Tx2z - HDX 16t Dilemma

I have posted on the "What notebook should I buy?" forum before and have narrowed down my choices - both HP - and I believe I would be getting the best opinion/input on this HP forum.

I am about to buy my first notebook (finally ), and this I'm planning to use for the next 5yrs or more, if possible. For a month now I've been reading through reviews, lurking over forums, and all that jazz - where I have learned a lot, especially about the notebook components/devices (as to before where I only look at numbers choose the highest assuming that it is better).

First I got my eyes on HP's fancy Tx2z. I love its portability and uniqueness, in terms of being a touchscreen (I don't look at it as a tablet but a notebook with touchscreen capabilities - not sure if it makes sense but anyway..xD). Another thing is that Tx2z CTO fits my budget, which is a big plus. However, after all that research, Tx2z's charm on me starts to fade away. I thought the ZM-86, 2.4 ghz, 2mb L2 cache would make my computer activities like slicing through butter, but all the other users are complaining how it is slow, and that the numbers don't really reflect on Tx2z's actual performance. Also, the fan is loud (which I have heard myself on video reviews), and the notebook reportedly runs unusually/uncomfortably warm. I've heard of the old TX series problems with the heat and the gpu, and I am afraid that the Tx2z might suffer the same fate (although this one has ATI on it and not NVIDIA like the old ones, i think?), and I will not be getting the longevity I am expecting from this notebook.

Then I stumbled upon a HDX 16t. Hands down on the specs. I'm seeing a lot of beautiful numbers again. This one has Intel on it, has a dedicated NVIDIA chip on it, etc. I'm a big guy so I could handle its bulkiness, so this sort of wins the battle base on the components and looks (love the imprint). The issues however - first is the price, its more fancy so I'd be chipping a lot more. Second would be the issues I have read through. The quicktouch panel has been a long issue for HP notebooks (which the Tx2z doesn't have btw). I don't want to have a malfunctioning notebook. Also, I've heard about this issue on the INTEL wireless N card (5100?), on how it fails to connect to N routers. I will be doing a lot of internet browsing on my future notebook (flash intensive web pages, web-based games, online videos, etc) so that issue is a turn-off for me. Also, I plan on getting the 1920x1080 resolution, but it will be coming with the infinity display that has issues too (dust build-up and keyboard scratches), though solvable by placing the cloth that came with the notebook on the keyboard when closing the lid down as what the other owners are doing, it is still a nuisance.

I'll be using the notebook I'll buy mostly for intense internet browsing.

Both notebooks have their pros and cons, and knowing that there isn't a perfect PC, my obvious question would be - What should I get? Which is the lesser of two evils?

I do apologize for the long post. I have been lurking in these forums for a long while now, finally I got to post a thread.

 

Why not settle for somthing like the dv3t or the dv4t? You will still get most of the portability aspect as well as running a bit cooler. if all you are doning is internet surfing, then either a low end discrete or even a IGP should be more than adequate. FWIW, being a tx2500 owner, its still a fast laptop. The ZM86 is very capable of running everyday applications. I have had mine for over a year and other than the noisy fan(which increasingly seems to be chresteristic of HP laptops) and am not too worried about longevity issues. I dont expect it to face the same problems as the previous generation did with the nvidia hardware. Personally I wouldnt recommend the tx2 unless you are specifically looking to use a low priced touchscreen/pen input based notebook.

 

This may sound weird, but I chose not to go with any of the units in the pavilion line because I do not see anything special in them - nothing to set them apart or make them stand-out from regular laptops.

Thank you very much for your input on ZM-86.
Did you have Norton on that tx2500? I have also read that when it is uninstalled, tx2z's speed/performance will be better. I wonder if Norton also makes hdx16t sluggish.

Here are the specs of those two I'm choosing from btw:


HP TouchSmart tx2z customizable Notebook PC
FR239AV


* Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
* AMD Turion(TM) X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor ZM-86 (2.4GHz, 2MB L2 Cache)
* $50 OFF!! 6GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* 250GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
* ATI Radeon(TM) HD 3200 Graphics with 64MB Display Cache Memory
* 12.1" diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP LED Widescreen (1280x800) with Integrated Touch-screen
* LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
* Webcam + Fingerprint Reader with HP Imprint Finish (Reaction)
* Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
* HP Color Matching Keyboard
* 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Order subtotal
$1,263.99


HP HDX16t Premium Series customizable Notebook PC
NK606AV


* Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
* Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor T9900 (3.06 GHz, 6 MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
* 6GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* 320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 130M
* FREE Upgrade to 16.0" diagonal High Definition HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1920x1080p)
* Lightscribe Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
* Webcam + Fingerprint Reader with HP Imprint Finish (Fluid)
* Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth
* No TV Tuner w/remote control
* Full Size Backlit Keyboard
* 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* No Productivity Software
* HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Order subtotal
$2,113.99

(coupon discounts not included)

I'm not sure if the power of the high-end T processor is worth the extra bucks and heat generated/energy consumed.

This laptop won't be used in the US and sending it in for a factory defect is not an option, so kindly bear with my whining.

Thank you for the poll votes. ^^

Forgot to say this: the web-based game I am hooked with involves webpages that are heavily loaded with flash files/videos, and they have to be running all at the same time.

 

The hdx16 is a beast, especially with maxed specs. Norton won't do anything to it.

 

I think you should go with the best P Series processor instead of that T9900

 

Norton these days isn't as bad as it used to be. Most of the initial problems people have with these systems is largely due to the amount of bloatware HP installs in their systems, this is true of most of their consumer laptops. A clean install is generally recommended. I am running NIS 2010 beta and its pretty lightweight on system resources.

In any case if you are willing to spend ~$2,000 for the HDX16t then the HP 2730p might be a viable alternative. its a capable tablet plus has intel cpu's so should run cooler than the tx2z while offering similar if not better performance in most areas except for the graphics. Also as others have mentioned dropping the cpu to either a P8800 or even the P8700 along with 4GB RAM should provide for 85 - 90% of the performance as your config but for $500 less.

 

That's exactly what I have been waiting to hear! I am afraid to downgrade the processor and the RAM since this will be a one-time buy and I am not sure how it will affect the laptop's performance - I don't want to regret not upgrading whatever I can upgrade, but seeing that I can still get 85-90% performance from the $2k config after the downgrade..


HP HDX16t Premium Series customizable Notebook PC
NK606AV


* Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
* Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8700 (2.53 GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
* FREE Upgrade to 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) from 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* 320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 130M
* FREE Upgrade to 16.0" diagonal High Definition HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1920x1080p)
* Lightscribe Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
* Webcam + Fingerprint Reader with HP Imprint Finish (Fluid)
* Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth
* No TV Tuner w/remote control
* Full Size Backlit Keyboard
* 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* No Productivity Software
* HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Price: $1,738.99
Coupon: –$300.00
Notebook instant rebate: –$200.00
Price after rebate: 1,238.99

Im going for the HDX16t then!

 

Word up! You'll love it.