*HP EliteBook 8740w Owners Lounge - PART 1*

So it is DC2 that got discontinued... not the DC1 RGBLED right?

 

A few pages back, someone said:

>>> If the brightness on the non-DC2 is really only 180 nits as published
>>> in the maintenance guide, then it's DC2 or goodbye for me.

I've been watching (but not ordering) while I waited to see if/when the DreamColor panel shipped. Like some others, I like the DC because of the brightness as well as the color accuracy. For me, 180 nits isn't enough to justify the price of the machine. So, I'm another who'll be watching this carefully.

- J -

 

please give me the price for the docking station/upgrade bay and RAM

 

that is more than confusin
Drivers | drivers for mobile cards and laptops | laptopvideo2go.com

looks like 18x.xx is newer than 19x.xx
I've found on nvidia web a driver for quadro (dedicated) and the 3800M is on the list 189.74. I'll try it first
than i'll try 197.45 from nvidia website + modified inf file.

Anyway.. I've just received a phone call from HP. They told me to force inf file from the newest drivers. Im sure I've tried that yesteday and It didnt work but I'll grive it a try again today when I come back home.

Quadro cards got diferent numbering for sure.

 

BTW I've found a soluion for Mercury playback if someone is interested here. Its about Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 new rendering engin which uses GPU power to take some calculations from CPU. There is one txt file in adobe folder which contains a list of supported cards. So far"M" cards are not listed but you can add yours manualy and it works! Mercury playback is on than (Not just software but hardware toooooo!)
If anybody is interested I can forward the link by PM

 

There is nothing called DC1 for the 8740W. That is just for the 8730W. For the 8740W, its DC2 or plain normal RGBLED.

 

or full HD white led or 1600xxx px white led

 

My conversation with HP continues. I received this:

So, if Carlos is correct, there's no difference in spec -- just price. I'm not convinced. That's nearly a $500 difference in price. It seems more likely that the less expensive display is, in fact, the non-DreamColor WUXGA display.

My response:

 

Even more confusing and coincidental...Just got a email from the person i am working with when i was asking what is spec of the new display.

"17.0-inch diagonal LED-backlit DreamColor® WUXGA WVA anti-glare (1920 x 1200) with camera.
The DreamColor display option enables professionals to work with deep, accurate colors for precise results every time. Able to display more than 1 billion active colors – 64 times the capabilities of a traditional display – the 8740w utilizes a 30-bit notebook LCD panel to provide a level of color control previously found only on the deskbound HP DreamColor LP2480 Professional Display.”


I have replied back to them asking for clarification and not just copy paste from stupid document.

 

That screen is not even a true RGB LED. It's a white LED the cheapest of them all.
The true RGB LED costs about 200$ more.
That's frustrating.
I'm considering getting one with the basic screen and then upgrading in 2 months from now when the DC2 is available.
Dunno yet...

 

Could you please give us your screen specs?
Also how bad is it compared to your Eizos?

 

The BIG q'n is will it be upgradeable

 

the full HD (as I have) is not bad at all. Very very good angles. Good and depp colours and antiglare layer makes a very goood and usable screen from this screen. I like it a lot... than I dont care about upgrading etc etc.

About future upgrades. All these workstations can be upgraded in future

 

@xrsx: How would you describe the brightness, compared with other laptops?

 

Looks like my suspicion was correct. HP's email:

My response:

 

The guy to talk to for answers on Dreamcolor matters is Greg Staten. He's the DreamColor Solutions Architect at HP. He seems approachable, drops in from time to time on a couple of boards.

 

If wouldn't mind having a PM with Greg's contact info, if you have it and are comfortable giving it out.

 

I'd expect him to be doing a lot of "duck & cover" right now.

Greg, you cannot hide from us! (lol)
http://forums.creativecow.net/profile/130700
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Greg/Staten/

 

FWIW, I've seen the WLED panel on the 8530 which was also rated at 200 nits and I'd describe it as freakishly, unusably dim. I'm coming from an Asus G71G with dual tubes and it's really bright - I'd hate to take a significant step backwards on a machine that costs 3x as much.

