*HP HDX18 Owners Lounge*

Gah, I was sent a "shipped" notification almost 72 hours ago. I kept checking the FedEx site and finding no information. I just spent over an hour on the phone first with HP then FedEx then HP again.... Apparently the laptop isn't in FedEx's hands like I was told. It's god knows where. HP built it early and then sent me an "it's on it's way!" message when it hasn't even hit wherever it's going to "ship" from.... I'm rather annoyed.

This is what I ordered... from the low down dirty shipping teases.

- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
- Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8700 (2.53GHz)
- 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm) - For 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 130M
- 320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive 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)
- 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
- No Productivity Software
- HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

 

I had the same thing happen...except they didn't ship mine early...but they did say it had shipped a couple days before it ACTUALLY shipped. I wrote about it on the HDX18 site.

 

When I ordered mine I tracked it as it went from Shanghai, China to Anchorage, Alaska to Indianapolis to Oakland to Sacramento to Rocklin to Roseville. Fours days - I paid for 2 day air and... they told in my shipping acknowledgement that it would take an extra day for customs. Quite misleading - pay for 2 day air get 4 day service. I thought I was paying extra for "air" so it would be handled less - apparently not.

 

Jeeze, you have to take the whole laptop apart just to replace a cooling fan. Dell makes that kind of thing simple by providing easy access to internal components.

 

Though just a new guy, I have read the entire thread and want to thank all of the folks that provide such valuable information to the rest of us. Let me add that my previous laptop was a Dell Inspiron 9300 and while it served me well for many years, it can't hold a candle to the HDX 18. It's just awesome!

 

Same happened to me...I ordered my customized laptop on March 13th and it arrived on March 27th. HP and Fedex were completely clueless when it came to service but it is what it is...Hope you receive your laptop soon...

 

Hi I was wondering if anyone bought the newest configuration including the Blu Ray BURNER? If so could you please post what you find in the device manager as to which brand it is, model number, and any details you can provide regarding the Blu-Ray burner?

I'd like to purchase either that one or one from the same company (Optiarc?? Panasonic??) at least that would fit my HDX Dragon 20 inch and try to possibly use the generic drivers that come in the HDX18s SW folder. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Welcome Norsky48! Thank you to everyone here who finds time to help others with the HDX 18t. I agree, the HDX is the BOMB. Their is no notebook out there quite like it!

 

I got mine from this site:
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers

I used 185.20. Worked perfectly.

 

This is very true, the knowlege base will build. guess I just wanted to bring something to the new HDX site that notebookreview dosent have. Your right though, its going to be enough work just getting things going and in order for now, thanks gaines!

 

Device Manager says HL-DT-ST BD-RE GBW-B10N ATA Device. From what I know of it's an LG brand Blu-Ray Burner.

 

It actually ships from Shanghai China. Thats where they are made, then air fedex until it hits the states. I had an issue with shipping as well, I think its just cause it comes from so far away so dont sweat it, It will probably be there sooner than expected.

 

Hi EmmaMN,
please let us know how it gos at http://www.hphdx.net and we'll help with anything you might need with your new HDX! Enjoy -

 

I ordered mine custom from the website. It arrived 3 days after it left Shanghai, in a sealed box. The laptop was in it's sleeve, and the whole thing was bagged in plastic with tape holding the bag closed. Every additional component was also bagged and sealed, including the remote. The Intel, Vista, nVidia, and one other sticker were all in place above the print reader, there was a slip of fabric between the keyboard and the screen, and protective film was laid over the screen. All of this came in a box that had some minor wear and tear on it from transport, but was otherwise fine.

Over a month later, they keyboard is still slightly warped near the "qwerty" area, and the Mediasmart software had issues with iTunes 8.1. Other than that, I have not had any other problems or complaints.

I hope that helps.

 

Does anyone have the backlit KB? Somone needs to know how to turn it on thanks.

 

I just picked this up on the web and thought some of you would find this article interesting.

There has been a lot of discussion in the past few days about Intel's latest line of Xeon processors, designed for servers and workstations. It does seem to be an impressive set of new processors, one likely to drive new performance, particularly in dual-socket designs. PCMag has full coverage of the announcement here.

