HP TX1218 12.1" AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core TL-58 1.9GHz Convertible Laptop

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodd...ame=laptop_hp&logon=&langid=EN&test_cookie=1#

My sister is thinking about buying this laptop. We don't know much about the technology but we see this thing on sale. So we are just wondering if it is a good buy.

I tried searching in this forum by using the keyword TX1218 but got no results. Is the AMD processor just as good as intel? My sister uses it to watch movies, office, and web browsing. IMO, the screen is too small for movies.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

There are couple of reviews on the tx1000(tx1218 is just a sub model of the tx1000)...
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3656
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3474


You might also find more information on the series over at our sister site tabletpcreview.com
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8

 

get the tx1220us if you can. it basically has every option except TL-64 cpu.

I have a tx1000 CTO that is basically a 1220 but with 64-bit Ultimate....that thing is sweet.

 

thanks. now we are debating if she should get the touchscreen one with 1GB ram or a non-touchscreen one with 2GB ram. It will cost more if you want 2GB and touchscreen, which we don't want to spend. Tablet is not that useful, right?

 

If you are just going to use it as a notebook, then you can skip on the touchscreen. But from what I have seen some people do have buyers remorse after they get the laptop. So, it is something you will have to decide. My suggestion would be to get the touchscreen with 1GB RAM which will be fine for home use but probably upgrade to 2GB a few months or a year down the line depending on your usage. Uograding the RAM later on is going to be cheaper and much easier than trying to replace the screen.

 

RAM can be upgraded later, the screen can't. A pair of these would be very nice later:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148087
Not quite as cost effective as 1GB sticks but not that bad either. 4GB RAM is only completely usable with 64-bit operating systems though.

 

thanks, we will go for the touchscreen then!

 

2Gb seems to be the sweet spot for Vista. Unless you have a specific app that gobbles up RAM and is written for 64-bit, i wouldn't waste time and money on that.

 

Dear wdro,

I have had this laptop for approx. 3 months, it includes:

AMD TL58, 2 G RAM, Touchscreen, 160G Hard Drive, Bluetooth, wifi, Lightscribe drive

Overall Experience has been very good, I could not find a device so feature rich as this and it is still the case. My primary purchasing consideration was size as I travel, my second choice was the Dell XPS 12.1", but I see this is not longer offered.

General notes that you may find helpful on the HP:
- GLARE, the touchscreen has a reflective glare and it is annoying, esp. if you take the laptop off AC power and the screen dims
- DIM SCREEN, when off AC power the screen dims to a point that I find in many occasions it is not very usable, it can be brighten but this cuts into the battery life
- Battery Life,the 4 cell battery gives 1.5 hours on normal usage, with Wifi on, its gives slightly less then 1 hour playing a DVD. I have the 6 cell battery and its 2 hours and 1.5 hours performance, off/on DVD
- Touchscreen, I like the touch screen, don't use it much but once you have learned the handwriting, it works quite well, e.g. when I am in my massage chair, as it is difficult to type in that situation, I would recommend getting this feature. Also, the 12.1 screen is rather small, when Explorer is in use there is the top and bottom menu bar, the space in between is not much, takes a little getting use to if you previously had 14 inch or bigger screens
- How much RAM?, I have 2 G ram and only two occasions have I seen it go beyond 1 G on the CPU/RAM meter (a software gadget that is bundled) and on those occasions, software was being installed, I thought that 2G was essential given that the graphic card uses the RAM as well but apparently for what I do, surfing and dvd playing, I do not need 2G?
- Weight, even with the 6 cell battery, I do not find it heavy to carry around, also the size is great for travelling
- Harddrive, the harddrive seems to be on alot, I notice it as it is rather noisy, I have an IBM and in doing the same thing I do not notice the harddrive working so much, do not know why?
- Build Quality?, when the DVD drive is in use you can feel the vibration, no big deal but perhap an inidication of how solid or not, the laptop is built, also my laptop is unbalanced, when on a flat surface, the front left corner is 1/8" in the air, I called HP and they asked me to take it into a service center and they will adjust the legs, no big deal as well
- Skype, the web cam and mic works fantastic on Skype, it has far better voice quality sending and receiving then my home Linksys VOIP/land line phone
- BT, I use a Plantronics A590 stereo bluetooth headset, it works great for music and Skype, just remember to partner/connect the headset first before using the application
Speakers - these are quite good (for a laptop) and they are reasonably loud, as I mentioned earlier the voice quality off Skype is incredible

I hope these random comments are useful. I have had no regrets in getting this laptop. Good Luck.