Upgrade costs from dv7 vs. HDX16

I just configured a new HDX16t to see what the price difference would be compared to the dv7t that I just bought (literally the day before the HDX16 came out ), and I noticed a few things that don't make any sense.

1. The dv7 CPU upgrade from the P8600 to the T9600 is +$350, but in the HDX16 it only costs +$125 for the same upgrade.

2. The dv7 hard drive upgrade from 250GB to 320GB is +$75, but in the HDX16 it only costs +$25.

3. The dv7 Lightscribe DVD-RW to Blu-Ray upgrade is +$135, but in the HDX16 it only costs +$100 (even though the dv7 supposedly has a "$100-off Blu-Ray" discount, and the HDX16 doesn't have any discount at all)

What the hell? Why would those upgrades cost any more or less in one model compared to another? Is it possible that the prices listed on the HDX16 are more current prices, and they just haven't updated the pricing on the dv7 upgrades in a while? And do you think HP would allow me to call in and get those upgrades added to my dv7 at the same price they would cost on the HDX16?

I'm thinking about canceling my order for the dv7t, because for $90 less than what I paid for the dv7 I can get an HDX16 with a faster processor (T9600 vs. P8600), bigger HD (320GB vs. 250GB), and better screen (1920x1080 Ultra Brightview Infinity vs. 1680x1050 Brightview). Plus, I also like the black/silver contrasted look of the HDX16 better than the all-silver look of the dv7. Save money get better parts, and better looks = win, win, win! Sure I'll lose 1" of screen, but I was already debating between the 15.4" dv5 or the 17" dv7 to begin with, so the 16" HDX16 fits perfectly right in between.

 

Hey everyone - first post here. I've been reading a lot on this forum, researching my new laptop, but this post actually inspired me to register.

To jleonard711:

I'm in exactly the same boat. I too ordered a dv7t this past week, only a day before HP added the HDX16 to their site. And like you, I configured an HDX16 to compare the prices. I would be able to purchase one of these with better features, for right around the same price as my dv7. I figured the price decrease for things like the processor was just due to decreased manufacturing costs, but the upgrade to the T9600 on the HDX16 is half the price of the dv7 upgrade for the same part! Not to mention the other lower cost upgrades, like the hard drive and blu-ray drive.

I called HP yesterday and asked if I could cancel the order. They told me that they could put in a request to cancel, but it would not be guaranteed -- and I'd have to wait another 48 hours just to find out if it was successfully cancelled. I really don't want to put another $1200 debit on my bank card for a second laptop, while I wait for this to either be cancelled, or shipped to me and then returned. Another problem is that if I wait to order an HDX16, the $500 coupon might expire.

I didn't ask HP if I could upgrade my dv7t at the same cost as the HDX16, but I might give them another call today. Besides the better value, I also love the new color and design - moreso than the dv7 (although I still like the silver on silver). I just can't understand the huge difference in cost, and it doesn't make sense to me, considering how recently the dv7 came out. And I agree that I can live without the extra 1" of screen size, since it's a better display anyway.

Not sure what to do here, either, but please let me know if you find out anything from HP! Any other opinions about the cost differences?

 

The only thing thats killing me is no dual hard drive

 

I think the HDX18t will have the dual hard drive at 7200rpm. ALso, I wouldn't buy it quite yet because they really suck at getting thier website right. They may have an option for the dual on the 16, but just haven't put it up yet. JUst like the TV tuner option when I ordered my dv7t. It came with the option, but they were out of stock. Like you my DV7t is on the way, but it is going back the second it gets here. I don't like th dull screen. If they would have had the ultrabright view as an option on the dv7t I would be h appier, but the screen is a bit dull.

 

^ how do you know it's dull if you don't even have the laptop yet?

Generally price differences like that have to do with differences in the supply chain for two different models-- one may have had a bulk of parts sourced at a higher price several months ago, while the other might have had a stock ordered at a lower bulk price. The supply chains for laptops often aren't mixed, so the parts cost for one may be drastically different than the other.

 

The supply-chain thing would make sense from logistics standpoint, but it still frustrates the consumer when they see the same components listed at such drastically different prices from one model to the next. I read an article online yesterday that talked about HP, and the fact that they are selling so many laptops right now that they are starting to outsource the manufacturing of a lot of them rather than building them all themselves. This might explain the higher cost in parts - if one particular model is built in-house and they get the parts at a cheaper price, compared to another model that is outsourced where they have to pay more for those parts.

UPDATE: Just for fun I looked up the retail prices on those processors on NewEgg, and look at what I found:

P8600 $259.99
T9600 $559.99

So it looks like the T9600 actually does cost about $300 more than the P8600, which would explain the $350 upgrade price on the dv7. But then why would the HDX16 only cost $125 to go from the P8600 to the T9600? That doesn't make any sense. Maybe they just have the price wrong on the new model and they haven't noticed it yet??

 

That's funny, it sounds like we really are in the exact same boat! I also don't want to buy an HDX16 for an additional $1250 and then wait for them to credit the $1350 for the dv7 back to me. But I also don't want to wait on a cancellation for the dv7 to be approved first, b/c the coupon code might expire. What to do...what to do....

 

Well, I guess we don't need to worry about the coupon running out any more, because it is now officially D-E-A-D.

I wonder if HP intentionally timed that coupon with the release of the HDX series so that they could move a ton of the DV series before the new ones were launched. I just find it too ironic that the scheduled launch date of the HDX18 is 9/23, and the coupon code had an expiration date of 9/22 (or 2,750 uses, which already happened).

 

Yeah, the only thing we can do now is hope HP offers a comparable coupon in the near future, to use on the HDX16/18. I'm crossing my fingers for another 30% coupon.

I'm sure HP timed this to move the dv7 laptops.

 

...and that they do so within the next 21 days, so we can return our dv7's! Although I'm sure they will probably time the next big coupon deal more than 21 days after this one expired to screw over those who want to send back their DV5/7 for an HDX16/18.

 

yeah i noticed this as well. there's also the huge screen upgrade from 768p to 1080p for $25, while on the dv5t, the "analogous" upgrade from 800p to 1050p is $75. hopefully this isn't just an oversight on the part of hp, because these prices are very reasonable for these upgrades.

 

I just ordered a fully loaded DV5T yesterday, didnt even know about the hdx16, didnt look in that section because the hdx i knew of was way too expensive.

looks like im calling in to cancel in the morning......

 

i have a dv7-1175nr from best buy and want to upgrade the cpu to a t-9300 that i have already. MY question is how do i change out the cpu in my hp dv7-1175nr? Where is the cpu located? Is it under the keyboard or is it on the underside?

 

had to take apart the entire laptop to change out the cpu as it is underneath the laptop. Had to remove the actual motherboard. I wish hp was like the gateway fx 6860 i had that was so easy to change.