The focus of this article is the remarkable HP ProBook 4520s mobile device. The main feature of this notebook on the market is that it is positioned in the business-class price niche, along with such well-known brands as Apple and Sony Vaio. However, its price in comparison with competitors is much lower (35,000 - 40,000 rubles). The buyer is given the opportunity to get acquainted with the device in absentia, to find out its technical specifications and, based on the feedback of IT professionals, make their own conclusions.
Individual approach to the final consumer
The company Hewlett-Packard in its arsenal always has a certain assortment for each line of laptops, which is able to attract customers with both expensive and cheap devices. However, the HP ProBook 4520s series of mobile devices clearly hints to potential buyers that the gadget is intended for business people for whom system performance is higher than price.
All modifications of laptops in this line are designed to work with demanding office and multimedia applications. And if the future owner is a fan of dynamic games, then even for him there is a high-performance device. This is the company's current policy for mobile stations labeled ProBook.
Options for businessman
The manufacturer responsibly approached the issue of the device configuration. What does the appearance of the box in which the laptop comes! It is made in black strict style without any pictures. On one of the side faces of the box, the user will find a specification with a complete list of device characteristics.
The buyer will also be pleased with the equipment: charger, full user manual, driver discs, battery, HP ProBook 4520s laptop and carrying bag. Not every manufacturer provides his device with a very high-quality bag, and here the buyer gets a decent portfolio with a shoulder strap, having shockproof gaskets and made of black water-repellent nylon. Great approach for a businessman! Judging by the reviews of the owners, the kit lacks a wired manipulator - a mouse. However, the manufacturer considered this superfluous, because the tastes of all people are different - many may simply not like such a gift.
The appearance is mesmerizing
The HP ProBook 4520s looks very presentable. The strict case, including the laptop cover, is made of textured aluminum. The manufacturer did not experiment with the coloring, giving the user a small choice: light silver and black. The main feature of the aluminum cover is that it not only does not collect fingerprints, but also is an excellent heat conductor. The lid opens easily, without any jerking, as is often the case with low-cost models. When the device is deformed, there are no creaks and other extraneous sounds, which emphasizes the build quality.
It is unfortunate that the manufacturer made a keyboard stand and frame for the screen out of plastic. It does not spoil the appearance at all, but a certain hostility, hinting at metal savings, is present. Having examined the laptop from all sides, the user will not find any bumps and curves - a strict device pleases the eye.
Problem screen
When it comes to business-class laptops, a priori there is an idea that the device’s screen has Full HD resolution and has an IPS matrix. After all, the buyer is initially ready to spend a round sum for a decent device on the market. HP is about to change its marketers, because their new HP ProBook 4520s screen features are not worthy of a business class. The fifteen-inch display is made using TN + Film technology and has a resolution of 1366 × 768 pixels per inch. And this is in the 21st century!
The situation with viewing angles and glare on the screen in sunlight is eliminated by the LED-backlit display, but the overall impression is clearly spoiled. If we talk about the quality of the picture and the display of small print on the screen, then they are in full order, the user should not have any irritations during viewing.
Great keyboard
The owners of the HP ProBook 4520s keyboard unit will please. It is complete, with all the necessary buttons, including a digital unit. All keys are made in a simple style and are divided among themselves by small recesses. The button travel is short, but rather stiff, with sensitive feedback to the finger - accidental pressing is excluded. There are additional function keys that are placed on the F1-F12 buttons, which is quite convenient during operation.
Users will also like the light indication that is present on the function buttons. It is quite convenient to see which modes are active and which are not (Wi-Fi, CapsLook and the like). Judging by the reviews of the Russian-speaking owners, there are questions about the layout of the keyboard: the fact is that the Latin and Cyrillic are the same color, which is not very convenient during operation.
This is the touchpad!
All, without exception, users will certainly appreciate the touchpad on the HP ProBook 4520s. Reviews of the owners in the media assure that he will conquer anyone from the first seconds of work. The touchpad is huge, it is a single touchpad. The manufacturer even changed the buttons to the ClickPad touch panel , thereby increasing the total area of the touchpad. Naturally, such a wonderful control platform has a multitouch function with full support for all gestures of the Windows operating system. The touchpad on the laptop is very sensitive, but learning how to use it is pretty easy.
It is worth noting that to the right of the touch panel, under the digital unit, is a fingerprint reader. The manufacturer considered that a business device must have a decent security system. A great solution for this price niche! And if the owner believes that the protection should be maximum, then he will definitely like the proprietary utility from the manufacturer HP, which with the help of a two-megapixel webcam is able to recognize faces for authorization.
Laptop Interfaces & Amenities
On the front panel of the case, the manufacturer placed a card reader and audio interfaces for connecting a microphone and headphones. On the left side there are two USB 2.0 ports, a network interface RJ-45, HDMI and VGA-connectors. In the corner there is a slot for the Kensington lock. The right panel has a DVD writer and two USB 3.0 ports.
A rather interesting cooling system is the HP ProBook 4520s. The characteristic of heat exchange was clearly a priority for the manufacturer of a powerful device. However, the user, turning the laptop over, will not find the air intake grilles. On the bottom of the case there are only high rubberized legs, which, as noted by users in their reviews, are able to hold the laptop on slippery and uneven surfaces, thereby providing good protection against accidental shifts and falls. A proprietary cooling system takes and removes air through one of the ends of the laptop, and copes well with the heat sink.
System performance
It is clear that for buyers who have looked after a laptop HP ProBook 4520s, the technical characteristics of the device will not be in last place. From the proposed modifications there is something to choose:
- Core i3 / i5 / i7 processors (from two to four cores with a locked multiplier that does not allow overclocking);
- Intel GMA HD, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 530v and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 video adapters (all limited to 512 MB);
- hard drives HDD from 250 to 640 GB inclusive;
- RAM from 2 to 8 GB.
According to the manufacturer, there are exclusive modifications for some European countries with installed SSD drives, however, such devices were not seen on the Russian market. If the user wishes, the installation of an ultrafast drive can be performed by any seller, since the devices have become much cheaper in our market.
Disassembling a laptop
For all users of the HP ProBook 4520s laptop, “how to disassemble the device” is the number one issue, because, as noted earlier, there is nothing except rubberized legs on the bottom of the gadget. To disassemble, you will need a screwdriver, which needs to unscrew the two screws along the edges of the rear end of the laptop. Then you need to disconnect the battery and unscrew the seven screws in the battery compartment. Gently turning the laptop over, you need to remove the plastic panel of the keyboard unit. Loosen the screws and disconnect the cable holding the keyboard. The same actions should be performed with the touchpad, and by sliding it towards yourself, the user will get access to all components of the laptop, including the cooling system.
To summarize
Notebook HP ProBook 4520s can be called an inexpensive solution for business class representatives, because this device combines all the best features that are required in this price range: elegance, convenience and high performance. The weak link in this model is undoubtedly the display, apparently, this is the argument that allowed the device to have a low cost compared to competitors. If you need a stylish laptop for work and entertainment, then it is simply not possible to find a better gadget in our market.