HP 8510w Configuration Thoughts

Ok, I sat down today and decided that it's time for an upgrade to a good notebook (HP 8510w). I'm currently contemplating the following configuration:

Code:

Base Unit	 	 RQ636AV	BU IDS 8510w
Graphics	 	 RQ560AV	GFX NVIDIA FX 570M 256MB 8510w
Finger Print Reader	 RQ619AV	SEC FPR 8510w
Modem		 	 RQ561AV	MODEM 56K MDC1.5 8510
Processor	 	 RQ644AV	CPU Core2 Duo T7700 8510w (2.4-Ghz)
Memory	 	 	 RQ600AV	RAM 1024M 667DDR2 1DM 8510
Fixed Optical	 	 RQ616AV	DVD RW DL SM LS FX 8510
Hard Drive	 	 GS443AV	HDD 160G 7200RPM FX 8510
Panel	 	 	 RQ594AV	15.4-inch diagonal WSXGA+ WVA
Bluetooth	 	 RQ577AV	WPAN BT 2.0+ 8510
Wireless	 	 GA903AV#UUF	WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n I 8510 A/P
Pointing Devices	 RQ632AV#UUF	KB DP 8510 A/P
Battery	 		 RQ618AV	BATT 8C 73WHr 8510
HW Kit		 	 RQ633AV#UUF	HWKIT 90W w/pwr 8510 A/P
Operating s/w	 	 GA288AV#UUF	LOC Vista Business 32/64 8510w A/P
Applications	 	 APP-000	None
Warranty	 	 GA921AV#UUF	WARR 3/3/3 8510w A/P
DIB Media- OS	 	 GD234AV#UUF	Media OSDVD VST BUS 32 A/P
DIB Media-Drivers	 GH157AV	Media DRDVD Vista 8510
DIB Options	 	 O-000		None
Centrino Pro	 	 GH737AV	MISC Centrino Pro w iAMT 8510
Processor Label	 	 RR989AV	LBL 	Centrino Pro
MS Label		 RQ047AV	LBL MS Vista Premium Logo

Do you reckon it's a fair configuration? I've decided to get minimum RAM as I already have a 2GB piece of 667 RAM from my current notebook which I can replace with. The HDD is a little harder as I could purchase it cheaper online. However, it also means I can't get HP to replace this disk if it fails, so just more hassle.
I've enquired about the T7800 processor option (which I thought would be nice to have) but it costs me a whopping $250 to upgrade for a mere 0.2GHz and it's not shipping currently. Blue Ray drive would also cost as much, but I don't need it.
As usual, I'll be using this for school, work, gaming and every other thing. Pretty intensive use for development work.

Alternatively, I could easily get the Thinkpad T61p, roughly same specs for same price, but with T7500 processor and 2X1GB memory.

 

thats a great config

 

The T7800 processor does look tempting, but at a $250 price premium over the T7700, I'm not sure if it's wise to go for it. I know it will only be marginally faster, but I have this attachment for unique things and since the T7700 is pretty common place, the T7800 might be more unique in that respect. Stupid rant I know.
The T7500 vs T7700 was easier because it only costs an extra $50 for me.

 

I have the same box but with a 7300 and 2 gigs of ram.
I am very happy with the lcd(same as your quoting), which is along with the GPU the only major component you are stuck with for the duration.
On the CPU front, I spent an extra 200 on HPs great docking station.
If you want distictive, the nice docking station is way more distinctive then the extra 200 on your T7500. But will people see it I guess is the issue. You will have to bring them home.
The Logitech VX Revolution mouse also goes very well with the 8510W, by colour scheme it looks like they were made for each other.

 

Ok, I stuck to my configuration, ordered it and it's currently in "Production" stage.
Hopefully all goes well. Got to sell off my old notebook too.

 

brilliant notebook. Love mine to bits. Have a razer copperhead to go with it. The blue lights go well with the hp blue lights. =P

 

Finally got it in my hands. It's quite a nice notebook, although I'm not digging the new smooth finish on the lid and the lighter tone compared to my older nc8430. I'm not sure if the new finish will be just as durable.
Screen is nice and brighter than the nc8430. Whites aren't "yellowish".
OS setup sucks, takes more than an hour to finish setting up Vista.
The LCD latch is actually rubberized, unlike the older models which are plastic. My bezel is slightly loose, so there's a slight creak on the bezel.

 

Some pictures maybe? with the correct white balance would be nice. i still haven had a chance to see one in person.

 

I'm trying to find my camera. There's a bloody dead pixel in mine (single black dot on blue background). I'm not happy anymore :cry: . I hate it when it's not perfect. Are there any laptops any less likely to be free of dead pixels?

 

I agree it is a pretty good config

 

With that resolution? Nope You're actually lucky you only have bad pixel and it's a dead one. Black is easy to ignore. I've got one dead one (black) and one stuck one (blue). My brother's T61p has one dead and one stuck (green). Another friend of mine with WSXGA+ has something like 2 dead 3 stuck

 

HP offered to fix the screen for me, not sure if I should go ahead with it or just live with the issue.

Some pics as attached, with one showing the tone differences between the new and old models Macpod wanted.

The build quality is solid otherwise. The fans seem to be quieter than the nc8430 and definitely not as hot. The vent underneath the notebook helps a lot, which is something the nc8430 doesn't have.

EDIT:
HP's support database is a bit nuts. Here's part of what I've got in the process of getting a replacement part.

"PARTS – DEFINITELY REQUIRED: 452207-001 SPS-PANEL DSPLY 15.4 WXGA Victoria Bitter 1.0 (HP Compaq 8510p/8510w)
447204-001 SPS-Hinges Tsingtao 1.0(HP Compaq 6515b),Dunkell(HP Compaq 6510b)"

So beer names are used to identify their parts. Very interesting.

 

thanks for the pics. It seems the $1999AUD unit is sold out and they are replacing it with a lower specced WXGA machine for around $1600. It will be hard to choose between this and the M1530, now that higher resolutions are available.....