HP Pavilion DV7-2170US 17.3-Inch Entertainment Laptop

product details

I loved the look of this machine out of the box. It's thin, with a very large screen.
Pros: Huge Screen, designer case, fast cpu(ranked in top 30 for notebooks), graphics card(ati! 1GB of gddr3 ram!), good support from hp, 2 speakers w/sub,
hd audio,hdmi out, good screen resolution(1600x900), full keyboard, 500GB Hard drive, 4GB of ram.

It can run todays computer games very well. Applications open very fast. Very good integrated mic is very sensitive and can pick up anything.

Cons: low battery life, heavy, bloatware, glossy screen and chrome touchpad.

The battery life is way to low to really consider this machine something you would use on trips or flights over 2 hours long without plug
available. I also didnt think that laptops could be heavy untill I carried this laptop around the University of Texas campus. The glossy screen
reflects everything and anything making it hard to see the screen outdoors or near a window with bright light coming through. The chrome touch pad
is not as good as a plain jane plastic touchpad in that when you drag you finger, there is a little too much resistance for my liking( a little less
friction than rubbing your finger across the bottom of a shoe, unless your fingers are free of any residue, ie oils., then its smooth).

Overall this machine is a great laptop allowing me to keep my desktop off now since I purchased it. Even though my desktop is a high end gamming rig, this laptop has essentially replaced it. That being said, there are probably those of you who will not want to lug it around where ever you go. If you do, do purchase a laptop backpack as a brief case design even with one with a strap would tear into your shoulders. The battery life is annoyingly low, but is expected from a laptop with a large screen and discrete graphics card. If you want more battery life choose a laptop that has integrated graphics, but performance will be much lower. The only laptop out there that I have seen with performance and big screen, with an 8 hour battery life is a $3000 mac! Vista is no isssue here as the machine is perfectly capable of running it flawlessly. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ERRORS OR BLUESCREENS!!!!! The user who rated this machine with 1 star messed up his machine him self. He is obviosly a novice user. You only get bluescreens on computers due to user errors 99.999% of the time. I have had no issues at all with this notebook.

I ordered 2 of these laptops for my wife and I. The laptops came packaged very good, with no defects, and were delivered the next day after the order was placed. Both screens had no dead pixels what so ever and were perfect. All extra ports(useb, hdmi, ect) do not get in the way of each other. The laptops came with the hp mini-media remote, ac adapters, user guides, and pollishing cloths. Setup is a breese with HP's setup program. Do note that HP Games from wild tangent is much like a video game arcade, where you purchase tokens to play the games. 500 tokens a month for 6.99 per month. All antivirus software and office software is a trial version. I recommend unistalling the trial versions of office, hp wild tangent games(the games are not free!!!), norton(horrible, bloated, antivirus software), and the sling box software(uselesss without a slingbox for your tv). Free antivirus programs are out there.

I am giving it only 4 out of 5 due to the battery life. Otherwise you will not be disappointed. PC PitStop is a website that benchmarks computers, it ranked my system among laptops in the top 9% in the world, graphics got the top 3%.

Windows Vista Performance Index Ratings:
Processor: 5.2
Memory(RAM): 5.9
Graphics: 5.9
Gaming Graphics: 5.6
Primary Harddisk: 5.6

Any questions just comment on my post.

buy this product

Read more

HP Pavilion DV4-1200US Series, 14.1-Inch Laptop

product details

This is my first laptop and I think I made a great choice. Firstly, I bought it directly from hp.com and with the rebates I had, saved two hundred dollars. Secondly, I got free 2 day shipping and it arrived on time.

The first thing I like about it is that the color is not the cheap gold look you see in the picture. I love the keyboards on HPs Entertainment and Special Edition notebooks. They do not feel cramped. There have been many cmplaints about the glare of the keyboards on this and the black and chrome models. So far, I have had no problems with the glare. Yes, I agree with the other reviewer, that the keys are hard to see in the dark. I would assume that would be the case for any laptop unless it is backlighted and this is not. It is light (wtihtout the battery), the speakers generate nice sound, it finds wireless networks instantly, and I actually like Vista. Just a note, read up on accessing the hidden administrator account if you are new to Vista. It has some serious security that will keep you from making even the most basic adjustments, including removing the bloatware.
HP has done a wonderful job in including set up tutorials and online registration processes. The size is fantastic and screen is beautiful. I have not attached any peripherals up to it yet, so I cannot really comment on that.

Cons:
The battery life is short.. maybe an hour and a half even when it in the recommended power save mode. It has a lighted HP emblem on the back of the cover that uses resources. HP could have added the backlighted keyboard instead! The verdict is still out on there telephone tech service! I have had better experience with there chat support.
The comp does sound like it is working overtime anytime I burn a CD and the vibration generating from drive is a bit too much for me to type at the same time.

