The newest 15-inch notebook from HP arrives just in time to make a big impact for back-to-school shoppers in 2008. The HP Pavilion dv5z features the latest AMD dual-core processors, cutting edge graphics that slaughter the competition, and a price that's so competitive you'll have a hard time coming up with reasons not to buy this notebook. Take a look at our full review and find out what makes this notebook so impressive. Our HP Pavilion dv5z has the following specifications: The pricing on the dv5z starts at around $699.99 ($599.99 with $100 instant rebate), and our configuration has a few upgrades that brought the final price to $849.99 at the time of this writing. Needless to say, this is a fabulous price point for back-to-school shoppers. The dv5z has a new and improved design, replacing the long-lasting and much-loved dv6000 series chassis design. The display cover has the durable plastic Imprint finish, which holds up quite well to minor abrasion without scratching. The body of the notebook is smooth with rounded edges, making it extremely comfortable in your hand while carrying it around. The screen also sports a latchless design, making it easy to open the notebook with one hand. Although the lid lacks any latch to keep it held shut, the hinges feel fairly strong, keeping the lid secure. Pressing firmly onto the back of the screen cover will produce some ripples on the screen ... but you must apply significant pressure to cause this. The plastic chassis is quite rigid and suffers from no flex or creaks even when twisted between my hands. Although I don't recommend tossing your notebook down a staircase, the dv5z should survive years of daily travel in a backpack or the occasional drop off a desk. Our dv5z features the "Mesh" Imprint Finish which looks the name implies: a fine gray mesh pattern over a black surface. The Imprint Finish on the dv5z is much more subtle than the previous designs we've seen on HP notebooks. I suspect most average consumers will find the mesh pattern more acceptable in workplace environments than the older generation patterns. While the dv5z still looks like an attractive consumer notebook, the Imprint Finish isn't quite as "splashy" or "busy" as it used to be. The bottom of the dv5z is quite simple with some nice heat vents located in strategic positions to help keep the laptop cool. The access panels on the bottom of the notebook make it easy to upgrade RAM, replace the hard disk drive, or replace the motherboard battery if needed. This arrangement makes it simple for the novice user to make upgrades, but more serious users will have to remove the entire base of the chassis in order to access the rest of the motherboard. Screen The 15.4-inch diagonal WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050) is quite simply one of the best 15-inch screens I've seen on any notebook. Detail is amazing, colors are rich with deep contrast, backlighting is even across the entire surface, and viewing angles are good. There is some color inversion when you view the screen from below ... but how often do you tilt your screen back and view it that way? Input and Output Ports The dv5z has an impressive number of ports with some nice additions you won't find on most consumer notebooks. Here's a run down of the ports: While three USB ports might not sound like enough for a 15-inch notebook, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, this budget notebook comes with an eSATA/USB port which allows you to connect either a USB device or an eSATA device. Although USB is still a great connection method for accessories USB cannot provide fast data transfer rates for huge amounts of data. We need a faster way to transfer files as more and more consumers start storing their family videos, digital photos, and personal media collections on 2TB and larger external hard drives. This is where eSATA comes in. Without getting too technical, an eSATA port can transfer data to and from an eSATA-equipped external storage drive six times faster than USB. The second important feature to consider on the dv5z is that HP still includes a dedicated docking station connector on their laptops for those of us who use our laptops as desktop replacements. This is far more important than most people realize. Most other notebook manufacturers have removed dedicated docking ports and now only offer USB docking stations. USB is great for connecting one or two devices at the same time, but if you are trying to transfer data, video, audio, and perhaps even your Ethernet connection over a single USB port you will suffer a major reduction in speed. The dedicated Expansion Port 3 on the dv5z can handle all of your docking station needs all at the same time with virtually no reduced performance. HP deserves serious praise for adding the eSATA port and keeping the dedicated docking port when most of the competition doesn't offer these features on consumer notebooks. While we're on the subject of ports, it's worth mentioning that the HDMI port also supports audio as well as video via a standard HDMI cable. Many laptops with HDMI ports only support video, but the dv5z supports both video and audio. To test this I connected the dv5z to my 1080p HDTV. As soon as I connected the HDMI cable the computer recognized the connection and asked if I wanted to extend my desktop or duplicate my desktop (I chose duplicate) and then I inserted a DVD into the notebook's drive. The dv5z upscaled the DVD movie to a full 1080p resolution and upscaled the movie to 1680 x 1050 resolution for the built-in display. The video playback was flawless with no skipped frames and the audio synched perfectly with the action on the screen (or screens). This is quite impressive and is something you just don't expect to see on a budget notebook. Performance and Benchmarks HP offers the new Pavilion dv5z with a range of AMD processors, including the older generation 1.9GHz Athlon X2 QL-60 dual-core processor. However, the big news this year is the availability of AMD's new "Puma" platform with improved processors and graphics. The new AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80 2.1GHz dual-core processor is an obvious evolution of AMD processor technology, but the real news is the integrated graphics. It isn't very often that we get excited about an integrated graphics processor (IGP). Every IGP on the market is painfully inferior to a dedicated graphics card and every IGP on the market struggles to handle high definition video and 3D video games. Not so with the ATI Radeon HD 3200. For the first time ever consumers have a low-cost IGP that offers flawless 1080p video playback and can even play many 3D video games at reasonable frame rates! Let's take a look at a few basic benchmarks so you can get an idea of how the dv5z stacks up. wPrime is a program that forces the processor to do recursive mathematical calculations, this processor benchmark program is multi-threaded and can use both processor cores at once, it measures the amount of time to run a set amount of calculations. wPrime comparison results (lower scores means better performance): You can see from the results in WPrime the new Turion X2 Ultra processor from AMD's new "Puma" platform provides a respectable amount of raw processing power but isn't significantly faster than the previous generation processors when it comes to basic calculations. PCMark05 measures overall notebook performance (higher scores are better): The PCMark05 score suggests the dv5z provides solid overall performance. 