HP NC8430 review

The recovery partition is just to store some backup software and the OS Image. There is an option to remove it in the HP backup software that came preinstalled. It will delete the partition and resize C:\ to use the whole drive (which is what I did).

I then used partition magic (v8.0 I belive) to shrink C:\ so I could dual boot w/ Linux. Worked out fine.

 

how many have ordered the HP NC8430 now? from laptops direct, the student bundle 3 - enhanced deal?

 

Thanks Darkrealms. A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

Jesus, alot of you are having problems with Laptops direct.

I'm from the UK, and I ordered from them and have had no problems. In fact, I'm pretty impressed by their customer service. I ordered last month and pretty much got the laptop within the week.

http://www.notebookforums.com/post2378560.html <-- my review here.



I'd like to ask a few questions:



* Has anyone figured out how to get the laptop (when connected to AC Adapter) to remain as silent as it is when powered via the battery?



* Plugging in an External Hard drive via firewire to the laptop.
I notice there's abit of spark fly up onthe firewire cable, which I assume is caused by the potential voltage difference between the External HD's power supply and the laptop's power supply. Would it be best to turn off the power supplies for both laptop and HD, plug it in, then repower on? And then to remove, power down laptop, then HD, then unplug firewire? Or power down HD first, then remove firewire?


* External Monitor.
I plug the laptop to my big living room TV via S-Video cable. This is handy for doing presentations or just generally watching movies and anime. Problem is when I close the laptop screen, the display for the TV turns off too. How do I keep the TV display on whilst the laptop screen off?

 

Excellent review!! Whats the screen quality like ?
Also does the laptopdirect one has a fingerprint scanner as well ? I thought it was absent from it!!
Any reason why Alienware Aurora has ard 7000 in 3d marks05, I dont think the CPU should make such a difference in 3d marks ?

 

Well at least we now have proof they're not a bunch of cowboys

 

jatze: I don't think it has the fingerprint scanner but BandanDan can confirm this, and great review by the way.

edit: Holy s***! how come yours has the scanner!? Mine is the higher spec and more expensive model yet it doesn't have it!

 

Fingerprint scanner or not, HP get your . moving!

 

yeah its not really laptopdirects fault, its just because theres such a big demand for the bundle that hp have had to make more, so of course there will be a waiting period, i just hope it isnt a large one lol.

I rang laptopsdirect. The woman who answerd was very helpful, i had an issue with the name on the debit card, when ordering i was a bit worried that i typed my fiances full name instead of the initials that are on the card but the woman said that its not a problem it wont make any difference and that payment wont be taken out until they get the laptops in stock on friday.

looking good, looking good. XD

 

OMG I WANT YOUR BABIES! XD

 

Guys, a short info for you about the nc8430 warranty.

As you already know if you buy EY688AA#ABA - US model - you get 3y standard warranty. When bought directly from hp.com you got warranty start date = purchase start date and everything is OK. But when you buy from an online retailer you should check the start date of a warranty because you might get very, very dissapointed!

First register your account on hp.com then register your product to your profile by providing the product name and a serial number (look for the check warranty option in your profile menu).

You see, I bought my nc8430 at the begining of August in Euclid computers. It must be said that they have the best customer service ever had! I recommend this retailer to everybody. BUT after I registered my product on hp.com I found that the start date of a warranty is March not an August!!!! After contacting Euclid customer care I got the information that by default the start date of a warranty is the end of manufacturing process or a date of restocking by the retailer. So by the purchase you may get 2,5y instead of 3y warranty. w000t!?!
Then you have to call or wite to HP and start this stupid procedure to update the dates. This usually lasts 10-14 business days....

Take care about this guys, you never know when you may get a problem with your lappy.

Wish you best!

 

thanks mobo thats great advice, when i get the lappy ill register it first thing, well after i check its in working order.

 

Best Foot Foward : from the pics I do see a scanner below the keyboard on the right side unless its just a dummy (quite possible)!!

What kind of delivery have you guys chosen with laptopdirect ? (next day,free etc)

 

i dont think theres a choice, or is there? i spoke to the guy on the phone last week and he said id have it a day after shipping. which is great, im not even in the uk mainland, im in northern ireland

 

My problem I think was that I ordered a laptop bag and then chose free delivery, which obvously was lower priorty than next day !! I think thats why I missed.

 

I think you just get standard 5 working day delivery or something. But you'll be alright - you don't have to move to uni on the 16th!

I chose next day, however if stock does come in on Friday, I'll phone up and pay extra for Saturday. Yes, really!

Incidentally the website now says stock due on Tuesday 12th... Hmmm

 

probably just a precausionary measure.

how much more is next day?

