HP Pavilion tx2000z Review

by Tiffany Boggs

HP has finally updated the very popular tx1000z. Welcome the tx2000z convertible notebook. It has the same design as its predecessor, but now has an active digitizer and touchscreen. I have to say I am quite impressed with this 12.1-inch convertible notebook/tablet. The entertainment features make this notbook a real head turner, especially when you consider the starting price. We received a pre-production unit for our review and it's still near perfect.

(view large image)

HP Pavilion tx2000z convertible notebook specs:

• AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core processor TL-66 2.3GHz
• Up to 4GB DDR2 RAM (review unit had 2GB)
• Nvidia GeForce Go 6150 graphics
• Hard drive options of 120GB, 160GB or 250GB (review unit had 160GB)
• 12.1" WXGA touchscreen display with built in digitizer (1280x800 resolution)
• LightScribe Super Multi or Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW
• Windows Vista Home, Business or Ultimate OS
• Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet
• 802.11a/b/g/n with Bluetooth
• ExpressCard Slot
• 3 x USB ports
• 2 x headphone out and one microphone-in
• VGA-15 pin
• TV-Out S-video
• RJ-11 and RJ-45
• Notebook Expansion port 3
• 2 x Consumer IR
• Battery: 4-cell or 6-cell Lithium-Ion
• Weight: 4.3 pounds with weight saver and 4-cell battery
• Dimensions: 8.82"(L) x 12.05"(W) x 1.23"(H)

Design and Build

The tx2000z has a high-gloss HP exclusive "Echo" finish. Unlike its predecessor the lid is glossy black and has the Echo pattern, which also extends inside to the silver keyboard. It's a very sleek design, but it does get full of fingerprints. The overall design and chassis are still the same.

The tx2000z feels solid and weighs in around 4.3 pounds, but it still has the same plastic housing which shows some signs of flex. It gets a little heavy to carry around in tablet mode, but it does come packed full of features and you can always substitute the weight saver in place of the optical drive.

Lid of the tx2000z with Echo imprint. (view large image)

Students and professionals everywhere are rejoicing to this news. The updated tx2000z Entertainment Tablet PC has a touchscreen and active digitizer, which means now you don't have to use just your finger to navigate because there is a pen for taking notes or drawing. The pen is accurate and responsive as well. It still comes packed with a remote (my pre-production unit was lacking one though) and the Altec Lansing speakers, so watching movies or listening to music is great, just like a standard notebook.

Display

The 12.1" WXGA display is kind of grainy, but this is very common with tablets. It is glossy and reflective, but nothing major if you like the high-gloss screens. The screen is hard to read in the sunlight, not that I have seen much sun though here in the cold Midwest. The viewing angles are fine and now that it has both a touchscreen and active digitizer, it's a real tablet.

The tx2000z in tablet mode with pen. (view large image)

The screen automatically changes orientation when rotated into tablet mode and the small hinge is surprisingly sturdy. The pen feels nice as well and I prefer it when navigating over my finger because it is more accurate. At the highest setting the screen is bright and the colors are bold, but you can't tell what you are setting it too because there isn't an on-screen indication for brightness levels.

Performance and Benchmark

The tx2000z now has that needed bump of power with its AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core processor. Browsing the Web and uploading pictures was an easy task. The Nvidia Go 6150 graphics will be a disappointment to some, but still work fine, just no hard-core gaming. There are no signs of lag when browsing the Web, checking email or editing photos. This tablet was in need of a refresh and I can't complain, especially for the price.

Comparison Results for PCMark05

PCMark05 measures the systems performance as a whole. As you can see the tx2000z is on top of the competition.

