*HP dm3 (1XXX series) Owners Lounge*

Hi all DM3 owners,

I've just got my very own DM3 yesterday and am very pleased with it. I've just done a fresh install an everything seems fine except one thing. When you adjust the volume using the function keys, does a visual volume gauge come up? It's not showing on mine now after the fresh install. Does it have it originally or perhaps I'm confused with my Dell which has.

I tried installing HP quick launch buttons but it didn't have any effect. Other showing in my msconfig as one of the startups. How do I uninstall it?

Thank you.

 

Hi guys, well I recently recieved a HP DM3 as a gift however I find that it is not that powerful for my needs (I already have an i7 notebook) and I'm thinking of selling it on eBay. However, I'm not sure what price I should sell it for. Any suggestions?

Btw the notebook is in Mint condition as it has only been used less than a week. It also has the following specifications:

SU7300 1.3Ghz
4GB DDR3 1066Mhz RAM
Intel GMA4500MHD
320GB 7200RPM Hard Drive

Thanks

 

I was about to order the DM3 but now I'm not quite sure anymore... Frankly speaking it doesn't affect the performance of the notebook in any way but it just doesn't look that nice.

You said that it wasn't about the time you had this notebook but about a badly placed zipper. Could other users comment about their DM3s condition in this area? Unfortunately Nathan91 says that his DM3 pretty much looks the same. Do you also have a badly placed zipper or something similar in your bag?

I wonder if my Zeroshock III case that i bought some time ago will cause the same wear on the trim... I'm scared

 

@Noboru, I had mines for about 4.5 months now, and I am also seeing my chrome peeling off. But mine is really minor and you can barely notice it. I don't travel much with laptop anyways. Only maybe once or twice per week, sometimes none. And I use a cheap case I've brought off ebay.
I'll take pictures and post it in a bit.

Here's one near the headphone port


And this one.

 

Thanks a lot for your input on this one. This has helped me on my decision... Right now the DM3 offers the best price/performance ratio here in Germany but this cheaply built chrome trim is a dealbreaker for me
I don't get it why HP used such a cheap part on this otherwise good quality laptop

 

Because it's a value consumer notebook.

I have had the DM3z since the day they came out on October 22, 2009. My chrome edging is there, but barely noticeable. The build quality on this laptop is excellent except for the trim. Honestly I wouldn't let this stop you from going for the DM3, as long as you transport the DM3 in a sleeve.

 

I believe its part of HP MediaSmart, which most people find the bloat isn't worth the rewards of having it

 

I have found that the drivers that include volume controls to the HP Wireless Elite keyboard to be better than the DM3z volume drivers.

 

So if I understand you correctly you have a lot of wear on your trim or do you mean it the other way around?

I know that this is only a value consumer machine but paint coming off in this degree is a bit too much :/

I already have a Zeroshock III at home that I'd use for the DM3, but I am not sure if the case itself would cause some sort of wear :/

 

The paint came off because a metal zipper was scratching the trim. I don't think any other consumer notebook would have handled that better.

 

Don't worry about it too much noboru. I've had mine for about the same time as XDViPer, and there isn't a single speck of chrome paint flaking off. (I'm usually careful with my gadgets though)
As long as you aren't careless with it, you should be fine.

 

I've seen similarly spec'd laptops go for around $600. You could probably sell it for a little more since people like the aluminum finish.

 

I think nikeseven is correct that it comes with HP MediaSmart...
You probably do not want to install all of that since it's mostly crap.
If you really need the on-screen display, you can download a small app.

 

Maybe try $550 and give the people the opportunity to make offers.

I paid about $530 for mine with SU4100 1.3GHz (sealed, same other specs, incl. shipping).

 

That's what I'll be doing if/when mine chips off. I'll probably go for either matte black or dark gray vinyl dye. I keep mine in a ZSIII and haven't had any chrome peeling off though. There's enough padding inside around the zipper so the trim won't contact it.

 

What would be the best or easiest way to remove the rest of the chrome painting?

 

If that's the case then I'll live without it. The HP MediaSmart software is really rubbish IMO.

 

Ok that's good to hear. Perhaps I'll give it a shot afterall^^ Also good to hear that a user with a Zeroshock III doesn't have any problems Thanks for your opinions!

 

I'm thinking sanding it down, but first we'd have to take off the chrome piece so we won't damage anything else. Sand, primer, paint, clear coat.

 

Ouch that sounds like a lot of work...

 

How much does buying the trim from a parts supplier cost?

 

A quick google search turned up a guy on ebay named zoniqo, who apparently has a bunch of dm3 parts laying around. Google search for trim... eBay My World - zoniqo

Looks like he's selling each side of trim [front, left side, right side] for $50-$60 each. Ouch.

 

In case anyone missed it a wrote a quick guide for a clean install on HP DM3 Intel based systems:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...7-clean-install-guide-hp-dm3-intel-based.html

Wow that's a lot of money for a piece of plastic. I wonder what he did with the DM3 he pulled it from. Maybe he's still using it without trim.