 

I took Free UPS Ground 3-5 days but it was Euclid Comp not laptopdirect. The delivery was on time and I was happy with it.

But I'd like you to be carefull with taking free shipping. I don't know how UPS USA works and if you take more expensive delivery option they do care much more about the package than the free delivery option. What I want say is that by default UPS should deliver packages to your hands and ask you to sign the shipping documents. What I have heard is that they knock to your door and if nobody opens they leave the package infront of your door and sign the papers by themself (I belive they do sign I'm not sure though). The package left by the door is often a nice oportunity for a thievery.

My brother and his mates lost many things this way. Each time they called UPS to ask why the package was not delivered after a week, UPS claimed that it was and they proposed to send by fax a copy of shipping docs signed by a customer. Nice, isn't it ? Thankfully each of a stolen package was paid by a VISA card and were in ensurance warranty or something. They finally got what they paid for.

Be carefull guys.

 

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/asp/faq.asp#delivery

With things as it is, I'd pay for next day and not take the chance

Edit: mobo, we're all in the UK here I've used UPS before, ceramic PSP off lik-sang, from Germany, 2 days - online tracking, great.

 

Ya, I know you're from UK. And I'm not saying that UPS is not trustworthy or not reliable but.... you know... **** happens

 

i paid 14 quid for shipping because im in N.ire. that means its 1-2 days XD.

 

Wiggi : I dont think you have any choice !!

Its amazing they keep changing the expected date like that !! Thats why I said I dont trust the dates they give, Evrytime u call them they have a diff date, n ech person in customer support gives a diff date as well!!

 

My model does indeed have the finger print and it is very sexy. I use it to login and all sorts all the time

Screen quality is fab, although I do notice some incredibly tiny slight grainyness if I really squint, concentrate, and stare at the monitor really close. It's better than 9/10s of default laptop screens though.

The CPU seems to make a bizare difference in 3DMark05 numbers but they're not to be trusted somewhat. My brother's desktop has a Geforce 6600GT and a Pentium D 3.00ghz. His PC got 7000 3DMark05 score but I swear my games run just as good if not better than on his.

I chose next day delivery. Though it was a weekend and a bank holiday monday so I didn't get it til Wednesday lol.

I'm from the UK and I got the 3 year warranty code via email. I registered and it rightly says mine expires in 25th August 2009



I feel sorry for you fellas who are having trouble :\

And does any exisiting NC8430 users know the answers to my questions?

 

And they are again?

 

Guys, can you do a simple test for me?

Run your nc8430 from battery and let it idle (don't do anything in Windows). Place your ear on left side of keyboard and listen in a quiet room/place. Can you hear periodic buzzing noise with duration of about 1 second and repeating every approx. 3 seconds?

My nc8430 makes this noise and even if it is not very loud, it is definately noticable and annoying. it makes this noise only when powered from battery and idle in Windows. If I start to do something (moving windows or any operation), the noise stops and then comes again several seconds after I stop doing aything.

I have 3 year next bussiness day CarePack, so I can call HP to check, but I don't want to make false alerts in a case when it can be normal.

 

* Has anyone figured out how to get the laptop (when connected to AC Adapter) to remain as silent as it is when powered via the battery?



* Plugging in an External Hard drive via firewire to the laptop.
I notice there's abit of spark fly up onthe firewire cable, which I assume is caused by the potential voltage difference between the External HD's power supply and the laptop's power supply. Would it be best to turn off the power supplies for both laptop and HD, plug it in, then repower on? And then to remove, power down laptop, then HD, then unplug firewire? Or power down HD first, then remove firewire?


* External Monitor.
I plug the laptop to my big living room TV via S-Video cable. This is handy for doing presentations or just generally watching movies and anime. Problem is when I close the laptop screen, the display for the TV turns off too. How do I keep the TV display on whilst the laptop screen off?

 

The constant fan noise whilst on AC is apparently related to some issue where the processor won't go below the C2 state hence the fan always being on. Theres a hotfix for it but I applied it to no avail. If you can understand that, then please tell me

petrv: i've tried doing that and haven't detected any unusual noises.

 

Read more here: http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?threadId=1041766

 

Yeah I've read the entire page. I'm going to try the suggestion HP gave you when I get home.

Funnily enough, I detailed exactly the same as the original OP and sent the email to HP. I even gave them the link to that page. I got this reply:

Errr that's not exactly what I meant HP! lol

 

Funny there are times when my 8430 is on AC power and the fan isn't running.

 

Erm... isn't that just the hard drive noise?