I've called a couple of times and they can't seem to get a status on my DC2 build that was due for delivery yesterday. I fully expect it's in the same boat and if the only option is the dim screen I'll be jumping ship for a refurb M6500 which is rated for 300 nits. I'd hate to give up on the video card but I use the built-in LCD all day every day and that's much more important than the video performance for what I do.

 

Yeah, my M17X has the 300nits+ and it's the type of brightness I'm very pleased with. Lower is unacceptable for a high end machine.

 

No reply from HP on my last question -- to confirm the brightness spec of the standard WUXGA display. Given the figures of 180 and 200 nit in the available documentation, I don't expect a satisfactory answer -- my requirement is something near 300 nit. At this point, it seems unlikely that I actually will own an EliteBook.

I inspected a coworker's maxed-out ThinkPad W700ds today. Compared to a sleek EliteBook, the ThinkPad is an ugly behemoth of black plastic. However, the RGBLED display was stunning. I was also pleasantly surprised by the utility of the secondary display. If HP can't get me a usable display, the W701 or W701ds might be my second choice.

 

But it's plastic.... Otherwise, I'd jump on it right away.

 

1. the 8530 never came with an LED to my knowledge
2. if you turn the light sensor off it's actually not that dim at all. with it on it is freakishly dim.

 

I never go too much technical about my computers I decribe the brightness as good enough to work Comared to my Eizos is fine. When I've turn the brightness to 100% for very first time I was impressed comparing to my other laptops like the new Asus G73jh and a bit older dell precision machine m6400 with normal screen.

 

I dont know what is going on in HP Support department but they are going mad I've told them that their drivers for my fx3800m are too old for CUDA support (ADobe package) and I've asked them why I cant instal drivers from nvidia website (posted here before).. today they've sent me a link Hotfile.com: One click file hosting Fist the driver is older second - its for fx3700m fx3800m is not listed in the inf file

They are just stupid... I was told that the next official driver update will be around mid june LOL! I told them the drivers are on nvidia website already.. that what they need to do is convert it somehow to work with their branded fx3800m.

 

Good News for all of us regarding the DC2 Display

Yesterday, i emailed Greg Staten (Dream Color Specialist) and got a very positive and encouraging reply. First things first - he confirms the 10-Bit IPS panel, etc...I am waiting for his confirmation as to publish his views on the delay in this forum. Once i get that, i will share with you all..So far, its looking good.

 

Realizing its a consumer product, looks like the Envy 17 will be available May 19.

HP Expands Design Leadership with Updated Consumer Notebook PC Portfolio

It looks like a MBP but nonetheless is very sexy.

I'm still holding out hope on my 8740w with DC though.

 

Wow Notebookgrail, I'm hopping from foot to foot. Please ask him about the DC2 screens for the 8540w as well. Pweety please

 

The DC2 for 8540W is also on the way. Infact, he said he was using a 8540W with DC2

 

is there any way to turn the brigtness a bit down for the top panel buttons backlight ?

 

@NotebookGrail: Thanks for taking our concerns to Mr. Staten. My main question is what we should do with our existing orders. I'll be checking the thread a little more often today.

 

I think we should just cancel our orders and wait it out until this DC2 option becomes available. But get a word from the rep/SMB CSS you are working with that they will honor some type of credit on the future order.

I just called HP SMB and cancelled the Order. As of now, there isn't any option other than choosing the white LED.

 

Update on Greg Staten and DreamColor
Greg Staten has infact volunteered (himself or a member from his team) to come and answer our questions directly in our own forum. Hurray :wink:
Looking forward to the moment.

 

for those people who wants the 8740w with the normal full hd white led screen now - HP Hewlett Packard WH276UT#ABA 8740w i7-720QM 17.0 320/4GB PC - PriceGuideNetwork.com I've bought it from them - excelent fast service - real stock

 

discuz, NotebookGrail, thanx much!!!! rep'ed

to all, I'm just going to sit on my order as HP will allow it to remain open. I can't give myself a good reason for cancelling and re-ordering.

 

I noticed this announcement yesterday, too. Since I'm lurking here as a not-yet-owner, I was wondering... is there an 'Owner's Lounge' for the Envy 17? I took a quick look at the parent node of this forum and didn't see one.

If someone has a link to one, please let me know so I can lurk there, too.

