Just bought an HP dv800z from Costco.

Hey new here. I just bought an hp dv8000z from Costco. I am quite excited as this is my first real laptop. One of my co-workers was going to throw away a compac 1275... I asked if I could have it and she gave it to me free.. I bought a new hardrive and a Brick. more mem ( all it could handle is 128) still waiting for it to arrive. Any thoughts. Ohhh I for got specs..

AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology ML-37 at 2.0GHz
1MB L2 cache
1GB DDR SDRAM (2 x 512MB); expandable to 2GB
160GB (5400RPM) Dual Hard Drive (80GB x 2)
8x DVD±RW/CD-RW Combo Drive with Double Layer Support and LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling
Microsoft® Windows XP Media Center Edition

I got it for Storing pix/video.... Any thoughts would be greatly apreaciated as this is my first huge purchase...I read the review on Toms hardware and they were pretty favorable...Thanks ZoZi
Peace!

 

Dual-hard drives, cool. Never heard of them in notebooks until this.

 

I like mine. The second HD is very useful for big media files. Or for installing Linux without having to rearrange the primary drive (I haven't tried that yet). Having a big screen is VERY nice. It's surprisingly portable, much in thanks to the amazingly tiny power brick. Anyhow, I think you'll like it.

 

Hey thanks guys starting to feel a little better...Peace ZoZi

 

Well My laptop just made it into Portland, arrival scan 13:30...I am so jazzed....I can't wait...YIIPPPEEE!!!!!
Peace ZoZi

 

Well the bad news is you already ordered it and it's almost here... The good news is you bought it at Costco "if" you decide on something else.

I was going to get the dv8000z till I saw the differences in the specs between it and the HP dv8000t. (There was a $150 Costco Fat Wallet promotion (till April 2nd) and a $50HP rebate.)

Total cost for my unit: $1401.99 shipped. - $50 HP rebate = $1.351
I plan on buying (2) 1 gig ram modules (2gig total)= $147 shipped

So that should bring the total cost under $1,500 for the below. Plan on adding another hard drive LATER as prices on hd's come down everyday, Hopefully HP will UPDATE the BIOS so it will take bigger drives. What sort of pisses me off is some people had the option showing (at Costco and HP) for 7,200 rpm drives. The below has 5,400 drives, but for most uses a 5,400 will be the better choice for most people. (Heat, battery life, run time) 7,200 drives should draw more "juice" so battery life with the 5,400's should be better.

BTW: The dv8000t uses DDR2 ram, and is a dual core unlike the dv8000z. While at Circuit City I opened up several apps at the same time on a dv8000z and the AMD spec'd dv8000z pretty much stopped responding several times.

In addtion the dv8000t has a much faster/better video card than the dv8000z.

* * * *

Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo processor T2500 (2.0 GHz)
512MB DDR2 SDRAM (2x256MB) -As shipped. Will be 2gig 533 or 667 spec DDR-2 ram, total cost shipped $147
100 GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
LightScribe 8x DVD+/-RW&CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer
256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7400
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth
17.0" WSXGA+ BrightView Widescreen (1680x1050) Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition with SP2
Microsoft(R) Works/Money
HP Mobile Remote Control
8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Windows(R) XP Home Edition with SP2 Backup CD
No TV Tuner w/remote control

Included Features:
HP PhotoSmart Premier
HP QuickPlay
1 Expansion Port 2 connector
1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
4 USB 2.0 ports
IEEE 1394
1 Consumer IR (Remote Receiver)
S-video TV-out port
Built in 6-in-1 Digital Media Reader
Built-in Altec Lansing stereo speakers
Touch Pad with dedicated vertical and horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad
101 key compatible
90W AC adapter
1-year limited H/W warranty
90-day S/W warranty



PS: On storing video clips, etc, you'd be alot better off $$$ wise going with an external firewire Hard drive enclosure, with a desktop HD in it since they are much cheaper and BIGGER than notebook hard drives.

 

Gotta agree with WeAreNotAlone...

If you're going to purchase a laptop at this time, and if you can afford it, get the duo core model (if it's available).

Laptop Magazine has an excellent review of Duo Core processors in the current issue, and bottom line is, they say it is NOT hype. Definite performance increase.

In fact, this and other sites claim that the Duo Core laptops are delivering performance results (using testing software) which they haven't seen before!

(Note: I am waiting for my dv1000t, so I *may* be slightly biased...)

 

There's no need to update the BIOS on these notebooks for larger drives. You can swap in larger drives if you want, but if you didn't order a 2-drive configuration then you won't get the mounting bracket for the second drive.

7200RPM drives have insignificantly higher heat and power requirements from 5400RPM drives. They are slightly louder and have a higher pitch though. Overall I'd buy one if I had a choice but they're not worth the nuisance of swapping out my HP-supplied 5400RPM drives.

