The ProBook 4310s marks a new look for HP's business laptops. It's definitely a shift away from the styling of the previous models. The only thing the Probook retains from that generation of laptops is the mouse button mechanism (which, admittedly, we disliked pretty strongly in the last set of business laptops from HP) and the touch-sensitive controls above the keyboard.
Instead, the ProBook looks closer in styling to a grown-up HP Mini 5101, from the piano-black lid - which picks up fingerprints all too readily - to the scrabble tile keys and blocky, squared-off shape.
Unlike the tiny Atom processor in the Mini, however, the ProBook sports a far more energetic Core 2 Duo T6570 - running at 2.1GHz, it was able to conjure up a perfectly acceptable 1.02 overall score. 2GB RAM is plenty for running the normally supplied Vista - our version came with an XP downgrade.
The scrabble-tile keyboard has good responsiveness and travel, reminiscent of the Apple MacBook keyboard, rather than the Sony VAIO keyboards which we've lauded.
The spacing of the navigational key allows them more room than usual, and makes moving around documents using the keyboard alone faster and more efficient for business users who may want to avoid the trackpad. Compared to the Dell Vostro, opposite, it feels more comfortable to use and given the 13.3in form factor, it's also more spacious.
The trackpad has only a vertical scroll shortcut, but is otherwise nondescript - that we've been used to seeing in more recent business laptops. It is, however, nicely wide, allowing for sweeping gestures. It's a shame that the mouse buttons have the overly soft feel of the previous generation of HP business laptops. We'd have liked to see something more akin to the 6390's lovely buttons.
The matte screen is an absolute pleasure to use; it's resistant to glare, and both the resolution and the crispness of text and images help create a comfortable working environment for those chained to their desk for long periods.
The battery, as with the HP Mini laptops, is the biggest letdown for the ProBook 4810s. Its 3-cell capacity left it with only 1 hour and 23 mins in our intensive use testing. Even with nothing running besides the half-brightness screen, the HP could only manage 3 hours 46 mins - this isn't a laptop that begs to be taken out on the road for lengthy periods.
Fortunately, HP's extended batteries have proven themselves for other laptops we've tested, such as the HP Mini 5101 and the Elitebook 6930p, and investing the $100 or so that it will cost you for the extended battery is well worth the money.
The other downsides are the size and bulk of the 4810s - it may look modern, but its profile is rather more bricklike than we'd hoped at 34-41mm. Compare it against the likes of the 11.1in Sony TT and it looks both gargantuan and square. Even so, it manages to look relatively svelte next to the even chunkier Dell Vostro 1220, but neither is a laptop you'd want to try and find a sleeve for.
Having said that, the price of the ProBook is a palatable $1194. The Dell, is around $200 cheaper, but for that $200 the HP provides Vista Business, DDR3 RAM, Wireless-n, gigabit Ethernet, HDMI and a slightly larger, better resolution screen. The tradeoff looks worth it if the features are a selling point to you. And therein lies the rub.
For business buyers, it's a curious mix of the old and the new - the RJ-11 port, optical drive and matte screen are traditional small business laptop staples. But the HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet, HP security manager and fast hard drive are far more current in their appeal.
It's probably not enough for the ProBook to win over consumers, even at $1194, but for small business wanting a touch of flexibility in their workhorse, it could work exceptionally well.