So many choices!

- J -

 

I'm game. Let's wait.

@NotebookGrail,
Thank You. Would rep you but need to spread some rep around ...

 

That is fantastic news! A person from HP actually participating in the thread certainly would make me more keen to wait for the DC2.

Here are my questions for Mr. Staten.

1. What caused the DreamColor 8740w delay?
2. What has been done to resolve the situation?
3. What is the new ETA? ...how confident are you in the date?
4. Can you confirm that it is an IPS display?
5. Will it do a very good sRGB emulation? Near perfect?
6. What other specs can you give out (brightness, refresh rate, etc.)?
7. Who manufactures the panel?

 

FWIW...Another note from HP regarding waiting on the order. It seems that even though the order is shown as not cancelled in the order processing system, the related PurchaseOrder with the warehouse is actually cancelled. So, there is no way the waiting orders will be fullfilled, unless a new order is placed.

 

Has anyone else here that has an 8740w on order with the DC panel NOT had their order cancelled? Or, NOT received the Dear John message? Mine surely isn't cancelled and I haven't received any notice and I'm just wondering why it takes so long to get the bad news and why it takes so long for the system to update. It seems like a simple database query (e.g. if order contains 'VG322AV' then order.Cancel()). Its part of the reason I'm holding on to a sliver of hope. My SMB rep even says it should ship next week.

 

No offical owner's lounge yet but we do have a thread in the general section.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-compaq-voodoo-pc/476659-hp-envy-17-coming-us-may-2010-a.html

 

I'm right there with you. Even called since it was "estimated" to be delivered on Monday so I could check the status. Called 3 times over the last couple of days and can't get a straight answer back.

 

My rep advised to keep waiting since he didn't get any negative responses to his inquiries. And also I received a letter from another rep, he asked the warehouse folks and got a positive answer, no more delays (my EDD is 28th of May).

 

I must be the only person who ordered this w/DC2 and hasn't called or e-mailed my sales rep to say " what the 'heck' [cuz W T F as one string gets censored my the system I see, lol] is going on over there and w/my order?!"

 

Even if the rep says "All is well with your order" - he has no clue until the PO related to the order gets cancelled.
From my conversation with Greg Staten, the DC is still in the process of testing (so far so good) and is available only in Summer. I will wait a while to see if he joins in this discussion, else i will go ahead and post some of his answers.

 

I think xsrx is the only one here who isn't lurking here as a not-yet-owner. I hope my lurking days in this forum are over real soon.

 

hehe there was only 17 for all USA in stock when I've bought it Now is a bit more... another 15 (btw im living in UK but Im not British)

About the memory.. I've just upraded mine to 8gb so all 4banks are bussy now. I didnt notice anything wrong (someone claimed that there is a problem with 3rd and 4th bay for RAM) Im using now 4x2gb of Kingsotn HYPER CL7 1600Mhz Dual channel. Just to test I've mixed it with HP&Samung DDRs and everything was OK!
I'll run a few tests later tonight to check the temperatures under heavy stress (i'll be singing... that will stress not only my laptop but my dogs, neighbouts and entire local comunity)

Also... Im going to calibrate my screen to compare with my eizos coloredge to give you an idea how good or bad the normal full hd (1080) screen is. I'll check the blacks and the visible differences between them.

BTW im working in tv/movie/design industry for hymmm 16 years and I dont mind working on this screen. I understand that DC is fantastic and maybe I'll upgrade my lap in future but its not worth waiting till june?... just get a deal with HP for free FUll HD white led and wait for the DC upgrade.

 

one question: you are speaking of 1080 full hd but it should be 1200 full hd (WUXGA 1920x1200) or do you have a different panel???

 

Guys, while checking the parts prices found this:


17.0 in, WUXGA+ WVA AntiGlare LED display assembly with webcam: 595708-001

in the parts store shows likes this:

SPS-PANEL17 WUXGA AG LED WVA LVDS W/CAM

SPS?
For reference the DC panel (17.0 in, WUXGA+ WVA Dreamcolor display assembly with webcam 595709-001)
shows :
SPS-PANEL17 WUXGA AGUWVA DrmClr2 W/CAM

 

yes, that the one I have