HP EliteBook 840 G1

It's hardly surprising that most Ultrabooks tend to have 12-inch or 13-inch screens since, of course, that helps to keep their size and weight as low as possible. For some reason, though, HP seems to have a fondness for larger Ultrabook designs with 14-inch screens, such as its new EliteBook 840 G1. (See also: Group test: what's the best high-end laptop?)
Fortunately, this business-oriented laptop is still highly portable. It weighs in at 1.58Kg and measures 21mm thick, which makes it one of the lightest and most compact 14-inch models that we've seen recently. I had no trouble carrying it in a backpack down to my local wifi coffee shop, and it was nice to be able to browse the web on a high-quality 14-inch screen for a change. (Take a look at the Chillblast Messiah 17 GTX780M too.)
The EliteBook is also very sturdy, despite its lightweight design. According to HP it complies with US Department of Defence standard MIL-STD 810G, which includes a number of tests for temperature and shock resistance. The screen is protected by a layer of tough Gorilla Glass, while the keyboard is designed to be spill-resistant and to drain liquids away quickly. If you work on a building site then you might want an armour-plated laptop such as the Panasonic ToughPad, but the EliteBook will be more than sturdy enough for most business travellers. (See all high-end laptop reviews.)
If you've specifically chosen a laptop with a 14-inch screen then the quality of that screen will be crucial, and the EliteBook doesn't disappoint here. The 1920x1080 resolution display produces a bright, sharp image with excellent all-round viewing angles. The display also has a welcome matte finish that reduces glare and reflections, so the EliteBook will be well suited to business presentations or graphical applications such as photo- or video-editing.
Our review unit was running Windows 7 Professional, and the screen wasn't touch-sensitive, but you can opt for Windows 8 Pro if you prefer. HP has also indicated that there will be a touch-screen model available in the coming months as well.
The keyboard may repel liquids, but it's comfortable for the hands and includes a pointer-stick along with the four-button trackpad. The stereo speakers sound a little tinny, but they're perfectly adequate for presentations or for relaxing with some streaming video when you're off-duty.