HP ZBook Studio with Data Science Software
Data science pros have always dreamed of having both portability and data-crunching power in a single package. The purpose-built HP ZBook Studio laptop for data analysis eliminates any compromise, with the stepped-up security of a non-cloud-based PC and a pre-loaded suite of the best data science software on the market.
No one wants to spend hours fiddling with config files in open-source data science apps. HP heard the call for convenience, and this mobile workstation is the perfect answer. In our HP ZBook Studio review, let’s take a look at the 14 key benefits of this laptop including mobility, the data science software stack, processors, and advanced thermals.
The ultimate machine for data scientists
Portable + powerful + loaded with open-source data science software = best laptop for data science on the planet.
That simple equation works because the HP ZBook Studio was specially created to support demanding workflows. This is tailor-made computing for:
- Engineers
- Architects
- Healthcare pros
- Financial analysts
- Data scientists of all descriptions
Thanks to its deep integration of best-in-class graphics, processors, and other key features, it’s also the holy grail for creative pros like:
- Photographers
- 3D designers
- Game developers
- Video editors
The HP ZBook Studio is super-small, military tough, and loaded with tools like TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch, and so many more. Plus, its powerful 8-core Intel® Xeon® processors, massive RAM, superior thermals, and WiFi 6 connectivity make it a data-crunching juggernaut. Toss in jaw-dropping NVIDIA® Quadro® graphics, long battery life, and plenty of cutting-edge ports, and this machine is a dream come true.
Data science on the fly
The HP ZBook Studio is the world's smallest laptop for data science and creators. It’s also the world’s most powerful workstation of its size, thanks to an airy starting weight of just 3.84 lbs and dimensions of just 13.93 x 9.24 x 0.70 inches.
Another testament to its extreme portability is its thin, light, tough, and recyclable aluminum chassis. It’s rated at 5x the abrasion resistance of painted carbon fiber. Yet for all its mobility, the HP ZBook Studio contains an unprecedented amount of data science computation power. Let’s dig into the included software stack first, then uncover its stunning specs that make up this data science workstation.
Open-source data science software pre-load
The open-source software stack in the HP ZBook Studio is tall enough to scuff the anti-reflective coating from the Starlink constellation. This is a ready-on-day-one, plug-and-play data science solution that beats the backend off hunting down and installing a forest of data-crunching moving parts and getting it all to work together.
1. Ready on day one
The software tools, developer tools, and other goodies in the HP ZBook Studio come pre-installed and pre-configured. There’s no endless troubleshooting of config files, and the ultra-secure setup helps you drive smarter business decisions without worrying about a breach.
Take a look at what’s installed:
- Software tools: TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch, RAPIDS, Scikit-learn, XBBoost, cuML, cuDF
- Developer tools: GIT, Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, R Studio, Docker
- Cloud interoperability: AWS, Google Cloud, Azure
- Ubuntu Operating System 2004 to maximize data science performance
- GPU support tools: NVIDIA GFX Driver, Virtual Container Toolkit, CUDA®
2. Available free on Z by HP Workstations
The beauty of open-source software is that you don’t have to pay a penny for it. But too often you pay instead with time by hunting down stable releases, downloading, and issuing sudo commands. That’s all done for you with dozens of prepackaged tools, saving countless hours of your high-value time.
3. Secure from day one
Security is vital when it comes to data science workflows. With data breaches growing exponentially, hardware pre-loaded with the right preinstalled solutions is an ever-more important way to shield your data from prying eyes.
4. Quadro data science advantage
NVIDIA Quadro graphics do more than serve up legendary graphics for 3D rendering and gaming. The thousands of CUDA cores (and hundreds of Tensor cores) in the powerful Quadro chips can process massive datasets fast, helping you draw deep insights and train deep neural networks.
5. Powerful Intel Xeon processors
Intel developed the Xeon processors in the HP ZBook Studio specifically for use in professional-grade workstations. These chips were engineered to provide built-in AI acceleration with enhanced security. Not only does the HP ZBook give your workflows access to 8-core Xeon CPUs, but it also serves up 32GB of render-crunching RAM.
Third-generation Xeon processors (dubbed “Ice Lake”) are Intel’s most powerful data center platform yet. These groundbreaking processors bring significant increases in memory, I/O bandwidth, and core performance. They deliver a 46% performance boost over previous generation Xeon processors, with enhanced memory encryption support through Intel Total Memory Encryption.
6. Gaming-class thermals
Breakthrough vapor chamber cooling and liquid-crystal polymer technology create boundary-breaking thermals in the HP ZBook Studio. The vapor chamber condenses and then evaporates liquid, transferring heat from the processor and graphics card.
Razor-thin liquid-crystal polymer fans pump air through 3-sided vents in an innovative cooling solution. BIOS innovations enhance the cooling, distributing power based on need. The upshot is a cool, power-sipping machine that takes down massive tasks in stride.
