HP ProBook 6360b Impressions

The HP ProBook 6360b's thirteen-inch form factor means the system remains very portable, though it's not nearly equally slim as some of the notebooks we have recently looked at that belong in the premium ultraportable category.

HP has nevertheless done a skilful job styling the ProBook 6360b. HP is using a magnesium-reinforced ABS chassis with a bead-nail aluminum display enclosure. The outer beat out, touchpad and palm rest are tungsten colored and treated with HP DuraFinish, a smudge / wearable / scratch-resistant coating that will keep the system looking newer for longer. The 1.3" thickness is likely a result of the included optical drive which has nigh vanished from the ultraportables of today.

The front profile of the ProBook reveals a latch for the display -- a feature other manufacturers accept abased lately. In addition to the lid latch is a banking company of four LEDs on the left side for wireless, ability, charging and hard drive activity. An SD / MMC card slot occupies the right.

Expansion options on the right side of the ProBook include headphone and microphone jacks, a mini-FireWire jack, an eSATA / USB ii.0 combo jack, a USB 2.0 port, a DisplayPort port, a VGA-out connector, a filler blank where a modem jack would go and the power connector.

The rear is outfitted with a removable battery bay and exhaust vents for the internal cooling fans. The left side shows a Kensington locking slot, network jack, 2 more USB ii.0 ports, an optical bulldoze and a 54mm ExpressCard slot.

Flipping the notebook over, we see seven rubber anxiety for stability and lift, and a docking port that will integrate nicely if you already use an HP dock at work. Two down-firing speakers are near the front edge of the system, and in that location are diverse vents and keyboard drains scattered beyond the base too.

The bombardment is easily removable and reveals the Windows CD key sticker and a SIM card slot. The access panel is more interesting, as it covers the majority of the underside of the notebook, including various expansion cards as well as the hard drive and an empty memory slot. The optical drive also appears removable should you desire to shed a piddling extra weight.

Although we weren't supplied 1, there are optional external batteries available that attach to the bottom of the ProBook for extended battery life.

HP went with a 6-row chiclet-style keyboard that is very similar to what we have found on other recently reviewed notebooks. The keyboard doesn't have backlit keys, but information technology does characteristic an aluminum deck and a spill-resistant design that should fend off small liquid spills. The overall keyboard layout is good and it doesn't employ the "different" Fn / Ctrl key layout that business-grade Lenovos carry. To a higher place the keyboard are four backlit buttons: the power push button is lone on the left, while the wireless HP QuickWeb and mute buttons are on the right.

The 13.3" LED-backlit 1366 10 768 display features an anti-glare surface that is more suitable for bright environments than a glossy cease. This volition allow for flexible working conditions should you lot find yourself working in a brightly lit airport or an outdoor setting. An integrated webcam is centered above the display with dual microphones on either side of the lens.

The touchpad is slightly recessed and it's not and so large that your palms interfere with it when typing. It features ringlet zoom and gestures, while the left and right mouse click buttons are reminiscent of the click buttons plant on the IdeaPad U260 we looked at earlier this year. I've always liked Lenovo's physical click buttons and the ProBook's are but as good.

A fingerprint reader is situated on the right side of the palm balance just nether the arrow keys.