14" HP lappies any good??

Im planning to return my Vostro 1400 ($750) because its too bulky and heavy... i think its like 6lbs with 9cell battery. So, I think I should buy a 14" HP laptops such as the dv2500t or 2000t...around $750. Are hp lappies any good?? Hows the heat distribution and overall built-quality?? Are these sleek and light and how much to they weigh with 6cell batt.?

Oh yea I found a HP laptop at BestBuys for $699.99; how does it look???
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8404201&type=product&id=1180743304645

Should I buy this one, should I wait for some discount coupons for dv2500t or dv2000t???

Help wanted~ Thanks in advance.

 

Well, I ordered a dv2500t, from my research, the HP's do not have an internal magnesium structure, but rather rely on mostly plastics for support and rigidity. But i can safely say that examining the HP's at stores, that they are solidly built (at least they feel so). The 14 inch laptops should be 5.3 pounds, but with a nvidia gpu and extended battery, you would be touching the high end of 5 pounds. Heat distributio on integrated gpu's are ok, on nvidia, expect some warmth. And yes, the HP's look great and really do a good job of hiding their thickness. Unfortunately, u just missed the 20% off coupon for dv2500t notebooks. From looking at ur vostro specs, u may want to wait for dv2500t coupons, the best buy model isn't going to cut it if u want similar specs to your vostro.

 

thanks for the reply.
Yea, come to think of it, the BestBuy deal is not worth the money...
Does anyone when another dv2500t or dv2000t will come out??? Do HP coupons come out every sunday??

 

If you really want a thin and light notebook might as well go for a Dell, the XPS m1330. 14" HPs are not that thin and light especially when the extended battery is used.

 

I would suggest going to Best Buy and looking at the dV2500t models to get a feel for what they are like.

 

When I was in the market for a new laptop just 2 weeks ago, I considered both DV2500t and XPS1330.

I picked the DV2500t, because I calculated the ROI - Return on Investment: for similar spec, the XPS1330 will cost at least 800 dollars more, with the saving on weight only around one pound. Yet the HP has better looks, HDMI (essential for DVI external monitor or HDTV), bigger screen size, and a fast built-to-order speed.

When Boeing started to make its new generation of aircraft the dreamliner 787, one most important shift is to move away from alloy material and use more composites, because they are just as durable but save tons of weight off the airplane. So I don't really give DELL extra credit for using magnesium alloy, in fact, the DV2500t feels very solid, and reviews here have testified that the structure and surfaces are very durable.

I do think it is a good idea to get a 6-cell battery with the DV2500t, it gives you 3 hours battery time, keeps the weight down and the case slim.

 

thanks for the reply. well, since I can't any coupons for the dv2500t and dv2000t.... maybe i should just keep the Vostro 1400...

BUT! I found a good deal on office depot.
http://officedepot.shoplocal.com/of...508171&rapid=0&listingid=-2092873181&offerid=

So its $599.99 after $70instant saving and $200 mail in reabte... but i have to pay about $86o at the store.. which is like $100 more expensive than Vostro.

Here's the detailed spec. for this deal: Pavilion dv2416us
AMD Athlon 64 X2 TL-56 1.80 GHz
hard drive capacity 120 GB
memory 2.0 GB
LightScribe DVD±RW/DVD-RAM/DVD+R DL
screen size 14.1 inches
video hardware nVidia GeForce Go 6150
6 cell battery
Vista home premium

 

The TL-56 will lag behind your T5470 somewhat. It will also have less battery life and worse graphics power. The Vostro, IMO, is still a much better system.

 

The XPS m1330 Also has HDMI. But it better, its in a higher class of higher end ultra portable. The dv2500t competes more directly with the Dell 1420 and the 1420 does not have HDMI. So in this regard, HP has stepped up and made the dv2500t more future proof. Shaving off a 1lb of wait is allot in these portables.. Look how much Sony charges for its TX or TZ.. Those run 2200 to 2500 dollars. That will get you something under 4 lb. To shave off 1 lb manufacturers have to do allot of things differently. You always pay more for smaller/lighter.

Also, the m1330 uses the next generation of LED displays. This will also add to the price. The biggest problem with the m1330 is not the price, but the wait times. That thing is backed up behind Mars with pissed off customers. Dell has no problem with demand.. but they have huge capacity issues and glitches with the startup.

 

any recommendations on the HP notebook at Office depot I mentioned???
BUT! I found a good deal on office depot.
http://officedepot.shoplocal.com/off...73181&offerid=

So its $599.99 after $70instant saving and $200 mail in reabte... but i have to pay about $86o at the store.. which is like $100 more expensive than Vostro.

Here's the detailed spec. for this deal: Pavilion dv2416us
AMD Athlon 64 X2 TL-56 1.80 GHz
hard drive capacity 120 GB
memory 2.0 GB
LightScribe DVD±RW/DVD-RAM/DVD+R DL
screen size 14.1 inches
video hardware nVidia GeForce Go 6150
6 cell battery
Vista home premium

And also how long does 6cell batteries on Hp latops last?? The 6cell on Vostro 1400 lasts 2-3hrs..
Oh yea, if I buy HP notebook, does it include the Windows DVD and divers Cd? Dells give out these for free but I think HP actually charges.. am I correct?