The focus of the line is the Xeon 5500, which was code-named "Nehalem-EP." It's designed for systems with two or more sockets. This series is available in 15 different flavors, with 4MB or 8MB of Level 2 cache, at clock speeds ranging from 1.86 GHz to 3.2 GHz, and at prices ranging all the way from $188 to $1600. Combined with a new chipset that accompanies it, this is the "Tylersburg" platform.

Intel also announced three models in the Xeon 3500 family, designed for single-socket systems, which seem to be about the same as the Core i7 desktop chips introduced a few months ago (at identical speeds of 2.66, 2.93 and 3.2 GHz and prices from $284 to $999).

The new chips include about 730 million transistors (in the 8MB L2 versions) and are effectively Intel's second 45nm design for servers and workstations; the Xeon 5400 was based on the "Penyrn" design. The company is claiming big performance improvements, just as a 160 percent improvement in virtualization over the 5400 line, though of course, performance results will vary a lot depending on your application.

The important new features of this design include an integrated memory controller, the QuickPath Interconnect, and Turbo Boost, for speeding up a single-threaded task by shutting down unneeded cores.

Some products based on the design were announced early, including Apple's MacPro (reviewed here) and new workstations and servers from Lenovo and Dell.

This week, IBM, HP, Sun and more announced their support. HP's "Z series" workstations sound particularly interesting, with the company claiming features such as a self-checking power supply and the ability to consume only 1 watt of power in the "off" state.

Of course, the new Xeon family will face off against the latest AMD Opteron parts, based on AMD's 45nm "Shanghai" design.

I haven't benchmarked the systems in servers, but a comparison of the architecture in desktops showed the Nehalem-based Core i7 is outperforming the current Shanghai-based Phenom X4 by a good margin in most applications.

The initial reviews of the Xeon 5500 seem to be showing the same trend, compared to current Opteron servers in typical dual processor applications. Here are reviews from BitTech , Legit Reviews, and PC Pro. Note that these reviews are all good indicators, but aren't focused on typical server applications. (Update: here are a few more posts from InfoWorld and Tech Report.)

The Opteron platform has been more successful in multiprocessor, high-performance computing applications, though, and I haven't seen a comparative benchmark there yet.

Also note that Intel has a processor designed for multiprocessor systems called the Xeon 7000 series ("Dunnington") with six cores, and AMD has been showing its six-core processor called "Istanbul", which is due out later this year. One big advantage of that chip is that it supposed to be plug-compatible with the current Opteron systems, including single, dual, and multiprocessor designs.

Later this year, Intel is planning an 8-core MP server chip called "Nehalem-EX", while AMD's roadmap for 2010 includes the six-core "Sao Paolo" and 12-core "Magny-Cours" processors.

But for now, the Xeon 5500 looks to be a big step forward for typical dual-socket servers and workstations.

 

Yes. Function Button then the Space Bar.

 

just got an email from hp this morning... looks like my hdx is shipped ahead of the april 6th date . after reading everyone's stories i wonder when it'll get here, though.......

oh yeah, (i knew i quoted for a reason) so... i just so happen to be one of the ones who got a low end processor with plans to switch it out for a QX9300... so apparently i need to get a new fan/heatsink as well? does this come with the processor or would i have to buy it separate... and if i do... does anyone know where i could find it... and any tips on how id go about installing it? (yeah i know alot of questions but i really wanna do this processor upgrade in the near future.......... thanks a million in advance

 

There's so much great information buried in this thread. I read through most of it and it took me hours, but there's a ton of useful stuff that I can't remember. I'm working on putting together a FAQ for the HDX18 and would appreciate it if y'all could send me anything you think would be helpful to others.

For example:
Should I upgrade to DDR3?
The value of DDR3 has been discussed at length and it's widely believed that the actual performance benefit of DDR3 is negligable at this point in time. The higher latency of current DDR3 memory tends to counteract the benefits of it's higher bandwidth.


You can email me at [email protected] or send me a private message.

