**HP EliteBook 2760p Review: A Powerful and Feature-Rich Laptop for Under $200**

I recently got my hands on a refurbished HP EliteBook 2760p, and I must say it's a beast of a laptop that can hold its own against modern Chromebooks and budget laptops. While it may not be the prettiest or most up-to-date device out there, it's definitely a great value for its price.

**Performance: A Core i5-3360M Ivy Bridge Part**

The EliteBook 2760p is powered by a third-gen Ivy Bridge core i5-3360M processor, which may seem old compared to modern processors but still holds up surprisingly well. Running it through Geekbench, the EliteBook absolutely destroys both the Chromebook and Stream in terms of performance. You'll definitely notice the difference when using all three laptops back-to-back – the EliteBook just feels much faster.

**Additional Features: 8GB RAM and a 320GB Hard Drive**

The core i5 is backed up by an impressive 8GB of RAM, which is more than enough for most users. The 320GB hard drive may seem small compared to modern SSDs, but it's not terrible, especially considering the price point.

**Display: A 14-Inch Panel with a Resolution of 1366x768**

The EliteBook features a 14-inch panel with a resolution of 1366x768, which is somewhat mediocre by today's standards. However, when compared to other laptops in its class, it's actually quite nice-looking.

**Networking: 802.11n WiFi**

The laptop's 802.11n WiFi implementation may not be the latest and greatest, but it still delivers decent performance with a download speed of around 200 megabits per second.

**Battery Life: A Mixed Bag**

Unfortunately, the EliteBook 2760p falls short in terms of battery life, lasting somewhere between two to three hours on basic use. This is due to its relatively small 55Wh hour battery, making it difficult to justify carrying such a large laptop around.

**Buying a Refurbished Laptop: A Risk Worth Taking?**

As with any used or refurbished device, there are risks involved – but if you can find the right one, it's definitely worth considering. At under $200, this laptop is still a great value despite its age and minor flaws.

**Conclusion**

If you're in the market for a budget laptop that delivers performance and features without breaking the bank, the HP EliteBook 2760p is definitely an option to consider. With some care and TLC, it can still provide years of reliable service – but be aware of the potential risks involved with buying a used device.

What do you think? Share your thoughts on whether buying a refurbished laptop is worth the risk in the comments below!

