*HP dv8 Owners Lounge*

it's nice but I want biger screen,better cpu,better gpu etc
If I am able to find big discount like on cyber monday I take dv8 right away

 

I see, I haven't seen any amazing deals for the DV8t since Cyber Monday and that was $450 off with the applied coupon. I personally would wait for a $500 off coupon if I were you.

 

I find it interesting that people compare a $450 to a $500 coupon. Has anyone else noticed that HP constantly changes the base price? I think the $450 coupon on cyber Monday resulted in the lowest base price I've seen at $899. I think the $500 coupon resulted in a base price of $999. I could be easily wrong about that though. I'm guessing the option prices and what is included in the base price also fluctuate. I like to compare the bottom line price I'm paying and not necessarily just the coupon. I think other people have followed the pricing closer than I have, so maybe they can weigh in.

 

any price under 1k$ is fantastic for 18" laptop with i7 ddr3 ram and 1gb video
don't know how long I have to wait for deal like that

 

Yea... the base price during Cyber Monday Weekend was $1349. After the sale ended, the base price reverted back to its original price at $1499.99. So we ended off getting more than $450 off =D
Just to let you know, I am referring to the price without the $200 instant rebate

 

Can anyone tell me what software comes on the machine for creating labels to write to the Lightscribe? I think my last HP/Lightscribe used SureThing Labeler?

I did a fresh Win 7 install and installing the LS Software from the HP Driver site did not include the label software....I'm trying to figure out how to reinstall it from SWSetup - none of the directories look right (of course they couldn't really be more cryptically labeled).

Need to label some DVD's today. Thanks!!

 

A couple more questions:

Is it Corel? Was that real software or some "intro" stuff with a free trial? I see Corel on LS's list of compatible labelers. I'm not sure which directory on SWSetup is for the Corel software (I'm just looking through the Program Files directory on my factory HDD that I haven't wiped clean yet).

Or - this looks most likely - CyberLink? I'm going to go install the CyberDVD folder from SWSetup....

 

So, I'm using the Cyberlink Labeler. It's quite limited. May be worth purchasing something else. It really traps you in it's formatting which is frustrating when you tend to use images on your labels.

There's no ability to crop foreground images, place curved text where you want it, add shapes or lines, etc. It works, but the last software provided by HP was better.

 

I use sure thing to label my disks

 

If anyone would like to see a pretty in-depth review of the DV8t, check out this youtube video. He did an excellent job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkcxhT3bdkA

There are 3 parts.

 

Did y'all see the OregonRedNeck's latest addition? He had to return his brand new DV8 to Costco because of a broken hinge! Hope that doesn't turn out to be a design flaw. He also notes how bad the area around the keyboard flexes. Hmm, I wonder if that will cause problems over time?

On a positive note. My DV8 that I ordered on Cyber Monday which was delayed two days being built is actually arriving early! Checked FedEx.com this morning and it's on the vehicle for delivery! Woohoo, can't wait!!

 

I was confused, though, because his written comments stated he got it directly from HP, then he stated back to Costco. So was it Costco, or HP???

Regarding delivery, mine shipped on the 11th, and so far, one has only made it to Alaska, and the other shows no status other than "Picked Up" on the 11th. Not good. They both shipped at the same time. I wonder why one has no updates and still shows it as only being picked up? Bleh!

 

For what it is worth I have not noticed any keyboard flex or hinge problems with mine.

 

Yea, I posted some comments, its to bad he returned it but hey if your not satisfied then by all means return it. Hopefully the DV8t will be ok for long term use.

Yea I didn't quite follow. He said both HP directly and costco???

All of them don't really stay closed if turned upside down or sideways but I do think his was defective.

 

I thought that was strange too, maybe you can order directly from HP through Costco.

That is weird, I ordered mine on Cyber Monday, it was supposed to be built by December 9th but was delayed until the 11th (Got a $50 coupon for that) but then it still arrived early (I went with the free shipping option so it should not have arrived until the 18th.

