HP ProBook 5330m
Review Summary:
The ProBook 5330m is an attractive business notebook with excellent durability and performance at a low price.
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Solid performance in its class
- Good backlit keyboard
Cons
- Limited configuration options
- Gets warmer than expected
- Good, but not great battery life
HP ProBook 5330m Full Review
The HP ProBook line of business notebooks has always attempted the meet the needs of businesses and consumers alike. The new HP ProBook 5330m looks like the perfect solution if you want a powerful, aluminum-wrapped laptop for work and play but can't afford a MacBook Pro. Is it possible to find a lust-worthy business laptop for $899 or less? Keep reading to find out.
Build and DesignLet's be honest. Anyone who thinks the new HP ProBook 5330m wasn't designed to directly compete with the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is likely suffering from some type of delusion. The 13.3-inch ProBook 5330m combines all the aluminum-clad beauty of the MacBook Pro with the Windows-based business features of the HP Elitebook laptops.
The 5330m is less than 1-inch thin (if you don't count the rubber feet on the bottom of the notebook), features a dual-tone color scheme, brushed aluminum chassis and backlit keyboard and is HP's first business notebook to offer "Beats Audio" with software-enhanced audio playback over the built-in speakers and the earphone jack. The ProBook 5330m features a 13.3-inch anti-glare display (1366x768) and second-generation Intel Core i-series processors, including the dual-core i3 and i5 variants. It does not have an internal optical drive but weighs only 4.0 lbs.
The design is a quantum leap over most of the previous HP ProBook laptops -- which are mostly just low-cost alternatives to the enterprise-class HP EliteBook line. The 5330m gives you the durability of aluminum construction combined with an underside made of magnesium alloy and covered in rubberized black paint similar to what you'll find on the Lenovo ThinkPad line of business-rugged notebooks.Overall, the build is exceptionally strong for a notebook that has a starting price of just $799. At first glance the build and design has a lot of drool-worthy elements for both IT geeks and average computer users. Of course, you can't have everything on a budget.
Ports and Features
Most notebooks designed for business have an impressive array of ports so you can connect your laptop to any number of devices. Unfortunately, HP didn't include that many ports since the ProBook 5330m was designed for budget-conscious businesses and consumers. Of course, you also don't get a built-in DVD drive. What you do get are two USB 2.0 ports (three if you count the eSATA/USB 2.0 port), Ethernet, VGA, HDMI, an SD card reader and a headset jack.
Most notebooks designed for business have an impressive array of ports so you can connect your laptop to any number of devices. Unfortunately, HP didn't include that many ports since the ProBook 5330m was designed for budget-conscious businesses and consumers. Of course, you also don't get a built-in DVD drive. What you do get are two USB 2.0 ports (three if you count the eSATA/USB 2.0 port), Ethernet, VGA, HDMI, an SD card reader and a headset jack.
Gone are the days of ExpressCard expansion slots, FireWire or dedicated microphone and headphone jacks. HP decided to offer HDMI on the 5330m rather than DisplayPort since more consumers will likely connect their notebook to consumer-grade monitors or HDTVs. The only connection I'm disappointed isn't here is a USB 3.0 port. USB 3.0 is the new USB standard and we're seeing more and more external storage and accessories take advantage of the faster speeds offered by this port. I understand that HP was aiming for a street price of $899 or less, but this 5330m should have come with USB 3.0.
Front: Speakers | Back: Screen hinges |
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Left: Security lock slot, VGA, eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port, HDMI and SD card slot |
Screen and Speakers
The HP ProBook 5330m has a 13.3-inch HD anti-glare 720p (1366x768) display with LED backlighting. HP isn't offering any alternative screen options at the time of this writing. Most of our editors agree that higher resolutions of 1600x900 and 1920x1080 are preferable on larger screens, but 1366x768 is probably the maximum about of resolution you want to pack onto a 13-inch screen ... assuming you actually care about reading text. Of course, you can always connect a larger, higher resolution display to the 5330m via either the VGA port or HDMI.
The HP ProBook 5330m has a 13.3-inch HD anti-glare 720p (1366x768) display with LED backlighting. HP isn't offering any alternative screen options at the time of this writing. Most of our editors agree that higher resolutions of 1600x900 and 1920x1080 are preferable on larger screens, but 1366x768 is probably the maximum about of resolution you want to pack onto a 13-inch screen ... assuming you actually care about reading text. Of course, you can always connect a larger, higher resolution display to the 5330m via either the VGA port or HDMI.
