HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G1 (G4U67UT)

Folio EliteBook HP 1040 G1 (G4U67UT) ultrabook is the follow-up to similar named G1 EliteBook Folio 1040 we reviewed earlier this year. Priced at $ 1,719 (as tested), the new model downgrades some features for a lower price, but adds a very desirable touch screen.

Design and Features
The previous iterations is a powerhouse system shoehorned into a thin and light chassis. The new model shares its dimensions (0.63 by 5.13 by 9.25 inches, HWD), and is made ​​from both aluminum and magnesium alloy construction. Weight is up to £ 3.65, but you will not notice the extra few ounces in a travel bag. The new system also pass MIL-STD-801G testing for vibration, dust intrusion, and weather conditions such as humidity, temperature, and altitude.

The new EliteBook Folio is a great rival for Choice business ultrabook our current Editors', the Dell Latitude E7440 Touch. The Dell E7440 is a more traditional laptop, with dual pointing devices and a plethora of ports, while the new EliteBook Folio G1 is more of a slim-bodied, forward-looking laptop. ForcePad its touchpad has no moving parts, not even a spring-loaded mechanism click to give you physical feedback when you press the mouse button. It is a little disconcerting, but once you become familiar with its operation, you will be rewarded with new multitouch gesture for navigation, such as scrolling speeded up or slows down, depending on how much pressure you exert . You can also connect a mouse to the laptop, or use the 10-point touch screen for navigation.

The 14-inch LED-backlit display has a 1920-by-1, 080 resolution. Pick up immediately link acts like swipes and taps, and it works well with Windows 8.1 Pro. Quality of the screen is more than enough for most office tasks, such as number crunching spreadsheets and word processing.

The system has fewer ports than the Dell E7440 and the Toshiba Portege R30-A1302. You only get a DisplayPort, a microSD slot, a smart card reader, two USB 3.0 ports, and an NFC reader under the palm rest. The laptop's docking port can be used with the integrated Ethernet / VGA dongle, but you'll likely rely on its 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 Combo for wireless connectivity.

The battery is sealed away, like Toshiba i7s Kirabook 13 Touch and most other consumer-oriented Ultrabooks. The business share of the PC or transfer them from employee to employee probably be better served by the system with removable batteries, like Dell Latitude E7440 and Toshiba R30-A1302, for receiving a heritage with a crippled laptop battery is never perfect. At least warranty covers the laptop battery for three years.