HP ZT3350us and ZT3380us

Hi i was just wandering if any one know's if the zt3350us and 3380us are any good, or if any one has these machines and could post a review. The specs for the zt3350us are:

Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology featuring Intel® Pentium® M Processor 705 (1.5 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 400MHz FSB). 15.4" WXGA High-Definition Widescreen (1280 x 800) Display. 512MB DDR SDRAM (2 x 256MB) at 333MHz, Maximum Memory 2048MB DDR SDRAM (2 x 1024MB). 60GB (4200RPM) Hard Drive, DVD+R/RW and CD-RW Combo Drive, ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9200 with 32MB DDR (dedicated), 1 Type I/II/III 32-bit card bus (also supports 16-bit), 6.5lbs. $2199.99

3380us specs are:
Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology featuring Intel® Pentium® M Processor 735 (1.7 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 400MHz FSB), 15.4" WXGA High-Definition Widescreen (1280 x 800) Display,
512MB DDR SDRAM (2 x 256MB) at 333MHz;
Maximum Memory 2048MB DDR SDRAM (2 x 1024MB), 80GB (4200RPM) Hard Drive, DVD+R/RW / CD-RW Combo Drive, ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9200 with 64MB DDR (dedicated), 1 Type I/II 32-bit card bus (also supports 16-bit), 6.5lbs, $2499.99

These are the canadian prices.

 

Well, it really depends on usage. I myself am going to be being a zt3000, but will be custom ordering it. HPs are generally very solid and reliable, a lot of people love them. If the computer fits your type of usage, I'd say that the zt series is a good choice.

 

I've had the zt3340us for about a month now and I'm still in love. For the first time I haven't suffered buyer's remorse, well not much, although I do like the zt3380. The ZT3340us, ZT3350us, ZT3380us are all the same laptop with slightly different specs. The 3340us has a DVD/CDR while the ZT3350us has the DVD RW/CD RW.

Now onto the review. This is actually the second zt3340 that I have due to the first one being returned because the second alt key was broken out of the box as well as missing the Microsoft Works CD/certificate of authority number.

The laptop feels quite well constructed. I had actually gone to the store to look at a higher priced Toshiba but the whole laptop felt very flimsy and was all plastic. The zt3340 came as a surprise since I had my doubts to the quality of hp after the hp/compaq merger. The look (thin form factor) of the ZT is what first attracted my attention. The other laptops Toshiba, Gateway, all had something I didn't like. Toshiba actually looked like a cheap laptop which surprised me considering the price.

The keyboard is comfortable and roomy (touch typist here). It stays cool on my lap after 5+ hours of work. The screen is bright with no dead pixels (both laptop screens were beautiful). Laptop battery runtime 3:45 hours. If you adjust screen brightness down I'm sure you can get it to run longer. The 32MB video memory plays DVD movies beautifully. I'm a statistician and SPSS breezes through computations with 2000+ cases.

XP Home came preinstalled. No problems with blue screens and no lockups even though I've already upgraded memory. The built in wireless detected and connected to my wireless network straight out of the box. I was surfing the internet within 5 minutes of turning it on. RJ-45 port also had no problem connecting to/transferring files from the network.

What really sold me about the zt was that it had everything that I needed spec wise, and it was LIGHT and THIN. Only 6.5 pounds and after lugging around 8lbs all day even one pound makes a difference.

The cover of the one type I/III card slot is not actually a cover only. The cover is attached to a mock PC card framework which seals the slot nicely so that it is almost undetectable as being a removable part. I turned the fan on in the bios because I hadn't heard it turned on and was surprised that it ran so softly. With my ear up to the case, I could barely hear it.

I did call and deal with HP customer service in India. Due to the accents what would normally have taken thirty minutes took twice as long (closer to an hour). However the tech was pleasant and trying. I got the impression that hp is really working on their reputation with using out of the country support. The wait time on an Saturday afternoon/late evening their time was not even five minutes. My issue, the missing CD referenced earlier, was taken care of in the end although I ended up returning that particular laptop.

Hope this helps.

Jesse

HP ZT3340us
1.5 Ghz
768 MB RAM
Radeon 9200 32MB
60 GB 4,200 RPM HD
DVD-ROM/CD-RW

 

Thanks a bunch, it really was helpful!



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

 

Sugar_150,

I sent you a PM about this, but I'll put it here as well for anyone else interested. Buest Buy Canada is selling the ZT3350us for $1999.99, which is a $200 price drop. It's located on page 6 of their ad. Not only that, Futureshop.ca is selling this unit for $2199.99, therefore you can do a price match with them and get an additional $20 off the price, totalling $1979.99 + taxes on top and free shipping in Canada.

-Vb-