Above the keyboard are touch-sensitive keys for turning the touch pad and wireless on and off launching a calculator and e-mail and Web applications and volume and mute controls. It's not a backlit keyboard, but HP built in a small pop-out LED lamp above the LCD next to the 2-megapixel Webcam that provides enough light to make working in the dark possible. The keys are clear-coated to reduce wear and the keyboard is spill-resistant and has drains should something spill on it. The DuraKey keyboard is extremely comfortable to use, with good response and no flex while typing. It's definitely made to take the abuse of travel, though our review system's travel weight was 9 pounds, 2 pounds of which is the power brick. To protect against bumps and drops, the 3D DriveGuard uses a three-axis digital accelerometer that parks the hard drive to minimize damage to your data. The display enclosure is a magnesium shell bonded to anodized aluminum able to withstand up to 300 pounds of pressure. HP's DuraCase chassis design is constructed from a magnesium alloy with scratch-resistant anodized aluminum surfaces and metal alloy hinges with hardened steel pin axles. HP touts that it's built to meet military standards (MIL-STD 810G) for vibration, dust, humidity, altitude, and high temperature, but you wouldn't know it from its stately appearance. What's nice about the design of the EliteBook 8540w-and its 17-inch linemate the 8740w-is that it doesn't look like a rugged notebook despite being, in fact, very rugged.