This is a great laptop, esp. if you can get it for under $[...]. It has only some bells and whistles, so if you want built in bluetooth and a blueray player, you will have to go up a model. Otherwise, no reason not to consider this one.

buy this product

Read more

HP Pavilion DV4-1430US 14.1-Inch Entertainment Laptop

product details

Before buying this laptop I had bought one from Gateway and it gave me so many problems that I couldn't stand it. I returned it to the store and my only other option for the same price was this laptop. I absolutely love it! Its 100x sturdier than the Gateway and much better looking with its lightup "HP" symbol and cool design. Also, the performance is just as good.

PROS
-durability
-style
-speed
-price
-hardware
-audio quality(high definition)
-ports (HDMI, eSATA, VGA, USB)
-comes with a remote
-battery life (over 2 hours of heavy use)

CONS
-runs hot
-seems to be a little buggy (video card driver crashes every once in a while but recovers itself after a few seconds. Reinstalling driver didn't fix the problem)
-there is no program that comes with the computer or from HP that allows the webcam settings to be changed (resolution, quality, etc)


Overall I LOVE this laptop though and I'm glad that I bought it regardless of its flaws. The value is amazing!

buy this product

Read more

HP Pavilion G Series Laptop

product details

I don't know about the other reviewer's experience, but I can say that I love everything about this computer. The screen is bright and the colors are vivid. I have listened to other laptop speakers, and these sound very good. The keyboard is wonderful to type on. I had to uninstall some bloatware, but that was expected. Will upgrade to a 12 cell battery as soon as I can afford to. I highly recommend this laptop to anyone who wants a well made machine. Read the specs listed above and you will find that this machine has everything you would want in a laptop or desktop replacement. Con: somewhat large and slightly heavy, but then again your going to carry it in a bag anyways!

buy this product

Read more

HP Pavilion DV6-1280US 16-Inch Entertainment Laptop

product details

My wife and I purchased this laptop for her mother and I have been very impressed with the features and build quality. It is well constructed with a metallic toned black plastic exterior. Take a good look at the shell art since it is something that may not appeal to everyone but my mother-in-law definitely appreciated having something a little more individual than the usual dull grey exterior. Despite the glossy exterior we haven't noticed much in the way of finger prints or any scratches despite the helping hands of our kids who love to "help" grandma with her computer.

The specs for this model are set well above what the average home owner needs today which (in my mind) future proofs it nicely. If you are on a tight budget you can get what you need for less (look at the HP Pavilion G60 line). If you have a little bit more to spend and you want some headroom to handle your computing needs for the next few years this is a great choice.

CPU - The dual core Turion is a solid notebook processor. It can handle two threads which means you can have the virus scanner running while you surf the web with no noticeable slowdown. No it's not the most aggressive notebook CPU out there but it's a solid mid-tier processor that runs cool and has a great power envelope. Outside of gaming CPUs are not the performance bottleneck in notebooks so most users should aim for a mid-tier CPU and spend their budget on things that will get them more tangible enjoyment (like a nice display and good graphics).

RAM - The 64 bit Windows can utilize more RAM than the old 32 Windows so why not through a lot of memory at it? It's cheap and a better path to improved performance for the average notebook user than more CPU horsepower. 6 GB of RAM might seem like overkill but this is one area where too much now = enough later.

HDD - 500GB plenty is far more space than you need now but again, I like the future proofing. Some people may not like that it is 5400 RPM vs. 7200 RPM but the performance difference is nearly zero thanks to the 6GB of RAM and the reliability of 5400 RPM drives makes me prefer them in notebooks which are hard on hard disks (because they move around while in use notebook HDDs suffer far more failures than desktop drives)

Graphics - The integrated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 is vastly superior to the usual low-end graphics that plague notebooks. You can actually do a little gaming on this notebook which is a truly rare thing.

Display - HP has a reputation for high-end displays and this one delivers. Tuned slightly for indoor use the HP Brightview display is good enough for outdoor use though not as much as a more matte display. Indoors it is brilliant with surprisingly strong blacks (too many notebook displays are all brightness with no depth). I like that the 16" wide screen provides a decent amount of vertical space without overdoing it. The difference between this and a 14"-15" is surprising.

Sound - Surprisingly good sound for a notebook. The speakers are well positioned and deliver a good range. I've heard better but it was on a $3K notebook.

