Business Notebooks w/ Good Build Quality

[goobernoodles]

I've been purchasing HP Elitebooks lately (8540w's and now 8560w's) mainly for their build quality. I'm wondering what you guys are purchasing for business use. I'm in the Construction field, so build quality is a top concern. Is there anything else out there I should consider in the same price range? I'm getting 8560w's for around $1400 shipped usually since moving away from our reseller and just buying directly from sites such as buy.com and newegg.

Budget is flexible but I'm looking at $1000-$1800.

Edit: Also, the built in numpad is a surprisingly big plus with the HP's.

 

[ElFenix]

the dell latitude line is still fairly well built
so are the thinkpad branded lenovos.

 

[corkyg]

And, for your environment, the Panasonic Toughbook is worth a look.

http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/fully-rugged-laptop-toughbook-31.asp

 

[vbuggy]

If you don't need Toughbook levels of durability (and the corresponding decrease in realistic portability) then the Elitebooks are a good fit / compromise of utility, durability and features.

I have very few issues with them and have been a staple as far as mobile workstations are concerned for me for a while, though it's only fairly recently I've gone exclusively HP (used to have Precisions in there as well) - the overall lack of issues through the buying, using and supported process is what swung it.

Lenovo's are worthy but I rarely see anything in their workstation lineup (even if it's complete, unlike now) that I think would really merit a switch. Dell I kicked to the kerb as I had just too many purchasing and account support issues - no real problems with the product, although there is an element of 'you get what you pay for' (i.e. you can squeeze Dell down to insane discounts, but the machine that arrives is - while usually reliable at this level of product, and reasonably well built as well as well supported through ProSupport - often not as accomplished as the HP equivalent).

There are more minor players of course but once again it's rare that I see something that jumps out at me beyond what HP has to offer.

Apple, well... I have a filing cabinet stuffed with Applecare receipts and support resolution copies, and I only went back to them in 2006. Enough said, I think.