*HP dv8 Owners Lounge*

Try a new battery if you really want. Also test out a different charger.

Remember...everyone who is buying a Dv8T. I do not own one but this is in general for a laptop like this. You are buying a DESKTOP REPLACEMENT. If you want mobility and battery life then go smaller or go Apple (not a fanboy). They [Dell] call this laptop a DESKTOP REPLACEMENT themselves. Battery life to people this laptop is dedicated to is the last of their concern.

My advice to the above poster aside from my first statements is to try using the laptop through an entire cycle. Don't worry about the numbers on the battery but use it for a full charge and see how long it lasted on normal conditions such as browsing and document reading. If it dips down in less than 1.5 hours then yes...that is a concern. Gaming rigs last longer than that and pump out more than this machine.

Best of luck.

 

This is true. These huge laptops are not meant to be great on the battery. Apple is a little different story. Their new batteries are actually much larger than the HP battery, but to make them work they had to make them stationary on the device.

If your battery life is terrible, you may want to use the 'Power Saver' setting, and set it to turn the screen down to the lowest setting. I did this, and the lowest setting is very usable with this screen. I would also look in the advanced power setting options for the 'Power Saver' setting and tweak a few things in there. I am able to get 2.5 hours with the stock 8cell battery. I will be trying one of the 12 cell hdx18 batteries soon if the footprint on them is the same.

Mark

 

I hear it through the speakers.

Larry (Ocean)

 

Thanks for your effort. You always have some good ideas.

Larry (Ocean)

 

Anybody having problems installing the new Nvida drivers? GT230 not supported?

 

Poor guy! You've been suffering this all this time! I thought by now someone would have helped by now!

In Windows 7 you can set themes (not just change backgrounds) via the right click on desktop... Personalize button. Change your theme to one that doesn't have click sounds or just disable all the sounds in the same menu.

Good luck!

 

Has anyone figured out the timing of the HP coupons? I'm in the market for a DV8t but I want to wait for either a $400 off or for the backlit keyboard to come out.

BTW, I saw the DV8t listed on a foreign website in white.

Best,

RS

 

Does anyone else have a problem with the bass/treble popping up on it's own and going haywire? The only fix that I know is putting the computer to sleep and waking it up again, but this is becoming a big hassle. Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this issue?

 

Totally off topic here, but I just gotta say. Borderlands is one heck of a fun game to play on the DV8t!
I played all day yesterday and I haven't had this much fun since back in the DF 1942 days!
I am a 43 Y/O Man and it still amazes me that I still have fun gaming!

 

I expected an amazing like $500 coupon off for Black Friday but nope they only did $20. I was upset so I emailed Logic buy and they said Cyber Monday there would be a 'better deal' and then they put the $450 coupon. So email them because sometimes they just extend the coupon. What I don't get is why put a $500 coupon off in early Nov. then during the busiest shopping day only put $20 off. For Cyber Monday they should have had $500 OFF but I'm not complaining about my $450 off.

 

Yeah.

I went to laptop video driver site (laptopvideo2go)and tried a bunch of drivers. All worked but the driver, even if signed, would cause my bluray software player (powerdvd) to error. Reverted to original drivers.

 

And for those experiencing problems, remember there is no such thing has the perfect laptop and no matter what kind you get or how much you spend. I believe the DV8t is a good successor to the HDX 18t. I'm sure its far from perfect but consider what your getting and what you paid and no other laptop can even come close.

I got 8GB of Ram, 720QM, and the TV Tuner, 1080p, Bluray, all for less than $1500 including tax. The Dell Studio XPS 16 would of went well over 2K with the same configuration.

 

Seems that 500 off comes out every couple of months. Even though its kind of a big wait, it does seem like hp is progressively offering more bells as time goes by- bigger hd, more ram/discounted, etc with a 200-250 off coupon.

Do this: go to techbargains and do an email notification for keywords "hp" + "core" + "i7" + "laptop". That way you don't have to keep checking those coupon pages.

 

I was looking to check that one out! I used to be a hardcore gamer but now with 3 kids- one of which is in the terrible two stage, I have little time to play. But when i want short bursts of fun, i play CoD MW2 and its little timed missions. I swear the rush and gameplay is like riding a coaster.

I'll check out Borderlands this week.

Youre a little older than me. And i still love games!