3DMark06 comparison results for graphics performance (higher scores are better): All of the 3DMark06 scores for all of the systems listed above were run at 1280 x 768 resolution. Bottom line: AMD is speaking truthfully when they claim that the new ATI Radeon HD 3200 IGP provides roughly three times the performance of the Intel X3100 IGP and rivals the performance of low-cost dedicated graphics cards. Just for laughs, we also ran the 3DMark06 benchmark at the full screen resolution on our dv5z (1680 x 1050) and the system returned a score of 1,131 3DMarks. Even when running a higher resolution display the integrated graphics on the dv5z provides more than double the performance of Intel's current integrated graphics! In short, AMD and ATI just murdered the low-end dedicated graphics card market. There's absolutely no reason to buy a laptop with a low-end dedicated graphics card like the NVIDIA 8400m GS because the new ATI integrated graphics solution performs just as well (if not better) at a fraction of the cost. For those of you who might be interested in the older 3DMark05 graphics benchmark, I've included those numbers below (all tested at 1024 x 768 resolution): 3DMark05 comparison results (higher scores are better): As if this weren't enough to get you excited about the new ATI graphics, AMD has also been promoting the new Hybrid Crossfire capabilities. In short, Hybrid Crossfire allows you to combine the performance of an integrated graphics processor with a dedicated graphics card (such as the ATI Raedon HD 3450) in order to provide improved graphics performance. Basically, the integrated graphics and dedicated graphics work together to produce a better visual experience. It's unclear whether the HP Pavilion dv5z with the dedicated ATI Radeon HD 3450 option will make use of Hybrid Crossfire, but it's an innovative idea. HDTune storage drive performance results: Keyboard, Touchpad and Media Controls The keyboard on the Pavilion dv5z has zero flex and excellent key travel with quiet presses. I can't say with absolute certainty, but I suspect the keyboard is the same part used on the dv6700t (or at least the dv6780se we previously reviewed). The keys have a durable coating which makes the keyboard look and feel better when typing. The slight glossy texture of the keys won't develop the typical "shine" that begins to show up on keys after extended use. The dv5z also features attractive touch-sensitive media buttons that seemingly vanish behind the "liquid metal" surface when the computer is turned off, but light up when the notebook is turned on. The palm rest area features the same "Mesh" Imprint Finish used on the lid. The touchpad is nice and large and features a durable and responsive surface that is also covered in the HP Imprint Finish. The marked vertical scroll section is likewise accurate and responsive. The touchpad buttons have deep feedback and produce quiet, cushioned clicks. One of the nice features found on HP touchpads is the touchpad on/off button. If you press the small button above the touchpad you can disable it ... perfect for people using an external mouse. Although the touchpad is quite nice I would have liked to see the same style of touchpad that HP started using on the tx1000z, tx2000z, tx2500z and HDX notebooks ... perhaps on next year's notebooks? The reason I mention the touchpads on the other HP notebooks is because I have mixed opinions about the glossy touchpad on the dv5z. The touchpad surface feels nice and smooth, but if you have even slightly moist fingertips your finger with stick to the touchpad and you won't be able to drag the cursor in smooth, straight movements. As long as you have extremely dry skin (or use an external mouse) this won't be a problem. Another added bonus is the inclusion of a media remote. This little remote tucks away in the ExpressCard slot and is great for moving through slide presentations or for controlling the notebook when it's connected to your HDTV. Speakers The speaker quality was "above average" for a notebook without a built-in subwoofer. The speakers for the dv5z are located at the top of the keyboard area beneath the media buttons. There's not much to write home about the Altec Lansing speakers. They get loud enough with minimal distortion and the sound isn't as "tinny" as is the case with nearly all laptop speakers. However, the speakers don't produce the kind of output that "fills a room" the way you might want if you're listening to your music collection on the built-in speakers. On the brighter side, both audio out ports delivered crystal clear audio to my earphones during the test period. Heat and Noise The Pavilion dv5z does a reasonable job keeping heat under control. The system fan and heatsinks in the notebook do a great job managing heat when the system is under load ... as we discovered when we ran multiple benchmarks back to back. Below are images with temperature readings listed in degrees Fahrenheit: Battery Life We knew it was too much to expect a budget notebook to be perfect, but we were a little disappointed by the battery life from the dv5z. The 6-cell 47WHr Li-Ion battery provides sub-par battery life for the dv5z. With Vista's power management running in "balanced" mode, screen brightness set to 50 percent and wireless on, the 6-cell battery delivered 2 hours and 22 minutes of battery life. By comparison, most budget notebooks can deliver more than two and a half hours of battery life on "high performance" mode with the screen set to maximum brightness. There is also an available high-capacity 6-cell Li-Ion battery for those users needing extended battery life. It's odd that there is no 9-cell or 12-cell battery option at the time of this writing, but that may change in the future. 
