After 4 weeks, I'm selling my V2000..

Overall, it's a great machine for what you pay. Build quality isn't at the higher end of the scale, but neither is the price. The screen is nice too.. I decided it's too heavy for me to be carrying it around all day on campus so I'm going to go pick up a Vaio S460 on clearance for $1250.

I've fallen asleep with my head resting on the top of my notebook (with it closed) without any ill effects either..I think the build quality of it could be better but it's certainly adequate.

Just thought I'd share. I've enjoyed reading and posting in the HP/Compaq forum; everybody is friendly and willing to share their knowledge.

 

Same here; My zv6000 has been great, and I still like HP, but my gripe over its weak video card has finally gotten to me. I think I'll stick with my newly revived Satellite until Yonah/Vista come out next year.

 

I sold my HP zv5000z for the same reason - weak GPU. It only had a 64MB GeForce4 440 Go, which is DX7 (no pixel shaders ). Great laptop otherwise.

Well, the Sony is a nice choice, be sure to post back and tell us what you think of it versus the Compaq.

 

HP I've noticed just isn't interested in putting better GPUs in their notebooks, shame on you HP.

 

Yeah, the Sony I'm getting has a nVidia Go6200. The lackluster performance of the integrated GPU didn't bother me just yet (though I intend to install games like The Sims 2, maybe Half Life) though I think to make it more future-proof the dedicated vid card will come in handy.

 

The x700 in the DV4000 doesn't qualify as good?

 

Okay, thats an exception, but in general, they are really hobbling most of their notebooks with poor GPUs. I mean come on, the ZD8000, a full blown desktop replacement, has a worse GPU than the DV4000, a mainstream notebook!?!?

And what about the ZV6000s and DV8000s with their mediorcre and cruddy ATI integrated graphics!? Shame on you HP. Those two notebooks for sure really deserve decent dedicated GPUs, they'd make great gaming machines.

And why is it that Toshiba for instance has put the Radeon X600 in their 14" M50 Satellite series but HP still sticks to integrated graphics in their 14" DV1000 series!?

Does anyone know why HP tends to stick mediocre GPUs in their notebooks?

 

It's the way HP markets. My uncle works for AMD as a representative to HP and says that HP has a nasty habit of using bad VCards, especially in AMD notebooks. He's currently working with a team to help try and reverse that, but he thinks its unlikely as HP remains at a "neutral: we're going to keep what we're doing" stance. At the most we'll see a replacement VCard in the dv8000, probably a X700 at the best. But man, if they but an X800/X700 in the zv6000, it would be one mean gaming machine. Athlon 64 + X800/X700 = Gaming heaven in a notebook. I still don't get why HP won't come out of its clamshell mood and just stick a decent VCard in their notebooks!! I don't get it!!!

 

Yeah I'd have to agree on HP's cards.

 

Only for the States though..