HP dv4-1131TX vs. dv4-1225ee

Am interested in buying this HP dv4 series laptop.
But my dilemma is that the model (1131TX) available in India is with old processor (T5800);

HP dv4-1131TX Price: USD 1075
OS: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium 32-bit
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T5800
• 2.0 GHz, 2 MB L2 Cache, 800 MHz FSB
Chipset: Intel GM 45 Express
RAM: 3GB DDR2 [800MHz], Expandable to 8GB
HDD: 250GB (Serial ATA, 5400 rpm)
Display: 14.1” WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display
Graphics Accelerator: NVIDIA GeForce 9200M GS, 512MB
Wireless LAN Type: 802.11b/g WLAN
ODD: LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±RW with Double Layer Support
External I/O ports: 3 USB 2.0 (3rd shared with eSATA port), 1 HDMI, 1 eSATA Combo, 1 VGA port, 1 RJ-11, 1 RJ45, Expansion Port 3, 2 Headphone out, 1 Microphone in, Consumer IR, AC Adapter, Fingerprint Sensor x1


Am travelling to Dubai & have found the following model;

HP dv4-1225ee Price: USD 1070
OS: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium 32-bit
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P7450
• 2 GHz , Level 2 cache 3 MB
RAM: 3GB DDR2 [800MHz], Expandable to 8GB
HDD: 320 GB (Serial ATA, 5400 rpm)
Display: 14.1" WXGA High-Definition AG with BrightView Infinity Display
Graphics Accelerator: NVIDIA GeForce 9200M GS, 512MB
Wireless technologies: Intel® WiFi Link 5100
ODD: LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±RW with Double Layer Support
External I/O ports: 3 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI connector, 1 eSata connector, 1 VGA port, 1 RJ45 ethernet connector, 1 RJ11 modem connector, 2 headphones-out, 1 mic-in, remote control infrared port , cable docking connector
Fingerprint Sensor x1
Warranty: 1 year, carry in, parts and labour

 

Now my main concern in buying dv4-1225ee from Dubai is the Warranty, alongwith following pros & cons;

dv4-1131TX
Pros: Normal Bright View Screen, Warranty
Cons: Old Processor (T5800), Heating Issue, 250GB HDD


dv4-1225ee
Pros: Better Processor (P7450), 320GB HDD
Cons: Warranty, Infinity Screen (from the reviews I have read in this forum - Dust etc.)


My main use is for office [MS Word-Excel], Internet, Entertainment not very graphic oriented with less of games.

Pls assist me to decide which one out of the two.

 

Pls reply/ help.

 

We just purchased a DV4t for our daughter in December. It’s a fairly basic model and was ordered with the following custom (CTO) configuration:

Vista 32 bit
Intel P7350 (25w)
160GB HD
Standard LCD
Intel Graphics
4GB RAM (Overkill, Free upgrade but may switch to 64bit with Windows 7)
Lightscribe
802.11n with Bluetooth
12 Cell battery

Just an opinion, but if you have no intention of gaming, which you really can’t do much of with the 9200M GS anyway, I’d skip the Nvidia graphics and look for a unit with a “P” series (25 watt) processor, Intel graphics, 3 to 4 GB of RAM, a hard drive that meets your needs plus some room for growth, perhaps Bluetooth if you’d like to use a Bluetooth printer or mouse, and which ever battery you think will meet your needs. Our DV4t with the 12 cell currently last for 5.5 to 6 hours with Wifi/bluetooth on and 70% LCD brightness, so all day at school is not a problem. If you’d like to extend the battery life a bit more (not sure how much) you could upgrade to the LED backlit LCD screen…. or just get another battery for about the same price.

The little machine we have just fly’s through most apps, muti-tasking with 3 or 4 programs running is not a problem, and PC Pitstop scores the config in the top 16% of all notebooks they’ve tested so I’m sure something similar would suit your needs very well. We also have “NO” issues, what so ever, with heat or fan noise from this unit and are very satisfied with the quality of the unit.

Like you, we also considered the Infinity screen but after having done a side-by-side in store comparison, decided that it caused to much glare for our taste and I didn’t really want to deal with the often mentioned dust issue. We also purchased this Microsoft bluetooth mouse and it’s a near perfect match for the notebook and works great with the on-board bluetooth (no dongle).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826105238

All the best, hope this helps, and you can find what you need

 

Thanks OldMajorDave for your reply.

As in US, here in India we have configured models which we cannot change.
It is for this very reason I am being forced to look outside Indian DV4 Model Range.

dv4-1225 is available in Dubai & perfect for my requirement but for;
1) Infinity Display
2) Warranty

Have sent mails, spoken to HP Customer Care support but am unable to get an answer whether this will be supported in India or not?