Buying Choices for the HP Pavilion dv5z Customizable Notebook PC HP Home & Home Office Store | $599.99
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Build and Design
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(view large image)Notebook / CPU wPrime 32M time HP Pavilion dv5z (Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80 @ 2.1GHz) 39.745s Dell Inspiron 1525 (Core 2 Duo T7250 @ 2.0GHz) 43.569s Dell XPS M1530 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz) 37.485s HP Pavilion dv6500z (Turion 64 X2 TL-60 @ 2.0GHz) 40.759s Sony VAIO NR (Core 2 Duo T5250 @ 1.5GHz) 58.233s Toshiba Tecra A9 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz) 38.343s Toshiba Tecra M9 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz) 37.299s HP Compaq 6910p (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2GHz) 40.965s Sony VAIO TZ (Core 2 Duo U7600 @ 1.20GHz) 76.240s Zepto 6024W (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2GHz) 42.385s Lenovo T61 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz) 37.705s Alienware M5750 (Core 2 Duo T7600 @ 2.33GHz) 38.327s HP Pavilion dv6000z (Turion X2 TL-60 @ 2.0GHz) 38.720s Notebook PCMark05 Score HP Pavilion dv5z (2.1GHz Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80, ATI Radeon HD 3200) 3,994 PCMarks Dell Inspiron 1525 (2.0GHz Intel T7250, Intel X3100) 4,149 PCMarks Dell XPS M1530 (2.20GHz Intel T7500, Nvidia 8600M GT 256MB) 5,412 PCMarks Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.0GHz Intel T7300, NVIDIA 8600M GT) 4,616 PCMarks Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS) 4,591 PCMarks Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100) 4,153 PCMarks Lenovo 3000 V200 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100) 3,987 PCMarks Lenovo T60 Widescreen (2.0GHz Intel T7200, ATI X1400 128MB) 4,189 PCMarks HP dv6000t (2.16GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400) 4,234 PCMarks Fujitsu N6410 (1.66GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400) 3,487 PCMarks Alienware M7700 (AMD Athlon FX-60, Nvidia Go 7800GTX) 5,597 PCMarks Sony VAIO SZ-110B in Speed Mode (Using Nvidia GeForce Go 7400) 3,637 PCMarks Asus V6J (1.86GHz Core Duo T2400, Nvidia Go 7400) 3,646 PCMarks Notebook 3DMark06 Score HP Pavilion dv5z (2.1GHz Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80, ATI Radeon HD 3200) 1,599 3DMarks Dell Inspiron 1525 (2.0GHz Intel T7250, Intel X3100) 545 3DMarks HP Pavilion dv6500z (2.0GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60, NVIDIA 8400m GS) 1,551 3DMarks Sony VAIO NR (1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250, Intel X3100) 504 3DMarks Dell XPS M1530 (2.20GHz Intel T7500, Nvidia 8600M GT 256MB) 4,332 3DMarks Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.0GHz Intel T7300, NVIDIA 8600M GT) 2,905 3DMarks Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB) 1,408 3DMarks Alienware Area 51 m5550 (2.33GHz Core 2 Duo, nVidia GeForce Go 7600 256MB 2,183 3DMarks HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400) 827 3DMarks Notebook 3DMark05 Results HP Pavilion dv5z (2.1GHz Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80, ATI Radeon HD 3200) 2,969 3DMarks Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB) 3,116 3DMarks HP Compaq 6510b (2.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, Intel X3100) 916 3DMarks HP Compaq 6515b (1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52, ATI x1270) 871 3DMarks HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400) 2,013 3D Marks Dell Inspiron e1705 (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400) 1,791 3D Marks Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 256MB) 4,236 3DMarks Alienware Aurora M-7700(AMD Dual Core FX-60, ATI X1600 256MB) 7,078 3D Marks Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400 128MB) 2,092 3D Marks Asus V6Va (2.13 GHz Pentium M, ATI x700 128 MB) 2,530 3D Marks Fujitsu n6410 (1.66 GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400 128MB) 2,273 3DMarks Dell XPS M1210 (2.16 GHz Core Duo, nVidia Go 7400 256MB) 2,090 3D Marks
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Noise was likewise a non-issue with the fan on the dv5z. The fan moved a significant amount of hot air but the noise was reasonably quieter than what we hear on most budget notebooks. When the fan is on low it is perfectly silent. When the fan is on high (such as when the system is stressed while playing 3D video games) you can hear it running in a quiet room but it's still not as loud as many budget notebooks we've reviewed. Of course, the manufacturer of the cooling fan in your notebook might be different and the dv5z will produce more heat if you configure it with a dedicated graphics card, so your mileage (or decibels) may vary.
