| The 14.1" HP Compaq 6510b battery notebook is one | | | | The sound was easily adequate on the 6510b, even |
| of eight or so “Balanced Mobility” business | | | | good I would say. If you listen to music on a low to |
| machines currently being offered by HP. The 6510b is | | | | medium setting it's actually quite pleasant to listen to |
| much like the AMD based Compaq 6515b we | | | | the 6510b speakers, a movie would be the same. |
| reviewed earlier, but instead the 6510b uses the new | | | | Volume goes up to the point where it gets loud, |
| Intel Santa Rosa platform. The 6510b has a relatively | | | | though the sound is ear piercing at that point so you |
| low price as it starts at $999 with a 1.80GHz Intel | | | | definitely won't want to use that setting. The |
| Core 2 Duo processor (Santa Rosa generation). | | | | headphone out port is on the front left side if you |
| Though the 6510b is a budget business notebook, it | | | | want better audio quality via external speakers or |
| doesn't make sacrifices when it comes to security | | | | headphones. |
| and communications features you'd want to have as | | | | Performance and Benchmarks |
| a business person. Our review model has integrated | | | | With the new Intel Santa Rosa Core 2 Duo |
| Verizon EV-DO and you can get 802.11n for faster | | | | processor platform on board you can rest assured |
| wireless. There's a fingerprint reader for biometric | | | | performance will be at the top of the curve for |
| security and it offers a TPM integrated security chip. | | | | notebooks. The new Intel platform was released just |
| The 6510b, being a business notebook, is designed so | | | | this May and it represents the latest and greatest. |
| that it can share a common image with other HP | | | | With our review unit we got a 2.20GHz processor, |
| notebooks if an IT department is standardizing on | | | | which is certainly speedy for a business notebook, |
| this brand. | | | | especially one that's somewhat budget oriented. With |
| The 6510b isn't made of any fancy magnesium or | | | | 2 GB of RAM on board there were zero issues |
| aluminum composite, it's mostly plastic in its build, but | | | | running Windows Vista Business and you won't get |
| it's by no means flimsy because of this. It's not | | | | any lag. There are no dedicated graphics options, just |
| exactly a notebook you'd want to take along if | | | | the Intel X3100 integrated graphics solution, but that's |
| you're a road warrior, but rather good in terms of | | | | just fine for a business machine. The Windows Vista |
| portability between work and home where you | | | | Index score for the 6510b was very good, the |
| would have a docking station at each location. | | | | lowest score was a 3.4 for graphics (which isn't bad) |
| The 6510b is all business in its looks using only dark | | | | and the processor scored an excellent 5.1: |
| gray and black colors. It's a clean and boxy look, To | | | | Battery Life |
| keep the look clean HP even goes so far as to make | | | | The default provided battery for the 6510b is a 6-cell |
| the media buttons touch sensitive instead of the | | | | battery that performed reasonably well. In battery |
| type that protrude. While the touch sensitive buttons | | | | saving mode with the screen set to middle |
| look nice and the lights on them are pretty, I | | | | brightness, Wi-Fi and WWAN on I got 2.5 hours of |
| personally prefer the protruding buttons as it's | | | | battery life. That's not half bad, dim brightness all the |
| generally more user friendly to be able to "feel" a | | | | way down and turn off all the radios and you'll be |
| button. Thankfully the touch sensitive buttons do not | | | | able to push upon 3 hours of battery life. |
| beep loudly when touched like the dv6000t buttons | | | | Heat and Noise |
| do, that wouldn't go over well in a business | | | | The 6510b is fairly quiet overall, the only time I really |
| environment. | | | | heard any noise generated from it was when running |
| Design and Build | | | | benchmarks such as PCMark05 and 3DMark05 -- in |
| The build of the 6510b sony vgp-bps9 is mostly | | | | other words, applications that really make the |
| plastic. The plastic is thick though, so you still get | | | | notebook work hard. The fan did get a bit loud during |
| decent protection. It's not as rugged as say a | | | | these times of intense usage, but under normal |
| ThinkPad, but there are no major flexing issues with | | | | conditions you won't have any issues with too much |
| the chassis. The keyboard is very firm with no major | | | | heat or noise. I installed Notebook Hardware Control |
| flexing issues. There's a latch to hold the lid down | | | | and according to its measures the CPU temperature |
| firmly, again it is made of plastic though does its job. | | | | remained at about 50C when idling. There were no |
| The hinges of the screen are just right, sturdy | | | | hot spots on the notebook, you could easily use it in |
| enough so you don't get screen wobble yet not so | | | | your lap comfortably and the palm rests won't make |
| rigid that you can't open the screen with just one | | | | you sweat. |
| hand. | | | | Wireless |
| One knock is that HPincluded a plastic dummy insert | | | | The HP 6510b included the latest Intel 802.11n capable |
| for the the PCMCIA slot, a flap is preferable as those | | | | wireless chipset, the Intel 4965agn. While I didn't test |
| inserts are tricky and tend to get lost eventually. | | | | the wireless with an 802.11n router, the wireless |
| The design is basic and clean. I'd call it boxy in its | | | | range and throughput was very good using an |
| looks, sort of like the Honda Element of notebooks. | | | | 802.11g router we have in our office. Wireless on/off |
| Somehow it still looks quite trendy though, I think the | | | | power is managed using HP's Wireless Assistant |
| fonts on the keyboard keys and cool LED lights give | | | | software, or you can simply tap on the touch |
| it a nice balance of a new age look with retro shape | | | | sensitive wireless on/off switch at the top of the |
| and styling. | | | | keyboard. The touch sensitive button is a little finicky |
| The 6510b is slightly thicker and heavier than your | | | | and I would have preferred a "real" button, even if |
| average 14.1" business notebook, it's not as thin and | | | | such a thing doesn't look as fancy. |
| light as the HP nc6400 or the ThinkPad T61 for | | | | Conclusion |
| instance. | | | | The HP Compaq 6510b offers a nice blend of good |
| This review notebook has a 14.1" WXGA matte | | | | performance and a reasonable price. The build quality |
| screen, you can get a BrightView glossy screen of | | | | is good, but not great. The look is clean and stylish, |
| the same resolution. I prefer the matte screen for a | | | | but it won't win any awards. The screen quality is |
| work environment and for a business notebook. | | | | good, with no complaints, but it won't outshine some |
| Some people that like to see greater contrast and | | | | of the nicer Sony, Apple or Fujitsu displays out there. |
| bolder colors will go with the glossy BrightView | | | | The ports selection is all you really need for a |
| though. The screen brightness is good, it's certainly | | | | business notebook, and the keyboard is nice to use. |
| not the brightest screen out there and not on par | | | | The 6510b isn't the lightest or thinnest 14.1" screen |
| with a Sony or Fujitsu screen, but it's adequate. | | | | notebook out there, but you'd be paying more if it |
| There are no complaints to be had regarding light | | | | were. In other words, HP has designed a well |
| leakage, the screen is evenly lit. As usual with | | | | rounded portable notebook that's not quite on the |
| notebook screens, the vertical viewing angles are not | | | | cutting edge with any of its aspects, but it is reliable |
| so great while the horizontal viewing angles are | | | | and leaves little to complain about -- exactly what |
| decent. | | | | you'd want in a budget business notebook. |
| Sound | | | | |