about to buy: HP Pavilion dv5z

Ok, so I have been researching for the past few months on laptops to buy with a budget. This is what I think I am going to get...


HP Pavilion dv5z
Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
Processor: AMD Turion(TM) X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor ZM-80 (2.1 GHz)
Display: 15.4" diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
Memory: 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Graphics card: 256MB ATI Radeon(TM) HD 3450 Graphics {im wondering if this is good enough}
Personalization: HP Imprint Finish (Mesh) + Microphone + Webcam
Networking: 802.11b/g WLAN
Modem: Port No High speed 56K modem port
Hard drive: 160GB 5400RPM SATA
Primary CD/DVD drive: SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
Primary battery: 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery edit
Productivity software: Microsoft(R) Works 9.0 edit
Keyboard: HP Color Matching Keyboard
With a: 2-year HP Accidental Damage Protection with Pick Up and Return Extended Service Plan
all for...
$1055.62 after tax and shipping (I live in Mesa, AZ...in US)
Do you guys think it's good for the money?
The (almost) exact same computer from Dell, with same warranty, comes to $1389.
I will be using it mostly for media, 3D software (like CAD), and a little gaming (nothing crazy, would like to run Portal since I already have it)
Would I be able to do these things with this laptop?
Is it a good buy to you?

 

I'm buying basically the same one for my sister. Don't expect miracles from an entertainment notebook when you put it to work but still it should be really fine for what you want. If media and 3D software is the main you are buying it for, I would suggest that you take a look at some Intel based platforms as well. The intel processor will give you more power and you may be one of those rare people who need it

 

do you know if that second 6 cell battery they offer( the one with 16% more battery life) sticks out and is not flush with the laptop? i'll admit it would bother me lol.

 

straight from the website:


yeah, i can see why it doesn't look good lol.

 

hmmm... but that second picture is of a 12 cell battery and not a high capacity 6 cell battery so I wonder if it will look like that or not.

 

i believe the 6 sell stays inside the laptop. does any1 know how much weight that high cap. 6 cell adds? that would be interesting.

 

high capacity 6 cell looks exactly like the 6 cell, and i think the weight gain (if any) is negligible compared to the 6 pounds that the laptop is gonna weigh. it only adds a small amount of battery life, so i don't even know if it is worth it in the long run.

 

...Especially since the battery will start losin' it's charge from the date of its manufacture, anyway. I can't wait for the next generation of batteries to get here.

 

I would not spend that much on a dv5z. For $904 (after FatWallet 3% and $400 coupon), you can get a 6700t with Core 2 Duo 2.5 Ghz, 256 MB 8400GS, 3 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard drive, 12 cell battery, $15 mouse and standard 1 year warranty. Just configure it to cost $1299 (including the $70 printer which will be rebated, but not including the $100 instant savings), then use the $400 coupon. You can do a similar thing with the 6700t SE if you want the fingerprint reader and webcam.

If you want powerful graphics, you can get the Gateway M-152XL(which has a 2.4 Ghz C2D and a 512 MB HD 2600, plus a 7200 rpm disk) for about $969 after the $50 rebate, again with only the standard warranty.

The Dv5z and AMD is more, IMO, to get budget laptops.

 

not a bad idea. but i finally decided to get a desktop since im on a budget. im gonna make my own kinda like this for about $800...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-P...13654/catOid/-12962/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

 

For some reason, going through the fatwallet link didn't work for me. At least got to use the coupon code, NB7530, through the normal route to buy the DV6700t right before it expired, as the code no longer seems to work.

 

I took a look at DV5 today at bestbuy and honestly, I like the old design better. The new casing is not as attractive and the flat glassy screen doesn't do much for me. The keyboard and the mouse buttons are better though.