HDX18 just arrived - a couple questions

Hello All:

I ordered my HDX18 on 5/19 and got it yesterday, 5/28, through 2-day shipping. Here are my system specs:

HP HDX18t Premium Series Notebook PC
- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
- Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor T9550 (2.66 GHz)
- 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm) - For 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 130M
- 500GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (250GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
- 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 130M - For DDR3 Memory
- 18.4" diagonal High Definition HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1920x1080p)
- Lightscribe Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
- Webcam + Fingerprint Reader with HP Imprint Finish (Fluid)
- Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth
- 50% OFF!! HP Integrated HDTV Hybrid Tuner
- Full Size Backlit Keyboard
- 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit)
- No Productivity Software
- HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Everything looks good cosmetically, aside from the touchpad, which is from the HDX16. I still don't understand why HP is doing this, but I guess I can live with it. Other than that, it's a beautiful notebook. I really couldn't stop staring at it (even when I wasn't using it).

Anyway, the IDT program crashed almost immediately. Is it correct that updated drivers can fix most of its problems? I had issues with it on my dv7t as well, but I don't think more current drivers were available.

One curious issue I had is with my notebook cooler. When I put the notebook to sleep the cooler stays on. This wasn't the case on my dv7. Why is the USB port staying powered while on standby? Any way to change this?

And one last thing... the touchpad buttons feel so different than the ones on the dv7, which are quite stiff and don't "push down" all that much. The HDX18 buttons are very soft and much easier to press down. They are so different, in fact, than any other notebook mouse buttons I've used, that I thought something was wrong with them. They don't "click", but instead feel like you're pressing one of the keys on the keyboard. I'm assuming this the same for everyone's HDX? Was HP trying to improve the feel of the buttons?

That's it for now! I've only played with it for a couple hours, so I'm sure more questions will arise. Thanks in advance!

 

Wow! IDT crashed on you and it's preloaded. Whats the point? Well I would recommend a fresh install of Vista, once you make the recovery discs (just in case). But at minimum, you should update the drivers with those provided by HP. The IDT issue is one of the few "problem areas" of this machine, but it should have worked for you when you got it. Sorry

As far as the USB bus being powered... this is usually something you could adjust in bios settings, but the HDX has a very limited bios, so it's on and not currently controllable in bios. This gives you the ability to wake the system from a usb device. I'm not running Vista, but there is a known problem with Vista on this issue, and there is a method of USB control listed HERE.

Yes the touchpad buttons to me are just like keyboard keys.

Welcome to the club, and feel free to check out the owners lounge for any new things going on, and any other help you may need.

 

Great, thanks for the reply! I will check out the settings on my notebook for the USB root hub. Never had to even check that with the dv7 though, so I found it strange.

As for IDT, I couldn't believe it crashed in the first hour of operation. I think the only thing I'd done prior to that was open Windows Media Player. I was probably going to do a clean Vista install anyway...