Looking at a HP HDX16t

I will use it for everything, Schooling(CS Major), entertainment, games.

For $1349 after coupon specs are...

Operating System: Vista home premium 64bit
Processor: P8700 2.53Ghz
Memory: 4GB
Hard Drive: 320GB 5400RPM SATA
Graphics Card: 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
Display: 16.0" Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1366x768)
Primary Drive: LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
Personalization: Webcam + Fingerprint Reader
Networking: Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth
Primary battery: 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Mouse: Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse
HP extended service plans: 1-year HP Accidental Damage

My question is should I bump the hard drive to 7200RPM, is it worth it? Also the display should I bump that up or leave it at that. Not much of Difference between the two? Oh one last thing is there a big difference between the two graphics cards? The 1GB looks like a newer version is all. Correct me if I wrong.

Any other suggestions would be great.

 

The 130M is signifigantly better than the 9600M GT but still not as good as the 9800 GS which is not avaliable from HP. I was in the market for the HDX16 and unless you have the money id grab the video card over the screen. If you have the cash get both but if your only gaming not watching hd movie there is less of a point in the screen when your games cant be played at that res.

I was pricing up a HDX16 with the T6600 and bluray and 130M at 1325 thats before the bluray went off sale. Below was my line up before the prices changed a day ago, all without any coupons:


The warranty of course is where your price goes up a bit but is understandable id get it too.... eventually lol

 

Thank you for the input! With the 1GB GPU the price is $1456. With the better GPU and 1080p screen its $1584. I am not to sure about the screen since I do not own any Blue Ray DVD's, I would just be watching regular DVD's and movies online. Or would that still make a difference to those also? I wish HP gave a 1 year warranty for free at least... that would cut the price down a bit. Could drop the mouse also.

Sorry about the basic questions, I have a million of them.

 

Clutch, they have a 30% coupon now which is much better than bluray on sale.

Use code NB6528 to save 30% off certain $999.00+ HP notebooks. (valid 4/13/2009 12:00:00 AM - 4/20/2009 11:59:59 PM)

MarkTonk, I'd go with the 7000rpm drive as it is faster. However, if you're just using the internet and typing papers etc, you won't notice. The good part is the faster one boots up faster but only a few seconds, and finds files faster so programs will launch faster. The bad is it will drain battery life faster and have more heat. You can skip on this if you're trying to save some cash.

I would go with the 130M, which is basically an updated version of the 9600m. Faster GPU by 100Mhz, 500 vs. 600 on the 130M, 512 more ram, and smaller circuit die, resulting in faster performance. Yes it won't own desktop GPUs but since you can't upgrade your GPU later as it is soldered to the motherboard, I'd go with the best they've got.

 

The screen, you could skimp on it. It looks cool but makes everything, your desktop, icons, web pages etc, look microscopic. But it looks sharper and clearer. However, its not a deal breaker to have the smaller screen.

 

Thank you for the help on fine tuning my soon to be purchase. The schooling part of this laptop would be for programming and design. Yes, the way you put that I should get the 130M.

Side note: How do you like your HDX16t?

Now I am at for $1445

Operating System: Vista home premium 64bit
Processor: P8700 2.53Ghz
Memory: 4GB
Hard Drive: 320GB 7200RPM SATA
Graphics Card: 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 130M
Display: 16.0" Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1366x768)
Primary Drive: LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
Personalization: Webcam + Fingerprint Reader
Networking: Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth
Primary battery: 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
HP extended service plans: 1-year HP Accidental Damage

 

Me? I love it. It looks awesome with the backlite keyboard in the dark. Though I only had it for 1 week. I bought some games to test on it but didn't install them yet. There are some bad points but they are minor like finger print magnet, super reflective screen, poor battery life etc but the good points outweighs the bad.

Those specs look nice.

 

Yeah optimus the new coupon is very very tasty but unfortunately HP has lost me to ASUS for the moment. Theyll get me back when i need a desktopp again though.

Its a shame i dont have some extra cash on hand cause i wouldnt mind grabbing a mini while im at it lol. Ill have my asus in 3 weeks but if i could get a small load i could have it in a few days lol.