Here is my tracking details with all times being local scan times:

 

I've learned if it says on "fedex vehicle for delivery" its coming sometime today.

 

Yeah, It should arrive any time now. I'm really excited. Lancorp and I were just curious why our's both shipped the same day but his/her's still shows as only being picked up and mine shows out for delivery.

Weird!

 

Yeah I know what you mean, but that is fedex and I guess it could vary depending on which location. I saw your in TN so thats why you got yours before he did.

 

Maybe mine is more stiff than most. If you grab mine but just the lid the weight of the laptop doesn't even open it. I did notice it rests on some rubber bumpers and doesn't close 100% of the way but I always assumed it was so that your keys don't scratch the screen like I have seen on some Dells.

 

I bought from them. Prompt service and good product, seems like hP oem part. Be careful with the connectors, they are small and can be damaged.

Ebay might be cheaper but I already bought mine.

 

same here, got mine from newmode.us . fast service, quick shipping.

yeah maybe ebay is cheaper but i hate it bc all of the illegal crap / scamming that goes on on it.

 

If you look on the Costco site, it says to expect 7-10 days for your item to ship. Same with most of the Ebay deals I saw. They do the same thing we did, they order it from HP and ship it to you as if it came from Costco.
To my knowledge, there is no such thing as a "ready to ship" dv8t in the USA.

Maybe this is what he meant if he knows it still was ordered and built in china like the rest of them.

 

Does anyone know if an InvisibleShield for an HDX18 would fit a DV8t? I know the two laptops are very similar in design to the point of share components (like the 2nd hard drive carrier/cable) but are the external cases identical to the point that an InvisibleShield that fits one would fit the other?

InvisibleShield has 50% off today and I was thinking of picking up a shield for my soon-to-arrive DV8t. The InvisibleShield site shows the HDX18 but not the DV8t (it does have the DV8 but that is usually the DV8000).

 

Crappy first post, I know, but I am like about everyone else and ordered it on Cyber Monday. It was estimated to be shipped on the 10th and it did, but the only thing showing up on the Fed Ex site is:

December 11, 2009 - Picked Up - Shanghai, CN

And it has no further updates. I noticed above that the gentleman from Tenn. had his picked up at the exact same time and has his out for delivery. The fact that it isn't here today is not what concerns me, it is that there are no more updates as to it's location.

Think I should call Fed Ex?

 

I was thinking the same thing too, maybe time to call Fedex. But I am in the same boat, ordered on Cyber Monday, shipped Dec. 10th and the only tracking info I have is that it was picked up on the 11th "after cutoff". With such varied experiences, some showing updates several times per day to only showing 1 update, it makes me wonder what is going on. If it doesn't arrive on the 17th, I will expect some sort of compensation.

 

That is very unusual. I would have thought both of your laptops would have been on the same plane as mine. Weird, it couldn't hurt to call FedEx but they may not have any more info then what is on the website.

I sure hate it for you guys, seems unfair. Mine was just delivered, I haven't even opened the box yet but it looks like it's in good condition. I hope you all see movement soon on yours!

 

That is what I am afraid of. I will call them and they won't have any more info that I do at this time. I am going to try though.

EDIT: I called and they said mine was sitting at Customs waiting to be sent to Anchorage. Their only explaination for why mine is still sitting in China and others had theirs shipped today (considering they were picked up from same location at the same time) was that it was placed in a different Bulk Shipment than the others and the others must have been processed sooner. Basically "blah blah blah, your shipment will be there by the 17th", which is really all I care about.

 

I chatted with them because I am in the same boat as you guys. Shipped the 10th and got a fedex cutoff message on the 11th. Nothing so far. They did not have any more information either, just what the site said.

 

Mine was shipped on the 11th from Shanghai and I got it just a few minutes ago.

 

How is it?

 

I was wondering is it possible to use two ssd drives in raid in hd slot #1 and the stock platter hd in slot 2? anyone know? I saw a video on utube with a guy putting his xps m1730 in raid setup. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6g2ZQwKMYI

 

I have shipped to my place at work. Haven't got a chance to open it yet.

