Part Deux: dv6642ca or dv6663ca?

(edit: Ooops. I forgot to mention that I'm from Canada.)

(edit2: fixed link )

Hey NBR, this is my second thread here.

Some of you may have noticed my thread on the main "Which notebook should I buy?" forum. I've managed to narrow down my choices to two notebooks at the moment: the dv6642ca and the dv6663ca.

Why these two: 2GB memory standard, 8400m GS.

Now I'm confused as to which one I should buy...

Advantages of the dv6642ca: Futureshop is offering a 12-cell battery as standard, but it does not say on HP.ca's website.
Disadvantages: Not Santa Rosa.

Advantages of the dv6663ca: 2-year standard warranty, which is verified on HP.ca's website. And Santa Rosa.
Disadvantages: $150 extra. May be 6-cell battery (strange because the other high end dv6600 models seem to come with a standard 12-cell at BB and FS).


So my question is then: is the extra $150 worth it for the extra warranty and Santa Rosa? Would I even notice a performance difference with the Santa Rosa? And is the battery likely to be 6-cell or 12-cell?


Thanks for all your help!

 

You should put this in "What notebook should I buy" thread.
I would got for the Costco one because it has a lot faster CPU. You would not notice the performance with Santa Rosa. The FS would be a 12cell battery.
I would wait for the FS one to become $1000, which i think will happen before the end of the year. And for the Costco one, I would wait for a coupon or something to drop down a $100.
I personally would get the dv6663 over the dv6642, both of them are overpriced right now.

 

Thanks for your thoughts. I thought this was more appropriate for the HP forum since it's between two HP laptops. I apologize.

But on another note, why do you consider them overpriced?

 

Well, I dunno if Toshiba's are just cheaper than HP's or what, but I bought mine (see sig) for $700(on sale) + $60 for ram upgrade to 2gbs for yours at FS, is about $1200 with tax, mine was $870 which is a $330 difference.

And if you compare to dell, an upgrade from a GMA X3100 to a 8400m GS is $115(w/tax), and the HDD if you do the upgrade to 250GB from 120GB is $180.

So if i did upgraded those items to mine, it would cost me $1160. Save almost $50

Or you could Western Digital Scorpio which you know is good from NCIX, 160GB+80GB 5400RPM is $230 which would $1200, like same as yours but I would also have a 120GB HDD left over that I could sell for a least $50-$75.

 

The dv6642ca is a santa rosa cpu. Basically Santa Rosa doesnt actually refer to the cpu but the platform. If you have the intel 965 chipset(any dv6500t or above) paired with a Core 2 Duo processor then you have a system based on the SR platform.

 

Oh, thank you. I always thought that SR was always paired with a T7XXX processor.

 

I am in Vancouver and was actually considering the exact same two models.

Its true that with this weeks deals, you can get a similarly equipped
Inspiron 1520 with a higher screen res and 7200rpm HD for the same or a hair less money... but.. I just can't get over the absolutely massive size of the Dells, expecially at the front edge.... you need to countersink that bad boy or use a 6" high wrist wrest....

If it were not for the huge size I would just go dell, especially given that I can customize exactly what I want, click order and it arrives. I have looked at a ton of models and the HP is (to me), the nicest looking and it just doesn't seem as huge, especially in the front. If only HP could get their act together on making these available... it is almost impossible to get a higher end spec dv6600 in canada. It is so unfair that in the states you can order via hp online and customize away (like Dell), but in Canada you can only get the very limited pre config options. When I saw the dv6663ca in the HP website a week or so ago, finally they had a machine I was happy with (not what I would custom configure, but good enough)... but now the problem is it is only available via costco online... Nobody at FS, BB, etc has even heard of this model, let alone carry it. Even hpshopping.ca doesn't carry it !@#!

I am going to wait a couple weeks and then probably go for the 6663ca, but I am pretty frustrated with the purchase channels and lack of customization in Canada (as compared to HP US, or Dell Canada).

/rude HP

 

Miner, so both are running on Intel's 965 chip set?

 

Yes, both should be using the 965PM chipset.

 

Hello Motius and everyone,

I have bought the dv6663ca over the weekend from Costco. No problems with it so far, some vista bugs notwithstanding. However, most manufacturers (especially HP) make exclusive models for certain retail chains. FS and BB currently have some great models (especially the 12-cell battery one!), but are unavailable anywhere else.

Thank you to everyone that helped me make this purchase.