HP Pavilion dv5t: Buy now?

Based on all of the reviews and testimonials I've seen, I think that the HP Pavilion dv5t is a great fit for me. Here's my conundrum: I'm a senior in high school, and I won't really need a laptop until next fall (though it would definitely be nice to have now). That said, HP has a 30% off coupon going right now, along with a bunch of free memory upgrades. Would waiting longer help me get an even better price, or is this about as good as it'll get? I've read that laptop prices often go down when their successors are just released, but I have no idea when HP is planning its next big move. Thanks for your advice in advance.

 

1 year is a lifetime in computers. It's impossible to predict what the prices will be, but you can be 100% certain that a laptop you buy today will be worth 50-60% of its value in a year.

 

amen... unless you can find some sucker on ebay.

 

So I guess my question should be: Would the following configuration, purchased now, keep my laptop relevant for at least 2-3 years?

HP Pavilion dv5t
Vista Home Premium (64-bit)
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8400 (2.26 GHz)
15.4" diagonal WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
(I'm not sure whether I should go for the Wireless-N or Wireless G-card)

 

I guess I wasn't clear the first time. It'd be stupid to buy now if you can wait until next fall.

 

Yeah, that makes sense. I suppose I have to decide whether I need one enough now to jump on the offer. How good of a deal would the above configuration be at $1100?

 

I don't think the deal is good right now.

Consider my HP dv5t. I bought it August 31 with 30% coupon.
$824 before tax
Vista Home Premium
P7350 2.0ghz
1680*1050 display
3gb ram
9600 GT
250 gb 5400 rpm Hard Drive
5100 Wireless N

 

I believe this laptop could last 3 years

 

i pulled the tigger on one. 760 + 4gigs off newegg gonna put me at about 800 bucks. not bad

 

Many people are in the same situation as you, and i'm one of them. I too am i high school senior, and a bought the hp laptop. But after consideration after I returned one due to problems with hardware, I decided just to wait it out. I really wanted a laptop which is how I came here. I have learned a great deal about these laptops and how fast things move.

I would say, even though you want one now, wait until next year for college... which is what i'm assuming you want it for. I also wanted it early, but told myself I should just wait it out and get something a lot better or cheaper next year.

If you REALLY can't wait... which i wouldn't advice... the laptop is pretty good. It's a lot better than my desktop, but this desktop has given me what I need for 4+ years already, so with it's crappy components, it's lasted me so long, i'm sure the laptop will too.

 

Don't get yourself in the waiting game or you'll end up not buying anything.

 

Well, Capella will come out in Q3 2009.

 

I'm kinda in that rut as well, except I've been in college for a bit. I know the waiting game really well, and it sucks. Just don't get too heavily influenced by waiting, and try to learn what will be out on your targeted date. Right now I can't wait, I don't exactly have a laptop that I can bring to classes to take notes (current laptop's battery doesn't hold a charge anymore, and is a bit dated by like 3 years already), so I would like to get one before next quarter starts hopefully. Also, since you're waiting till college, Windows 7 might be out then, if not delayed I believed, and it would be less of a hassle to get it then than to upgrade then from Vista if you choose to. Also with the new Core i7 cpus out for desktops, it isn't that long till they're put into laptops most likely, but probably will be very pricey and you might end up just getting a current C2D. Honestly, to me those would be the deciding factors. I don't really see anymore kick *** hardware right now coming, and if Microsoft gets Windows 7 right with their specs, you wouldn't need to wait to get a nice laptop to get it to run because the dv5t should be able to run it then. But yeah, it all comes down to how patient you are.

 

its either you need it now or you dont at all. its either you like the price now or you dont like the price at all.

i fell into both of those above, i need a laptop now to take to work with me to keep me busy when i am not doing any work and the 30% off was the best that came around in a while.

I am still amazed at people saying its not a good deal, i got this and this so long ago for this ammount..........YOU WILL NOT get the same laptop for the price you payed 5-29 months ago, times change, i will HIGHLY doubt anything above 30% will ever come around from HP. maybe when the stock market falls and they need to sell to survive, then maybe. If laptops are selling, why discount even more? hope you get the drift.

 

There will always be a better deal. You can guarantee that, barring a worldwide shortage on silicon.

The dv5t is a good deal right now with the 30% off. The best deal? Dunno. Better than next fall? Probably not. But it is a good deal.

Determine whether saving a hundred bucks is worth not having the benefit of the laptop for a full year.

 

It's funny that my laptop's value increased by $250 even though we are supposedly in a "recession".