HP 8740w is available (at last)

Dunno, but I intend to verify that soon.

 

Couple of questions:

1) In the CTO page it seems to me that you either have a DVD or a second drive. If that is correct, what do you do when you need to use a DVD? Get a USB one? That kind of sucks to lug something extra around plus what happens if you need to boot from DVD? (say for a clean install).
2) Someone mentioned that their GPU is a professional one. How can you tell and how are they different from regulars ones? Part of the reason I am asking is that I am deciding between 8740w and the Thinkpad W701 soon to come out and was trying to find out how can I tell what GPU does W701 use.
3) I think in the owners' thread I saw someone saying they got a 20% discount while ordering on the phone. So if I were to order over the phone instead of the web I would be more likely to get a discount?
4) Perhaps not the place to ask this but what would say about HP8740w versus W701? I am a big fan of Thinkpads and I like the specs of the upcoming W701 but I hear the HP screen is the best and also I like the idea that is military grade build since I plan to use this for a lot of years. However this limitation in number of hardrives is a big turnoff (and frankly no idea why is there as I am sure they could have found the space for one more drive in a 17" laptop. Dell found place for 3 drives in theirs). And, as a side note, their CTO page is horrible and confusing.

 

For me, since I never watch a movie on my laptop (what is the point of my plasma TV then? ) and I do actually use my laptop for work, I needed a laptop that is 16:10 (since 4:3 is out of the question) and also that can take up to 16GB (not needing it now maybe but I am sure I will down the line). There are only 3 choices: HP8740w, Dell M6500 and Thinkpad W701.
I hate the idea of using a 17" and the price tag of either of those 3 but I do not have a lot of choices.

 

Totally agree.

 

you don't have much choice, right. I don't have the money for dreamcolor and even with the normal display the 8740w is expensive (my 8730w was, too)

And even if you are not into CAD, there are not much alternatives. The Dell is too big and I don't like the looks. The Thinkpad is much too big and heavy (and I don't like the looks, too).

What else you can buy with WUXGA, 3 mouse buttons and so on? The GPU could be a gaming GPU for me, but I do not play that much and for a few games it would do

For me the 8740w would be the only choice but I don't think the Dell or Thinkpad are worse. They use more or less the same components, right? (GPU, sound card and so on). The motherboard is the main difference but I don't know if HP builds the best

 

me, too.
just why didnt they stick with the 16:10 displays for the 8540-s as well?! a pity..

 

So who's gonna get it first?! I'm excited to see your reviews with pics, guys!

 

Well, I have bad news for all you enthusiasts of this computer (me too).
I have mixed feelings with this computer, because I've compared the audio controllers built-in the 8740w and the Dell Precision M6500 (its biggest rival), and you won't believe this, but the chipset incorporated in the 8740w is OLDER than the M6500's. Not only that, even the IDT website (the controller manufacturer) no longer recommends the chipset built-in the 8740w!!! But, how HP can include a very old sound chip in its newest flagship computer??. Its data sheet is dated 2006 (4 years ago)! They are crazy!!

Sure, the ATI M7820 video card will be better than the M7740 of the M6500, but sound chipset not (I think so).

You can check out this in the following pages:
HP 8740w USA quick specs. Search for text IDT 92HD75B, the controller model.
Precision M6500 specs. Search for text IDT 92HD81B, the controller model (newer than the 92HD75B).
And finally, the IDT website page showing the warning about how old is the 92HD75 chipset family.

In addition, an anonymous person claimed that only NVIDIA Quadro cards will support the new 10-bit DreamColor 2 panel. I can't quote the source, because the HP fansite have not approved that comment yet, but I'm suscribed to the RSS feed and I've read it.

What a shame! It seems you have to build your own laptop to be happy!!

 

Anyone have one with the M7820 GPU? It's $895 less than the FX 3800M option lol. So I guess HP views the ATI FirePro as being the entry level GPU. I doubt it's based on the HD 5870 if that is the case but it would be nice to see a GPU-Z shot to confirm the specs, so we can figure out which card it's based on.

 

I ordered 8740w some days ago.
820 + dreamcolor + ati7820, all other parts were standard
cost me two arms, two legs, one head, and a body...

 

:laugh:

Yeah, I know this baby costs a lof of money, even if your order is not CTO. If it's CTO... well, LOL, you'd have to sell your house and your car in order to afford it.

 

Actually, I ordered is CTO...
However, I got a 24%off

 

Mine with quad 720, DC2, ATI, backlit KB, a few other differences, will cost me the head only once I tell Mrs. M8o that I ordered it. I'm thinking I'll just let her learn by finding it on the CC bill.

 

Hi, It's very interresting. How have you get 24% off for ordering 8740w because i see that the promotion is only 18%? : Have it your way... and save!
So I would like how you have a promotion of 24%? I have another question about the duration of shipping because i don't know how many time it i must ordering before i receive it? It's very important for me because i'm only during one week in my home (last week of June).Thank you answer me is very important

 

That 18% online doesn't even work.
Just call them and mention you tried to use that coupon but found it to fail, and they'll beat it. I ended-up getting 25% off... we'll see if I get it tho, as word has it all the orders w/DC2 are getting cancelled @ the factory until summer.