Thanks,
Gaines

 

Go back a few post (between 400 and here), there's a link to the manual. Or try the search function. The manual will show the part number and the assembly/disassembly instruction. It's a lot of work just to get to the processor. And worse yet, we.. or at least I'm going to have to open this things up once a year at least, to clean out the fans.

You will need to buy the heatsink/fan assembly seperately from the processor.
As for purchasing the part, you can contact HP directly, or if you read even further back, someone has a link to HP parts website.

 

There's a discussion thread with a link to the manual.

 

Hey Gaines,

Since your site is called hphdx.net, can you put info for both hdx 18 and 16 owners? The hdx16 thread is long too. Both laptops are basically the same except well the 18 inch screen and the ability to upgrade to dual hdds and quad core processor on the hdx18. Or is the site already about both?

You would generate more traffic that way and you should think about putting google adsense ads on there to generate revenues as well. Just something to think about.

 

That's the reason why I went with HPHDX.net. I didn't see any reason to limit the site to just one model when much of the content would be useful to owners of the entire product line. Of course, I just bought an HDX18 so that's what I've been reading about and am interested in.

Now, since you're getting an HDX16 I would love to work with you on getting some HDX16 content up.

As for advertising, I'm not doing this to make money. I may need to think about it once it starts using bandwidth and server resources, but for now the site doesn't cost me much to run and I'm happy to do it.

 

thanks for all the help you guys. so i wnet ot the hp parts store and... over in the hdx18 section it only lists, like.. a bunch of models... it starts withe three... then when i click one it lists a whole bunch of sub-models... i dunno which i should choose seeing that mine is a custom one... or would it even matter.......... (some of the models dont have a "fan/heatsink" option.. thats the main reason im not so sure) here's a link tho

http://h20141.www2.hp.com/hpparts/S...24E&SearchId=3769211&Level=4&ParentID=3806907

 

(oh yeah... HPHDX.net is blocked here at work... idve been there way earlier if it wasn't. gotta wait till i get home to see it)

 

Do they just block everything then only allow traffic through to select sites? HPHDX.net has only been up for a few days. *confused*

 

Question re the HDTV Tuner.
Does this tuner work with DirecTV? And if so, can i access it directly (for example, the cables from my DirecTV satellite to the HDX18?)

Thanks!

 

not sure how they do it... but itll be first on my list when i get in from work

 

I got my HDX18t, and I have a few questions. My configuration:

- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
- Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P9600 (2.8GHz)
- 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm) - For 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 130M
- 2x250GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive 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)
- Blu-Ray ROM burner
- 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
- No Productivity Software

Ordered from Costco on 3/16, shipped 3/28, delivered 3/30 in the plain brown box, in cloth, no plastic, but everything was sealed nicely. The screen had some streaks, but they wiped off with a microfiber cloth.

In the upper right screen border, "HP HDX 18" is shown, but there is no "t": is this normal for an 18t, or did I get an earlier model than what I ordered?

I've looked at the detailed system info, and I can't find any verification for my hard drives speed specs. I want to make sure that the 7200 rps drives were installed.

How do I verify that the Blu Ray drive is a Blu Ray burner and not just a reader?

Man, this reflective screen is driving me a little batty. I would pay $100 for a matte screen option. I guess I'll get used to it. Otherwise, this is a great machine.

 

Pipper, I believe jemichael already answered some of your questions in the thread you posted.

 

Oh, thanks gaines!

 

@MartyG:

Did you resolve your issue with your HDTV card, I have an issue of vista ultimate recognizing it and then MCE won't pick up my antenna...

 

This is the part# for the QX9300 heatsink and fan assembly. 512184-001 They are in stock at the HP Part Store for a cost of $70.30

 

I think I read something in the Service and Maintenance manual that the QX9300 will only fit on the same mb as the c2d running at 2.53 ghz. Is it possible that that c2d has a different pattern than the others? If so, and you're running any other c2d, the upgrade options are limited to QX9000 or QX9100. Can anyone verify this?

 

It appears that there are 3 motherboards for the HDX18. One motherboard is for the QX9300 only. The other 2 motherboards are for all other processors, the difference being the amount of video memory.

