Does HP offer what I need? Please help

Hi guys, this is my first post here. This forum is a great resource for someone looking to buy a new notebook.

Someone like me! I would like to buy an HP notebook to replace my desktop. I specifically want to purchase an HP because my sister is an employee and has a nice discount. (And she'll be mad if I buy another brand.) I wanted to go with a dv5t, but it seems to be being phased out in favor of the G60t? I'm unsure now whether HP can give me what I'm looking for.

I'd like to do some gaming, so I wanted an Nvidia 9600M or better. I don't think the 9200 or integrated graphics will cut it. I'd prefer an Intel processor for efficiency (though I usually buy AMD!). Screen size between 15 and 16" is ideal. I think a 17" would be too large to be easily portable.

TL;DR: I believe the Pavilion HDX16t is the only laptop in HP's lineup that fits what I'm looking for. Should I bite the bullet and go with this one? Or is there something else I should consider? I really wanted the style of the dv5 series.

Following is the standard copypasta to give you experts an idea of my criteria.

1) What is your budget?

Above $1000, but I may need to go above $1500 to get the features I need.

2) What size notebook would you prefer?

d. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen

3) Where will you buying this notebook? You can select the flag of your country as an indicator.
United States of America.

4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?

a. Like: HP
b. Dislike: Sony, Dell

5) What are the primary tasks will you be performing with this notebook?

Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, word processing, coding, video encoding, some gaming.

6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places, leaving it on your desk or both?

This will be replacing my desktop, so both.

7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games or types of games?

I'd like to be able to run older games like World of Warcraft at full detail, but I'd also like the capacity to play newer things as well.

8) How many hours of battery life do you need?

I'm really not sure what's reasonable. I think 3 hours may be unrealistic.

9) Would you prefer to see the notebooks you're considering before purchasing it or buying a notebook on-line without seeing it is OK?

I'd like to see it, but since we're talking about HP that shouldn't be an issue.

10) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista), Mac OS, Linux, etc.

I prefer Windows XP, but I'll upgrade a Vista installation to Windows 7 when it's released.

Screen Specifics

11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?

c. WSXGA+ – 1680x1050; The middle ground. Again, text and icons are smaller than WXGA+, and more stuff fits onto the screen. Good for having applications open side by side, like a web browser while playing a video.
d. WUXGA - 1920x1200; Very small text and icons, that can be hard to read. Lots of stuff fits on the screen, which means less scrolling. Good for applications that require a high level of detail like CAD or Photo Editing.

The more real estate the better for Adobe programs.

12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?

Not a huge deal, but I'd prefer matte for visibility.

Build Quality and Design

13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?

Rather. I'd like something that looks reasonably pretty, but nothing flashy or overstated.

14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?

As long as possible.

Notebook Components

15) How much hard drive space do you want; 80GB to 500GB? Do you want a SSD drive?

Anything around 160GB is fine.

16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive?

A normal DVD burner is sufficient.

Thank you SO MUCH for reading. This is my first ever laptop purchase and I'm not used to buying things like this. I've learned a lot in just one day from this forum.

 

HP 8530-w or p . The business line comes with xp pro if you want and a much better build than the dvt-5

 

I know you said your preference is HP, but I thought I'd at least mention another option that you probably haven't considered. ASUS makes high-quality, good looking notebooks (backed by standard 2-year Limited Warranty & 1-Year Accidental Damage Coverage). They also have several systems with high resolution displays and high-end graphics cards for under $1500!

A few examples-

ASUS N50Vn-C2S- $1299.99 (after $100 rebate)- 2.53GHz Intel T9400, 1024mb nVIDIA 9650M GT, 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) and understated good looks- LINK

ASUS G50Vt-X6- $1299.99- 2.53Ghz Intel P8700, 512mb nVIDIA 9800M GS, 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680x1050), sporty red/black case with carbon fiber-ish trim. LINK

 

Thanks for the excellent suggestions, guys. I think the 8530 line might be out of my price range. I do like them though.

My friend recently bought an Asus, and she LOVES it. Has nothing bad to say about it. I'll have to compare prices and see how it looks. Especially thanks for the links, that really helps since Asus has a big product lineup.

Thanks guys!

 

Glad to help! Newegg, which is where both links will take you, sells more ASUS models than any other site I've seen. They also have the best prices on them. FYI- unless you live in CA, NJ or TN, Newegg does NOT charge Sales Tax either!