video. This can also be used for facial recognition-based login. Alternatively, there's a fingerprint scanner on the wrist rest. Another "corporate" feature on the EliteBook Folio 9470m is its docking connector, which when used with the optional £104 (ex. VAT) docking station, means you can leave your printer, external keyboard, display and other peripherals permanently connected at your office base.
Performance & battery life
The EliteBook Folio 9470m's Windows Experience Index (WEI) is a moderate 4.9 out of 9.9. The WEI corresponds to the lowest-scoring subsystem, which (as usual with integrated-graphics systems) is Graphics (desktop graphics performance). The top score of 6.9 goes to Processor (Calculations per second). In between are scores of 5.9 for Memory (RAM Memory operations per second) and Primary hard disk (Disk data transfer rate), while Gaming Graphics (3D business and gaming graphics performance) gets 6.3.
The EliteBook Folio 9470m's Windows Experience Index (WEI) is a moderate 4.9 out of 9.9. The WEI corresponds to the lowest-scoring subsystem, which (as usual with integrated-graphics systems) is Graphics (desktop graphics performance). The top score of 6.9 goes to Processor (Calculations per second). In between are scores of 5.9 for Memory (RAM Memory operations per second) and Primary hard disk (Disk data transfer rate), while Gaming Graphics (3D business and gaming graphics performance) gets 6.3.
Performance-wise, our review unit is solidly middle-of-the-road. It'll handle mainstream business tasks perfectly well, but if you need more disk performance, consider specifying a model with flash cache, a hybrid drive or an SSD. If you need the discrete-GPU-level graphics performance, you'll need to look elsewhere.
The HP EliteBook Folio 9470m may be an ultrabook, but HP has done the right thing and provided an accessible battery. The long, wedge like 52 watt-hour four-cell battery provides up to 8.5 hours of life with a hard drive or 9.5 hours with a lower-power SSD, according to HP. There is also an optional 60Wh 6-cell slice battery (£104 ex. VAT) for even longer life away from mains power.
We found that for low-level mainstream tasks (a mixture of word processing and internet access) we could get through a working day fairly easily on the standard battery. If you plan to work on the commute home, though, we suggest either a power boost towards the end of the day or an investment in the optional battery slice, Be aware, though, that the extra battery adds 780g to the weight.
Despite the incorporation of SRS Pro Audio and stereo speakers we weren't overly impressed with the Elitebook's sound output. There's quite a tinny overlay to the sound even at lower volumes; crank the volume to the maximum and it's palpable. Still, top volume ought to be loud enough to deliver presentations to small groups. The screen's colour rendering is far from vibrant, though, and this combined with moderate-quality audio suggests that if you do a lot of notebook-based presenting you might want to look elsewhere.
Conclusion
The HP EliteBook Folio 9470m is a well-made ultrabook-style system with a particularly good combination of keyboard and touchpad. We like the removable battery and the optional battery slice, but would prefer a higher screen resolution across the board. Windows 8 fans will also note the absence of a touchscreen option.
The HP EliteBook Folio 9470m is a well-made ultrabook-style system with a particularly good combination of keyboard and touchpad. We like the removable battery and the optional battery slice, but would prefer a higher screen resolution across the board. Windows 8 fans will also note the absence of a touchscreen option.
Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 33.8 x 1.89 x 23.1 cm |
| Case form factor | clamshell |
| Weight | 1.61 kg |
| OS & software | |
| Operating system | Windows 8 Professional (with Windows 7 Professional 64 downgrade option) |
| Chipset & memory | |
| Chipset | Mobile Intel QM77 Express |
| RAM installed | 4096 MB |
| Number of memory slots | 2 |
| RAM capacity | 16 GB |
| Video | |
| VGA (analogue) | 1 |
| Video out | DisplayPort |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| GPU type | integrated |
| Display | |
| Display technology | TFT (active matrix) |
| Display size | 14 in |
| Native resolution | 1366x768 pixels |
| Connections | |
| USB | 3 x USB 3.0 |
| Docking station port | 1 |
| Smartcard | 1 |
| Flash card | SD |
| Networking | |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000Mbps |
| Ethernet controller | Intel 82579LM Gigabit Ethernet Controller |
| Wireless | |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 |
| Mobile broadband | optional HSPA+ |
| Input | |
| Pointing devices | 2-button multitouch glass touchpad, 2-button pointing stick |
| Keyboard | backlit, spill-resistant |
| Fingerprint reader | Yes |
| Camera | |
| Main camera | front |
| Main camera resolution | 2 megapixels |
| Audio | |
| Audio connectors | microphone/headphone combo |
| Speakers | stereo |
| Audio processor | SRS Pro Audio |
| Microphone | dual array |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Accessories | AC adapter |
| Other | docking station, battery slice |
| Service & support | |
| Standard warranty | 3 years |
| Battery | |
| Battery technology | Li-ion (4-cell) |
| Estimated battery life (mfr) | 8.5 h |
| Number of batteries supported | 2 |
| Removable battery | Yes |
| Hard drive | |
| Rotation speed | 7200 rpm |
| Hard drive interface | SATA III |
| Hard drive type | standard |
| Hard drive capacity | 500 GB |
| Networks | |
| 3.xG | HSPA+ |
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