(source http://www.notebookreview.com)
HP Pavilion dv5z
HP Pavilion dv9700t
purchased an HP Pavilion dv9700t directly from the Hewlett-Packard website in March of 2008. It is a 17" desktop replacement, weighing in at 8.2 pounds (it is one half pound heavier than usual because I chose dual backlights in my screen). The exact specs are as follows: HP offers an array of customizable options when you order a laptop from their website. I started with the base dv9700t model, which cost a shade less than $1,000, and customized my way up to just over $1,400. There was a special coupon (which might still be available...check around on NotebookReview) that deducted $500 from any Pavilion notebook that cost $1,400...so you can see the appeal. After taxes the total was almost exactly $1,000. I think it was a terrific buy, and so far I am thrilled with the purchase. The 17" WXGA+ Ultra BrightView Widescreen display is a wonder to behold. Zero dead pixels. Crisp contrasts, bright, full colors ... really vibrant and just a pleasure. Again, I got the Ultra BrightView which has two backlights--this not only makes it brighter, it improves colors and (this is just my assumption, based on using the machine) seems to distribute light more evenly, thus decreasing light leakage and uneven lighting. Viewing angles are adequate but not spectacular. Speakers and Audio Performance and Benchmarks Super Pi: The dv9700t calculated pi to 2 million digits in 58 seconds. With numerous applications running, the time rose to 1 minute and 11 seconds. 3DMark06 returned a scored of 2,889 3DMarks. I have no idea if that is good or bad, but the videos seemed (except during the "CPU test") to play pretty smoothly. 3DMark06 comparison results: Keyboard and Touchpad The keyboard is excellent. There is a small but consistent amount of sag throughout the keyboard, but you really have to be hammering away at the buttons to notice at all. They strike quickly and feel firm, and my only complaint is that sometimes my right index finger catches under the bottom left corner of the "H" key. This is probably a result of my typing style, but I'm worried that over time it will lift up the key and become a real problem. There is a full numerical pad, which is either nice or useless, depending upon the individual. One complaint, which I knew about before buying the computer, is that for some reason HP has shortened the right Shift key to half its usual length. Apparently they were trying to squeeze in the up arrow, but it was the wrong decision. I have already adjusted (meaning I now use the left Shift key for almost every letter other than "A"), but still find myself with some dashes where I wanted a capital letter. Ports and Features This laptop has a ton of ports. Three USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 Firewire, expansion port 3, TV out (S-video), Integrated Consumer IR (remote control receiver), 5-in-1 digital media card reader, microphone in, RJ-11 (modem), RJ-45 (LAN), VGA, HDMI external port. There is also an ExpressCard slot, which supports optional TV service, broadband wireless and more. Battery The battery that comes stock is an 8-cell, but I upgraded to the high-capacity 8-cell, which is the only other option. With the brightness turned up all the way, the battery lasted just about three hours before kicking off. Owners can reasonably expect 3 ½ hours, if they take steps to reduce power consumption. HP also offers a convenient and effective power management tool, which automatically switches the power settings depending upon the power source (or user preference). Heat and Noise Software Customer Service Pros: Cons:
Buying Choices for the HP Pavilion dv9700t Entertainment Notebook PC (2.10 GHz, 250GB HD, 4GB RAM) HP Home & Home Office Store | $1,855.97
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Things I chose to upgrade/not upgrade, and why:
Processor: This was a no-brainer, upgrading from a Intel T5550 (1.83GHz) to the Intel T8100 (2.10GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB) cost about $125 extra, but was well worth it for the boost in performance (see bench scores below).
Screen: The standard screen is a 17" WXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900), which is probably fine for most customers. For an additional $125, I received the 17" WXGA+ Ultra BrightView. It is the same screen, but outfitted with two backlights (instead of one), providing superior brightness and color. The extra cost is, for me, justified by it's amazing clarity even in direct-light situations (important since the screen is glossy). The second backlight adds a half pound to the computer's weight. I am not sure what effect it has on the battery life, but I offset the extra power usage by upgrading to a high-capacity battery. (HP also offers a higher resolution 1680 x 1050 screen, but I had more use for the Ultra Bright )
Video Card: For $50 (HP was offering 50% off), I upgraded from an Nvidea GeForce 8400M GS to an Nvidea GeForce 8600M GS. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure that I'll ever need the extra juice. Mostly I was swayed by other user reviews and recommendations, which encouraged upgrading the video card to extend the useful life of the computer. The 8600 offers 512MB of dedicated memory (as opposed to 256 for the 8400), and would rock if I had opted for the BluRay drive (I knew I would spend too much on BluRay discs, so I avoided that option).
Wireless: For another $50, I upgraded to an Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965A/G/N Network Connection with Bluetooth. I recommend this option to anyone interested in ease of connectivity. My job is predicated upon a fast internet connection, so it was an easy decision to upgrade and have the newer N networks available to me. Bluetooth is another life-saver. I immediately ordered a Bluetooth mouse (the terrific Logitech V470) and a Bluetooth earpiece, both of which make my life easier on a daily basis.
Hard drive: The 250GB hard drive is more than adequate for my needs. It features 5400RPM, which is fast but not lightning quick. There is an available 240GB, 7200RPM drive, and other drives can store as much as 640GB. Again, for my less-intensive purposes the stock 250/5400 is perfectly adequate.
Outer shell: The "Imprint Radiance" finish is lovely, and comes standard. The glossy finish (black on the outside, gray on the inside) is subtle but beautiful. It's more fun to look at than a typical matte-finish, though it also recklessly collects fingerprints. A soft cloth (or even a tee shirt) clears the smudges off without risking the gorgeous finish.