Battery - For years the retail notebook market has been plagued with cheap six cell and even four cell batteries that could barely deliver 90 minutes of real computing use. To see HP bundle a 12 cell Li-Ion battery in with this notebook is hopefully a sign the industry is recognizing the note users want good battery life. With a 12 cell battery you can realistically plan to go all day without plugging in. This does add slightly to the weight but few users will notice.

I don't have any serious "cons" for this computer. The "Touch Media Controls" for things like the volume (as opposed to buttons you push) are a little odd at first but we got used to them quickly and hey, they look cool when they light up.

To wrap it all up: you can always buy more features for more money but if you are looking for a laptop with some higher-end features and upscale build quality this is an excellent choice. HP spent money in the right places and has created a high-end laptop at a mid-tier price.

buy this product

Read more

HP Pavilion DV3-2150US 13.3-Inch Entertainment Laptop

product details

I researched every laptop out there before deciding on this one. I'm starting law school so my requirements were:
lightweight
comfortable to type on for hours
good touchpad
large hard drive--I take a lot of pictures & love me my Itunes
under $800 and not goofy looking

After about a month I can say I really love this laptop, and think I made the perfect choice. The keyboard is perfect, touchpad is the best I've ever seen on a laptop, smooth & just sensitive enough. It's super fast so far, and HUGE hard drive that I will probably never fill up (though I'll try). It doesn't get hot, is super lightweight & easy to carry around, the screen is perfect--I wouldn't want to go any smaller, and don't need to go any bigger. I like the built in webcam, like the touch sensitive volume controls on the keyboard. I don't even mind Vista, though one of these days we will go through and delete some of the other preloaded stuff that comes on it.

Only improvement I would suggest is one more USB port, but if that's the only compromise I have to make, I'm happy!

buy this product

Read more

Compaq Presario CQ61-310US 15.6-Inch Black Laptop

product details

For those who want everyday computing capability at a great value, the Compaq Presario CQ61 series Notebook PC delivers in style. Balancing mobility and performance needs at 5.90 lbs, the CQ61 is powered by AMD processor and ATI graphics technology along with these essential features: 15.6-Inch Diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView display for full-screen views. Integrated high-speed wireless LAN(10d) enabling connectivity within hot spots. Altec Lansing speakers delivering smooth audio performance. IDEAL FOR: Going online (Web surfing; social networking; email; shopping; video streaming), Running limited applications at the same time Enjoying entertainment (Viewing and editing photos; Listening to music; converting CDs to MP3s and burning discs; Watching DVD movies)

buy this product

Read more

HP G61-320US 15.6-Inch Black/Silver Laptop

product details

I think it is important to note that i bought this item at Staple's where they were having a very good deal and got it after everything for just under $400. I was looking for a system that would be reliable and have the few key features i needed. A must have for me was under $500, a HDMI port, the full keyboard, and everything else needed to be on average with what is currently being put out. This system of course has all of those things and has performed above average in every other area.
I wanted to make clear for some of the people who might have been a little scared after reading the previous review that i have had none of the probems that user described. Out of the box the computer set up in little to no time and connected and download all the updates that it needed withing the first 2 hours. I am a big fan of XP and so i was a little nervous about Windows 7, but at this point i have found it very intuitive and i am already considering switching my other systems over to it. I have had zero compatibily problems to this point and i have continued useing all the main programs that i use on my xp system. More than that i have been impressed with the overall look and feel of the computer. It looks better than my last laptop that was an acer aspire and cost more than twice as much. It doesn't have that cheap feel that some laptops have and it feels solidly built. It doesn't bend or creak at all even when held by the edges. I will and have recommended to friend and family and i think that if it is in your price range that you should take a close look at it. Keep an eye out for specials and see if you can get it cheap.

buy this product

Read more

HP Pavilion DV7-3060US 17.3-Inch Espresso

product details

Everything is good except the shinny body and keyboard which literally absorbs fingerprints.Be ready to clean this laptop every 2 days. Other than that it is perfect. The battery life is pretty good for the 17.3 incher, it last for up too 2.5 hours of normal use.Gamers will appreciate that this machine easily handles GTA IV at near 720p resolution. Thanks to it's Q9000 processor and HD4650 video card.

buy this product

Read more

HP Pavilion DV6-1350US 15.6-Inch Espresso

product details

My wife and I purchased a slightly different version of this laptop for her mother and I have been very impressed with the features and build quality (there are several DV6 models but they are all built on the same chassis). It is well constructed with a metallic toned black exterior (HP also offers versions in white). Take a good look at the shell art since it is something that may not appeal to everyone. My mother-in-law definitely appreciated having something a little more individual than the usual dull grey exterior. Despite the glossy exterior we haven't noticed much in the way of finger prints or any scratches despite the helping hands of our kids who love to "help" grandma with her computer. (There are some DV6 models without art work such as the HP Pavilion DV6-1050US 16.0-Inch Laptop and the HP Pavilion DV6-1030US 16.0-Inch Laptop.)

