Case
As far as the chassis is concerned, HP stayed with the tried and true. The Elitebook 2570p looks like its predecessor.
The hefty construction has its benefits: the chassis is very sturdy, does not deform when pressure is applied, and resists twisting forces extremely well. HP outfitted the notebook with a very rigid bottom cover, which can be removed in its entirety without unscrewing a single screw. The display resists pressure well, is torsionally very rigid, and does not deform when the notebook is lifted at a corner. We have no issues with the overall sturdiness of this notebook.
In addition, all materials are of very high quality. The aluminum surfaces (both brushed and painted) feel cool to the touch and resist scratching. The keys of the keyboard, for example, are made from matte, slightly rough plastic and feel pleasant under the fingertips.

Connectivity
The sides and the back of the notebook house the connectivity option a business user would demand - including a dedicated docking port, which makes the integration of the notebook in the home and office environments a breeze.
Pretty common for a business notebook is the inclusion of a DisplayPort instead of an HDMI port. A VGA port allows for analog connections to an external monitor or projector. The laptop also features two USB 2.0 ports and one SS/USB/eSATA combination port.
Additional connections can be added via an ExpressCard34. The system also features a SmartCard and SD reader. We like the fact that HP decided to place the two USB ports and the VGA connector on the back. The network jack and the modem connector are located towards the rear on the left side; the DisplayPort and the eSATA port are in front of the middle line on the right-hand side - not a perfect placement.