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Speaking of fingerprints...the built-in Fingerprint reader is wonderful as well. At the time of my purchase, HP was also including a free webcam, microphone (actually two microphones) and fingerprint reader. (It said that the FP reader cost an extra $25, but that never reflected on the bill...just for the record). I was skeptical, but now I use it for a host of applications. With the prevalence of stored passwords these days, it's not a must-have for all consumers, but it offers ease and security if you either share your computer with others or simply prefer not to have passwords automatically saved. One caveat: as far as I can tell, the fingerprint reader's software is only compatible with Internet Explorer, so all Firefox users must type in passwords the old-fashioned way.
The webcam is good. It handles low-light situations admirably, but of course we're not talking about camcorder quality. The software that is packaged for use with the webcam is similarly impressive, though it pales in comparison to Apple's smooth and easy Photobooth application.
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The SuperMulti 8x DVD+/- RW drive (with dual layer support) is as quick and quiet as you could ever ask for. HP includes their LightScribe technology, though personally I find it useless. I own an external HP DVD drive that also has LightScribe, and this is my experience: the "LightScribe capable" discs are more expensive and less reliable, the process takes twice as long as strictly burning a DVD, and the images that it creates are woefully dim. I have read of users copying the same image multiple times, just to get a reasonably defined image. Again, they include the LS for free, so it's just a matter of whether to use it or not (I vote no!).
There is an optional BluRay drive. I can only imagine how gorgeous BluRay would look on my Ultra BrightView screen, but couldn't justify the investment (I bought my laptop primarily for work).
HP generously starts the computer with 2GB of RAM (Note: they are currently offering a free upgrade to 3GB). I felt no need to immediately increase the memory, since my computer use is mostly limited to internet/music/movies/word processing.
Beyond it's aesthetic appeal, the computer feels well built. It is a solid 7.7 pounds (8.2 w/ Ultra BrightView), which seems just right considering the 17" screen and status as a "desktop replacement." If portability and battery life are your main concerns, this might not be the laptop for you.
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The screen also appears to be built exceptionally well. There are no ripples on the screen no matter how hard you push on the outer shell, and the hinges are rock-solid. There is a tiny bit of wobble during routine typing, but you cannot tell unless there are reflections visible on the screen.
The speakers are Altec Lansing, and they are quite nice. It's a laptop, so owners should forgive the paltry bass. There is admirable sound quality and the speakers are loud enough to comfortably watch a movie across the room. Sound does not degrade when turned up very loud. One complaint I have is the headphone inputs. There are two inputs, each of which gives slight feedback as soon as you plug in your headphones. It isn't overwhelming, and you have to strain to hear it during quiet parts in a song, but it's still annoying. Turning off wireless does nothing to change the slight noise. Routine acts like scrolling down a webpage can actually change the frequency of the sound, as I have accidentally discovered. (I have nice headphones which do not have similar problems in any other device). Overall, not a big deal and I am satisfied with the sound quality.Notebook Time HP Pavilion dv9700t (2.1GHz Core 2 Duo T8100) 0m 58s HP Pavilion HDX (2.2GHz Core 2 Duo T7500) 0m 54s Dell Latitude D830 (2.2GHz Core 2 Duo T7500, 800MHz FSB, 667MHz RAM) 0m 53s Zepto 6024W (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 with 800MHz FSB and 667MHz RAM) 0m 59s Samsung X60plus (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7200 with 667MHz FSB & memory speed) 1m 02s Dell Vostro 1500 (Intel Core 2 Duo T5470 1.60GHz) 1m 16s Samsung Q35 (1.83MHz Core 2 Duo T5600 with 667MHz FSB and 533MHz RAM) 1m 16s Samsung R20 (1.73GHz T2250 with 533MHz FSB and memory speed) 1m 23s Toshiba Satellite P205-S6287 (1.73 GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T5300) 1m 24s Samsung X60 (1.66GHz Core Duo (T2300) with 533MHz memory speed) 1m 29s Sony Vaio TZ90HS (1.2GHz Core 2 Duo ULV U7600) 1m 50s HP Compaq 6515b (1.6GHz Turion 64x2 TL-52) 2m 05s Fujitsu S6120 (Pentium M 1.6GHz) 2m 29s Dell Inspiron 2650 (Pentium 4 Mobile 1.6GHz) 4m 05s Notebook 3DMark06 Score HP Pavilion dv9700t (2.1GHz Core 2 Duo T8100, Nvidia 8600M GS 512MB) 2,889 3DMarks HP Pavilion HDX (2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7700, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB) 4,205 3DMarks Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB) 1,408 3DMarks Samsung Q70 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 and nVidia 8400M G GPU) 1,069 3DMarks Asus F3sv-A1 (Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, Nvidia 8600M GS 256MB) 2,344 3DMarks Alienware Area 51 m5550 (2.33GHz Core 2 Duo, nVidia GeForce Go 7600 256MB 2,183 3DMarks Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi 1526 (1.66 Core Duo, nVidia 7600Go 256 MB) 2,144 3DMarks Samsung X60plus (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7200, ATI X1700 256MB) 1,831 3DMarks Asus A6J (1.83GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 128MB) 1,819 3DMarks HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400) 827 3DMarks Sony VAIO SZ-110B in Speed Mode (Using Nvidia GeForce Go 7400) 794 3DMarks Samsung R20 (1.73GHz T2250 and ATI 1250M chipset / GPU) 476 3DMarks
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Above the keyboard is a strip of touch-activated buttons, controlling volume, mute, and controls for the Quickplay media program (launch, DVD, play, stop, forward and back). The volume buttons are awesome, but it would be nice to have another button which disabled the whole strip. Sometimes I inadvertently hit the Quickplay button, which then launches a window on top of anything you happen to be doing.