If you want dual core, wait for the Turion X2. If you know you are never, ever going to need 64-bit support then yes, the Core Duo will work, but if you're doing video work then that is NOT a safe bet.

The GeForce 7400 is better but it's still a low-end GPU with a 64-bit memory interface (the 256MB of video RAM is pretty much wasted on that). The GeForce 7600 is much better, 128-bit memory interface, etc, which HP unfortunately doesn't offer.

Note that the dv8000t's come with a larger 90W power brick, vs. the dv8000z's 65w brick. The Core Duo CPU's run quite a bit hotter than the Turions. Expect shorter battery life. Turion X2's run within the same power limit as the single-core Turions, which is one reason why they're taking a bit longer to ship.

 

So where do I find this bracket that probally costs LESS than a penny to mfg for the second hard-drive when it comes time to purchase a second "bare" drive?

A bracket that ONLY fits a few select models (dv8000 series)


You sure about the second hard drive frame NOT being there?

If so and if the price is UP there for a frame shipped HP is going to lose a bunch of money from those persons who (like me) expected everything to "be there", to be able to purchase a drive... and then install it without any addtional expense. I would assume this "frame" is ONLY available from HP, that it is not a "generic" frame that 3rd party vendors who sell hard drives are going to be able to supply at a reasonable cost.

(I can see the following happening a year or so from now... I'm sorry sir, but that frame which cost HP less than a penny is going to run you XYZ, it's a special order item, and seeing how the dv8000 series was only made for a year and then they changed the design and they're not compatible with any other model we've had a real hard time sourcing those 8000 hard drive frames . They've been on backorder for the past 9 months - That being said we do have a select "few" we have put up for auction.. the current price is $125, plus shipping.. This offer only being good if you purchase the hard drive from us of course.)

PS: When I'm talked about a BIOS update for a future drive ...I was thinking along the lines of a 250 gig, a 400, or 500? gig hard drive a year or two or three from now.

I was wondering how "good" HP is about NOT leaving current customers hanging out in the wind to to speak when advancements occur that would benefit current owners.


On another subject, do you have any info on how to "restore" Quickplay v 2.0 on a dv8000 series machine...

Doing a format, Clean install of XP PRO, (with NON HP disc's) and then having QuickPlay still "work".


Related to that some have said the the create a recovery disc option ONLY works on the first boot of the machine (1) time. How do you create another set if say for example the disc created turns out to be "corrupt:, or becomes lost or damaged?

 

A friend of mine who ordered a dv8000z on my recommendation found out the hard way that they don't include the mounting bracket for the second drive and if you want one, you have to purchase it with a HD at an insanely inflated price. You might be able to rig up some way to mount the drive without the bracket, not sure. The service guide should give you a decent enough idea of what things look like.

Things might be different now, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

Yes, I plan on doing video/photo editing..I alo think that is comes with 2 80gb hd..I figure that when I get $$ I will upgrade the hd as needed...I thought the you needed 64 bit with the Vistas coming out in 07 sometime...Or do you? Everyone has been a great help.. At this time I am just jazzed Cus I am right now using a 1275 compac that has zero batery life and weighs a ton... Has An AMD k6 processor... So this will be a great improvement...LOLOL....
Peace...ZoZi

 

There will be a 32-bit edition of Vista but I get the distinct impression that Microsoft really, really wants you to buy one of the 64-bit editions and apps like video editing really benefit from AMD64's architectural improvements (codecs especially). Microsoft worked with AMD to design AMD64. I wouldn't be surprised to see Microsoft drop that limited 32-bit edition in order to relieve some of the scheduling pressure they're under.

 

Update... I finally got my laptop..It arrived on Monday the 10th in the am... I have been playing with it. I put all my music on it and Pix.
Well WereNot alone was right. It did freeze when opened up more than one apt..And froze when I was clicking around liking tornado..
thus far i have watched a dvd....(must say that is was a great experience) the display was good just plugged in a set of headphone and I enjoyed the sound... My wife was asleep,I was watching right in bed next to her and she did not even wake up once to complain about "that it's too loud turn it down" so that was a plus...I really like the Media Center. That is way cool. I took Brainstretch tip about storing the media on the other drive...Good idea thanks for the suggestion Brainstretch.
Yes, like you said "having the big screen is Very nice" I really like the big screen alot... I plugged my Sony DCR-HC30 cam corder into it and it did I think a preety good job on the capture of the video...It was at 29.73 fp/s and at 720x480 resolution. I have not yet tried to burn it to disk yet will try that when I have more time. Right now I'm having a great time with it an i really like it alot ....Peace....ZoZi