 

Of course thinner and lighter is better, but cash is best.

Even if 1330 also has HDMI, why should I spend 800 dollar more to get it?

DV2500t has everything I need, very portable and saves around $800 dollars, once again its ROI is just so much better than DELL XPS m1330.
So for me, it is a no brainier, DV2500t it is!

By the way, got it delivered to my door one week after ordering, very happy with it!

 

You get what you pay for. LED screens uses less energy thus lasts longer but gives you an even better brighter screen image in return unlike fluorescents. Magnesium casings protects better due to less flexing unlike plastics or composites. One pound, in which someone mentioned, does make a difference if you're lugging it all day.

I do have an HP and I do love it. It is solid but it's not light, even their tx1000 though small isn't lightweight. If I had to do it all over I would get the Dell. HDMI is great but DVI output is starting to get passe. Now only if Dell offered a blu-ray player would make it a killer deal.

 

I remember seeing a manufacturer made their casing out of carbon fibre, it was an custom option part when you order it in. I think it must have been Asus or something (it wasnt the lamborghini vx2). I think that would be really lightweight without sacrificing strength.

Modern planes and F1 cars use composite materials like carbon fibre now a days and it shaves off up to 60% weight compared to its metal counterparts.

 

I would say "pay for what you really use".
I could not care less about LED, I am very satisfied with the screen on DV2500t. It is so bright I have to dim the screen a bit during normal use actually. I don't need it to last 100 years either, 5 years is quite enough. However, I believe it is gonna last much longer than that. And you have to pay 125 dollars extra to get the LED? Is it really necessary?

I personally did not notice any flexing on the DV2500t, nor did I notice any flexing on the Boeing 787 all composite fuselage, and that composite casing protects something much more precious than CPUs and semi-conductor boards - human life.

Between the two laptop, DV2500t and XPS m1330, which one gives you more bang for the buck? It has to be the DV2500t. Which one give you better value and better ROI? It has to be the DV2500t too.

Except for stick-thin girls like Nicole Richie with bamboo-thin arms, what difference does it make carrying a 4.3 lbs laptop and a 5.3 lbs one for regular Joe like you and me? If you carry them all day long around town, they are just equally heavy.

I am not sure what you mean by "HDMI is great but DVI output is starting to get passe" in this context, because neither DV2500t nor XPS 1330 offer DVI output, instead they all get HDMI output, so they are definitely not passe.

 

Okay , thanks for the replies guys.^^

Now, its time to make me decision,, keep the Vostro 1400 or buy the Pavilion dv2416us.

What should I do............*.*????

 

I think it comes down to "bang for the buck." I just bought the HP dv2416 2 weeks ago (same deal at Office Depot) and it's a great machine for the money. Plus, it's just plain beautiful to look at and to hold! The Dell is more of a sturdy business laptop (which is how they are marketing it).

Compared to the Vostro, it has 2 Gig of RAM vs. 1 Gig - that's worth around $100 (assuming you would have to replace 2 512 sticks with 2 1G sticks). Admittedly, the Centrino processor will outrun the AMD, but mostly in graphics-intensive operations, I believe. You'll probably experience more benefit from the extra 1 Gig of RAM in the HP than you would see from the faster Intel processor.

Either way, you can't go wrong. I love my HP!

 

I'm in the same situation as you. I'm juggling between the 6500t and the 2500t. I guess for the past few years, 15.4" seems to be the way to go. But lately, I feel smaller laptops (13.3" and now, 14.1") are gaining momentum.

Anyone here find their 14.1" good for watching movies? I know for some models, it comes with the remote control.

 

I think 14" is the perfect compromise in between a bigger screen and a smaller/lighter laptop. 1 inch isnt really much when you come to think of it.

Yes the 14" is great for watching movies.. aslong as its just right infront of you and not too far away. I watch movies/anime in the train on the way to work and back home...caters for my needs.

 

If you're planning on using the laptop for more than a year, I'd get the HP because you're going to question why you didn't buy it in a year when you get bored with your Vostro. At least, that's what happens to me whenever I purchase new electronics. If it's within your budget, I'd do whatever make you happiest.

 

I would choose the HP. Why? Because I own one and it's a bargain. As long as you can do what you have to do in the laptop then it qualifies. It's more of what extras are included ie more RAM. I have the dv2138xx and still going strong after a year.. actually it was a replacement laptop from a Compaq v3000z.

 

The 6 cell should give you around 3 hours max, hp includes a vista upgrade disc that you can use to do a clean install of vista. You will have to extract drivers from your recovery partition (not too hard) or u can get them at HP's website.

 

I agree that the DV2500t is a good balance of performance, build quality, and price. I have it, and have not been let down at all. Actually surprised

 

So, if I buy the Pavilion dv2416us at Officedepot, the vista disc and included , right??

Also, is it true that Hp laptops heat up really fast?? Hows the heat distribution in 14" laptops??

 

Have you look at the Dell D630, starts at 4.37lbs or something.

 

Not so sure about Dell D630 because I think the design is a bit simple..
thanks for the info . though

 

Isn't the dv2416us a dv2000 series laptop?