I say go for the HDX if you have the cash, My asus specs some things better and some things worse then your hdx config but the main thing is the HDX16 will still get better battery life then the asus and the asus im getting has a 9 cell in it lol.

 

I noticed the screen being super reflective in some videos I saw of it. Let me know how the games go, I have till the 20th to make up my mind with this coupon. How is the noise on yours with the 7200Sata drive?

What Asus are you looking at, I am curious to know what else people are looking at or bought when they had the HDX16t as one of their options.

 

Keep in mind that not only does the coupon expire on the 20th, but also after 1800 uses, whichever is first. I tried to use another 30% off coupon in Feb. but was told it expired even tho the date didn't but cuz the uses ran up.

It is not so noisy with the 7200rpm drive. I can hear it spool up more often compared to my Toshiba which has a 5400rpm tho.

Before the HDX16 I was looking at the Dell XPS16. I would have went with it but Dell never offers big coupons just like 15% at the most. Also by reading the XPS16 thread, alot of ppl are complaining of heat issues, bluescreens of death, and build quality. Plus it doesn't have a better GPU or TV tuner, but it does have ddr3 and RGB-LED screen, one of the first laptops to have them. However, all in all, the HP offered better specs for a lower price.

 

DOnt get me wrong im a huge HP fan never had any real problems out of them so ill keep coming back.

Im looking at the Best Buy Exclusive ASUS G50VT-X5 @ 900 Bucks.

Id rather have the T6600 as it slightly outperforms the P7450 (no not just in clock either) but the P7450 is a close match and uses 10 watts less power on the top end. I also intend to undervolt it.

I plan to purchase in 3 weeks i can almost buy it next week but it would stretch me a bit thin. The screen has been called sub par for a gaming note book, and i think the HP will definitly give you a better screen. The only real complaint the asus gets from people that havent had any issues is the 9 cell battery that sticks out the back is still fail on life. The rediculous paint job on the lid and the lights are bit too much for some.

As far as dell goes, i looked at their XPS lineup and under 1800 theyre not giving you anything. Their XPS 13 up until 1300 bucks only has a Intel X3100 GPU and at 1300 ur only getting a 8400M. HP Offers alot better in their 14 15 and 16 inch line up for the same or lower prices.

 

I like everything the HP has but some of the downfalls I see a lot of people complain about is the buttons damage the screen when closed! Also that HP warranty sucks badly, why even get one? I have read people sending there HP in under warranty and getting charged an arm and leg.

If I can have that not happen to me, I would buy right now. I have a problem of over analyzing anything I buy

I was also looking at that Asus today at Best Buy, but the graphics are a killer for me. It seems like that Asus has more battery life than the HDX16t. The search continues, I seem to always get a lemon when I buy electronics, but NOT this TIME!

 

Ive always had very good luck and im glad. I can't complain about what little things have happened to me. Im a tiny bit worried about the ASUS but im also glad im getting it locally and should be able to return it if its a dud out of the box. HP on the other hand custom ordering, waiting, hopefully not waiting too long, getting it, having something go wrong sending it for service.... eh.

Since your not getting bluray or the screen have u looked at the 1099 quick ship model? P8600, 500GB HDD, 4gb ram, bluetooth, .
EDIT - I was wrong the quickship DOES have bluetooth. The PDF has all the specs im checking it now.

EDIT 2 - If your willing to settle for the P8600 rather then the 8700 and take the 500GB that goes with it. The quickship model looks to fit your specs very well and for less money (have to tack on the cost of the warranty and mouse).

 

Ill have to look into that, thank you for your input. I have never owned a laptop before, only desktops here . How is the 16" size for portability, lets say like going from class to class. To big?

 

Id say its just right. My last was a 15.4 inch and mainly the 16's are wider as they are 16:9 and not 16:10. I wouldnt go any bigger. Personally as a pc i cant stand any smaller either but for portability I wouldnt mind a 13.3 or 14.1 inch.

The only thing about the quickship though is i dont think the coupons work on it but im thinking the academic still will. The setup is golden for anything except 1080p Bluray Movies and high level gaming anything below that it will do with ease and style. I was personally thinking about it and had i not decided i wanted to play Crysis in High lol id probably be getting it.

Check out how it works price wise and compare to what ur pricing up.