dv1000 vs. v4000

I am looking at buying a new laptop for college next year and for this summer. I want a computer that has decent power and that I can code on, but battery life is also very important. I have narrowed it down to either the HP dv1000 or the Compaq v4000. With HP employee discount, I can get either one with a 1.7ghz or 1.73ghz Pentium M, 512mb ram, 80gb 5400rpm hard drive, DVD burner, and wireless.

Since the prices are within $50 of each other, I am looking at the other specs to decide. Does anyone know how either of these laptops perform batetry wise?

I have noticed that the dv1000 has better speakers. Does anyone know how much better quality these provide? I will generally be using headphones, but I do like to listen to music on my laptop.

The v4000 has the Graphics Media Accelerator 900 instead of the Extreme Graphics 2. From what I have read the first performs better than the second. The first chip is also in the laptop with the larger screen, but not by much. Again, does anyone know how much of an effect this has?

Finally, have any of you used either of these laptops and have opinions on them good or bad?

Thank you for any help you can provide in making this decision.

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From what I can tell the only advantage the dv1000 gets you is quickplay....play dvd's without booting windows. The v4000 is the compaq version of the dv4000 (updated model to dv1000). The compaq v4000 has the newest sonoma chipset, faster graphics, express pci card slot (not usefull now but maybe in the future) and larger 15.4 inch screen. If you went with the hp dv4000 you would get all that plus quickplay and a wireless remote control. Note: only retail models come with the remote and only the retail models have the dual layer dvd burner. PCmag.com just gave the dv4000 the editors choice award. Nice review.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1780090,00.asp

 

I was looking at the dv4000 but I didn't like the touchpad. The ridges in the scroll area and the latch being in the middle of the buttons I just didn't like. But if the rest is better I can live with those.

Is there a way to order the remote for the dv4000 seperate? It is an addon option to the dv1000 but I don't see it for the dv4000. I don't want to buy one of the retail models because I want a 5400rpm hard drive.

With the HP employee discount I can get the dv1000, v2000, dv4000, or v4000 all within $50 of each other and the same specs on the customizable parts. I went and looked at the body styles yesterday and the only thing I didn't like was the touchpad on the dv4000, so I am looking at all 4 trying to decide.

Has anyone else used the touchpad on the dv4000 and like or dislike it?

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I asked hpshopping.com about the remote option. They said it should appear on the configuration page very soon. If you go to the general accessories page you will see a remote for the dv1000...not sure if it is the same as the dv4000. I didnt care for the touch pad buttons on the dv4000 so I am looking for a handheld trackball...something I can hold as I use the laptop on my easychair.

I am also probably going the customized route (unless there is a great deal soon at a retailer). What the retail models don't have thatI want are the extended battery, the 5400 rpm drive and probably the wireless 80211bg with bluetooth. It seems many of the wireless mouses are bluetooth so I would be good to have that. Oh, and you can bump up to a 1.73 pentium m for what its worth. The retail models are 1.5 and 1.6 only.

Too bad there has been so little feedback from those who have received their units.

 

I ordered a custom dv4000 on the 11th. They say it should be shipped by May 9th, but I hope it's much sooner than that. When I get it, I'd be more than happy to answer questions or post a review.

Here's the config I went with:

- Windows XP Professional with SP2
- Intel Pentium M Processor 740 (1.73 GHz)
- 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
- 1.0GB DDR SDRAM (2x512MB)
- 100 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
- 8X DVD +/- RW/R & CD-RW Combo
- Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG & Bluetooth
- 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

The few things I didn't like were:

- No double-layer drive in the custom models
- No remote
- Takes FOREVER (or so it seems) to be built and shipped.
- Would have liked a 2GHz Pentium M

I almost wish that I went with the dv4040 preconfigured model because of how long it will take for the custom one to be shipped. It had all the same major specs with the exceptions of XP Pro (something I could add myself later), bluetooth, and the 12-cell battery.

I went with the dv4000 because it had a good config for the price (the custom config above came out to $1593) compared with other notebooks and PC Magazine gave it a good review.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see if hpshopping.com's ship date is usually an over-estimate or not.

 

well, i just returned my compaq r3470US because i wanted something more portable..

so i ended up getting the dv4030CA ( no dual layer in canada either, i guess ) but it has lightscribe.. anyway.. its' an ok laptop, both models i have , had dead pixels so i am going on my third on tomorrow.. at futureshop.ca anyway it's an ok lapto, smooth, quiet the track pad isn't bad either responvice and all, the screen though has Major glare, i find it more then then brightview on the compaq 3470.......

the machine thogh IS quiet and i love it! fan doesn't come on much and it's great!!!! for a 4200rmp drive, its really fast i find it.. it's very responsive and i haven't see any lag yet..

ONE THING TO NOTE

hmm it's all cheap plastic
i am scared to hold it hard, it feels very cheaply made.

i am considering looking at other models
anyway so far that is my input.

 

Just purchaesed the HP dv4030 with 15.4" widescreen from Futureshop in Canada for $1799. The DVD burner was advertised as dual layer but the dvd actually only comes with lightscribe (what is that, just a labelling feature?)
I find the briteview screen has too much glare for normal office lighting contions. Better to view it in darkened room.
I would have liked something a more portable, but was suckered by the widescreen. It's about 7 lbs (why doesn't Futureshop let you feel the demo laptop outside of the security display? Then I could have determined the heft before buying. Their online specs are unreliable!)

I do like the HP quickplay feature though.

