HP Laptop with best battery life? (For university student)

Looking at an HP notebook with the best battery life using the NB6528 30% off code.

I was looking at the HP HDX 16t and 18t notebooks with this coupon and I can get a really good deal with great specs (Configured an 18t with great specs for $1450). But I doubt battery life is any good on it. Are these notebooks reliable for college? Or is it just too bulky?

Maybe my ultimate question is: What battery life am I expecting on the 8-cell for the HDX 18t on a "power-saving" mode? (Like brightness at low, with backlit keyboard only on in a dark room, etc).

If not, I want to look into the notebook I can configure above $1000 to qualify for the coupon with the best battery life possible. A backlit keyboard is also wanted (found in the HDX models). If not, it's okay.

Thanks for the help. I'm going to my local Best Buy now to get a feel for the HDX 18t. Opinions wanted.

 

Both computers in the HDX line have crappy battery lives. I can barely get 3 hours with my 9cell battery in my HDX16 on powersaver.

 

If battery life is VERY important to you, consider the following:

• Select a notebook with a smaller the screen size (e.g. DV3). The screen consumes the most power. More than less, the smaller the screen size the more efficient.
• Get a 12-cell battery.

g/l

 

Problem with the DV3 is the AMD cpu...

HP is really p'n me off with some options available on some laptops but not on others... they offer the backlit keyboard on the 3 but not on the 4.... likewise with the SSD. Why? Dbags. Anywho.

The 3 comes with the 9-cell btw, there is no 12 cell for it as far as I know... the dv4 with the 12-cell and should get you at least 5 hours, especially if you opt for the LED.

Speaking of which, since you're a uni student and need battery life, I am assuming you're going to be taking it to class... plz don't lug around an 18in laptop from class to class man....lol.

If you're going to be taking a laptop from class to class.... your best bet is probably the DV4 since you can get the 12-cell and really, IMO, it's the perfect size. It's not too big, like a 15 incher but not too small..... I feel that it gives you the size of a 13in laptop BUT with a bigger screen.... if that makes sense. lol....

I don't know if you play games, but if you don't, getting an IGP would be the way to go since your laptop will be cooler + get you more battery life.... been keeping my eye on the DV4 seeing as how I am going to buy it in early june.....

For $950 you can get (with student discount.. make sure you sign up for it.. if you apply the 30% discount the combo below will only run you $880sh)--->
vista 64, 2.4ghz P8600(P-series only use 25 watts as opposed to 35w= longer battery + cooler), 4gb ddr2, 500gb, LED, AGN+BT, intel 4500MHD, modem, extra life 6cell...

You can get the 12-cell for like $30 more.... or you can get the 12-cell and the 6-cell for like $120 more or something..... either way your still undercutting the HDX series... heck, throw in an some more cash for anSSD ($390 for intel x-25m.. was at $360 the other day) while your at it, which will also improve your battery life, and your computing experience will stomp almost anything...

Anyway that's what i think.... check them out at best buy.... and order em online.. lol.

but seriously.... don't get anything bigger than 14in if you going to be taking it to class... it's just wayy too cumbersome to be taking anything bigger to class.

oh... and the dv3 with the 9cell will give you abt the same battery time as the 14in wit the 12cell...

 

Just buy another high capacity battery.

 

Hm, really? I dunno... I went to Best Buy and they didn't have any HDXs on display or in inventory.

Well I can understand why you shouldn't go from place to place with an 18.4" notebook. But really it's about the bang-for-my-buck on the notebooks. I can see myself getting a majority better specs all around for a little bit more than an under-class version of a smaller sized notebook.

Have you ever seen any University students carry 17"+ notebooks?

And if you really really REALLY recommend a smaller, lighter, and more battery-efficient machine, what HP notebooks have the 30% off or the $500 off coupon, whichever is the best discount? Like I could qualify for a much cheaper deal on something that could be more lightweight... and be enough to justify something smaller than the huge HDXs.