Any idea of what it would look like without trim?

 

Not at all. Most days it just sits on my desk, and it started peeling long before I started taking it to university.

As others are suggesting, the only option seems to be to remove the trims and repaint them, but looking at the disassembly guide you would have to pretty much take a lot of the internal components out before you can even get at them. Another point of note is that you'll lose the small port symbols along either side (i.e. headphones, mic, HDMI etc) should you give it a new coat of paint.

 

Looks like he basically took the whole thing apart and is selling each part. List of Zoniqo's HP dm3 components

My guess is...ugly ?

Really? It just came off? Hmmm..do you live in a high humidity area? What do you think was the root of the problem?

 

Mine has spend a lot of time in very hot and humid Thailand. Maybe that has something to do with it.

Yes probably. Would like to see pictures though.

 

Wow, including the lcd hes looking to get like $900 for that, which is ridiculous. Wish I could sell mine for more than I bought it for lol

 

Yeah. $60 for a cpu heatsink fan? Gett outtaa here!

 

My room can get a little humid on the evenings.

Personally, I think my palm / wrist may have caused it, as I tend to bring it across from the right rather than use the touchpad straight on. Hope that makes sense!

 

The Microsoft default trackpad driver works sooooooo much better. Scrolling, tap to click, everything. No multitouch gestures, but I never used those anyways.

Only thing that doesn't work is the button that disables the trackpad.

 

Yea thats the only problem I have with the microsoft driver, but I need the disable option when its on my desk so I'm stuck with the Alps driver

 

I also like the MS driver but it has another problem for me, the pointer moves too slow. Even on the fastest setting. I have to make two swipes to go up and down the screen. I get used to it though.

 

?

What's with those dimensions?

I'm thinking of placing a skinstyler on my trackpad, however I have no idea what type of measurement the poster has used. What is the width and height millimetre (mm) format?

Thanks

 

Inches. 3 and 5/6th (3.833) inches by 1 and 9/16th (1.5625) inches

 

I use an iphone screen protector to cover up the touchpad just place it over the touchpad and draw the line then cut it accordingly.

I just bought a DM3 2010us with the K325 for 2 weeks but it's still in the box. Anybody has one yet? I don't see many reviews out of this one.

ps. I owned 2 DM3 -10xxUS before so I know the form factor of the DM and I like it so I decided to get another one. (Sold the other two)

 

The new AMD processors in the new DM3s are actually slightly slower clock for clock, but the HD4225 graphics is much better than the 3200HD and the new generation is also much cooler.

Not sure about battery life. The only thing I don't like about the new DM3s is that they now have those ugly engraving designs on the lid and wrist areas... looks hideous.

 

@ The passenger, that's a great idea. I'm going to order one and do it. Did you use matte or glossy?
They go for about 80cents on ebay for one.

 

Let me know how it goes! sounds interesting.

 

Will do Phil, Gotta wait until 22nd when I come back to the states though, still in Turkey.
I'm thinking matte, it won't reflect as much, and it's also not a fingerprint magnet, and I know it should let the finger glide easier than glossy.

 

I had a few glossy one laying around so I used those. The touchpad feels much better with that screen protector. You should get a matte one. I had a matte (anti glare) screen protector on my iPhone.

 

Does the screen protector diminish pointing quality to any extent?

 

not really but your experience might vary depend on the material of the screen protector. Get a cheap one and give it a try.

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

One more question though before I put it up as an auction. Should I remove the plastic that is ontop of the lid or should I just leave it there? Reason being, I tried to remove it previously although I managed to scrape some of the sticky residue on the protective plastic which has left a white mark on it (but not on the laptop itself).

If you need pictures let me know.

 

I'd leave the plastic on, so it looks as new as new as possible.

 

Anyone run Starcraft 2 on an HP DM3z or have any clue on how it will run?

 

I played the beta on it. On medium settings @ native res., it runs around 30 fps. Of course, when there are massive amounts of units in the game, the framerate drops (to around 20). It's not bad though, because with RTS games you don't notice the lag as much as say, FPS games. I don't have the dm3z anymore though, so I can't test it on the release version. Blizzard may have improved some things along the way and ATI probably released new drivers to help as well.
And you can always lower settings.
For those wanting to know, the G105m performs pretty much the same when playing SC2.

 

Alright thank you. Rep to you.

Just wondering, what kinda battery life do you get with the SP9300 + 4500mhd?

 

Sorry, I haven't done any extensive battery life testing..

 

I've just recieved my matte iPhone screen protector and have applied it the trackpad and I must say it's excellent.

The trackpad now doesnt get (practically any) fingerprints on it. It has also increased the useability of the trackpad alot .

I am very pleased with it (and have decided to keep it instead of selling it ).

 

There are still some airbubbles although they will subside in a few days.