This particular HP is full metal. I was able to confirm it when using a random belkin charger with no ground: I got the familiar "vibrating" feeling in my fingers when moving them along the case.
This specific model is a 840/845 G8 (I have both, they're the same, one Intel and the other AMD). I haven't seen the current G10, but I've seen the supposedly higher-end 1040 G10 and, like the Dell, it looks the part, but it's clearly all plastic. Complete with creaking noises if you look at it wrong. And the one I'm talking about was brand new, maybe 5 hours old.
> the screen shifts colour when a slight pressure is applied on the lid
Heh. Must be nice to have a screen whose color is consistent if you leave it alone. My HP changes colors if I shift my head. No, these are not cheap 2003 models. Yes, they cost as much as a similar MBP.