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Another complaint is the rather chintzy mouse tracking pad and buttons. The pad itself is the same smooth, hard plastic material as the outer shell (at least it feels and looks the same), which makes it less responsive to movements than a regular textured pad. The left/right buttons have no divider between them and they do not respond very well to pressure, frequently resulting in non-responsive clicks. The buttons are large, but do not respond evenly across their surface, adding to the frustration.
On the plus side, they have included a separate scrolling bar which is convenient. Though again, the scrolling bar could be more sensitive. There is also a button which toggles the tracking pad, eliminating accidental clicks and movements. I recommend buying a top-notch wireless mouse along with this laptop. It is a good, cheap way to negate one of the computer's only design flaws -- a lousy mouse apparatus.
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The HDMI port on the left side is a sweet touch, vital if you opt for the BluRay drive. Another thing you'll notice is the Infrared remote control, which tucks away in the ExpressCard slot when you're not using it. This is convenient, though I haven't once used the Quickplay feature which the remote controls.
This computer excels in regards to noise and heat. I have had it running for 20 hours straight, and can still comfortably rest it on my lap (at least while clothed). The fan has at least three speeds, none of which are annoyingly loud, and it kicks on infrequently. (I don't play games, so I can't say whether this would hold true during a marathon session of Unreal Tournament). Most of the time I keep a large book between my lap and the computer, but that is to make it easier to type, not because of excessive or uncomfortable heat.
The pre-packaged software is decent. There is a large suite of family-friendly video games, mostly middle-of-the-road type stuff. The HP Photosmart application is a nice addition. Microsoft Works comes standard, Microsoft Office/Word costs extra (I did not pay extra for Office). There is also an HP Advisor built in, which helps new owners quickly and simply customize their computers.
I have not contacted HP customer service, though Consumer Reports seems to list HP as below average in that department. Hopefully I'll never need to find out.Buying Choices for the HP Pavilion dv9700t Entertainment Notebook PC (2.10 GHz, 250GB HD, 4GB RAM) HP Home & Home Office Store | $1,855.97
Conclusion
Overall, the HP Pavilion dv9700t is terrific. Any junkies fixated on high-end gaming or intense graphics/editing might find this computer lacking some muscle. For everybody else, it combines power, beauty, speed and solid design at a cost that can't be beat (I comparison shopped for a very long time before reaching this conclusion). Just don't forget to look for coupons!
(source http://www.notebookreview.com)
HP 2133 Mini laptop
Our pre-production HP 2133 Mini-Note features the following specifications: Pricing for the HP 2133 Mini-Note range from as little as $499 for the 1.0GHz VIA processor, 512MB of RAM and a 4GB PATA Flash module with Linux, to $749 for the 1.6GHz VIA processor, 2GB of RAM and a 120GB 5400 rpm hard drive running Windows Vista Business. HP will also be offering a version of the Mini-Note with a 160GB 7200 rpm hard drive (which is the configuration we received for review) but that pricing was unavailable at the time of this writing. Still, it's safe to assume the price for this configuration will be more than $750. Build and Design The HP 2133 Mini-Note has a great design. Everyone in our office agreed that it has a solid chassis and attractive look. The brushed aluminum and plastic casing is durable and hides fingerprints well. It also keeps the Mini-Note lightweight, only weighing in around 2.86 lbs as configured. It has that sleek business appeal, but is targeted toward students as well. One look at the Mini-Note and I can see why. I mean who wouldn't want an inexpensive subnotebook to tote back and forth to class, especially one that pretty much has a full-size keyboard. HP didn't go wrong with the design. The 8.9" WXGA display is beautiful and easy to read. It puts off a glare though because of the protective coating. Nothing about the Mini-Note feels cheap. I didn't notice any signs of flex and enjoyed its good variety of ports and features. The Mini-Note also comes with different hard drive options, so hopefully this might help in the performance section considering the Mini-Note sports a VIA C7-M ULV processor. As I mentioned above, the keyboard is almost full size. It is 92% of a full sized keyboard, which is quite impressive for such a small form factor. It is much more comfortable to type on compared to the Asus Eee PC. The touchpad can be awkward though, especially the placement of the right and left click buttons. As you can see from the pictures below it does have a neat power and Wi-Fi switch that lights up and changes from blue when on to orange when off. While some consumers might be upset at the absence of a DVD drive in the Mini-Note, that's just one trade-off you have to make for such a compact design. In truth, there simply isn't any room left inside the Mini-Note after everything is said and done. The photo below shows that the only empty spaces inside the chassis are where the hard drive and ExpressCard slot are located. If you're interested in a quick overview of the HP 2133 Mini-Note we've provided this short video below: Screen Compared to the screens on other subnotebooks priced below $1,000, the screen on the HP 2133 Mini-Note is beyond beautiful. Most notebooks that we review (regardless of size or price) would be lucky to have a screen like this. Contrast is excellent, backlighting is even across the surface without any bleeding around the edges, colors are saturated and crisp, and viewing angles are relatively nice. The 1280 x 