The specs for this model are set well above what the average home owner needs today which (in my mind) future proofs it nicely. If you are on a tight budget you can get what you need for less (look at the HP Pavilion G60 line). If you have a little bit more to spend and you want some headroom to handle your computing needs for the next few years this is a great choice.

CPU - The four models Amazon is showing all share variations of the Intel Core2 Duo. This is a great notebook processor and the best choice for consumers today. It can handle two software "threads" which means you can have the virus scanner running while you surf the web with no noticeable slowdown. The difference between the four CPUs offered is not that great and outside of gaming, CPUs are not the performance bottleneck in notebooks. I would suggest most users should spend their budget on things that will get them more tangible enjoyment (like a nice display and good graphics). Only the DV6-1361SB stands out performance wise vs. the other models offered here. The other three models have CPUs with very similar performance (in fact the 1350US and 1354US share the same CPU model).

RAM - 4GB of RAM is combined with a 64bit OS to which should provided more than enough memory for pretty much any application you can think of outside of extremely high end gaming. All four models have the same amount. The RAM on the 1350US and 1354US run at 800MHZ while the RAM on the 1361SB and the 1360US runs at 1066MHZ. Faster is better for performance but not for battery life so the tradeoff depends on what matters most to you. The performance difference is not great and I think most people will be happier with the improved battery life.

HDD - Ranging from 320 to 500GB this is far more space than you need now but again, I like the future proofing. All but the 1354US have faster 7200RPM drives while it sports the slower (but slightly more reliable) 5400 RPM drive.

Graphics - The more expensive 1361SB and the 1360US both sport an integrated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 which is vastly superior to the usual low-end graphics that plague notebooks. You can actually do a some 3D gaming on those notebooks which is a truly rare thing. The 1350US and 1354US use the Intel 4500MHD which isn't going to win any awards for performance will satisfy any non-gamer (it chokes on newer 3D games).

Display - HP has a reputation for high-end displays and this one delivers. Tuned slightly for indoor use the 15.6" HP Brightview display is good enough for outdoor use though not as much as a more matte display. Indoors it is brilliant with surprisingly strong blacks (too many notebook displays are all brightness with no depth). I like that the screen provides a decent amount of vertical space without overdoing it. The difference between this and a 14" is surprising. (Note: HP recently starting mixing 15.6" and 16.0" screens in the DV6 model line. You can usually buy a very similar model with either screen size though you may have to custom order).

Sound - Surprisingly good sound for a notebook. The speakers are well positioned and deliver a good range. I've heard better but it was on a $3K notebook.

Battery - Surprisingly only the least expensive model (1350US) has a long lasting 12 cell Li-Ion battery. I'm guessing that's because it's aimed more towards students on a budget who need better battery life than a home user. The rest port a 6 cell battery (pretty standard). With a 12 cell battery you can realistically plan to go all day without plugging in. This does add slightly to the weight but few users will notice (about 1/10 of a pound). It is larger and will stick out whereas the 6 cell will sit flush.

I don't have any serious "cons" for this computer. The "Touch Media Controls" for things like the volume (as opposed to buttons you push) are a little odd at first but we got used to them quickly and hey, they look cool when they light up.

If you're staring at these four models trying to decide which one to buy my advice is: For non-gamers just go for the 1350US. The performance for non-gaming software will be very close to the more expensive model and you get a better battery out of the deal. The hard drive is smaller but as mentioned before most home users won't get near to filling a 320GB drive. And these days external hard drives are cheap and can even sit on your wireless network. And if 320GB isn't enough for you then 500GB isn't going to be much better.

If you are a gamer just skip up to the 1361SB. Let's be clear: this isn't a gaming laptop. A real gaming laptop will easily run you another $500. But you can play newer 3D games at reduce settings and older 3D games will run at more aggressive settings.

If you are a power user who needs the fastest CPU and memory the 1361SB is also your best choice. You get a small speed bump going to the 1360US but the real jump is the 1361SB.

To wrap it all up: you can always buy more features for more money but if you are looking for a laptop with some higher-end features and upscale build quality this is an excellent choice. HP spent money in the right places and has created a high-end laptop at a mid-tier price. For most users there no reason to buy anything other than the 1350US which is one of the better values out there today. If you are a student you may want to check out HPs "Academy" program which offers student discounts (it can be hard to find on HP's web site so you may be better off searching for "HP Academy").

buy this product

Read more