That's when it's below 50 degrees celcius

 

Concerning my problem with buzzing noise, I found the following:

1) It seems that the buzzing is comming from the left speaker (or maybe from an area under the speaker)

2) It makes the noise only when a USB mouse is connected. Moreover, if I plug the mouse to the left USB port, the noise is periodic with 1sec duration and 2sec pause. If I plug the mouse to any of the two right USB ports, the noise is the same frequency and level, but continuos . I tried several mouses.

If it is AC powered, the noise is not there (doesn't matter if I plug the mouse or not).

 

Seems like some interference problem, I think what is happening is that when your mouse is USB powered a small current flows from your laptop to the mouse(which powers the mouse!!), which is causing interference with your left speaker.
this shouldn't be happening with a Business laptop, I think if the problem contunes you should call HP.

 

How long have some of you been waiting for your order?

I ordered mine on Monday 4th September because the site said stock available "Tuesday 5th september". Emailed Laptopsdirect on Tuesday afternoon because my order status hadn't changed and was sent an email saying "friday 8th new stock".

Now I read on the website "new stock 12th September". I'm getting a little worried because some people on this board seem to have been waiting a lot longer than me.

I know it's HP's fault not Laptopsdirect but shouldn't they have posted some kind of message about the stock problems instead of just changing the dates.

 

I have been waiting since 21st August, I think I didn't get it till now because I have taken free delivery bcoz I have ordered a laptop bag as well, so my order got de-priortized.

 

its ok dude, we're all in the same boat. nearly all of us are moving to university next weekend. i was told on the phone by a very helpful lady that the stock will be in on friday, the 12th may be one of two things...

1.Becuase demand was so high hp have had to make more, this may be a small amount to complete the current orders and buy them some more time to get a larger batch sent to laptopsdirect so the same thing doesnt happen again.

or

2.just a extra few days to be sure that hp deliever on the friday but people will be expecting the stock in on tuesday.

we'v still got time yet, and anyway i wouldnt cancel the order because its such a good deal and ull deffinately get it any ways, the amount of people who have ordered this is insane, to let them down would greatly damage their reputation.

Rock on fri/monday/tuesday.

 

u got the laptop dude?

 

I think all of us with laptopsdirect/HP UK woe should start a new thread now

We can discuss what alternative laptop we'll get when (sorry, if) stock doesn't arrive in time

 

no I haven't !! But I have uncancelled my order now !! As you said the deal is too good to miss !! Hopefully this time around I would be more lucky !!

 

yeah maybe just a cock up last time as i said alot of people have ordered this, its probably one of their top prioritys to get it sorted because when this many people order these laptops and dont get satisfaction...ur company goes down the usb hole XD

 

I really hope my order arrives because this is the best deal I could find for the money I have.

Also my cousin has just bought a DV8396EA from here, and this at least won't look pathetic next to his.

 

you should be grand, they rand LFC and promised him down the phoen he would have it before tuesday so yay XD

 

AAH! I know what sound you mean. It does that battery powered, AC powered, or USB Mouse as well.

It does the sound as well, when you tilt the screen down to the keyboard. I think maybe LCD interference with the speakers?

 

How do I check the temp. on my laptop?

 

I see the nc8430 bundle which most people bought here is now listed as out of stock on the laptopsdirect website, with the advice to ring and choose an alternative model, indeed if you look at the new hp bundle 3 its got a new model with a 1.66Ghz duo core and XP home.

But my order still lists the 1.8Ghz duo core so lets hope they're still getting enough in to fulfill all the orders for it.

 

yeah theres quite a customer pileup now for these laptops, i said it before and ill say it again if they disappoitn so many people it will damage their reputation, but friday is stated as day of recieveing lappys from hp and then is dispatched instantly, so hopefully monday, be amazed if was sat but tis unlikely.

 

Its basically the old bundle back in stock, dont know what happens to us who have ordered the enhanced bundle, do they get the enhanced or the normal , its a fair deal any way you get extra 20 gigs for slightly slower cpu (which wont make a difference in most cases), win xp pro vs home also doesn't make much difference. They are pretty much the same.
However I would prefer the enhanced version bcoz I can wait a while wheras some of you guys who cant should really look at the student bundle available right now!!

 

See my post on the 'Waiting Room' thread jatze

Sure chances were the enhanced bundle would turn up next week, however I decided for the quicker "easy option". Note, I could only change it as they said they had some a few to spare from new consignment and they'd give mine to someone else who's been waiting longer

 

its friday, i just rang them aaaaaand....

the woman said.........




the laptops are deffinately due in today but iv rang at 10am so its a bit early lol delivery wont be until 12 or so, then theyll dispatch them and she said at the latest THE LATEST youll recieve it on tuesday or weds. WHOOOOOOO!! XD.

 

n00b alert!

I only just figured Citylink was clickable in the email and it's at the depot in Manchester! *Makes celebratory noise(s)*