Fixed in a jinx unable to decide. Do you have any idea about Sony Vaio CS series laptops?

 

Comparing the two units, and considering your limited availability, warranty concerns, and issues with the Infinity display, it looks to me as though the purchase of the dv4-1131TX in India would be your best bet if you have no other options. When your warranty expires in a year, get a new “P” series processor (P7450, P8400, P8600) and upgrade the unit then if you need to. My guess however, would be that you would never know the difference and that it will do you just fine.... but just use a bit more power and perhaps run a tick warmer.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010340759 50001157&name=Intel

Anyway....it's your call .... but I would be very reluctant to make an expensive purchase of a notebook with no warranty what so ever unless you travel to Dubai very frequently and can get it repaired there.

Also both prices seem very expensive to me. We paid $728 for the DV4t we have. Just doesn't seem right somehow : (

 

Sorry, as far as Sony goes, I have no practical experience with them but perhaps someone else here may be able to help you. Sony forum ?

 

Yeah dats where the whole dilemma is.

Pls Confirm - DV4t's available in US have international warranty?

Also, don't you think that 1131TX with T5800 & Nvidia Card would be a Hot Machine? Is it okay to go with T5800?

 

Sorry, I missed that they both had the Nvidia card and was thinking the one in India had the Intel graphics. To answer your question.... yes I think it will run a bit warm. However, we also have a HP DV2700t (verve) in the house which has a T8100 2.1Ghz and the Nvidia 8400m GS and though it does run a good bit warmer it is not uncomfortable to use or anything.... just warm when the DV4t with P7350 & Intel graphics is still cool .... both in a 70 degree F room.

You mean you can't find Basic DV4t in India with a "P" processor and Intel graphics?

 

Yes, DV4-1131TX & DV4-1133TX are the only two models available in India for DV4 series.
Both with T5800; just that 1133TX comes with TV Tuner Card.

That's wot forced me to look into alternatives.

 

Sony VGN-CS15GN though has very lucrative specs;

Sony VGN CS15GN
OS: Genuine Windows Vista® Business (English Version) with Service Pack 1(Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese Language Pack)
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8400
• 2.26 GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 1066 MHz FSB
Chipset: Mobile Intel® GM45 Express Chipset
Network Connection: Intel® WiFi Link 5100
RAM: 2GB DDR2 [800MHz], Expandable to 4GB
HDD: 250 GB (Serial ATA, 5400 rpm)
Display: 14.1" wide (WXGA:1280 x 800) TFT Colour display (Clear Bright LCD Lite)
Graphics Accelerator: Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Wireless LAN Type: Integrated Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11a/b/g/Draft n*8
ODD: DVD±RW/±R DL/RAM Drive
External I/O Ports: Almost same as HP but no HDMI & eSATA
Fingerprint Sensor x1

Price:
Sony VGN-CS15GN: USD 1050 [with carrying case]
HP dv4-1131TX: USD 1073 [with carrying case]

Sony Cons:
Looks, 2GB RAM Expandable to 4GB, No HDMI & E-Sata Ports

 

I just looked at the Sony..... very very nice and seems to meet your requirements. In country.... cool "P" series processor.... cool Intel graphics... warranty.... price.... as long as you don't need HDMI. Check the Sony forum and see if anyone has a like unit.... temps... reliability.... ect.... If need be you can always add RAM to push it up to 3 or 4 GB. P8400.... very nice !!

Perhaps you found the winner !!

 

Yeah, to me too Sony looks a better buy plus it has Vista Business.
But looks are no where close to HP DV4.

Have posted the specs in the Sony Forum, for reviews & feedback.
Would missing HDMI & E-SATA ports be of much importance/ consideration?

 

HDMI is only useful if you plan to use the unit with an external HDMI monitor or TV. HDMI 1.2. & 1.3 also include audio so you only need one HDMI cable to get external audio and video. The sony unit looks to have a mini-D sub for external video. You would then connect audio to it's audio out connectors. Just depends on what you need or expect to need.

E-SATA is a nice feature that provides faster file transfers to an external E-SATA capable drive than USB 2.0. USB works fine though it's just slower however the sony unit does include 3 USB ports plus one 1394 firewire.

Many video devices use firewire to transfer video to your computer though I think the new trend may be E-SATA. It's very hard to keep up with it all.

The thing is..... get the basics of what you really need. You can work around the other stuff. As far as looks.... well.... the DV4t does look nice but I can tell you from practical experience that it is a finger print nightmare. Even looks can have their limitations.

 

Hope that helped. Got to fly.....

Dave