Arrived! tx2500z

Photodon AG.

http://photodon.com/

Review:

http://www.gottabemobile.com/CategoryView,category,Screen+Protectors.aspx

 

Onenote's the only way to go for me. As a cheaper (free) and good alternative there's Evernote.

http://www.evernote.com/

 

It's not sufficient but if it were broken (CPU not making full contact with the heatsink, etc) the temps would be hot but the exhaust wouldn't be. I think the problem is that the notebook is generating more heat than it should, not that the cooling system isn't working. Bad voltage regulation seems like the most likely culprit. The Turion Ultra CPU and the very power efficient 55nm AMD chipset should be burning less power and running cooler than the tx2000z, certainly not stressing the same 65W power brick.

 

Does it help with the glare?

 

Quite nicely. It diffuses the light source and diminishes the luminance of it.

It's no match for the sun though. Near complete wash out if the sun is directly on it. You can't even combat it with max brightness.

 

I got the ZM-80 and didn't find the heat a real issue. Watching a dvd produces less heat on tx2500z than on my dv9830 (T5550, 8600M GS), but quite a bit more on my old Dell 700M and E1505.

 

Watching a DVD isn't terribly CPU-intensive. You need to run something like wprime for a minute or two while measuring the core CPU temps (but kill wprime if the CPU temp hits 95C).

 

Well, I just ordered one of these bad boys today. Of course, I didn't run into this thread until after I placed the order. From what I've read here, at least early on, it appears there's a lot to dislike about this machine.

For the price, I don't know that I'd be able to get into a better machine. I was able to get the price down to $741.00 with stacked rebates, which is a pretty amazing price for a beast like this.

So, what's the deal? You guys have been using these for a couple of months now and have got to have some pretty well fleshed out opinions by now. Is this machine a keeper? Or, should I cancel my order and get an m1330, which will cost a couple hundred more for a lower specced machine?

 

It's a keeper. I use it everyday. No issues with it. for my everyday use, the heat is a non-issue. I don't game on it because I have an HDX to game on. I use it mostly for web browsing, note taking, writing, and analysis. The inking experience is exceptional. The sound is very good, better than all notebooks of this size. The grainy screen is as grainy as you might think. I haven't noticed it unless I concentrate on "noticing" it.

And best of all, using it for about 3-4 hrs or more a day, not a single crash. Note though, that I did a clean install of Vista 64.

 

thanks for all of the info on the forum thus far! i just purchased mine online last night. and i look forward to getting it!! it looks nice and i also tried it out at a circuit city.

i am still deciding between the photodon AG or the crystal clear screen protector. i heard of the grainy screen, but does the photodon AG perpetuate that grainy screen? or you don't even notice at all. it sounds great to reduce the glare and protect the screen. thanks for the info!! i appreciate it.

also, 2.0, what do you mean by clean install of vista 64? i opted to get the 64-bit too. would i have to do something different once i get my laptop? thanks again!! look forward to getting the tx2500z!!

 

The Photodon screeen mitigates the graininess.

As for a clean install, that's when you install a retail or OEM version of Vista. What comes with nearly all notebooks today is a version of vista that's full of bloatware. When you use the reinstall disks that come with the computer, they not only reinstall vista but also all the bloatware. Generally, a clean install is the most stable and best performing "version" of the OS.

See the stick thread in this section of the forum for info on clean install of Vista.

Also, the sister site to this one has a wealth of TX2500 info. It's www.tabletreview.com

 

great! thanks for the info. appreciate it.

 

2.0's given you some good comments. Here's another viewpoint.

As a tablet PC, the tx2500z is really nice, and I think the pen feels and works amazingly well. However, I have to turn off the touchscreen feature (the ability to use your finger to move the mouse, etc.), as it allows my palm to be "detected" as pen movement when using the pen. I don't think this is a big deal, as I generally never use my finger to move the mouse. Also, the included windows journal software is, um, "minimally-useful", and so you have to use either Evernote (free) or Onenote ($$) to take pen notes. Onenote is best for taking and managing pen notes (nice for college classes), but Evernote is best for management for all notes (pen, web, image, etc.).

Heat is, IMO, the #1 issue. If you run programs that use lots of CPU time, like 3D games, the tx2500z is going to run hot. I would strongly not recommend using it for games -- at all (no, I'm not kidding). Now, the tx2500z does run noticeably cooler when running on batteries, but you've got to realize that the CPUs are running at half-speed when running on batteries, and there doesn't seem to be a way to change this. However, if you're only going to use the tx2500z for email, web browsing, wordprocessing, spreadsheets, movies, DVDs, and music, it's probably fine. None of these generally push the CPUs. However, if you're going to run CPU-intensive programs, I can't recommend it.