506494-001 For use only with computer models equipped with the Intel Core2 Duo QX9300,
2.53-GHz processor, includes 512 MB of graphics subsystem memory.

It appears that we may not be able to upgrade to the QX9300 at all.

496871-001 Is for all processors except the QX9300 and has 512MB of video memory.

506495-001 Is for all processors except the QX9300 and has 1024 MB of video memory.

This info is from page 3-4 of the Maintenance and Service Guide.

There may also be another mother board for the QX9300 that is not listed in the service guide. The QX9300 can have 512 MB or 1024 MB of video memory, but the service manual only lists 512 MB of video memory for the QX9300.

 

If it was a "customized" order then you get a brown box.

You can run infotool or Everest for CD/DVD/BlueRay drives.
Here is what Infotool said for my Blu-Ray +/-R/RW with SuperMulti (below).

For the glossy screen - maybe try an InvisibleShield HDX 18 InvisibleShield

 

Even though the picture at this website shows what appears to be an invisible shield for the screen, when you read below under "Standard coverage" it reads:

"The invisibleSHIELD is not compatible with laptop LCD screens and does not cover them."

 

Why don't they have the invisible shield for the HDX16T also?

 

My new HDX18t has the mismatched trackpad, too (the design lines don't flow with the wrist rests): kind of aggravating for a brand new expensive PC. Is pretty much everyone that's getting an HDX 18 today receiving these?

 

oh... wow. so i guess i can't upgrade it that far. i can settle for the qx9100 i guess... thats 2.26 ghz right? wouldnt be much of a difference between .27ghz, huh.......................

 

You guys should watch out with the Invisible Shield. I was considering it too, however on this forum I was told that at "high" temperatures, the glue on the Shield can react, and change colors (brownish I believe). It can also be harder/impossible to remove after said heat reaction.

While I've never had any problems with it on my iPod Touch (And would absolutely recommend it to any other iPod Touch owners, my iPod never came close to 200 degrees like my HDX has come CLOSE to.

SIDE NOTE: Check out this cheap pair of 4GB sticks for you guys in the DDR2 club: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145599

 

And yet, if Wake on LAN was turned ON. then who is to blame? The company?

In any case, you're arguing a point that I'm not. I simply said I've never had a computer just mysteriously turn on without Wake on Lan being set up and computers are my business so I see a lot of them.

 

Read my post on the previous page. The InvisibleSHIELD is not designed to be used on the HDX18 screen.

 

Most, if not all of us, have the mismatched trackpad also.

 

Oh yea I didnt necessarily mean for the HDX screen. Just in general, I would have considered getting the Invisible Shield for the entire glossy portion of my HDX to eliminate any worry of unsightly scratches, just like I did with my iPod. But obviously, because of its reaction to heat, I no longer would recommend it.

One more side note: This bag, http://shop.samsonite.com/storefront/business-computer/samsonite-computer-case/prod936945XX.html, while one of the nicest plain black laptop cases I've ever seen/owned, it absolutely doesnt fit the HDX 18.

Also, I have a mismatched track pad, and honestly when I look at it now (after not even realizing it was supposed to match until a month after receiving it), I could care less.

 

I noticed this too while in Fry's looking over the 16t and 18t for the first time. I could plainly see the entire room and everyone behind me in the reflection. The screen was bright and beautiful, but I could see the reflection issue becoming annoying really quick. Any word on a matte screen option in the future?

 

Perhaps you could buy an external monitor with a matte screen. If so, I think you will find out why the computer is so "bright and beautiful".

 

I'm so glad that I got the backlit keyboard: I couldn't see any of the keys at my kitchen table last night in normal light until I turned on the backlight. Even though I can type by touch, it really speeds things up to be able to see the keyboard, especially the function keys and less used keys.

 

still, i sympathize with pacotaco, as i feel like there should be some middle ground between ugly matte and big beautiful shiny.

it just seems like hp's gone way too far to the shiny side.

 

With no disrespect intended -- Hearsay or fact?
I've had the Invisible Shield on my TomTom GPS in the hot sun on my dash for a couple of years with no change in color. Granted I have not tried to remove it (why would I if it is fine).