December 2009 | notekings

HP Pavilion G60-230US 16.0-Inch Laptop

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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!

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HEWLETT PACKARD - HP - TOUCHSMART TX2 w

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HEWLETT PACKARD - HP - TOUCHSMART TX2 w multi-touch capabilities - TX2Z - AMD Turion(TM) X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processor RM-74 (2.2GHz, L2 Cache), 4GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB SATA HD, ATI Radeon(TM) HD 3200 Graphics , SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support, Webcam Only with HP Imprint Finish (Reaction), Wireless-G Card, 12.1" diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)w/Integrated Touch-screen, Microsoft(R) Works 9.0, Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium

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Compaq Presario CQ60-410US 15.6-Inch Laptop

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So I just received my Compaq laptop today and it's amazing. Fast, no lag, bright screen, works great. I've installed Google Chrome and AIM and they work flawless. The keypad is amazingly comfortable. No webcam and the HDMI slot is covered which aren't a big deal for me. I don't see why people give this laptop such a bad review, but I've only been playing with it for 3 hours so more on this review in the future.

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HP HDX16-1370US 16-Inch Entertainment Laptop

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I was looking for a laptop that I could use as a mobile desktop. I do work everyday on my desktop and I needed a machine that could do what my desktop can do on the go. I have owned this machine for almost two weeks now and it has been great. The high-powered processor working alongside the high amounts of ram allow me to surf the web, do my work and computer programming, and listen to my internet radio all at the same time with no slow down at all. The hard drive is huge, so I was able to install all of my large-sized programs with no problem at all. The webcam is very good and produces a clear picture when I chat with my family and friends. Aside from performance, it looks great with its shiny titanium finish and the screen is big, bright, and clear.

My suggestion to anyone who is planning on buying this laptop is to get a 12-cell battery as so that you can get a little more life out of the machine. With the standard battery included with the laptop, it lasts about 1.5 - 2 hours. With the 12-cell, I got 3 - 3.5.

One last note... all of the computers that I have owned up until now were running 32-bit versions of windows, so I was hesitant to get a 64-bit machine. However, 64-bit machines are not that different from 32-bit machines. You won't even be able to tell the difference. (Just make sure that when you install software, you pick the 64-bit version if necessary. Some installers will differentiate for you, but just be on the lookout.

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Compaq Presario CQ60-420US 15.6-Inch Laptop

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Great specs and performance for the price. System is very responsive and I haven't had a hiccup yet. Only thing missing for me would be an integrated webcam and dedicated graphics memory but you get what you pay for and those features usually cost extra

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HP ProBook 5310m - Core 2 Duo SP9300

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First, let me explain my criteria. I was looking for a thin and light full functioning notebook with more power than a netbook (of which I've owned two) and less than $1000 (which was hard to find until now), with an integrated webcame (which most laptops come equipped with nowadays), and that could handle streaming video from sights like Hulu, netflix, etc. HP has gotten the combination just right. With a processor that beats the standard 1+ ghz in a netbook, a large 13.3" matte widescreen, weighing under 3.0lbs, and under a grand, the Probook 5310m is a great buy.

Pros: 2.26ghz processor
13.3" widescreen (1366x768)
2gb Ram expandable to 4gb
Extremely thin
Nice, slim, business look - eye catching
Quick access web and email buttons
Matte screen
Chicklet-layout style keyboard
Sturdy and stylish build
Average batter life - 4 hours w/ a balanced power setting (and yes, I've tested this!)
Great security software included

Cons: Runs warm (but not hot) when streaming/watching video (most laptops do however)
Fan is sometimes loud
No VGA out port (requires a displayport to VGA adapter)

I've owned the Probook 5310m for just over two weeks now and have used it everyday! Overall, this machine has done exactly what I've needed it to do. The keyboard is very comfortable to type on. The speakers are weak, but that's to be expected. I rarely use the unit speakers any way. The sound is more than sufficient through headphones or connected to my LCD TV.

I'm running Windows 7 Professional and operating multiple screens at a time is a cinch. I've also done video editing on this computer. Although not as snappy as my desktop, the Probook 5310m handled it just fine and without hickups.

The Probook 5310m does not come with an optical (dvd) drive, but thin external drives are avaiable nowadays for around $50 bucks. Since I rarely use a dvd drive I was actually looking for a system without one to keep the weight down.

So, for the money you're paying this notebook is a great package. If it fits your needs, I highly recommend it. BTW, it's great for students and frequent travelers. I did some video and document editing while traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday and found it a very easy experience.

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HP Pavilion DV4-1541US 14.1-Inch Espresso Laptop

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I didn't expect to buy this. First, I *hate* white electronics (they usually look cheap and like they should carry the Fisher Price logo). Second, I know people who have had serious issues with HP laptop motherboards. However, last week Staples had it for about two hundred bucks less than its MSRP which was about two hundred less than I expected to pay for these specs. I couldn't resist.