 

Have a look here for coupons:
http://www.notebookreview.com/hp_coupon.asp

Regarding the bang-for-your-buck, I fooled around with configurations with the HDX systems and I actually found that the DV4 had the best bang... I really don't know what majority better specs you're talking about? Well, besides the graphics card that is- but save for that, there really isn't anything that much better. I think you can get a 2.93ghz CPU over the 2.66, but really, you're better off with the P-series 2.4ghz 8600 or 2.53ghz 8700 since it'll run cooler + give you better battery life anyway.

No man. lol. I mean, there are some wackos who hang around the library playing WoW, I think, or something like it,with giant laptops for the super connection there, but they're not exactly going to classes.... haha. The vast vast majority of people rocking laptops in lectures and what not have 12.1/13.3/14.1in laptops. You see a 15.4in every now and then... but I've never seen anything larger. Heck man, if you walked into your lecture hall with an 18in laptop the girl/guy sitting next to you will immediately tell you one of two things:

1.) W/T/F is that dude? (guy)
2.) Hey, can you please move your laptop, it's hitting me. (girl)

You want something nice and portable to take with you to lectures, take to the library.... trust me, you don't want some giant- your books are big enough.

That's my take at least.

If I were you, I would go through the HP site, customize laptops with various sizes, and see which one gives you the best bang for the buck. From there, throw in the size factor to see which is best for you.

G'luk.

 

Haha, too funny! I would so be the dude with the 18-inch laptop to get some stares or two. The bigger the boys, the bigger their toys, right? lol

But yeah, realistically, portability and a smaller form-factor will save myself in two ways:

1. Achieving longer battery life longevity
2. Protecting my back from future problems

I'll continue my research. I dunno if I should buy now or in June, if there might be some refreshes on ANY notebooks. What do you think? I'm not graduating from high school till June 9, and not starting the University until September 30.

 

lol....

Well, if you can wait... then I would wait till late August or early September to order it, that way you'll have your laptop a week or two before school starts so by the time of your first lecture, you'll be ready to go.

I don't think Nehalem (next Intel CPU) will be out by then... but ah... hmm. I really don't know what sort of refreshes there would be. We're talking about four months though... if anything I guess the prices will go down, or at least you'll get more performance for the same price. I personally wouldn't expect anything drastic... but you really never know. I remember reading somewhere in these forums that a guy got his hands on some supplier numbers or something of some new upcoming 13.4in HP laptop along with other models.... not sure about the validity, but it wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination to assume HP will be releasing a new model soon. Considering HP is not offering the Intel based DV3 on their site.... it actually sorta makes sense.

Anyway. Really, it comes down to this, if you can wait... wait it out. Personally, I am going to be buying a laptop in June because I am currently studying overseas as part of this university program, and I'll be stateside for about a month... so that's my only chance to get a customized laptop... and the reasoning behind my wait.

If you don't need a laptop anytime soon, then it really doesn't hurt to wait...

Hope this helps!

Definitely stick with the smaller laptops in any case though... it reminds me when I was buying a laptop Freshman year..... I was looking at this monster 17in laptop... I think it was like 11 pounds or something.... anyway I was showing it to my boy... and he was like.. dude..... either get an actual laptop that you can carry around, or get a damn desktop and it put it in your backpack, because it amounts to the same thing as getting this giant thing. lol.

------
I just realized something... you could get yourself a netbook for class. Can get yourself the Hp Mini 1000 for $263.... I really don't know much about them.... but... you could get the 18.4in to keep in your dorm... and take the Mini to class...... that is if you really want a big laptop...... just another option to mull over I guess.

 

lol

If I really wanted something in my d orm, I'd build a Core i7 custom rig for the same price.

Netbooks are a bit underpowered in my opinion for some daily things, really. I know a couple people with them, and they run really good for the basic stuff. Only heavy multitasking, which I am fond of doing, it can bog down a little. Though battery life (Like on the Aspire 1) can reach like 9 hours or something! XD

I think I'll wait until the summer to see what'll happen. Also, isn't Windows 7 coming in August? And won't that ship with most, if not all, notebooks in existence (besides Mac?) I was planning on giving that a try too.

 

You may want to look into the business models from HP. Pavilions are just average. My HP supports 2 batteries and I can get ~10 hours, and it's a 17''. With a 15'' you can get as much as 12 hours.