The biggest advantage of the anti-glare (matte) screen is that it helps reduce reflections and makes the screen usable outdoors under direct sunlight. I really have to praise HP for doing this. Yes, glossy screens have better contrast and usually better color saturation, but laptops are made to be mobile ... which means people sometimes use them outdoors. I wish more modern notebooks came with anti-glare screens as standard.
Viewing angles are pretty average: Colors and brightness appear good from straight-on or when viewing from the sides, but tilt the screen forward or back more than 5 degrees and you'll start to notice color distortion and inversion. The contrast ratio is average to low--we measured it at 201:1 with a peak luminance of 152 nits in the center. This notebook's display is fine for working in Microsoft Office watching the occasional movie but you'll probably want to connect an external display if you're doing color-critical work.
HP borrowed the Beats Audio processing from its consumer notebooks and put it into the new ProBook 5330m to give this laptop better sound. Indeed, the stereo speakers on the 5330m do sound a little better than the typical micro-sized speakers found on notebooks designed for small and medium businesses. However, there's only so much that Beats Audio can do with two speakers that are smaller than the size of a dime.
The biggest problem we have with the audio performance is the location of the speakers. Both speakers are located on the bottom front edge of the notebook instead of near the top of the keyboard or next to the screen. As a result, sound isn't directed up and toward the user. In fact, if you're using the 5330m as a "laptop" then the sound is muffled against your legs. Similarly, if you decide to use the notebook on your bed then the sound will likewise be suppressed. That said, if you use the 5330m on a desk the audio will "bounce" off the hard surface of the desk and you'll be able to hear it fine.Keyboard and Touchpad
The HP ProBook 5330m has a Chiclet-style keyboard with extra spacing between the keys to help prevent typos on a physically smaller laptop like a 13-inch notebook. The keys are flat and have a textured feel to them. Key travel and throw are excellent; it's generally very easy to type with and is a quite comfortable experience. The support structure in the chassis prevents the keyboard from flexing under heavy typing pressure. Thankfully, HP included dedicated page up, page down, end, and home keys on the right hand side of the keyboard.
The HP ProBook 5330m has a Chiclet-style keyboard with extra spacing between the keys to help prevent typos on a physically smaller laptop like a 13-inch notebook. The keys are flat and have a textured feel to them. Key travel and throw are excellent; it's generally very easy to type with and is a quite comfortable experience. The support structure in the chassis prevents the keyboard from flexing under heavy typing pressure. Thankfully, HP included dedicated page up, page down, end, and home keys on the right hand side of the keyboard.
As you can see in the images above, HP gave the 5330m a backlit keyboard to make typing easier in dark environments like a meeting room during a PowerPoint presentation or when you're on an evening flight. My only complaint about the backlit keyboard is that there is a significant amount of light "bleed" around each key. This helps with overall visibility in dark rooms, but it can also be disruptive at times. I wish HP either deduced the adjusted the edges of the keys to block excess light or made the keyboard backlighting adjustable. As it is now, you can only turn the keyboard backlight on or off (you can't tweak the brightness to your liking).
Considering that the 5330m is obviously "inspired" by the Apple MacBook Pro, I am a little surprised that the Synaptics touchpad is so small. It's larger than the touchpad on the HP EliteBook 2560p, but it's not large enough to be as "convenient" as the touchpad on the MacBook Pro. The surface of the touchpad is very smooth and easy to use even if your fingertips are moist from holding a beverage. The dedicated left and right touchpad buttons are fine with soft, cushioned clicks.Our HP ProBook 5330m has the following specifications:
- 13.3-inch HD anti-glare 720p (1366x768) with LED backlighting
- Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
- Intel Core i5-2520M dual-core processor (2.5GHz, 3 MB L3 cache)
- Intel QM67 chipset
- Integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000
- 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM
- 500GB Hitachi 7200rpm hard drive (HTS725050A9A364)
- Broadcom 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n Wi-Fi adapter, gigabit Ethernet
- Bluetooth 2.1
- HP HD webcam
- 6-cell Li-ion battery (41Whr)
- Fingerprint reader
- Weight: 4.0 lb
- Dimensions: 12.91 x 8.86 x 1.00 inches
- 1-year limited warranty
- Price as configured: $899
The HP ProBook 5330m currently has a starting price of $799 with an Intel Core i3 processor but an extra $100 gets you the faster Core i5 processor included in our review unit.
Performance and Benchmarks
Our HP ProBook 5330m review unit has an Intel Core i5-2520M dual-core processor (2.5GHz, up to 3.2GHz Turbo Boost, 3 MB L3 cache), integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics and 4GB DDR3 RAM at 1333MHz. System performance is quite good, with overall speed and multitasking capabilities at or near the top of its class.