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Hey guys, this is Austin.This the $188 HP Stream.So when I did the video on this recently,I was impressed with just how much laptopyou're able to get for that kind of price.However, lots of you guyscommented some other optionsfor around $200 on the laptop side.One of the main things people suggestedwas to pick up a Chromebook.And you can see that there'sa lot of appeal here.What you're getting isa very cheap computerthat while it's going to be lightweight,it's only running ChromeOS.That's actually not goingto be a big problem.However, even more peoplesuggested to pick up a used laptopso that is where Ifound this HP Elitebook.Which, you know, it'sa couple of years old.Still comes in at around $200.Ever since Chromebookswere first announced,they've actually kind of beenpretty much the same thing.So what you're getting hereis a very very basic laptop.However, when you're justneeding to run a web browser,that kind of actually works out okay.Especially consideringjust how cheap it isand especially how easy it is to set up.Stuff like schools anddifferent like placesthat are kind of constantlygoing through hardwareactually really do get a big advantageout of using a Chromebook.So this is a fairly small laptop.With an 11.6 inch display.So I will say it actually doesfeel reasonably well built,even though it is all going to be plastic.And if we open it up.We'll see lots and lotsmore plastic inside.The design is about as safe as it gets.So, to be fair, Chromebooksactually do have a lotof the basics figured out.So the keyboards arepretty much always fine,the track pads are pretty decent.The screens are goingto be kind of mediocre.But you're going to be getting decent WiFias well as just enough ports for, well,whatever you're gonna do on a Chromebook.What you're getting here is astripped down operating systemthat is entirely built around Chrome.Now for a lot of peopleyou can't do most thingsinside the browser.However. There are also some other optionsthat happen to run full Windows.When you get into theworld of used laptops,there are options absolutely everywhere.And they try to keep thingsat least somewhat even,I went on Amazon andtried to find somethingthat was going to be refurbished.At least you get some kind of warrantyand you know it's not goingto be completely beat upor whatever.At least, I hope it won't be super beat upand terrible in the box.Oh, well, okay.That's quite the unboxing experience.We get the giant old school power cable.There's also a laptop andthis giant cardboard thing.Whoa that's actually really heavy.As you can see,things have definitelyevolved in the last few years.And you're $200 laptopis much, much thinnerand lighter than it used to be.There are advantages to usingsomething a little bit older,thought, including a ton of ports.So in addition to a full DVD drive,we also have an SD card reader.A pair of USB 3.0 ports, we got fire wire.Around back you're goingto be getting VGA, a modem,Ethernet, and is you flipit over to the other side,we're getting a full sized display port,another USB port, as well as eSATA,and you're headphone and microphone jacks.So you know, don't complainabout your single portMacBook anymore.This guy for 200 bucks has you covered.You also have the magicalexperience of being ableto remove your batteries.When inevitably you'reold laptop has a terrible35 minute battery life.It's easy to just grabanother one off eBayand throw it in.They're definitelyadvantages in going witha little bit of an older design.But what I'm curious aboutis one of the trade offs.Is this really going to beyour best option for $200?When it comes to the Chromebook 3,use it for about 30 secondsand you will immediatelyappreciate just how smalland lightweight it is.It's just over a kilogram,or about 2.5 pounds.It's so lightweight itkind of feel likes a toy.However, with the exception of the bezzleswhich are shiny andlook a little bit cheap,it actually is reasonably well built.Take a look at the screen.And you'll see it's rocking and 11.6 inch1266x769 panel.And while it's not incredibly sharp,it's going to be totallyusable for somethingespecially at this price point.I'm kind of impressed withhow bright the screen gets.A lot of the time when itcomes to a budget laptop,the screens are a littlebit on the dim side.But it's actually pretty impressive here.Although it's not impressiveat a viewing angles,but I mean,for less than 190 bucks,what do you expect?The biggest considerationwhen you're picking upa Chromebook though,is whether or not you'reready for ChromeOS.Now for a lot of people,it's going to be more than enoughand completely fine.But for a lot of other people,they're gonna want the flexibilityof something like Widows.It really does just dependon what you're using it for.The basic idea is that ChromeOSis a stripped down version of Linuxthat is focused around the Chrome browser.Now while that might sound crazy,especially if you live yourlife in a lot of web appssuch as Google Docs and Office 365.It is usable.Some newer Chromebooks, though,including the Chromebook 3,do support Android apps.And while it's an option,it's not exactly a greatone on this system.For starters,most apps expect a touch screen.Which is fine when you'reusing and Android phone,but not so great when you'reusing and 11 inch laptop.So when it comes to actuallyclicking to say jumpin Super Mario Run,it's not the greatest experience.And on top of that,a lot of other games justwon't run all that welleven completely ignoring the controls.And performance really isan area where you noticethe low price of the Chromebook.It's powered by a Celeron N-3050 processorwhich is about as low end as it getsin a laptop in 2018.To be fair, for basic web browsing,which is what most peopleare going to be doingwith the Chromebookanyway, it's totally fine.Maybe not the fastest thing in the world,however, once you startloading up a few tabsit does noticeably slow down.And keep in mind that I'musing the upgraded modelwith four gigs of RAM.There is another model of the Chromebook 3which only has two gigabites