 

Do your self a favor and check it out. I bought mine for $19 on BF.
The only games I have ever really gotten in to was the entire Battlefield series from BF 1942 up thru BF 2142 and I played Bad Company on PS3.

I don't know what it is about Borderlands but it is addictive and a blast to play.

 

This just started happening to me today. It's really annoying. I haven't found a way to fix it yet.

 

this was a problem with hdx18.

 

i hear you. i was hella pissed as well. i expected a 30% off or 40% off coupon since i was looking to buy an insanely optioned dv7. but hp didnt release one and, subsequently, i lost interest. oh well, maybe next year...

 

Yeah, uninstall HP MediaSmart SmartMenu.

You'll lose function of most of those buttons though, but this is a flaw in these systems, so what's your choice?

 

Please define "most of those buttons". What will and what will not?

 

What do you guys think about the dv8t quad's screen? Is it better or worse than the LED screens in the dv6t and dv7t quad?

 

where I can buy white dv8?

 

I think the MediaSmart button, the Treble/Bass Sliders and possibly everything.

You'll just have to try. If you need to reinstall it, not a big deal.

HP MediaSmart SmartMenu

Current Releases
OS Support Version Date Posted Documentation Download Link
Windows Vista x86/x64 2.1.8 09 Aug 2009 CVA, HTML ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp42001-42500/sp42238.exe
Windows 7 x86/x64 3.0.30.1 13 Oct 2009 CVA, HTML ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp45001-45500/sp45140.exe
Previous Releases
OS Support Version Date Posted Documentation Download Link
Windows Vista x86/x64
Windows 7 x86/x64

 

Can't. They only come in one color right now.

 

Hey all, i have found, imho, a decent problem with this model. The internal bluetooth only reaches about 8-10 ft then putters out. I connected logitech mouse and keyboard. Works find up close, then fails as you move back. Hooked up logitech external dongle and it worked fine at distance. Tried same setup on another laptop I have used for years, the internal bluetooth worked fine at 25-30 ft. Called HP. They said as long as the internal is connecting and going about 10 feet they wont do anything. He tried to tell me the large screen and power running through it might be affecting the signal. I politely told him my other laptop had a 17in monitor and ran desktop dual core processor, yet it reached 30ft. CS offered me an external dongle for 14.99, then refund after order. Wish I could use the internal for what it was intended for. Oh well. Kinda like selling me a car saying it gets 100mpg and turns out to get only 33mpg then they say oh well...it drives.

 

Dude, it's a Q4 I-7. Not sure what you're expecting on battery life. Mine burns it just as fast. I had a C2D desktop processor laptop that burned it even faster.

 

That may be a problem with your laptop. I have connected multiple bluetooth devices and have never had any trouble with them on mine. I'm not sure exactly how far I have tried but at least 15+ feet with no trouble. I'm not sure if others have had trouble also.

 

Im thinking of ordering my Dv8 from amazon, It seems to have gone down in price. Heres the link http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pavilion-dv...ocessor/dp/tech-data/B002RWJG3G/ref=de_a_smtd. Would you lot advise me to get it from here?

 

It looks like that link shows it in pounds, which will make it quite a bit expensive compared to what we are getting them for here in the US. I'm not sure if you could order a US one and have someone ship it over? Maybe they are a lot more expensive in the UK but your looking at paying over double what I paid for mine, granted I got some generous coupons. The one on Amazon has double the HD capacity that mine does but that one comes with a 4 cell battery and mine came with 8 cell. Those are the only differences I noticed and I paid $924.99.

 

For you guys playing Modern Warfare 2 and Borderlands on your DV8T, could you tell me what settings your playing on and how smooth it runs(fps)?

 

Hi,

Sorry if this info has already been posted, I did a search for "SSD" and found nothing.

I noticed in some people's sigs that they indicate they have a SSD in their HP dv8 machine. However, I see no such option on the site. Am I missing something?

 

HP does not offer SSD as an option. You have to add the SSD yourself in the available space for a second hard drive, then reinstall Windows. I'll be doing that on the dv7t I have ordered.

 

You can't order it that way from HP. Those people have actually went out and bought a SSD and installed it themselves.


Thanks,
Mark

 

What devices have you connected? I connected MX5000 laser mouse and keyboard. Maybe it is my computer. All devices connect fine, they just dont go as far as my other laptop.

