DV2000t Customization--Please Comment

I plan to order this laptop in the next day or so. Please give me your comments and suggestions. Please note that I don't do games or photos, so I don't need the latest and greatest of everything. I'm trying to get a decent laptop at the lowest price possible. I upgraded to Core Duo and Intel Wireless with Bluetooth so my laptop will be at least a little current.

HP Pavilion dv2000t customizable Notebook PC
EPP_00_EQ883AV
– Genuine Windows XP Home Edition
– Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo processor T2050 (1.60 GHz)
– 14.1" WXGA Widescreen (1280x800)
– Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 950
– HP IMPRINT Finish + Microphone
– 512MB DDR2 SDRAM (2x256MB)
– 40 GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
– FREE Upgrade: 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support
– Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth
– 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
– Microsoft(R) Works/Money
– HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

One problem, all the other times I customized this laptop, the Express card remote control was listed as an option. Today the option was totally gone. Any ideas?

I am contemplating upgrading to the brightview. I'm going to compare brightview versus matte in stores this weekend. I'm not sure if the brightview will hurt my eyes since I spend hours reading on my laptop.

I qualified for the APP discount. The price before tax is 801.45. This does not include the $50 mail in rebate.

So, what do you think? Speak now or forever hold your peace!

 

I would recommend upgrading to the T2250 as it is only a $25.00 increase and the extra processing power will be worth it for such a small price. As for brightview vs. matte it is purely a personal decision as to what you like. Brightview is great if you are gaming or going to be watching a lot of movies. Matte is good if you will have your laptop outside a lot or in brightly lit rooms. As for the remote I don't know why it is not there. You could try calling HP to ask them if they could include it in your lappy. Anyway, all in all it looks like a good configuration. Good luck and happy computing!

 

I second the recommendation to upgrade to the T2250. In addition, I think you'd be well served to spend another $25 and grab a 60GB hard drive. 40 GB is not a lot, especially when factoring in the recovery partition and Quickplay. I think you'd find yourself wanting for space very shortly with a 40 gig drive.

 

I'll think about the T2250, especially if I don't go for the Brightview, which is $25 as well.

As for the hardrive, my logic is this: My current laptop has 27GB and I haven't even used half of it yet. So 40 seems like a whole lot to me. What use could I possibly have for that much if I'm not using the 27 I have now?

All these little upgrades add up, which is why I don't want anything I don't absolutely need. However, if anyone has a convincing argument for an upgrade, Bring It!

 

Additional Info: I will order the Express Card Remote and Recovery disk (maybe) at a different time. Anyone know whether the prices on these items increase if you don't buy them with the laptop?

 

I would suggest stepping down to a Core Solo. Dual core is nice and all but since you are upgrading from a Pentium 3, a Core Solo might not be a bad choice. The speed bump from a 700MHz?? P3 to a 1.86GHz Core Solo will be very noticable. You can then use that extra $45 and get upgardes on RAM or get a bigger HD or get the Go7200 or just save some $.

The remote should be around $15 - 20 and the recovery CD's should cost ~20 - 30(not sure).

 

Funny you should say that Miner. Originally, I had actually chosen Core Solo and 1gb of Ram. Then I realized that upgrading the Ram cost more than upgrading to Core Duo. So I switched to Core Duo and 512 Ram because that combination was cheaper.

 

You will be better off with the Core Duo and 512MB of RAM. You can upgrade the RAM later on but you wont easily be able to upgrade the processor and there is a large difference in performance between a single core and a multi core processor in applications that are multithreaded. XP is also multithreaded in itself so it will distribute the workload between both cores.

 

He makes an excellent point on upgradeability. Get the dual-core now, worry about RAM later.

 

Sounds good to me since that is the cheaper option.

 

Oh, and I called HP to find out why the Express Card Remote Control option disappeared. It's because they are currently out of stock.

 

You're going to really enjoy your new laptop!

I have the dv2000t with the T2250, and love it!

If you can get the remote, get it. I use it every day... but then, I listen to music on my laptop alot. The ExpressCard remote, purchaed after you already own the laptop, is $20.

Certain items are much less expensive purchased while you are ordering your laptop.

The 12 cell battery, for example, is a $39 cost increase over the 6 cell, and if you want to purchase the 12 cell along with a 6 cell, it'll run you $138.00. Decide AFTER you've already purchased your laptop that you want a 12 cell battery? It'll cost you $179.95 PLUS shipping!

By the way, you're really going to enjoy having an "a" and "n" key. I find them VERY useful!

Congrats!

 

LOL. That may very well be the feature I'm looking forward to the most!

 

Hey it's cool you're being an informed buyer...in America's blind consumer society it's a breath of fresh air. As for my .02, I think you should go with the bright view. After about 5 minutes you completely forget that you're staring at a reflective screen. You know those Claritin commercials where it shows before and after taking Claritin...
When you check the pavillion out at a retail store make sure you ask what type of processor it has and then load it up with a few different programs at the same time so you get a feel for what type of cpu you want.
You may also want to go with the DVD+/-RW drive instead of just CDRW. This means you can burn CDs and DVDs on thier respective discs. My setup is 1.6 CoreDuo/1.GRAM/GMA950/DVDRW/802.11b/g/60GHD. My only regret is the graphics card...maybe if I would have done more homework like you.

 

I think I am leaning toward the Brightview. I will be more sure after I go to different stores this weekend. Also, there was a free upgrade to the DVD RW, and I did choose it--I'd be crazy not to!

 

Very nice config, but I think you should really go with the Brightview screen. I bought two Compaq notebooks about a year and half ago without Brightview and have regretted it eversince. I didn't get it because I was afraid of the glare, but when I'm outdoor, with direct sunlight, my matte screen doesn't have much visibility either.

I'm in the market for a new notebook so I went to Fry's and Circuit City to check out the dv2000 there and noticed that the dv2000t brightview screen is much brighter than the v3000 brightview. I upped both screens brightness to max and still, the dv2000 screen is noticeably brighter.