 

So about 5 hours per battery? What model notebook, and what size battery? Also, what power settings are you running?

 

I am going for a smaller sized notebook. I realize I can always build a custom desktop for my gaming needs.

Now, anyone have an idea for ANY laptop (not a netbook) that has superior battery life? I am willing to go past HP to look into this. But HP has always been a good reliable selling-point for me in the past. Thanks.

 

Any ideas? I'm still trying to shoot for 5+ hours. Unless I am hyperventilating and I really only need 3-4. In that case... I was looking at the HDX 16t. But that is a beast, and I don't know if I should take that to classes.

Or the DV4t series from HP and the 12-cell battery. Ideas if this is good? Is battery life on the 12-cell going to reach above 5 hours? I was looking for this battery life with WiFi on and brightness at medium 50%.

 

dv4 with the 12-cell or the dv3 with the 9 cell will get u over 5 hours...

like i said before... u don't want to be taking a 16in laptop to lectures... it's just not smart man.

 

Read my review of the dv4t here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=373173 I'm getting 5 solid hours with a very high-end configuration. If you go with the 2.53GHz P8700 and integrated graphics, you'll easily go past 6 and push 7 hours.

 

It's more like 4+6 (8 cell + 12 cell). Nearly all business notebooks from HP come with the 8 cell, and nearly all support the 12 cell ultra capacity battery ($200 from HP, though you should be able to get it cheaper on eBay or the like), which connects to the bottom of the laptop. Business models are more durable, with a magnesium inner chassis and spill resistant keyboard. The EliteBooks add a metal hinge cover, brushed aluminum finish on the lid and palm rest, and a handful of small conveniences (like a night light). Most have 3 years of warranty. The 6930p is the single model that HP often boasts about hitting 24 hours with a special config (SSD, LED, and more).

The second battery weighs 2 pounds itself, bringing the weight to 9.5 lbs for a 17", still not bad.

 

You're asking alot. No laptop that I know of, which is not a netbook can last more than 5 hours. Even if it does, it won't after 6 months due to battery degradation. Just get the netbook in my sig which goes for 9+ hours.

 

Thanks. I'll look into the dv4t.

But I found out the dv4t special edition with the blue wave is slightly cheaper, but does not come with a fingerprint reader. Compared to the regular dv4t. Any reason why?

 

That se model has been out since last year - my simple guess is they have no more left to build like that. I'd go for the current white/black dv4t, even if it is a few bucks more, if you need the fingerprint reader.

 

It might well be cheaper (and faster; no gnashing of teeth, no arguing about a watt here and there, no compromises in screen size or CPU power) to buy a standard laptop, get the 12 cell battery, and sell the original 6 cell battery as 'new' on ebay.

Yes, HP sells their 12 cell batteries for list at about $175, but they can be found on the 'net for $75 or so.

 

ah. Why not save yourself the trouble and upgrade to the 12-cell right away? I believe it's $39 extra...

your buying/selling/buying process sounds more ah.... complicated

 

Go for:
- Intel, P, U, or T5000 series procesor with a low clock speed
- 12 cell battery + more batteries if needed
- LED screen
- Smaller screen sizes use a little less power.
- Integrated graphics that is an Intel chipset

With ordinary HP pavillion dv2000, with 1.5ghz intel gma950 and 12 cell, can get 8 hours on power saver.

If you can get an LED screen with it and maybe U or P series intel that uses less power..... and another 12 cell, you can probably knock on 8-10 hours per battery, totalling 15-20 hours.

 

I suggest you look at the following models: 2530p, 6930p, 2730p. You will want a light and reliable notebook for school, maybe even a tablet pc if you're doing a lot of BIO work. You will also want fast and competent tech support so I suggest you look into the business notebooks.

 

Hello,

As previously mentioned, I also suggest getting an HP Business Notebook, such as the 6910p or 6930p, both of which have excellent battery runtime.

These Business Notebooks are great for student use. I used to have an HP NX7300 Business Notebook which I relied upon throughout college and my first year of University. It was a solid notebook indeed.