What's so great about HP?

I've been doing a LOT of research on this website the past few weeks, and am really beginning to narrow down my criteria, for the laptop purchase I wish to make in the next two weeks or so.

I am a student with a budget of E1,000/£675/$1,317. The main tasks I will be running include:

- Web browsing
- Instant messaging
- Music and DVD playback
- Music and video downloading
- Disk burning
- Media streaming to Xbox 360
- Games: Football Manager 2007 and Company of Heroes (maybe)
- Word processing

My desired MINIMUM system specs are:

- Core 2 Duo processor of at least 1.66Ghzle
- 1GB dual channel RAM
- 128bit graphics card capable of displaying Company of Heroes to an acceptable standard
- at least 80-100GB of hard drive storage, SATA if possible
- Windows XP Media Centre Edition
- DVD/CD rewrite/supermulti/burner/etc/etc/etc
- 15.4 inch screen, matte preffered (I do not mind glossy though if it comes as standard)
- Vista upgrade if possible

- Good build quality
- Attractive design
- Knowledgeable technical support
- Excellent customer service
- Sound warranty and repairs/returns/exchange policy

Basically, I've asked a load of questions, and had a look at the who-owns-what survey on the homepage, and HP seem to be the people's choice. Particularly the dv6000t model. I am an Irish student (but British recommendations are just as applicable, and North American one's welcome anyway), and I would like to know what is so great about HP, why does everybody vouch for them, and which models would you recommend me (including dv6000t).

Thank you

 

There's nothing so great about HP. They're just the new Dell: high volume, reasonable prices, lots of marketing for people who don't want to do a lot of research.

That's not to say that HP makes bad computers. But just because they sell a lot of computers doesn't make them "great."

Chris

 

HP makes great looking equipment and I place a lot of emphasis in making sure my gadgets look sleek and professional. Imo, comparable Dells don't look as good, hence I never considered them.

 

I prefer the way my HP looks over my g/f's Dell. I think her Dell is built more solid although I havent tore into the guts of that one. Becuase I work for HP I get to use some of thier buisness lines at work. They feel more solid then the Dell's. Like mentioned above the price has been good on the HP's.

 

they also make sturdy relyable laptops

 

Definitely agree on the looks and durability. However, HP's business line and premium consumer models are often overpriced outside the US and this is the point where Dell (and even Lenovo) beat them by a wide margin.

 

What models should I be looking at? You can see from my original post what my main tasks, specs and budget is. It's all there. Let me just say that I was (am) also considering Dell's Inspiron 6400 range, and Toshiba's Satellite Pro A range. What is the HP equivalent? And assuming most of you are American, please quote both the American and the British model names and numbers. Thanks.

 

I think HP makes beautiful looking machines (the new Pavilion line), but they aren't particularly well built. I have a dv2000, which is actually working fine now. I've realized though that there are some issues that are common will ALL of these notebooks. On the dv line (2000 and 6000), the mousepad keys are made of a cheaper plastic, and seem a bit loose. Also the USB ports are very stiff, and you do have to push hard to get the cord in. I thought my issues were on my notebook only, but I have played around with at least 3 others, and they're all the same...

I guess for what you pay, they aren't bad. They just not that sturdy, in my opinion.

 

HP is quality, Dell is cheap toys.
I'm traveling a lot and have had all of my HP laptops bumped around in backpacks stored in overhead bins, etc... for a decade and none of them ever failed. Even when using them in third world countries where dust and electrical stability are a major problem.
All of my traveling colleagues with DELLs have had problems (motherboards and hard disks mainly).

 

Have you looked at the compal hel80? I think that the build quality is better than HP's and you still have the power you need