Also, Vista does suck, and you're going to run into all of the usual vista problems. The 64-bit version is especially problematic, as some programs don't run in 64-bit vista (I have unwanted experience with this, as my tx2500z also has vista x64).. The most notable of these is google desktop (there is a hack to get it to work in vista x64, but GD has problems in this mode). VMware server is another significant program, but you're probably not going to use it.

My tx2500z has the optional 8-cell battery, and I like it. Yes, it's bulky, but I think the extra size helps with airflow cooling when the tx2500z sits on a desk.

I've also had my tx2500z "spontaneously" turn on when in a (laptop) backpack or (laptop) messenger bag. The tx2500z was in standby mode, and something happened to cause it to turn on. Not only does this drain the batteries, but there's no easy way for the heat to dissipate, and heat is bad with this laptop. I've tried to figure out what's causing this, and I can only guess that the power switch (a slider, not a button) is somehow just being touched just enough to cause the tx2500z to turn on. As the tx2500z is on the small size, by today's laptop standards, there is extra room in my backpack and bag, and so a little sliding around might have somehow activated the power switch.

Bottom line: non-CPU-intensive usage (including DVDs, movies, music): nice, can be quite usable. CPU-intensive usage (e.g., many games, number crunching, etc.): return it.

As for me, I'm keeping mine.

 

I'm aware of the screen, as I've used this machine in my local Sam's Club several times. I get why people complain about it. However, for me, it won't be an issue. I know what I'm getting myself into, there.

As for what the computer will be used for, you hit the nail on the head. Regular, everyday type, stuff. The machine will be used mostly for web and Office stuff. Aside from an occasional game of solitaire, I don't game.

Vista, is not an issue for me. I own several Vista machines, and call me crazy, but I actually like it. I have much lower specced machines running Vista, with Aero, just fine. This thing should cruise. IMO, most of the venom directed at Vista is unfounded, and done mostly by people who've never touched it.

I don't think heat will be much of an issue for me. I'm not much of a lap, laptop user. This thing will spend most of its time sitting on a desk or table of some sort. Honestly, the heat concern is what really had me rethinking my purchase. But the more I think about it, the more it seems like heat is an issue with, virtually, all laptops these days. So, you kinda have to live with it, or stick with old junk.

Thanks for your time. I feel pretty comfortable about my purchase. Now I just wish the **** thing would get here. It's going to be a long two weeks.

 

Yeah I too actually enjoy Vista over XP. I have XP running on a few machines still. Took about a week or so to get used to Vista. But you're probably right about the source of Vista hate, though in some cases, especially pre SP1, it's justified.

Anyway, on Batt my temps are in the mid forties Celsius using a slightly modified balanced mode. I upped the cpu max to 65% for a bit more of a snappy feel. On wall power, temps are in the low to mid 50's. The fan runs all the time but is no louder than HD spin. You can only hear it in the quietest of rooms and it sounds like a dull hum.

The keyboard has a wonderful feel. I can type all day on it if I had to. It's got great feedback and tactile response. No flex.

I think you will enjoy it.

One other thing, I purchased a faux leather skin for the lid that really sets the the unit off. Otherwise, the lid is a real fingerprint magnet.

You can find them here; http://stores.ebay.com/Polar-Bear-House

I got the grey leather one. Takes about a week shipping time to US east coast. Really easy to apply.

 

If the keyboard is anything comparable to my old m1210, I should be a happy camper.

 

Well, this laptop might be something of a test for you.

The tx2500z is my first vista machine, and it probably emphasizes vista issues:

• The sidebar can increase processor usage by 10% or so, depending on what gadgets you have. This probably isn't an issue on a desktop, but it increases the loud fan usage on the tx2500z, and probably decreases the battery life.
• Cold boot-up time on my tx2500z is around five (5) minutes (measured to the time that the disk access light generally stops, because that seems to be the time at which the GUI and starting programs are most responsive). My previous XP laptop, which loaded up more crud at bootup, started up a lot faster.
• Even with aero disabled (and I have), vista just feels slower at everything. Program startup seems noticeably slower compared to my previous (slower) laptop running XP.

These issues may not really be a problem on a desktop.

You might get lucky. My tx2500z was supposed to take 6 weeks to ship, but it only took 2 or so. Also, even though I used standard (cheap) shipping, the shipping time was only around 3 days, from Shanghai to California.

 

I don't know about the m1210, but I'll second 2.0's comments on the keyboard. It's pretty good.

The accursed trackpad, on the other hand, really needs the "trackpad disable button", above the trackpad.

