Pulled the Trigger, DV6 on the way

Had to take the plunge with that $400 coupon expiring soon. I read that HP has a fairly generous return policy so had to pull the trigger. My only hangup is the SSD drive. I decided to take the plunge, but I am worried it may not be an Intel. I spent 15 minutes on the phone with tech support (not to be confused with sales) and they could not figure it out. After searching the HP accessories/hardware upgrade site the only 160gb SSD they sell is Intel, so I figured it should be intel. If not tell me ASAP so I can modify order and purchase the X-25M 120gb on NewEgg for $240 . Well, more accurately ask for it for Christmas .

Funny with all the customization options out there I could not get this deal in the 14" package .

Oh and bummer the battery is not hot-swappable, but I do not even know if that is ever the case, but I feel like it was on my old Toshiba tablet.

Overall I am apprehensively stoked .

DV6 - $1,139
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-580M Dual Core Processor (2.66GHz, 3MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 3.33GHz
1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5650 switchable graphics [HDMI, VGA]
FREE Upgrade to 6GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
160GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)
50% OFF! One 6 Cell (standard) and One 9 Cell (over-sized) Lithium Ion Battery
15.6" diagonal High Definition LED HP Brightview Widescreen Display (1366x768)
No TouchScreen (includes HP TrueVision Webcam)
SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
Intel Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
Backlit Keyboard with Fingerprint Reader

 

congrats dude - sounds like a killer system for only $1139.

 

Any idea what kind of battery life I can expect with the 9-cell? I know the 14" with the 9-cell said up to 10.5 hours, if I guess closer to 8.5 realistic, I am hoping to get at least 6 on this (assuming a small drop due to larger screen)...

More would be great news of course .

 

The standard 6-cell gets over 4 hours easily, so the 9-cell should get at the very least 6.

 

mines a 9 cell, I can get 4 hrs running a vm, a few adobe pdfs and firefox with 7 tabs.

So not bad.

 

I don't know if my computer is bad or what, but I've never come close to 4 on the standard 6 cell...that's more what I get on the 9 cell.

 

Even on power saver at minimum brightness?

 

I guess I've never truly paid attention, or used it at minimum brightness. I find the minimum brightness is barely bright enough for me to use the laptop. I always am on power saver/ intel graphics when I use a battery. I have both the 6 cell and 9 cell, and I use the 9 exclusively now.

I'll say my last statement was on average what I have experienced, but yes, I suppose if you did turn down the brightness to min and used programs that were low on power consumption, it would be possible to get near the values stated by earlier posters.

 

Now I am having second thoughts. I could get a similar Envy for a similar price.

Not quite as nice a processor, 4gb of ram instead of 6gb, and granted no SSD- but I could probably get that for Christmas anyway. My grandma is about to start getting creative since there is still nothing on my list, and creative grandmas can be dangerous...

Why is this so complicated? I really prefer the 14" size, battery life was one of the key factors moving me to the DV6, but now I am wondering if battery life will really be much of an improvement, if any. Yes the SSD would make a significant price difference, but if I can get that for Christmas anyway (moving across the pond next month complicates it)...

Envy 14 - $1124
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-450M Dual Core processor (2.40GHz, 3MB L3 Cache)with Turbo Boost up to 2.66 GHz
1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5650 switchable graphics [HDMI]
4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
Two 8 Cell Lithium Ion Batteries (standard)
14.5" diagonal High Definition HP BrightView Infinity LED Display (1366x768)
SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support (Slot Load)
HP TrueVision HD Webcam and Dual Digital Integrated Microphones
Intel Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
Backlit Keyboard

 

Eh, I don't know a whole lot about the Envy line, I've heard the Envy 14 is a good one though. But that was when the display used was the Radiance display, which, imo was the best part about the Envy 14. I doubt you'll notice the difference between 4 and 6 gigs of ram, the biggest performance difference I think will be between SSD and HDD.

 

I think that's the case. In which case, if I can get an Envy 14 with nearly the same specs (pretty confident I would get the SSD for Christmas) for the same amount of MY money I might prefer that slick 14" package.

I was originally thinking the DV would get better battery life because of the 9-cell, and just figured it would be closer to the DM4 (which was advertised at 10 hours) but I am thinking now that the Envy 8-cell and DV6 9-cell will probably be fairly similar.

Only question is if I would notice the speed difference with the CPU's, and I am thinking the answer is no :x.

Of course I think I still have time to cancel my order, but I know HP already has a good return policy, but if I was returning it to purchase an Envy they would probably be even more willing. So maybe my best bet is to just wait and give it a try.

If only they could have shoved a ATI 5650 in the DM4, then the choice would have been so simple!

 

Wait so did you pull the trigger or not? Sounds like your hand is on it but not letting go just yet..

 

The Envy's "8-cell" battery is a marketing gimmick. It only has about the same capacity as the dv6's standard 6-cell. The dv6 with the 9-cell gives very noticeably better battery life.

Also, note that the Envy uses an underclocked HD 5650. The dv6's will perform a little better unless you overclock.

 

I did, just with a build date of December 2nd, regardless of whether they do it then or faster, I figure I still had time to cancel if I changed my mind. I think I am going to just wait it out and see how I like it. It seems stupid to do all this basically over one inch and a better keyboard. Those are really the only perks of the Envy 14 over the DV6SE it seems, when comparing specs to the price I got with that $400 Pavillion coupon.

EDIT: The problem here is I am super indecisive, well, more accurately I research the **** out of everything before making a decision. But I regretted missing that first coupon, was not about to let myself miss the second one. So in a move very out of character, I plugged all that money with not a ton of info and without even stopping at the store to try one out!

Honestly, I think I will be happy. My old Toshiba M200 was I believe just 12", which worries me here, but I think this is much thinner so it will be impossible to compare until it is in my hands. I am sure it will be just fine though, a lot will depend on my schedule in Moscow, but quite frankly, if it becomes a desktop-replacement, so-be-it, not like I am going to be pulling it out on the subway anyway!

 

I think you'll like the dv6, despite everything I say about mine, it's a great computer and I actually think the keyboard is one of the better parts of this laptop.

 

Your chance to cancel is probably already gone. Returning it after it gets to you shouldn't be an issue, however.

 

Yeah I had done so much research on which laptop I was going to buy then one day I figured that I was just going to buy one locally and not over the internet and have it shipped and chose the dv6 literally within 12 hours of buying it. It was very uncharacteristic of me but as far as it's going so far I'm quite pleased, my only concern would be that I should have got the i5+bluray instead of the i7 no bluray.

 

I'd stick with the dv6. If the Envy 14 was still available with the 1600x900 screen then it would be worth reconsidering, but as it stands you got a very good deal. The dv6 is a very well-built machine and as noted, the keyboard is one of the highlights; much better than the ones on Dell notebooks and previous-gen HP notebooks.

Congrats on the purchase.

 

Just in case you needed more assurance, the 6-cell loses 46% of a full charge after two hours with 40% brightness. A 9-cell could probably do 6 hours on 50-60% brightness in that case.