It is not always easy to find the perfect compromise between tradition and modernity – but HP did just that with the EliteBook 840 G1 . The predecessor was a heavy and bulky working device, but the new version makes a huge jump forwards in terms of mobility.

Sturdy chassis; Good build quality; Excellent input devices; Bright display; High application performance; Easy maintenance; Integrated UMTS/HSPA+ module; The bulky EliteBooks of the past are gone – the very mobile 840 G1 fits perfectly into this modern Ultrabook era

TN panel with limited viewing angles; Mediocre 0.9 MP webcam; Card reader hard to reach; High price; Especially small details should be improved by the manufacturer: A better webcam and a Thunderbolt port would be nice for the successor.

The HP EliteBook 840 G1 business laptop provides an outstanding keyboard and touch pad, long battery life, and a VGA port in a sleek, affordable package. Just be prepared to accept some compromises.

Affordable; Attractive design; Excellent keyboard and touch pad; VGA port included; Long battery life

1,366x768 non-touch screen; Tinny audio; No audio control software; Poor Webcam quality

The HP EliteBook 840 G1 is well-designed and versatile laptop with a powerful processor, GPU and high-quality display.

HP makes great mobile laptops and notebooks. To me, this is the go-to brand and type of product that has all the required specifications of value, robustness, design, long-lasting and overall options and capabilities. I have computers from all the top well-known brands.

Despite pushing into markets outside of its traditional PC base, HP's still got a strong track record of creating great work laptops and desktops. The EliteBook 840 G1 is a continuation of this legacy, being yet another unashamedly business-focused ultrabook .

Robustly built; solid security services; Haswell

Slightly chunky; battery life isn't as good as HP claims

It's a shame that the EliteBook doesn't include a solid-state drive that can really make the most of its powerful processor and GPU, but this is still a well-designed and versatile laptop that will appeal to many business users.

Review At a recent event when HP was handing out Elitebooks and other gadgetry to the great and the good of the UK's tech press, a thought crossed my mind as the options presented themselves. Shall I go for the eminently portable Elitebook 820 G1 12.5in model or the somewhat chunkier 14in 840 G1?

HP's slimmed-down enterprise Ultrabook has plenty to recommend it, but it's definitely more of a workhorse than a thoroughbred.

With its rounded corners and aluminium chassis, the HP Elitebook 840 G1 is one of the most attractive business laptops we've ever reviewed. At 21mm thick and with a 1.58Kg weight, the Elitebook is both light and easy to carry. The Elitebook 840 G1 is more than a pretty face, though.

Beware that when I first received this laptop, it was.... slow. The laptop literally took full 2 minutes every time to boot up, and everything else seemed very laggy. After a couple of days, it got better so it might have been partly because of program installations.