Our HP ProBook 5330m review unit has an Intel Core i5-2520M dual-core processor (2.5GHz, up to 3.2GHz Turbo Boost, 3 MB L3 cache), integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics and 4GB DDR3 RAM at 1333MHz. System performance is quite good, with overall speed and multitasking capabilities at or near the top of its class.
Its performance is as good or better than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 (another 13-inch business/consumer laptop designed to be lust-worthy for PC users). The ProBook 5330m looks like an even better deal when you consider that the 5330m is only slightly more expensive than the HP Pavilion dm3t but is basically twice as fast with four times the graphics power packed inside a more durable chassis. The system handles 720p HD video just fine, but when we connected the ProBook to an external monitor it had a few dropped frames during 1080p playback on some file formats. The 500GB Hitachi hard drive with a 7200rpm rotational speed is reasonably quick for basic PC work but we've seen much faster hard drives in other HP notebooks.
wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):
PCMark Vantage measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):
PCMark 7 is a newer benchmark which measures overall system performance in Windows 7 (higher scores mean better performance):
3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):
Heat and Noise
Although HP has been doing much better in terms of managing heat in its notebooks, the ProBook 5330m got unusually hot at times during our review. Typical idle or web browsing temperatures remained below 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but the bottom of the notebook reached peak temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit when we stressed the system with our benchmark tests. The palmrests and aluminum top deck of the notebook kept cool, but the magnesium alloy bottom ended up radiating the majority of the heat. The cooling fan only became noticeable when the notebook was reaching high temps and the fan worked at maximum speed to push heat away from the core components.
Although HP has been doing much better in terms of managing heat in its notebooks, the ProBook 5330m got unusually hot at times during our review. Typical idle or web browsing temperatures remained below 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but the bottom of the notebook reached peak temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit when we stressed the system with our benchmark tests. The palmrests and aluminum top deck of the notebook kept cool, but the magnesium alloy bottom ended up radiating the majority of the heat. The cooling fan only became noticeable when the notebook was reaching high temps and the fan worked at maximum speed to push heat away from the core components.
Battery Life
The ProBook 5330m delivered decent battery life during our standard battery test. Our review notebook has a standard 6-cell 41Whr Lithium Polymer battery. The battery is located behind a quick release panel on the bottom of the notebook so you can swap the battery out while you're on the road, but since it's contained within the notebook behind that bottom panel you can't use a higher-capacity battery. During our tests we set the screen brightness down to 70%, turn the Wi-Fi on active (refreshing a web page every 60 seconds) and set to Windows 7 to the balanced power profile. The notebook stayed powered on for 5 hours and 21 minutes. That is pretty close to the "5 hours and 30 minutes" of battery life claimed on the HP website. In short, battery life is good but not as impressive as what we've seen from other 13-inch notebooks.
The ProBook 5330m delivered decent battery life during our standard battery test. Our review notebook has a standard 6-cell 41Whr Lithium Polymer battery. The battery is located behind a quick release panel on the bottom of the notebook so you can swap the battery out while you're on the road, but since it's contained within the notebook behind that bottom panel you can't use a higher-capacity battery. During our tests we set the screen brightness down to 70%, turn the Wi-Fi on active (refreshing a web page every 60 seconds) and set to Windows 7 to the balanced power profile. The notebook stayed powered on for 5 hours and 21 minutes. That is pretty close to the "5 hours and 30 minutes" of battery life claimed on the HP website. In short, battery life is good but not as impressive as what we've seen from other 13-inch notebooks.
Battery life test results (higher scores mean better battery life):
ConclusionAt the end of the work day, the HP ProBook 5330m is the kind of business laptop you'll be happy to take home. For just $799 or $899 you get a well-equipped notebook with extremely durable construction, good performance an a nice keyboard with LED backlighting.
Of course, at that price you have to accept limited configuration options, limited ports, and average (but still decent) battery life. I wasn't too happy to see how hot the bottom of this notebook gets when you're running graphics-intense tasks, but HP is giving you a lot of PC for a relatively small amount of cash.
For a laptop that was designed (at least in part) to be a lower-cost Windows alternative to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the HP ProBook 5330m is a pretty impressive machine. I would actually recommend this notebook over the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 (arguably the king of the hill among Windows PCs in this class).
Pros:
- Excellent build quality
- Solid performance in its class
- Good backlit keyboard
Cons:
- Limited configuration options
- Gets warmer than expected
- Good, but not great battery life
Individual Ratings: *
Software & Support
Upgrade Capabilities
Usability
Design
Performance
Features
Price/Value Rating
* Ratings averaged to produce final score
Software & Support
Upgrade Capabilities
Usability
Design
Performance
Features
Price/Value Rating
* Ratings averaged to produce final score
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