7. Always ready
Because modern workflows break down into minutes rather than large chunks of time, the HP ZBook Studio relies on modern standby with no sleep and no power-off. It’s ready almost immediately, so you can steal 5 minutes of productivity in a pinch, while you get real work done wherever you are.
8. Blazing connectivity with WiFi 6 and 4G LTE
For presenting to the C-suite or transferring large data sets, the HP ZBook uses WiFi 6 for up to 3x faster file transfer speeds. Gigabit-class 4G LTE means you’re always connected, secure, and fast, even when you’re nowhere near a hotspot or an Ethernet cable. Plus, its premium Audio by Bang & Olufsen lets you collaborate with crystal clarity.
9. Big, bold display
The HP ZBook Studio’s nearly borderless display experience adds more screen size for creatives and data science pros. Color accuracy is off the charts too, with a billion on-screen colors and 100% DCIP3 coverage for film-industry-standard color consistency. The screen’s HDR capability also creates a punchier, wider range of color detail.
Another nice visual perk is HP’s noteworthy DreamColor technology, designed to support professional-grade color accuracy and a wider color gamut. The tech was actually developed in a unique partnership with DreamWorks Animation, when HP answered the call of the movie studios that they needed display screens that matched their exacting color confidence requirements.
Not only will your projects shine with up to 1000 nits of brightness in a 4K UHD OLED DreamColor display. You’ll also work longer hours without an outlet, thanks to DreamColor’s higher electricity efficiency.
10. Long battery life and plenty of ports
Speaking of battery life, the HP ZBook Studio has it. A fast-charging 4-cell battery gives you up to 16 hours of off-grid productivity. When you finally do run low on juice, don’t worry. You’ll charge back up to 50% in just 45 minutes.
You’ll also connect easily to external displays, hard drives, and other devices, and even power them. That’s thanks to your choice of an HDMI or Mini DisplayPort, two SuperSpeed USB-C ports, and a USB-A port. Those USB-C ports can power large devices like hi-res monitors and even some printers. They can also transfer data at a mind-blowing 10 Gbps.
11. Reliable and secure
Worried about security and reliability? You won’t need to be, thanks to multi-layer “Defense in Depth” (DiD) protections that thwart malware at multiple levels. DiD uses robust software and hardware security protections to shield your work from damaging ransomware and virus attacks.
Plus, each workstation ups the reliability quotient with numerous MIL-STD tests and more than 120,000 hours of testing. The HP Total Test process sets these machines up to withstand superhero-level forces. They’re frozen, dropped, and exposed to freezing, extreme heat, sand, dust, vibration, and excessive humidity. In other words, they can take a pounding without missing a beat.
Finally, a dedicated machine like the HP ZBook Studio has all the power to handle your toughest data science needs onsite. That makes them more secure than cloud machines right out of the box.
12. Data-busting NVIDIA Quadro graphics
The reason this workstation boasts NVIDIA Quadro graphics isn’t just so it can churn out rapid 3D rendering and realistic video gaming. Yes, Quadro’s AI-based denoising and ray-tracing capabilities make everything from the latest Call of Duty to AutoCAD look sparkly.
But Quadro also delivers up to 4608 data-sifting CUDA cores, cutting times for data prep and AI training down to a fraction of their former selves. It serves up faster model development and GPU-accelerated software use, too, with RAPIDS, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and other fan-favorite data science software.
13. Gaming capable
One of the coolest things about the HP ZBook Studio is that you don’t need a separate computer for the different facets of your life. If you’re a data scientist, great, but if you like to unwind with the latest triple-A (AAA) experience at night, you won’t need to even think about a unique gaming laptop for that.
Those thermals, processors, graphics, and battery life combine to make this a dream machine for gaming, too. So, bang out an insight-driving MATLAB or BigML project by day, and escape into Amid Evil or Battlefield V by night. A full-size backlit keyboard keeps your fingers happy too.
14. Max sustainability
With great power comes great responsibility, and you probably don’t want to use your impressive tech at the expense of the environment. Take heart, because this workstation is made with ocean-bound plastics and other recycled materials. It also uses less energy without scuttling performance, backed up by its ENERGY STAR® certification and efficient power management.
Summary
The HP ZBook Studio workstation is a portable powerhouse that blends the best of all possible computing worlds. It packs phenomenal cosmic power into an astonishingly thin and light chassis, delivering an eyebrow-raising stack of pre-loaded open-source data science software that’s pure big data magic.
About the Author: Tom Gerencer is a contributing writer for HP Tech Takes. Tom is an ASJA journalist, career expert at Zety.com, and a regular contributor to Boys' Life and Scouting magazines. His work is featured in Costco Connection, FastCompany, and many more.
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