zx5000 best?

Sorry for starting a new thread but I have got a huge many questions about zx5000 notebook. I have also noticed that the moderator has the same one, so I have read his comments and got an impression that that's just a perfect trade-off between performace/mobility. (Thanks much, Quikster). Still, I have questions about the features of this model:

1. A processor with HT technology. Is it worth it? How much will I gain in terms of computation speed, say 2.8 GHz with and without HT?

2. Is the performance of mobile 2.8 GHz processor the same as that of non-mobile 2.8 GHz processor?

3. Is there worth going for higher resolution (1680x1050 instead of 1280x800) if I do not like small icons and tiny things on the screen? I have seen some messages saying that those 1680x1050 displays have a kind of crooked screen at lower resolutions, is it true? Also, I want a bright picture, really bright, so does this higher res. display offer higher brightness? And then, does the brightness of the screen "fade away" with time, say after 1-2 years is it still going to be that bright as before?

4. In my office I have a wire in the wall for wireless internet. So, is it enough to have just 54g(TM) Integrated Broadcom 802.11b/g Wireless LAN card or I have to buy some routers and whatever on top of it?

5. There is such a thing, which I used to call "memory key". This is a small hard drive for USB port. Do they have such things? Do you suggest buying build-in USB digital drive?

6. ATI RADEON 9600 and 9700 have the same core and, I believe, form. Can I order the latter one or 9600 PRO? Can you verify please if ATI RADEON 9600 64 Mb card is not SE(stripped) version?

7. Do they have a regular-size optical USB mouse? All I saw seems a little bit small.

8. Do you believe Bluetooth is worth investing in it?

I have sent some of these questions to HP pre-sale support a week ago and haven't heard anything from them. So, please, if you have suggestions on some of aforementioned points I would appreciate your response. Just a couple of days ago I wanted zd7000 but I have to travel a lot (though I don't use in on the plane) and your comments made me believe I want something a bit cutier, like zx5000. Thank you guys!

 

Hi Wyrm,

Last month I posted questions regarding the zx5000. After receiving favorable reviews and advice from this Forum, and after I compared the notebook to comparable Dell, Gateway and other HP/Compaq lines, I ordered my HP from HP's online store. I have had the notebook for 1 week now, and it is one very fast mother. I'm a webmaster who usually has no less than 4 programs running at any given moment--and the notebook handles it like I was running only one (this includes deeping Outlook open and streaming in music from an on-line station.) I have 1GB of ram, the 1600px screen and 3.2GB/HT processor. Basically, I checked-off all the goodies on the list. The final bill was actually less than I expected, $2500. (The same price as the cheapest retailer who had this item, but didn't have the configurations I desired.) I have had to use the tech support on several occasions (less to do with HP than the Windows program) and they were absolutely excellent. 4 times I called them and I was never disappointed. In fact, when I had a networking question (something that is outside of their responsibility) 2 techs still stayed on line with me for more than 3 hours to resolve the matter.

If I have a complaint, it is about the screen's viewing options. I elected for the 1600px-W screen. It's great to be able to have more than 1 screen up at the same time to work on. But, if you wish to view, lets say, web pages at the 1024 size (which I must to test my final work) you will get a distorted view. I mean that, because it is a wide-screen, all settings other than the 1600px setting elongates the images, e.g.: a perfect circle will look like and egg, a square will turn into a rectangle. I spoke to one of the tech guys about this, and he was astonished that the zx5000 did not have the 1024 (or lower) option that was proportional to the higher setting. Yet, even though the viewing can be a bit small all the time, I still like it. (The tech, 2 techs actually, did write up a report on it to seek some sort of correction and download patch in the future.)

The weight of the computer is not as bad as I thought it would be, and the dual fans don't seem to bother me. The screen quality is great.

Because I travel all the time overseas, and live there 10 months out of the year, I chose HP because it is serviced just about everywhere (though not with its warrenty.) Finally, when I compare the Dell Inspiron I just parted with for this notebook, I find that HP responds to their customers (using US tech support) and the quality of the machine is sturdier.

I'm glade I came to notebookreview.com for advice. Otherwise, I may have been led astray.

 

1. Unless you will be doing some high end gaming and/or some 3d rendering it wont make too much of a difference, but you will loose battery life.

2. mobile will be very close in performance, but longer battery life. If you don't care too much about that then the 2.8 desktop will give you more raw power, but with the shorter life and more heat.

3. if you are not going to be running it at 1680x1050 I wouldn't recommend getting it. if you have access to a large crt monitor I would set it at 1600x1200 and see how you like that vs. 1280x1024. As for brightness it should remain the same as when you first got it. However, by default the brightness is turned down when on battery power, but you can adjust this yourself if need be.

4. If the wire is an antena connected to another router than the card should be enough. If its just the wire to plug into an ethernet port then you will need a router or access point for wireless usage.