 

Hopefully yours doesn't have any issues. Keep us posted.

 

I was just looking at the specs of the Dv8 and under video it says: NVIDIA GeForce GT 230, Up to 2815 MB total graphics memory with 1 GB dedicated. What does it mean by up to 2815MB total graphics memory, does it mean you can put another GPU in?

 

I am not sure but I think that means it will use your actual memory if it needs to.

 

Finally, my package is in transit. Hopefully it travels as fast as yours have traveled.

 

Hey guys,

I am working on a DV8T-1000 for someone and they want XP Pro on there instead of Vista as a business requirement. Does anyone know if this is possible? I am getting an error indicating:Change the SATA mode in BIOS to Legacy or ATA mode. Disabling some of the advanced features of SATA drives in BIOS could stop the STOP 0x0000007B error from showing up.

So, I would like to change that. However, it is not an option in the BIOS. Any ideas to get XP Pro on here? Ive researched for a few hours and havent found an answer! ugh.

 

I think it means that it has 1 GB of dedicated memory (a physical stick on the card) and it can also share memory with your laptops RAM as needed.

 

I got a few minutes and open the box to check out the computer. It's very nice. Doesn't take up much desktop space. I have a Dell 9300 with a 17 inch screen and this thing is about the same size except it's a little longer.

No cracks or scratches on the case.

I think some people who got their computer with crack case issues is due to the cheap packing method HP is using. The computer comes with minium shipping protection. Only 2 pieces of foam(on on each side) is protecting the laptop.

Becareful when you take the laptop out of that "sock" they use. It's very slippery.

 

Can someone check and tell me what their display panels is showing up as? My shows as a generic pnp monitor. I recently updated my video cards drivers to nvidias latest release and then had to roll bacl to the original HP drivers. All is well but I have very few resolution options now and the ones that I had in several games have all dropped to less. I cannot remember if the display panel was showing up as generic plug and play before I did the nvidia updates.

Thanks. I'd like to get bacl some of the intermediate resolutions for a few games. There is currently a gap from 1280x720 to 1920x1080 and I had found a happy medium with a 1600x900 setting that I no longer have!

 

why did you have to roll back? i just upgraded mine and twice now the computer has crashed while watching Hulu. Both times, the screen just went black and there was an awful noise coming out of the speakers. It was completely unresponsive and I had to hold down the power button to get it to reboot. i'm thinking about rolling back as well.

 

Can you verify the display settings onyours for me?

The reason I rolled back was bluray stopped working. Apparently something in the hdcp section of the nvidia drivers is missing.

 

Anyone try using the HP 2 year ADP purchased from Costco for $99 on their HP that wasn't purchased from Costco? If it works, you saved $80 than if you purchase directly from HP.

Link to Costco:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11378799&whse=BC&Ne=5000001 4000000&eCat=BC|84|1333&N=4001487 4294967277&Mo=7&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=

 

Means that if it needs too it can access you unused ram.

 

I got it I think it comes with two years of lojack also. Seemed like a good deal. Cost me $105 because I was not a member.

 

Here's mine. The difference is yours MOVED ALONG during the weekend, and mine sat. Plus my 2nd dv8t is still in CHINA, and it shipped the same day!!



and the one that doesn't want to leave China:

 

Hope you get yours soon. The only issues I have had with mine has been the Nividia driver crashed but reloaded twice, the screen flickers for a second then returns to normal. I haven't had a lot of time to play with it yet but my first impression are it's a beautiful and powerful machine but it seems to boot slowly and man this thing is huge! My wife is not so sure about it, since it is so large. I might have to send it back, we'll see after we've played with it for a few weeks.

 

There is a fix for the NVIDIA driver. Search back a few pages on this thread. RELOAD WINDOWS for it to be FASTER!!!

 

upgrade to the latest nvidia driver (195.62)....

 

Finally got mine and unboxed. Wow...... Very worth the wait!!!!