768 resolution is likewise exceptional given the small size of this notebook. Text is a little smaller than what most consumers would prefer, but this is a minor inconvenience considering the fact that you can display a complete webpage on the LCD exactly as it was meant to be displayed. The only issue that caused concern with the screen on the Mini-Note was the use of an additional protective layer of glossy plastic over the screen. While this extra layer of plastic helps protect the display, the unfortunate side effect is significant reflection. We're not talking about a typical glossy screen. We're talking about a screen with a completely separate glossy layer applied over it. When viewing the display your eyes naturally shift focus between what is being displayed on the screen and what is being reflected in the glossy surface of the second layer over the screen. Since these images are on a slightly different focal plane you can easily develop eye strain and headaches from looking at this screen. I actually developed a mild headache after less than two hours of using this notebook. Below are a few sample images to illustrate the screen reflections on the Mini-Note: The reflections on the screen aren't noticeable at all in a dark room, but most people don't use their notebooks in the dark unless they're just watching movies. If you aren't sensitive to reflections then the screen is beautiful when viewed from straight ahead. Keyboard and Touchpad The keyboard on the 2133 Mini-Note is great. To put it plainly, this is the best keyboard we've seen on a notebook this small. The keys have a silver finish and are smooth to the touch. There isn't a textured feel to the keyboard. The best thing though is how big it is. I mean, it almost is a full-sized keyboard, so writing papers on this thing is a breeze. No spelling errors due to hitting the wrong keys. I didn't notice any signs of flex and really liked that most of the keys were full sized except a few. The tilde key and the number one key are smaller than the rest of the numbers, which was quite odd. The space bar was relatively small too. The touchpad was awkward. Response time was a little slow sometimes, but it is easy to navigate with. The right and left click buttons are what get you. The buttons are located on the sides of the touchpad, which take some time to get used too. I forgot what I am clicking on sometimes. I would have liked the palm rest area to be a little bigger, so the buttons could have been relocated below the touchpad like on standard notebooks or the Eee PC. The button above the touchpad is a convenient feature that turns the touchpad off and makes it inactive when you are typing. Input and Output Ports Of course, one minor compromise you have to make with the ultra-mobile form factor of the Mini-Note is that the laptop cannot accommodate the standard array of ports you'll find on other notebooks. HP did manage to include a reasonable number of ports. The complete list of ports includes: Performance and Benchmarks After the impressive build and design of the HP 2133 Mini-Note we expected to see a likewise impressive level of performance coming out of this tiny titan. Unfortunately, performance is one area where the Mini-Note falls short. On paper the 1.6GHz VIA C7-M processor should provide excellent speed for general computing tasks. In reality, web pages rendered slower than expected, multi-tasking was painfully slow, and most processor-hungry applications like Photoshop or video encoding software just didn't like the VIA processor. Our standard range of synthetic benchmark tests likewise didn't play very nice with the VIA processor and VIA Chrome 9 integrated graphics. While synthetic benchmarks don't always give you an accurate measure of a system's real-world performance, these benchmarks do give you a good idea of how the HP Mini-Note performs compared to other laptops currently on the market. While the benchmark numbers certainly aren't "bad" it's hard to get excited about these numbers when you factor in that this configuration of the HP Mini-Note costs more than $750. With that said, let's jump into the benchmarks. PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance): wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance): 3DMark06 comparison results for graphics performance (higher scores are better): HDTune hard drive performance results: Another factor to keep in mind when judging the overall system performance is the operating system being used. Our pre-production review unit was using Windows Vista Business and, like most notebooks using Windows Vista, performance likely suffers as a result. Here is a short video comparing the startup time of the HP Mini-Note with Vista against the Asus Eee PC with XP: While you may argue our justification for comparing a notebook with Vista against a notebook with XP, this is a valid comparison because it demonstrates what consumers will experience "out of the box" with two notebooks targeted at similar customers. Audio The built-in speaker performance on the Mini-Note was quite superior compared to other notebooks in this class. The audio is excellent for watching short video clips or web conferencing, but it's also loud enough to enjoy music or full-length movies with distortion-free sound using the built-in speakers. Of course, for the best possible audio performance you'll want to use external speakers or headphones. The audio output via the headphone jack is quite good and provides excellent, distortion-free sound for headphones or external speakers. Heat and Noise The ultra low voltage VIA processor in the HP 2133 Mini-Note generated far more heat than we typically expect from ultra low voltage processors. Temperature readings taken from the outside of the aluminum and plastic chassis spiked above 110 degrees Fahrenheit in multiple locations and the Mini-Note actually became uncomfortable to hold after 30-45 minutes of serious use. The cooling fan ran at