HP NC8230 release?

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by mtnmasher

 

More pics!

 

Great photos. It's a really nice looking system. Can't wait to receive mine.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by mofunk

 

mclassic- now when i check my order state it is 5/10
this just keeps getting longer and longer
if the new farrari comes out i will stop my order
i would prefer to buy from hp than acer but this bad
42 days to build a notebook!
why?

 

m-classic- they charged my visa just today i guess due to the fact that i have been calling they thought it would be a good idea to get the ball rolling
what about you order?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by mofunk

 

it's interesting to see so many posts regarding order problems at HP. they botched my first order and then offered free shipping on the second, but ended up charging $63 for the shipping. they also said that my visa declined the charge when, in fact, the charge had been authorized.

for what it's worth, my order with IBM was flawless - they charged my card (the proper amount) the same day and shipped my system the next day, and even gave me free 2-day shipping.

 

Yeah, sorry to hear of such horror stories with HP ordering.
FWIW, my order went just fine. The nc8230 even showed up
a couple weeks ahead of the estimated ship date. I'm guessing
the fact that I ordered one of the pre-configured systems
had a lot to do with that.
-- Adam

 

It looks like it takes some waiting time for configured models. I don’t even know if I have enough time to wait for some reviews from mclassic and mofunk. I almost bought a t43 as pointed by murphyja with all the specs I want but beyond my budget.

murphyja – if I qualified for the promo, that special price was just hard to beat. I could be waiting for a t43 by now! I will keep on looking and comparing. I can only get 10% if I buy through my company. Thank you for your help though in finding my laptop (I gave up on the perfect laptop… lol)

Question – If I find a configured HP that might be a good compromise for what I am looking, is it safe to buy from the resellers? I know I cannot return to them or cancel once shipped, but are the warranties valid? (mostly no dvd writer that I am willing to give up now. As pointed by mclassic, the desktop will fine for dvd burning if you already have one)

Reason for this question is that the nw8240 (the basic one) will be a reasonable price for me, and if I buy from resellers that do not have any warehouses in California, I will save on the taxes. Features are great too.

Most of these units can be shipped within a day or two. Thank you.

 

I really don't understand why HP has no x700 option for the nc8230 for people who can't afford the hefty price tag of the nw. Or at least they could have made the nw configurable. I'd be all over the nc if it has the x700. The nw is nice but the 2.0ghz model cost $3500 --- jeez!!!
Anyone knows if HP plans to bring along the x700 for th enc8230?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>My ship date is showing 4/25/02. But, the 128MB video went on backorder again. HP really needs to get it together.
<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

mclassic: where can i find the parts which are on backorder on HP's site?

 

mclassic, why you considered the Asus M6 a bad choice.
I like that model, the only thing that scare me away was not having a WSXGA+ screen

 

zeec, I placed my order online so I can check the status using the e-mail address I registered with. If you have this set up, click on where it says 'Line Item Detail' and it will tell you what parts are available and what is backordered.

wolfstar, the Asus M6 was too big and too heavy for my tastes. The dimensions definitely don't qualify it as thin and light. It's a nice system. Just not for me.

 

mclassic-- my order was shipped today i think?
the order status for hp is so hard to read and tell what is going on
but i have a tracking # with ups and a delivery date of 4/21?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by mofunk

 

It looks like the build your own option is no longer available. The option to choose video card is not even present! Maybe they are just fixing their website.

If this is the case though, it looks like they are trying to push their pre configured models with very slight modifications.

 

I have posted the same in the other forum –

mclassic/mofunk/ovek - can you help me with your general impressions on the specs below for the nw8240? This is a preconfigured model and readily available. I have been waiting for some reviews for the nc8230, and just today it looks like the 128mb video card option is gone (I hope they are just fixing their website).

I am interested in the weakness of the configuration and the cost to value? Thank you again.

FiloD

NW8240
$2,199
1.86 GHz, 2-MB L2 cache, 533-MHz
ATI Mobility Fire GL V5000 graphics controller (PCI Express) with 128 MB of video memory, OpenGL support
15.4 inch WSXGA+ WVA
512 MB (533 MHz) DDR SDRAM I DIMM
80 GB (5400 rpm)
DVD/CD-RW Drive
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG (802.11b/g)
3 years parts, 3 years labor, 3 years on-site
$2,199

No Bluetooth
No dvd writer

In few weeks time I have to make the purchase (seriously looking at the asus w3 and the hp nc/nw)

 

FiloD, I say go for it. That's a great spec at a great price. If it's available with the rebate, I think I'll change my order and get an nw8240 as well.

Are you considering buying direct from HP or through an HP reseller?

 

mclassic - to save tax, I am thinking of a reseller... just worried about warranty but someone told me that it has the 3 year onsite warranty even if you buy from a reseller. I am in California so the tax is hefty 8.25%...if your tax is reasonable to you, maybe buying it from HP direct is better....

You know anything about that?

FiloD

p.s. - Looking at the rebate form, it should be entitled for the rebate, but not sure.

once you buy from the resellers though, I think you can't return to them just because you don't like something. And any defect you have to go directly now to HP...