 

WOW if thats how much you got it for then they are alot cheaper in the US, which kinda sucks for me . Im not sure if i can order it on the us website and get it delivered to UK but i doubt it..... Unless anyone on here knows otherwise?

 

I connected a logitech dinovo keyboard, microsoft mouse and my iphone. They keyboard has a mouse built in and I have had no problems with any so far. I will try to test out some different distances and see if I have trouble .. if I can remember!

 

I have Borderlands set @ 1920 x 1080 Res. And most settings on medium and high. AA is set @ 2x.

I can give you some more specifics when I get home and look at the settings. But the way it is, it plays fairly smooth. Granted, it would look better played on a higher performance machine but so far I can not complain one bit.
I am surprised that it plays this well at full 1920 x 1080 resolution!

 

What is the point of connecting your iPhone via BT? Can you sync that way? Will this bypass the issues people have with iTunes in the DV8?
Thanks

 

Actually I honestly have no idea. I only did it to see if I could. As soon as I connected via the bluetooth connection it disconnected my wifi connection so I reconnected through wifi.

 

This is unacceptable from hp. they know this is an issue, but yet they won't fix it? why should we buy a NEW laptop thats defective from the factory? Doesn't make any sense. I get mine on fri and if i have this bass/treble issue im returning it.

 

Now that I think about it, this problem may be fixable.

You guys w/ the Controls messing up, please read this thread. It was fixed by the most part, but I don't remember how and I am too lazy to read it again.

Also, even though the thread is for the HDX, it's still the same issue. Just don't go trying to install BIOS that are not for the DV8 lol.

Anyway give it a read. You might be able to fix this problem.

 

I actually wanted to ask you RAGEMAN how does the DV8t compare to the Dell Studio XPS 1645?

 

Looks like HP straightened out the shipping issues, partially by setting expectations. I ordered mine with free regular shipping on Cyber Monday and was given a Dec 10th ship date. Well it was picked up by FedEx in Shanghai on the 7th with a scheduled Dec 11th delivery date.

 

LOL you to? I orderd Cyber Monday and have an EDD of Dec 11. Last month with the DV7t it came 2 days before the estimated delivery. Hopefully mine will come Thursday or Monday because Friday I am taking my praxis exam ...fingers crossed

 

hp has always done this - their projected ship dates are always beaten by their actuals. in fact, you should get your machine in your hands on or before the day they state that they're going to be building it. this was true for the 2 dv7t's i ordered last year and was the case for the numerous other members that bought dvx machines since july of 08.

rarely there has been delays - the most recent being delays on the dv7t before they officially released a quad version. people ordered so many dv7's with quads that they ran out of chips and thus delays in building/shipping were caused.

 

You are exactly right, I ordered my HDX 16t and I got it on the day of my original ESD and the DV7t Quad a day before my original ESD, with that one Fedex took 2 days when I had the 5-7 day option selected. HP is really great with getting their computers built and out. Dell on the other hand, now thats another story lol.

 

^ yeah man. it amazes me each time. i think from the second it boarded a plane in shanghai china to my grubby paws was like 3 days. that's quick.

 

Not this time i am afraid. I also ordered dv8t (standard build, no extra stuff) on Cyber Monday, and got est. shipping date on the 10th. just checked the web site two seconds ago. Still in production. hopefully mine wouldn't be delayed. BTW, anyone has got the Bing Cashback in the past from HP order WITH coupon code? i am wondering whether my pending cash back would be cancelled within 60 days.

 

The second I get my computer I am formatting the sucker and re-installing Windows 7 without MediaSmartass or whatever HP is calling it.

 

I highly doubt yours will be delayed. A lot can depend on the time you ordered. On cyber monday their site crashed because of all the orders they were getting. The $450 off coupon was an extremely good buy. I ordered at 5 o'clock in the morning to simply avoid online overloads as I knew it was inevitable on cyber monday. Hopefully it will ship out tomorrow. Keep us posted!

On the dv7t HP Mediasmart was fine. Touch controls extremely responsive. If you unistall that remember you'll loose the volume/bass/treble status window. Give it a try before you unistall it without using it. One more thing, if you do reinstall windows make sure to make restore discs and back up c:/swsetup as that folder contains everything factory installed on your system. You might need something later on. Good luck