 

Aside from a couple of affects, I turn off most of the pretty stuff in Vista. Sidebar is always the first thing to go. I can't stand it.

I'm pretty familiar with Vista, both on laptops and desktops. My main laptop runs Vista, and it's a very low specced machine (Via processor/graphics, 1GB ram). I don't have any major issues with Vista on this machine.

My previous, main, laptop was a high specced machine for the time (Dell XPS m1210). It ran Vista beautifully. I would suspect that this new machine will run Vista as good, if not better than, that machine.

But, I'll know soon enough. I'm pretty excited about this machine. It will be my first tablet. So, it will be a bit of an experiment for me.

 

Wow that's long!

I rarely reboot. Mostly run on suspend. I have two power supplies which I plug in to at to different locations. But I decided to time boot. 1 min 48 secs until everything was up and HD light stopped. This is starting from the HP BIOS logo when you power on until at windows desktop with all my programs and services loaded. I'm running sidebar( with clock, temperature and batt state gadgets), aero, rocketdock, and a total of 84 processes. Plugged in on reduced performance(my rename of balanced) with max CPU set to 75%.

I have Windows search, readyboost and indexing disabled. ATI driver version 8.7.

I also have boot set to use two processor cores. (type msconfig in start menu search box, click boot tab, advanced, check number of processors and select 2, ok. Then on boot tab screen, check make all boot settings permanent)

Rebooted to retest time. Same thing more or less.

Rebooted again to see if I could start using the system before everything is up. After 1 min 5 secs, I could call up internet explorer. Another 10 secs and my wifi had found and logged onto my wifi router and was able to call up this website. And this is before HP's wireless assistant reports that the wifi is on.

Plus this is a clean install of Vista.

All my programs run fast. Nearly as fast as they do on the HDX which has a T9300 (2.5ghz). Onenote, Office 2007, IE, Work related programs, Acrobat 8 pro. The only thing that is slow is CCleaner when you set cleaning to any level of overwrite. Still trying to figure that one out. A straight erase with the program is super quick.

Specs of system: ZM-80(2.1) GHz, 320 GB HD, 4GB RAM. Vista 64.

 

Ive had mine for a month so far and love it. Its great for taking places the dell just wont fit, and it can game pretty well on top of the work I put it through. The only issue I have is that I have no means to do a true clean Install of vista (I made a vista disk through the sticky and it stayed at completing install even over night). Even after removing bloatware and doing many cleaning with ccleaner it still seems hogged down. I cant wait to be able to afford vista business so it can have a clean install. All in all its slower then my penryn dell, but for the size its a monster.

 

I'd be jumping for joy if the boot time was only 1:48 ...

I run mostly on suspend, too, but I periodically have to reboot.

I haven't reinstalled vista, although I've uninstalled and disabled a lot of stuff. I've been really, really trying to avoid the reinstall, but the prospect of decreased boot time is really tempting.

 

Suspend is as close to instant-on as we'll get. XP used to boot up in 30 secs on my old rig and 15 secs with an n-lited version.

Anyway, the only problem with suspend is that it uses 1% per hour. So in the morning if I forget to plug the TX in overnight, I start out about 8-10% less battery power. If the boot were, say, 45 secs, I wouldn't be so reliant on suspend.

Shame Vista is so "top heavy" in this regard.

I would recommend a reinstall, but only when you have a bout 4 hours to kill. It doesn't take that long just to reinstall, but putting back all your settings and organizing things the way you like it does. Add an hour if you have a beer or two while doing it.

 

Hmm thats wierd, my boot times to login screen are usually a minute or less and that isn't on a clean install. If I do a hibernate its quicker at ~30-35 sec. But I do admit I miss the XP boot times.

 

Heh, it'll take me a lot longer than 4 hours, as I'll have to reinstall a ton of programs and migrate old data. Figuring out the minimum set of HP drivers/programs to reinstall will take me a while too.

I've been leaving my tx2500z plugged in at night, to get around any battery loss.

 

You can buy recovery DVDs by going to the tx2500z's "Software and Driver Downloads" page. Just scroll down to the "CD-ROM order page" section. (Actually, the DVDs themselves are free, but you have to pay a surprising amount for shipping -- IIRC, I paid around $15-$17.)

 

Im going to be upgrading it to business, so Ill wait till then so the fresh formatt will be that much sweeter.

 

I'm not sure, but I think all of the install CDROMs are the same, and contain all versions of vista. It's the product key that determines what you get.

 

You are correct, they are all the same. But buying a upgrade or system builder package with media is actually cheaper then buying just a license. Then Ill have both media and license.