5. There are usb key drives that can be found on sale at any office store or large electronics store (i.e. office depot, staples, best buy,....)

6. The 9600 is the standard m10 chip and as far as I know you only have the option of a 9200 or a 9600

7. You can purchase this also at any of the stores listed in 5. I personally like the logitech mice, specifically mx500 and mx700.

8. I don't have any bluetooth devices nor do I plan on owning any so I didn't, however you can get a mouse that is bluetooth so if you want you could then just have your computer as the reciever and a wireless mouse.

Hope this helps.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

1. <blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>
Hope this helps.
<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

You bet! I just wonder how many guys go and buy a notebook without having a look at this forum ... and then suffer. []


2. Currently I have a desktop PC with 17" LCD display and I prefer 1152 x 864 resolution. So, I think for a smaller display like 15.4" it would be better for me to have 1280 x 800. At the same time my current PC's 1152 x 864 looks almost like scaled down 1680 x 1050 (approx. a factor of 1.3). But 1280 x 800 gives a stretched screen and I am worried about having to see a stretched picture. If someone has zx5000 with 1280 x 800 screen can you please tell me if it looks strechted or not? (BTW, on my LCD 17" display I can choose 1280 x 800 resolution - it will result in very stretched picture with thick black stripes at the top and bottom of the screen [], 1600x1200 is not supported). Currently, I am more inclined to buy the same as you have - 1680 x 1050.

3. Does your notebook support 75 Hz refresh rate? My eyes are really bad and I get tired when it is just 60 Hz - I think that is because of blinking.

4. The old CRT displays have an option to stretch or shrink the size of the visible area on the screen. Is there such a possibility for LCD monitors? Mine does not seem to have it and I don't have CRT monitors around. []

5. If I have an HT processor but do not load it upto the top 100% is it still going to spit out a lot of heat? I need a good processor because I have to run lots of simulations and some of them take upto 12 hours. Now imagine that after 12 hours you look at the results to see they do not make sense, so you have made an error somewhere and have to run it again. That is, eventually a little bit faster processor can mean a lot! But I don't want to have an overheated notebook because I suspect higher temperature wears down the curcuits and boards in it.

6.
<blockquote id='quote'>quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>
Finally, when I compare the Dell Inspiron I just parted with for this notebook, I find that HP responds to their customers (using US tech support) and the quality of the machine is sturdier.
<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

I thought about Dell for a while but I did not like the design of their high-performance notebooks. They look like a top of the BBQ machine (sorry guys if you are fans of Dell but when I look at Inspiron XPS/9100 I can not get rid of the feeling that it must be the broiling part of BBQ machine [] ). At the same time HP Pavilions look like a real thing, especially I am fascinated with the speakers location - it must be very convenient! The only question is - can I close the notebook while still listening to music or it will switch off automatically? (I never had a notebook before, so forgive me for such stupid questions [8)])

 

no the picture will not look streched since the monitor is made for that. Your monitor is not a widescreen monitor hence it would either have to look strechted of have black lines like watching a widescreen movie on a regular tv.

also laptops lcds do not have the same refresh rates, but it shouldn't tire your eyes. I still prefer the nice crispness of my 19" flat crt but the portability and picture of the screen is still very nice.

as for the processor I think that in that in that case it would be benificial, and if it is a 3.2HT mobile than it will lower its clock speed while on battery's and not on full load.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

Quikster, I was kinda wondering, your avatar shows the pic of zd7000 notebook but you have zx5000! How come? [ ]

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>
You can purchase this also at any of the stores listed in 5. I personally like the logitech mice, specifically mx500 and mx700.
<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

mx700 looks cool and it has a rechargeable base which they claim works fast! If you have one, how long does it to charge it and how long does the mouse work until it drops dead?

Also, do you find it OK that you have to have a USB antenna for it? I am afraid I can break it easily... On the other hand, bluetooth mice are way too expensive (~ $100) plus the bluetooth card is ~ $30. For comparison, 60 GB -> 80 GB hard drive upgrade is only $100 and WXGA -> WSXGA+ is also just $100.

<blockquote id='quote'>quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>
as for the processor I think that in that in that case it would be benificial, and if it is a 3.2HT mobile than it will lower its clock speed while on battery's and not on full load.
<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

They do not have such an option - I have got to choose HT technology with 3/3.2 GHz or mobile with 2.8 GHz.

 

The avatar of a zd7000 is because when I signed up they didn't have one of the zx5000.

As for the mx700 I have never had it die on me and have used it for probably about 8 hours or so. I however do not use this with my laptop. I use that on my desktop and have a mx500 for the laptop. It is the same thing just with a wire, and seeing as how I'm close to my laptop all the time anyway I figured it was just as easy to use the corded one.

Personally I didn't get the bluetooth, nor would I get it if I ordered again. I am happy using the mx5000 and the touchpad.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856