dv2000t Likes/Dislikes...So Far

About 6 weeks ago, I purchased a dv6000t. After using it for a couple weeks, I was having some technical issues, and also decided I wanted a smaller notebook. I returned the dv6000 for a dv2000 (rather painlessly through HP) and received the 2000 yesterday. Just a few initial impressions (just aesthetic observations at this point): The 14.1" screen really does make a big difference in terms of portability. I was lucky enough to get an LG Philips screen with both the 6000 and the 2000. For whatever reason, the screen doesn't seem quite as bright and sharp on the 2000 than it did on the 6000, however it is still quite nice. I'm still tweaking the Nvidia settings to my liking.

The keyboard on the 2000 is MUCH quieter than on the 6000. Not sure if this is specific to the units I received. Also, the touchpad buttons seem sturdier on the 2000 (which is weird considering all the complaints people have had about these buttons specifically with the dv2000 model).

My MAJOR gripe is the 12-cell battery. I opted for this based on recommendations from the HP sales rep, and also considering I will be travelling quite a bit. As I'm sure you've read in other threads, the 12-cell battery sticks out like a huge Goiter (anybody watch Seinfeld?). The battery not only makes it very uncomfortable when you have the notebook on your lap, but it also adds significant weight. There has to be a more efficient way to design this battery. Adding the 12-Cell battery makes this portable laptop into a borderline semi-portable laptop. I will be calling HP tonight to switch the batteries.

Other than that, everything is great so far. I'll be submitting some performance reviews soon. The specs are:

- Genuine Windows XP Professional
- Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7200 (2.00 GHz)
- FREE Upgrade to 14.1" WXGA BrightView Widescreen!!
- 128MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7200
- HP IMPRINT Finish + Microphone
- 1.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2x512MB)
- FREE Upgrade from 60 GB 5400 RPM to 80 GB 5400 RPM
- DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
- Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth
- No TV Tuner w/remote control
- 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- Microsoft(R) Works/Money
- Norton Internet Security 2006 - 15 Mo Subscription
- System Recovery DVD w/Windows XP Professional
- Microsoft Office 2003 Student Teacher
- Notebooks 1 yr ADP w/ER

 

Please let us know how the battery swap goes. I ordered 2 12 cells, and would love to return one of them for a 6 cell. I agree about it's lap top discomfort.

 

One look at that 12 Cell on the order page and I knew I didn't want anything to do with it. The whole point of a thin and light laptop is that it is thin and light. I'd rather be carrying around an extra 6 cell if battery life was that bad.

Just my 2 cents.

 

I'm in the market for a notebook at the moment and the HP/Compaq dv2000/v3000 series caught my eye, but i've been put off by battery life. Anything that offers less then 3 hours won't be of much use to me... and i'm not keen on the idea of having to purchase a large 12-cell battery just so I can actually be mobile.

Is the newer cpu's (X2 and Core Duo) that's increased power requirements? If so, why not ship such systems with a 8- or 9-cell battery instead of the skimpy 6-cell?

 

i think HP got alot of compliants about the SEC screen, so now they use LPL now i think, cuz i just got my lappy too and its LPL

Is QDS way better than LPL?, cuz i heard QDS is the best.
and i heard LPL and SEC are alike, not too much difference

 

PPL who compared the LPL and SEC leave comments plz

 

Honestly, the more I use this new notebook, the more disappointed I am with the screen. Things don't seem particularly sharp and a bit grainy. I may go the Nvidia website to download the latest drivers...

 

I have both SEC and LPL screens in front of me now (SEC returns to HP tomorrow). I used two QDS-equipped DV2000s earlier (returned for unrelated defects!) I've compared all the screens side-by-side except CMO. In my opinion, the LPL screen is easily in the same league as QDS/AUO.

Last night I was looking at a DVD image of a plain white shirt. The SEC was grainy and slightly reddish, dark, and impossible to get good corner-to-corner illumination.

By contract the LPL shirt was a brilliant, pure white. Not just well illuminated like the QDS, but a pure, detailed, grainless shade. This translates into well rendered highlights, such as Gandalf's white hair or Shadowfax's coat (obviously I have LotR:TT displayed!).

The QDS appears to be able to produce a well saturated image over a broader vertical angle. In a mobile environment this means less time spent adjusting the monitor. But when properly adjusted, imho, the LPL image quality is equal to or better than QDS.

After four tries I've struck gold with this DV2000T. Unlike my earlier store-bought QDS versions I was able to order Geforce and Core 2 Duo, and it came with MCE rather than Xp Home. The DVD drive is an LG (quieter, more compatible, and better burns than the Mastu****a). And the touchpad has not a trace of fidgetiness, and the keyboard is even quieter (not that the others were loud). But had it come with an AUO or QDS I would be equally as happy.

 

Keltor, would you mind telling me what your specific settings are with the Graphics Card (I'm assuming you have the NVidia 7200). I'm referring to the manual sliders, where you select brightness, etc. Thanks

 

HI guys! iam new in here... well iam planning to get a hp dv2046 notebook and i would like to know does it work well when doing maya and photoshop work on it???

 

thx for that man

 

Let me know if anyone would like to swap one of their 12 cell batteries for an extra 6 cell. I bought 2 6 cells and would like to have a 12 cell. I'll pay you the $39 upgrade fee...

 

I sent you a PM.

 

Good question. I hadn't gotten to it till you asked. A slight reduction in gamma, maybe a slight increase in Digital Vibrance look promising. What have you discovered?

Hmmm... the same OEM panel in different mfr's external displays can look very different due to the different biases in each manufacturers' support electronics. Unlike a separate monitor, based on a single LCD panel design, the circuitry in the DV2000T hit a compromise between several possible panels. That could explain why one panel is brightly lit, another does highlights well, another color saturation (narrow viewing angle and screen texture fall outside these minor differences). If that's the case, then driver utilities like Nvidia's (and to a lesser extend, Intel's) may provide the final calibration needed to allow each panel to produce as accurate an image as it is capable of producing.

On to something? Full of it? I'd be interested in the thoughts of those who know more than me about this (a pretty broad pool. :~)

 

KELTOR and HP Fan: did you order a glossy or non-glossy screen?

 

You can get a non-glossy screen? How do I avoid that? I definately don't want a matte one.

 

Brightview here.

Oh yeah...

Likes: Exterior finish (laptop as babe magnet?).
Dislikes: Exterior finish (or are the fingerprints a scratch-masking "feature"?).

 

Keltor, it seems the best settings I can come up with are a reduction in brightness, and an increase in Digital Vibrance. The Digital Vibrance adjustment definitely helps, but still doesn't seem to solve the problem. Spoke with an HP Tech rep last night, and they said it's definitely NOT the screen itself, just the settings need to be adjusted...Of course that's what they're going to tell me.

I'll keep tweaking, but it's not a big enough problem to return the notebook. Everything else seems great so far (knock on wood). Thanks

 

HP really should offer a 12 cell/6 cell option. When I order my dv2000t (hopefully soon) my brother will also be getting one, so one of us will get 2 12 cells, and the other 2 6 cells. That way we can have one of each. I don't really get why HP didn't offer this option.. I guess you can buy the 12 cell with the notebook and then buy a 6 cell seperately from HP.. but it would be a bit more expensive. The 6 cell battery is $129.99 and the 12 cell is $179.99...

 

I'm sending you a PM too technutty, I posted a thread here looking for a trade: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=84064. I really wish HP would offer a 6/12 combo too. It's just one of those "WTF are they thinking" kind of things...