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    Any problems w/ HP ZE2000 series?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by jlyttle, Feb 19, 2006.

  1. jlyttle

    jlyttle Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just picked one up at Circuit City for my wife, too good to pass up I think. This model is listed under Laptop Deals on this site.

    Mobile Sempron 3000+
    15" Truebright screen
    512MB
    ATI 200m
    60GB 4200rpm
    DVD +/- burner
    XP
    wireless etc.

    $550 after rebate

    Any glaring problems that I should know about? Thanks.
     
    jlyttle, Feb 19, 2006
    #1
  2. chinna_n

    chinna_n Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    It looks good. Only wish, replace 4200RPM HDD with 5400RPM drive and 1GB of DDR400 would not hurt either.
     
    chinna_n, Feb 19, 2006
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  3. jlyttle

    jlyttle Notebook Enthusiast

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    Probably not, just a portable for a stay at home mom...email & web, that is about it. What a deal, expect to see a bunch of these on Ebay soon for $750-800+ lol!
     
    jlyttle, Feb 19, 2006
    #3
  4. jlyttle

    jlyttle Notebook Enthusiast

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    OK, I will have more to say, but at first report this is a better machine than I was expecting. In fact, I believe it to be internally identical to the Z2000V series. Very nice. Althought the appearance, size and shape are radically different, most important things are the same.

    Examples:

    Same specs including video (of course CPU may vary)
    BIOS shows similar MB ID and BIOS numbers
    Power brick identical
    battery identical
    keyboard identical except for color
    positioning of most external jacks/inputs identical
    positioning of vents/fans and access panels on underside identical
    The HP is about 1.5 inches deeper, but the copper fins are exactly 1.5" further recessed inside the case, further evidence that the internals are the same.

    None of this is too important by itself, but it is very interresting to me for a couple of reasons. 1st, it means that I was able to purchase what is esentially a v2000z w/ a 15" screen and weighing 1 lb more for $550, phenomenal. But it is also of interrest for parts availability and interchangability reasons. I knew that the v2000's and HP DV1000's were the same, but this model, ZE2401xt specifically, in looks, size, screen and shape is completely different from the v2000.

    I am super pleased with my purchase (actually this is for my wife, the v2000z is mine). I was worried about speed, but this PC is for basic use only. I set the video memory to 32MB for her, the PC is snappy, no lags at all. The unit with these specs is a STEAL!
     
    jlyttle, Feb 19, 2006
    #4
  5. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    The Sempron is a decent budget CPU. For basic use, as you've already noticed, it will do quite well.
     
    ZaZ, Feb 20, 2006
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  6. fill2k

    fill2k Notebook Consultant

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    I guess you work for Circuit City. Such a harsh words for your customers if you are.

    Budget CPUs will do quite well for a lot of people, if not most... considering a lot of people only uses them for typing documents, browsing internet, buying MP3s and syncing their iPods, etc.

    Even for more advance users find that their Pentium M/Turion runs 90% of the time in minimal clock speed (in my case 800Mhz).

    Does your P-M 730 always run at 1.6Ghz?
     
    fill2k, Feb 21, 2006
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  7. tom_handheld

    tom_handheld Notebook Consultant

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    jlyttle,

    I am about to pick one of these today at my local CC. I have some questions for you. First, is the fan loud and on often? Is it too heavy to carry say, from home to school on a daily basis? BTW, did you have a chance to run SuperPi @2m on this lappy?

    Thank you in advance :)
     
    tom_handheld, Feb 21, 2006
    #7
  8. jlyttle

    jlyttle Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have not run superPI, but performance is fine. As a workhorse laptop it can't be beat for the price. The screen is big and beautiful, and although it is not the smallest lappy around, at 6.5lbs it is fine. Looks are nice. If it is a work PC , just set the video memory to 32MB. Again, this is not a top-of-the line machine, but it may be the best $550 laptop ever. As a good performing work PC, it is an amazing value. Please let us know what you think, I am very happy.

    BTW, we calculate to 2 million places, right? If so, the answer is 2m11s. Incidentally, this is the exact same time as my v2000z ml-32. The 2 cpus both run at 1.8GHz. And as I said before, I think these are the same machine internally except for the CPU.
     
    jlyttle, Feb 21, 2006
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  9. jlyttle

    jlyttle Notebook Enthusiast

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    jlyttle, Feb 23, 2006
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