 

Yeah, there's definitely a trade-off by going through a reseller. You avoid the tax. But, you don't have the benefit of being able to return it to HP.

The nw8240 is starting to look very attractive to me. It's probably more system than I need. But, considering its price relative to the price of my nc8230 configuration, it's hard to ignore.

I just wonder how it is in terms of heat. I'm sure it will be a bit more power hungry than the X600 too. I don't mind sacrificing battery life. But, I don't want a system that gets too hot.

 

As I've mentioned previously on this thread...

-- I have had NO heat issues with this nc8230. The warmth
under the palm (or on the underside of the unit) is
barely noticable in either AC or battery mode. It's fine.

-- I have gotten just over 4 hrs of battery life while doing
normal work (email & web surfing over the WLAN).

 

Two Questions:

1- mclassic, im looking foward of getting an Asus M6 or the HP NC8230, they weight the same basically, almost same dimensions, im sure that the M6 doesn't get hot like the nc8230(because is Dothan not sonoma) and has better battery life(4+hours). what other bad things you found on the M6?

2-For all the users of the HP NC8230, i would like to know heat issues on botton and palm rest, also, battery life in normal profile with normal usage. i can configure a Highly Powerful Asus M6(in processing and HDD means), why u think HP NC8230 is better?

 

mclassic - can you give me some advice on ram
what is the ram that is being shipped with the nc8230(acain?)
thanks

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by mofunk

 

Did anyone notice those comments regarding the keyboard on some nc8230 reviews?
They say it's a little bit small while it could be bigger.

nc8230/nx8220 users: did you notice such thing?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by wolfstar

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by zeec

 

regarding battery life on the NW8240, it's about 30 minutes less than a similarly configured NC8230 due to the video card (according to the spec sheet on HP's site).

for those of you still debating between a Thinkpad T43 and NC8230, I must say that I LOVE my T43. it feels incredibly fast, the screen is superb, wireless performance is top notch, and keyboard/pointing device ergonomics are much better, IMHO, than the NC8230. the Fujitsu 5400rpm hard drive also seems quieter, but it could be the better insulation on the T43. finally, thinkPad support, including the order process, was PERFECT.

things I miss about the NC8230:
- Widescreen display
- Firewire port
- fan seems slightly quieter on NC8230... hard to tell though
- third USB port (only two on T43)
- blue LED's (sounds silly but I don't like IBM's green lights)
- overall look of NC8230... my T43 looks looks like the thinkPad i had 10 years ago.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by mclassic

 

Hey guys, What's the response time on the display like?
I mean, specifically, for games/movies?
Is the response time nice and low?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by michaelmorio

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by mclassic

 

mclassic- i got my notebook in and it is great!
looking for ram any ideas
do you know how to check for video memory

screen is perfect and the speed is great
nothing bad yet
i like the three button touch pad and the buttons are soft and easy to press
the battery time is long(3.75-4.25)
i dont carry my power brick with me to work
thanks for any help

 

congrats mofunk! Looks like the long wait is worthwhile for you. What applications did you run to get that battery life? Share us some more of your initial workings with your new laptop...How is the heat? lcd? What specs did you get?

mclassic will be getting his soon I am sure. Thanks.

FiloD

 

mofunk, great news. Glad to hear that you're happy with it. Mine will be shipping Monday or Tuesday so I should have it by the end of next week.

You should be able to check video memory by clicking on Start > Control Panel > Display > Settings > Advanced. Once there, there should be a tab for 'Adapter'. Click on the 'Adapter' tab and it will tell you video memory.

For RAM, I would go with Kingston or Corsair DDR2-533 MHz SODIMMs. Check to see what's installed already. Whatever it is, try to find the same SODIMM through a retailer.

Keep us posted with details as you become more familiar with the system.

Thanks.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Haakon

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by mclassic
For RAM, I would go with Kingston or Corsair DDR2-533 MHz SODIMMs. Check to see what's installed already. Whatever it is, try to find the same SODIMM through a retailer.<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>
HP doesn't offer (or if they did, they don't anymore) any of the 533MHz DIMMs. If I order the laptop, should I just go for the cheapest 400MHz ones they offer and then swap them out completely for 533s? How easy is it to open up a laptop and change RAM (I'm completely comfortable with modifying a desktop, but this will be my first laptop purchase). As long as there isn't a stick of 400 in the system, is this notebook compatible with 533s no matter what? I want to get the best performance out of the machine but HP's memory prices are insane.

Thanks in advance.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Haakon

 

I finally got my NC8230. With the following specs:
2.0 Ghz, 2GB RAM, 80 GB HD (5400 RPMs), 1280 x 800 Display, 802.11abg, Bluetooth, ATI X600 64MB RAM, Docking Station wit DVI support. Below is a photo of my workspace with my new HP nc8230 docked and driving my older SGI 1600SW 17" wide screen LCD (1600 x 1024). Overall I'm very happy with the nc8230. It's performance is about 4x of my older Dell X200 (Pentium III 800Mhz). Screen is plenty bright and battery life is indeed in the 4-5 hours range.