I'm happy with the design. First, the white is not so bad. It has a shiny "pearl" like surface, a subtle graphic design on the cover/wrist rests and black and silver trim. This all makes it look more grown up and stylish than other white laptops. Second, compared to other laptops with these specs it's not too big or heavy. It's in-between a netbook and most full sized laptops. Also, the weight can be reduced by half a pound by swapping out the DVD drive for a dummy piece which is included.

I'm overall happy with the performance and quality. Seems fast and smooth for the most part, and I'm not currently having any problems with it. But I had a couple of initial problems. First, I had to take the first one I got back due to a stuck pixel that I couldn't unstick with any software programs. I didn't want to risk voiding the warranty with any physical methods. The second one I got was stuck-pixel-free. However, I was having serious issues playing internet video. That was a big deal to me. I tried a live chat rep - I think he was illiterate - he kept asking for info I had already provided, completely misconstrued my problem and even when I explained it for the 3rd time, he offered completely inappropriate solutions (e.g. program specific solutions, when I had told him it was in all programs). Somewhat dubious, I finally called tech support. I got a guy who was GREAT. Granted it took us over an hour of troubleshooting, but he finally figured it out. The issue was the wi-fi card driver. It just needed to be updated with the newest, which was posted on HP's site. So, I highly recommend checking HP's site for the latest driver updates, especially if you're having this issue.

And I agree with the other reviewer about the battery - 2 to 3 hours is what you can reasonably expect, but it depends on what you are doing. And yes, it is very quiet. Also, I should note that I did not get the rectangular remote shown on the bottom of this page with mine. I only got the small card one shown in the pictures up top. So, I don't think that other remote comes with it. (EDIT: Since I posted this review, Amazon has replaced the picture of the remote, it now shows a correct remote).

Just in case, I picked up Squaretrade's 3rd party extended warranty. It was a great price compared to Staples' and HP's plans. And it will protect me if this ends up being a lemon or if my dog flies into the cord and knocks it off the coffee table.

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HP G60-501NR 15.6-Inch Black Laptop

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I bought this on "Black Friday" but missed out on the $197 deal. I got it for $299, But still, I think I got a good deal. Amazon shipped it in 3 days and during the mean time, I read reviews where people said there wasn't any webcam. I've never had one and even though that would have been a great plus, I'm still happy with the computer. Hd quality screen, Windows 7 os, numeric keyboard. I was up and running in about an hour after copying my files from my external hd. I'm happy. I'm in school and keep most of my work work on a flash drive, so the size of the hd doesn't bother me to much.

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HP Pavilion DV6-1354US 15.6-Inch Black Laptop

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I purchased model DV6-1354US with 500gb hard drive and 6 cell battery. I use this laptop for editing photos with Adobe Photoshop CS4, as well as editing audio with Adobe Audition 2.0.

I have a five year old HP laptop running XP and it is still going strong. Despite outsourced Indian phone support, I was able to communicate support issues effectively. I am confident in future hardware performance and support from HP.

Transition from XP to Windows 7 was intuitive. The new taskbar is my favorite improvement. Followed by much better graphic interface and widgets. Some of my XP software causes Windows 7 to turn off Aero mode. I feel that windows has caught up with Apple in terms of graphics and workflow.

As far as laptop is concerned, Dave from Portland has a great review comparing the different models available on Amazon. The DV6-1354US is sufficient for me to use Adobe Photoshop and Audition, as well as multitask.

I will never go to a laptop again without a numeric keypad, this was an unexpected plus. I do miss the old HP media controls above the keyboard. They are replaced now by a volume and wireless control. I like that they are no longer buttons but touch sensitive surfaces above the keyboard.

The DV6 is quieter and cooler than my old HP. The power cord is beefier, which was always a problem with my old HP. Although I would prefer a magnetic power cord like Apple offers. Compared to other manufacturers, I would have to say that HP has the best price for great, reliable hardware.

Everything is a wonderful improvement except for the sound. Frequently, friends would ask where the music was coming from when I used my old DV1000. I felt that the sound was very rich for such a small system. I find the DV6 to have a much shallower, smaller sound that finds trouble filling a bedroom. For this reason, I drop the DV6 to four stars.

Also, the DV6 doesn't come with recovery disks. You need 3 DVD+R or -R (not RW) disks to create your own.

Overall, I really enjoy this computer, and probably will continue to enjoy it for another 5 to 7 years until RAM is in petabytes and laptops cook dinners. If I had to do it again I would still choose it over an Acer, Asus, Dell, Mac, or Sony.

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