of RAM.If you know, you're really allabout that single tab life.As a Chromebook,you don't exactly need a lot of storage.Which is good,because the Chromebookthree only has 16 gigsof storage on board.Now while that might not be enoughto get you a full copyof Windows 10 on board,it's actually fine for ChromeOS.It gives you about 9 gigs or so freeto install other Android appsor whatever kind of stuffyou wanna actually download.One thing that is decentis the battery life.So Samsung claims up to11 hours on a charge.And while that might bea little bit ambitious,this is a laptop that I wouldfeel totally comfortablegoing for a full daywithout taking the charger.I know I sound pretty negative,but don't get me wrong.There is definitely amarket for Chromebooks.However, if it's my money,I'm gonna spend my $200 elsewhere.Like for example, with thisgiant used HP Elitebook.Look, this thing is absolutely enormous.And sure, you're gettinga lot of extra portsand features that you're notgetting on the other laptops,but you're also getting somethingthat weighs over five pounds.It's like basicallyboth of those combined.They're also some really weirdquirks with the Elitebook.So beside the webcam,there's a little light button.Press it, and a tiny LED pops outto illuminate the keyboard.So, you know, if you'reheavily working in the darkor you're need to signsome incredibly importantlegal documents on your keyboard,this tiny light has got you covered.A quirk that I'm not as big of a fan offis the track pad.Now sure, you're going to have a leftand right click buttons on top and bottom,but even for 2012, thisone's a little bit rough.Now it does support two finger gestures,but my big problem is just the tracking.Sure, once you crank up the sensitivity,it's not that bad.But especially comparedto even low end stufflike on the stream in the Chromebook,it's just not in the same league.On the plus side though,in the middle of the keyboard,is a little track pad nipple.So, you know, who's ever gonna complainabout having an extranipple in their life?Performance wise,you're getting a core i5-3360 M.Now that is a third gen Ivy Bridge part.It is definitely a littlebit on the older sidebut it actually holds upsurprisingly well today.Run it through Geekbenchand there's no contest.It absolutely destroys boththe Chromebook and the Stream.It's not just for benchmarks, either.You really do notice thedifference when you useall three of these laptops back to back.The Elitebook just feels much faster.And to be fair,I'm not going to want todo a lot of gaming on this,for example, but for normal use,it stays very snappypretty much throughout.Which is definitelynot something I can sayabout the Stream, especiallywhen it starts doing somethinglike an update in the backgroundand everything grinds to halt.That core i5 is backed upby eight gigabits of RAMand a 320 gigabit hard drive.While four gigs of RAMis fine on the Chromebookand decent on the Stream,it is really nice tohave that extra memorywhen you load more than just, say,two things up at a time.And something that I'mreally surprised to say is,the 320 gigabit hard driveactually isn't terrible.Screen wise, we'relooking at a 14 inch panelwith a resolution of 1366x768.And that's actually prettymediocre these days,to be totally honest,but when you compare it tothese other two laptops,at the very least you'regetting a nicer looking panel.It's low res, but it'snot gonna, you know,make your eyes bleed or something.Something else isslightly behind the timesis the 802.11 in WiFi.Now keep in mind this is actuallya pretty solid implementationwith 2x2 WiFi antennasand I was actually able toget around 200 megabitesper second on the download.But, it doesn't quite matchup to the latest AC solution.Still though, for under 200bucks, I'm not complaining.And speaking of price,this laptop was originallyover $1000 five years ago.Considering that it's nowabout 20% of that value,it's actually not too bad,and you do see a lot of theadvantages of having somethingthat was much more expensivewhen it first came out.However, everything comes crashing downwhen it comes to the battery life.So as you would expect from afive year old business laptopit's not exactly the strong suit.I'm meaning somewherebetween two to three hoursof fairly basic use on this guy.A big part of that is becauseit has a pretty small 55 watthour battery,so even though it is swappable,in theory you could carry a couple around,I feel like, especially whenyou put this side by sidewith the newer laptops like the Chromebookand the Stream,which are getting well overdouble the battery life,it really is kind ofhard to justify carryingthis huge big of a laptop around.And of course, the other big wild cardis the fact that you'rebuying a used laptop.So like I said earlier,I picked up a refurbishedmodel from Amazonwhich does come with a warranty,and at least someonein theory went over itto make sure everything works.And thankfully, I lucked out.Everything actually doeswork pretty much flawlessly.Now there are a couple ofvery very minor blemisheson the outside of the laptop.But honestly, I'm surprisedwith just how cleanthis thing is.But of course,your mileage will definitelyvary depending on whereyou find a laptop,whether it's been refurbished or not,whether someone took care of it or not.For me, it really comesdown to two things.You can either go with the safe optionand get a brand new laptopwith good battery lifeit's gonna be small and portable,which you're going tobe losing performance.Or do you wanna take achance on an older laptopthat might have a couple of problems,but is going to delivera lot more performanceand a lot more features.If it's my money, if youfind the right used laptop,I think it's totally worth considering.Even something that's five years oldis still going to be goodenough for 99% of people.And the good thing is,a lot of the upgradesthat you might wanna do,like more memory or an SSDare fairly cheap these days.But I'm curious.What do you guys think is the best optionfor a $200 laptop today?Let me know in the comments belowand I will catch you in the next one.