So, I am considering exchanging the HP dv4030 for the sleeker 14" screen Compaq V2210 CNT or HP dv1240CNT.
The Compaq model is $200 less than what I paid for the dv4030, only difference is the smaller screen, 80GB HD vs 100, and slightly slower processor (pentium M 715, 1.5 Ghz, as opposed to pentium M 715, 1.5 Ghz on the dv4030)

Is there much difference in quality between HP and compaq notebooks?

 

Not sure if this is too late for anyone who asked-- but I bought a DV1000 series back in January and have been using it since then.

I bought it with all these options and I highly recommend each one:

Pentium M 725 (or faster, if you really think you need it)
512 of SDRAM (at least)
remote control (only $15 for chrissakes-- you can't add it later)
Brightview (I really like it)
Broadcom Bluetooth (beats my friend's Compaq with standard card)
5400 rpm hard drive- this makes a big difference
12 cell battery-- better viewing angle as a bonus

*People were complaining their DV1000's ran hot-- mine never has.
*The Harmon-Kardon speakers are really good.
*the 12 cell battery slants the keyboard up a bit, much better angle
* +$25 for the Broadcom wireless card buys a much more sensitive card
*the 14" display is plenty big (in my opinion)
*it's very lightweight and portable
*the extra money for the faster harddrive was WELL worth it

I can't swear to anyone that it's THE BEST one out there, but after owning it for 3 months I am very, very satisfied with it. It was a very good deal and is a very solid machine.

 

Colette

I felt the same way as yours on the heft of DV4030. I weighed it with my hands at Best Buy and feel something. I really like the portability of DV1000, yet I'm attracted to the Sonoma chipset and PCI express card slot.

 

I bought the retail version with 1.5 gigs and 512k.

This computer runs hot. I have to use a targus under the computer fan sometimes.

This computer has a serious problem with suddenly shutting down when multi-tasking. I can't explain this other than maybe lack of memory issues. The 1 or 2 gigs might be a better deal.

The faster hard drive would definitely be a better deal.

The media controls are nice, especially the remote. The touchpad on/off button is a fantastic feature too.

The screen has a great picture and the speakers are the best I've heard on a laptop.

I had a BIG problem this past winter with this computer sutting down from static electricity shocks. Every time I touched the metal speaker grilles, the thing would go tits-up. This is less of an issue now that it isn't as dry inside, but still, this shouldn't happen and it never has been an issue with any other laptop I've ever used.

Not sure what is so special about the DVD drive in the retail models - what is a dual layer drive, anyway? It works well, if that's important.

Anyone else have issues with this computer? I like it a lot, I just wish it weren't so schitzophrenic.

 

Gil

I'm not sure which model you use, DV1000 or 4000? For the static discharge, be sure to use a surge protector with your valuable laptop. The shock could happen anytime.

 

Gil, a dual layer DVD burner can not only burn standard 4.7 gb disks but also higher capacity disks with 8.5 gigs of storage, but those right now are very expensive.

 

hpshopping.com shows the dv4000 can accept 1 GB RAM max (2 x 512), but the dv1000 shows 2 GB max (2 x 1024). Is that for real or is it an old spec? Bestbuy.com shows the dv4030us with a max of 2GB.

If it's really 1 GB max, that doesn't seem like much these days - especially because of shared video RAM. For a machine that's supposed to be an update of the dv1000, I would figure it could accept at least 2 GB.

 

Good point!

 

The dv4000 actually DOES allow for a total of 2GB RAM (2 x 1GB SODIMM). The specs listed on hpshopping.com are a bit off from what the machine actually has (it also says 2 USB ports). Hopefully they get that fixed soon.

What I don't get is that the remote is $14.99 if you buy with a dv1000 but the ful $19.99 if bought with a dv4000. I don't want to sound like I'm nit-picking but for the money spent on my customized unit, you'd think they would give the same lower price.

Anyway, can't wait till it gets here!!

 

Hi again -

My mistake - I meant the dv1000, not the 4000. I shipped it back to HP service today after pulling teeth to get the information I needed from HP's (offshore, outsourced) help desk. God help you if you ask them anything they are not scripted to answer.

This trend of outsourced, barely-English speaking "help" in the personal computer industry has got to stop. Hell, I'd rather PAY to talk to a native English speaker than suffer through the free version again. Maybe this makes me seem unkind, but I don't care, when you're paying $1500+ for a product, a little service should come with the deal. Hell, Canadians speak English and they'll work cheaper than Americans - hire them, HP!

Anyway, I'm about to find out how good their warranty service is, but I don't expect a lot of problems. The static shock problem was a common issue with these computers they say. I always use a surge protector, and though this may prevent damage, it does nothing to mitigate the shock factor, at least not for me it didn't.

As far as the 4000 ges, I too checked out the HP shopping pages and saw the memory limited to 1GB. Hopefully that isn't the case. Also, I don't recall if it had the 6-in-1 reader that the dv1000 has. That's a nice feature that I use more than I expected, since I got a digital camera that takes SD memory.

The 4000 seems like a decent system, but from what I saw, it didn't bring that much more to the table than the dv1000. What's the major benefit, aside from the larger screen?

I'm listening to music on a borrowed laptop, and I miss the dv1000's speakers more than ever.

 

Gil,

The DV4000, in fact, supports the memory capacity up to 2GB according to a HP rep.'s email (I asked them through website).

The benefit of DV4000 over DV1000, in my opinion, would be as follow: a greater front size bus speed (533 vs 400 mhz), new Pentium M chipset (Sonoma) supporting the PCI Express card (which could function as a VDO memory card) and having more shared VDO memory (128 vs. 64 mb).

 

Very pleased with my new dv4000 (got it configured-to-order, arrived 9 days after placing the order).

The display is great and it's faster than I was expecting. I'm very pleased so far and would like to thank everyone for the info and advice gained from your posts.