Compaq V2000z Detailed Review. Pics, scores, good and bad

Finally it is time. I have been thinking of writing this review since a week and finally got around it.

I bought my Compaq V2000z with ML-37 Turion64, took BrightView Option, Productivity Ports, 6 cell battery, 40GB 4200RPM drive.

Why This?

I was looking for a replacement laptop for my Toshiba P10-S429 (a P4 2.66Ghz laptop with famous 865PE chipset with GeForce Go Fx5100 Video card and nice 15.4" Wide Screen).
I gave to my brother as he was looking to replace his desktop with a DTR notebook( I was tired of carrying it in my lap).

My Criteria:

Wieght: Around 5 pounds( So that I can carry around easily and hookup my GPS device in car)
Cost: Less than $1000
Screen: 14" Widescreen( or ideal is 13.3") 12.1 is too small.
Fan: should not run while browsing or when working on docs.

Laptop Considered:
HP DV1000 series, V2000, V2000z, Asus Z63A, Dell 600M, Averatec 4100/4200 series.

Bought: V2000z
Reasons:
1. It is cheaper than all other models I was considering
2. It comes with 64Bit processor making it future proof for some time atleast.( I keep trying new stuff)
3. For the processor speed I am getting it is relatively cheap.
4. Weight and size is comparable( only light one is Averatec)
5. 14" BrightView Screen
6. Has relatively good integrated graphics unlike Avertec SiS or Intel Integrated.

Why Turion ML-37?
1. Sempron is ruled out as it is not 64Bit processor( There are desktop 64bit processors though)
2. I want to have atleast 1MB cache. It comes handy when processor is running at low speed.
4. ML-37 is 35Watts version of Turion but it is more power efficient when it is running at lowspeeds( other than 800Mhz) and has power when I need it.
For Ex: It only consumes 24.2 watts when running at 1600Mhz where as ML-30 consumes 32Watts and MT-30 uses 25 watts.

Why 40GB 4200RPM drive?
I want to buy a 40GB 5400RPM drive from outside later. This way I get 3 years warranty instead of 1 year HP. At HP shopping there is no option for 40GB 5400RPM. And I think 40GB version is better than 60GB versions as most 40GBs use single platter-2 head design vs 2 platter-3 head design in 60GB.

I liked averatec AV4155-EH1 looks with MT-30, but that is like $1100 ($1200 with Taxes) and it uses SiS MB chipset vs ATI in V2000z and only getting MT-30( 25 Watts Version of Turion). And I know ML-37 at 1600Mhz anyway uses less power than that!

Okay enough said about why I bought it.

Now the actual stuff.

Section 1.

Looks!

 

Section 1:

Right side: you will see 6-in-1 card reader, Firewire, USB port, DVD-ROM Drive, S-Video Port and another USB.

Front: Altec Lansing Speakers(surprizingly good for laptop speakers) Power, HDD, Charge indicators, Screen Latch, Mic and Headphone ports.

Left Side: VGA port for external monitor( support dual monitor mode), Expansion port 2, LAN, MODEM, USB, PCMCIA slot, and Kensington locking port.

Expansion Port 2 has lot of outputs built in to it. You can use it with HP Expansion base(Docking station), or HP xc2000 Media Cable Kit. It has Digital Audio Out, Stereo RCA audio out, S-Video, Composite Video out, Firewire, USB out thru single cable. It works as good as docking station and it is quite reasonable at $89 and comes with Remote too.

Back: Nothing much, just 18.5V DC power socket, Heaksink grills, and LCD hinges.

Bottom: CPU Fan, Heatsink, Ram Slot cover, Mini-PCI slot cover, HDD cover, DVD-ROM removal screws, Battery latch and battery.

"I am adding one section after another" please keep checking