Mac user with a slew of questions about the dv2 series

Hello everyone,

I'm thinking about replacing my PowerBook with an HP Pavilion dv2 while awaiting Nehalem-based Macs. I live in France but am British so need to buy in the UK for the keyboard layout (Apple seems to be the only company offering UK keyboard configurations in their French online store).

First up: what's the difference between the dv2 and the dv2z? Is the dv2z offered with only dual-core processors? Is the dv2 (single-core MV-40) discontinued in the US?

The dv2z is listed here on the US site as weighing 3.81 lb (1.73 kg) with a 6-cell battery. The dv2-1010ea is listed here on the UK site as weighing 1.70 kg (3.75 lb) with a 4-cell battery. The dv2-111ef and dv2-1120ef are listed here on the French website as weighing 1.64 kg (3.62 lb) and 1.73 kg (3.81 lb) with 4- and 6-cell batteries respectively. Why are these weights not consistent?

Are there any differences between the dv2-1000 series and dv2-1100 series machines in the European market (dv2z doesn't seem to be sold here)? The weight seems to have dropped a little, which makes me worried the thermal engineering might have been cut back.

Which models come with an external optical disc drive? It's unclear from the HP websites.

X1250 versus HD 3410: how much of a performance and heat difference in real-world use? Does the X1250 support video decoding in Windows 7? Anyone know the TDP or idle power of the chipsets?

Finally, I understand the "z" in the model name refers to having an AMD processor, while the "t" signifies Intel. All the dv2 (non-z) models were AMD-only. Does the addition of a "z" suggest that "t" models are forthcoming?

Thanks for any advice on any of these points. If the HP website were half as good as the Apple website, I wouldn't have to ask these question.

 

One more try, just in case I missed out any true HP gurus here.

 

There is only one dv2 model offered with the AMD cpu, there is no Intel option. Would they release one in the future? Dont know. But as of today the dv2z or dv2 are the same. HP typically has a main model designation, take for example dv4 and then you get dv4t and dv4z. Further each of these models can be sub divided into CTO machines(custom to order/ currently US only) or retail pre-configured units which get an additional numeric designations like 1145. The us, ea, nr tags at the end indicate the market/store the system was intended to be sold in. Of course there might be minor revisions or in some cases no revisions at all and these get the 1000/1100/1200 etc. Essentially I wouldnt suggest you to remember that each particular model is available in various configurations and the main model number is pretty much all you need to remember.

As far as the inconsistencies in the weight remember that it can vary depending on the configuration and unless you are really worried about the tenth of pound, the dv2 should weigh around 3.8lb.

The external DVD drive is a configurable option in the US if you choose to order a CTO model from HP's website otherwise you will have to look into the specifications for each pre-configured unit you are considering. For example, the dv2-1010ea & the dv2-1120ef ships with the external DVD burner + lightscribe while the dv2-1110ef does not ship with any optical drive.

The MV-40 is not available with the CTO units but there are still pre-configured on sale in retail stores with the single core processor. The major difference between the dv2-1000 series and the dv2-1100 series is that they started offering the dual core processors(as an option) with the 1100 models.

Anyways, you might want to take a look at the dv2 overviews in the forums...
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=400082

 

Hi miner,

Thanks very much for your detailed reply.

I'm not worried about a tenth of a pound, but rather, if a weight change indicates another change that I might be worried about - such as an improvement or a cheapening of the cooling system.

I have no personal interest in an Intel-powered "dv2t" (it would surely be significantly more expensive, and the dv2 is already fairly expensive due to its good build quality). Intel charges through the nose for CULV parts, perhaps because AMD's competition is weak here.

In any case, it looks like an "old" dv2-1000 series with the HD 3410 might be the best value for me, as I'm really not looking for a CPU powerhouse (I was originally looking for a netbook when I became infatuated with this strange dv2 beast ). Comparing models around £500, I'd essentially be getting the external optical drive for free by opting for an older model on sale.

I've read every page of the thread you linked to, plus the longer "HP DV2 Initial Impressions" thread. I think this machine would work well for me - just need to decide which model to spring for.

 

They use the same hardware except with the dual cores and the dedicated graphics option which get slightly beefier cooling systems compared to the base system with the X1250. The minor difference in weight can come down to the components used. For example a 160GB HDD might weigh a few grams less than 320GB or 500GB drive.