full speed most of the time and clearly struggled to keep temperatures under control. Most of the time the fan is only loud enough to hear in a perfectly quiet environment, but if you work in a relatively quiet office or classroom setting you should be prepared for coworkers and students to complain about the noise coming from the cooling fan. Below are images indicating the temperature readings from the HP 2133 Mini-Note (listed in degrees Fahrenheit) taken inside our office where the ambient temperature was 75 degrees Fahrenheit: Battery Overall, the HP 2133 Mini-Note did a reasonable job in terms of power management. With the Mini-Note connected to a Wi-Fi network and browsing the web on the "balanced" power setting with the display at about 50 percent brightness, we obtained 2 hours and 15 minutes of battery life with the standard 3-cell battery. Using the same settings we obtained 4 hours and 11 minutes of battery life with the 6-cell extended life battery. Bottom line, the Mini-Note makes an excellent mobile companion with the extended life battery. The only possible negative to using the extended life battery is that the larger 6-cell battery sticks out from the bottom of the notebook adding both size and weight. However, this also provides an advantage since it provides a more ergonomic angle to the keyboard for typing. The HP 2133 Mini-Note is one of the most impressive subnotebooks we've ever seen. Unfortunately, the amazing design and solid range of features are diminished by a sub-par processor and a price tag that places this notebook dangerously close to far superior 12-inch notebooks such as the HP tx2000. HP managed to create the single most impressive ultraportable notebook on the market ... and then decided to put a lackluster processor inside. Despite the poor processor performance, the HP 2133 Mini-Note is a remarkably solid machine that could be a perfect fit for students, teachers, or mobile business professionals. If HP decides to replace the VIA processors with the new Intel Atom processors or alternative processors from Intel, the Mini-Note would become the undisputed champion of the subnotebook market. Pros Cons
Just when you thought you'd never find the perfect small form factor notebook for less than $1,000, HP comes to the table with the all new 2133 Mini-Note. This ultra mobile subnotebook features an impressive 8.9-inch screen, a remarkably large keyboard, a full-sized notebook hard drive, and plenty of impressive specs. Is this the perfect road warrior machine? Let's take a closer look and find out.
Buying Choices for the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC HP | $749.00
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Communications Broadcom Ethernet Integrated Controller (10/100/1000)
Security Kensington lock, Symantec Norton Internet Security
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Here is a quick tour around the HP 2133 Mini-Note:
Front view: Power switch, drive status light, Wi-Fi on/off switch. (view large image)
Rear view: No ports here, just the hinges and battery. (view large image)
Left side view: VGA out, heat vent, USB 2.0 port, microphone in, headphone out. (view large image)
Right side view: ExpressCard/54 slot, SD card reader, USB 2.0 port, Ethernet, power connector, and security lock slot. (view large image) Notebook PCMark05 Score HP 2133 Mini-Note (1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV) 801 PCMarks HTC Shift (800MHz Intel A110) 891 PCMarks Asus Eee PC 4G (630MHz Intel Celeron M ULV) 908 PCMarks Asus Eee PC 4G (900MHz Intel Celeron M ULV) 1,132 PCMarks Everex CloudBook (1.2GHz VIA C7-M ULV) 612 PCMarks Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600) 2,446 PCMarks Fujitsu LifeBook P7230 (1.2GHz Intel Core Solo U1400) 1,152 PCMarks Sony VAIO VGN-G11XN/B (1.33GHz Core Solo U1500) 1,554 PCMarks Toshiba Portege R500 (1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600) 1,839 PCMarks Notebook / CPU wPrime 32M time HP 2133 Mini-Note (Via CV7-M ULV @ 1.6GHz) 168.697 seconds Asus Eee PC 4G (Intel Celeron M ULV @ 630MHz) 289.156 seconds Asus Eee PC 4G (Intel Celeron M ULV @ 900MHz) 200.968 seconds Everex CloudBook (VIA C7-M ULV @ 1.2GHz) 248.705 seconds Fujitsu U810 Tablet PC (Intel A110 @ 800MHz) 209.980 seconds Sony VAIO VGN-G11XN/B (Core Solo U1500 @ 1.33GHz) 124.581 seconds Sony VAIO TZ (Core 2 Duo U7600 @ 1.2GHz) 76.240 seconds Dell Inspiron 2650 (Pentium 4 Mobile @ 1.6GHz) 231.714 seconds Notebook 3DMark06 Score HP 2133 Mini-Note (1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV, VIA Chrome 9) 93 3DMarks Averatec 2575 (2.2 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-64, ATI RS690T) 377 3DMarks Dell Inspiron 1525 (2.0GHz Intel T7250, Intel X3100) 545 3DMarks Sony VAIO NR (1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250, Intel X3100) 504 3DMarks Dell XPS M1530 (2.20GHz Intel T7500, Nvidia 8600M GT 256MB) 4,332 3DMarks Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.0GHz Intel T7300, NVIDIA 8600M GT) 2,905 3DMarks Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB) 1,408 3DMarks Samsung Q70 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 and nVidia 8400M G GPU) 1,069 3DMarks Asus F3sv-A1 (Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, Nvidia 8600M GS 256MB) 2,344 3DMarks Alienware Area 51 m5550 (2.33GHz Core 2 Duo, nVidia GeForce Go 7600 256MB 2,183 3DMarks Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi 1526 (1.66GHz Core Duo, nVidia 7600Go 256 MB) 2,144 3DMarks Samsung X60plus (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7200, ATI X1700 256MB) 1,831 3DMarks Asus A6J (1.83GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 128MB) 1,819 3DMarks HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400) 827 3DMarks
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(view large image)Buying Choices for the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC HP | $749.00
Conclusion
(source http://www.notebookreview.com )