Notebook	PCMark05 Score
HP tx2000z (AMD Turion 64 X2 2.3GHz, Nvidia Go 6150 graphics)	3,738 PCMarks
Asus R1E (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, GMA 965 chipset)	4,679 PCMarks
Fujitsu LifeBook T2010 (Intel Core 2 Duo ULV 1.2GHz, GMA X3100 graphics)	2,334 PCMarks
Gateway C-140x (Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz, ATI X2300 HD graphics)	4,342 PCMarks
HP Compaq 2710p (Intel Core 2 Duo ULV 1.2GHz, GMA X3100 graphics)	2,453 PCMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6GHz, GMA X3100 graphics)	3,473 PCMarks
Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz, GMA X3100 graphics)	4,171 PCMarks
Gateway E-155C (Intel Core 2 Duo ULV 1.06GHz, Intel GMA 950 graphics)	2,205 PCMarks
LG C1 (Intel Core Duo 1.2GHz, Nvidia Go 7300)	2,568 PCMarks
Toshiba R400 (Intel Core Duo ULV 1.2GHz, Intel GMA 950 graphics)	2,187 PCMarks
HP tx1000 (AMD Turion X2 2.0GHz, Nvidia Go 6150)	3,052 PCMarks
Asus R1F (1.66GHz Core Duo, Intel GMA 950 graphics)	2,724 PCMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad X60t (1.66GHz LV Core Duo)	2,860 PCMarks
Toshiba Tecra M6 (1.66GHz Intel T2300E, Intel GMA 950)	2,732 PCMarks

Comparison Results for 3Dmark05

3DMark05 tests the overall graphic capabilities of a notebook.

Notebook	3DMark05 Results
HP tx2000z (2.3GHz AMD Turion 64 X2, Nvidia Go 6150 graphics)	636 3DMarks
Asus R1E (2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, GMA 965 chipset)	923 3DMarks
Fujitsu LifeBook T2010 (1.2GHz ULV Core 2 Duo, GMA X3100 graphics)	566 3DMarks
Gateway C-140x (2GHz Core 2 Duo, ATI X2300 HD graphics)	1,956 3DMarks
HP Compaq 2710p (1.2GHz ULV Core 2 Duo, GMA X3100 graphics)	634 3DMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (1.6GHz Core 2 Duo, Intel GMA X3100 graphics)	812 3DMarks
Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 (2.2GHz Core 2 Duo, Intel GMA X3100 graphics)	925 3DMarks
Gateway E-155C (1.06GHz ULV Core 2 Duo, Intel GMA 950)	500 3DMarks
LG C1 (1.2GHz Intel Core Duo, Nvidia Go 7300)	1,392 3DMarks
Fujitsu LifeBook S2210 (1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52, ATI x1150)	810 3DMarks
PortableOne UX (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, Intel GMA 950)	590 3DMarks
Toshiba Satellite A135 (1.73GHz Core Duo, Intel GMA 950)	519 3DMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400 128MB)	2,092 3DMarks

Super Pi

In the below results of Super Pi, where the processor is timed in calculating Pi to 2 million digits:

Notebook	Time to Calculate Pi to 2 Million Digits
HP tx2000z (2.3GHz AMD Turion 64 X2)	1m 33s
Fujitsu LifeBook U810 (800MHz Intel A110)	6m 22s
Fujitsu T2010 (1.2GHz ULV Core 2 Duo)	1m 40s
Gateway C-140x (2GHz Core 2 Duo)	58s
HP Compaq 2710p (1.2GHz ULV Core 2 Duo)	1m 39s
Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (1.6GHz Core 2 Duo)	1m 10s
Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 (2.2GHz Core 2 Duo)	54s
Gateway E-155C (1.06GHz ULV Core 2 Duo)	1m 58s
LG C1 (1.2GHz Intel Core Duo)	1m 49s
Toshiba R400 (1.2GHz ULV Core Duo)	2m 10s
Asus R1F (1.66GHz Core Duo)	1m 20s
Lenovo ThinkPad X60t (1.66GHz LV Core Duo)	1m 24s
IBM ThinkPad X41t (1.5GHz LV Pentium M)	2m 02s
HP TC4400 Tablet PC (2.0GHz Core Duo)	1m 13s
Dell Latitude D420 (1.06GHz Core Solo ULV)	2m 11s

wPrime is a program that forces the processor to do recursive mathematical calculations, the advantage of this program is that it is multi-threaded and can use both processor cores at once, thereby giving more accurate benchmarking measurements than Super Pi.

Notebook / CPU	wPrime 32M time
HP Pavilion tx2000z (Turion X2 TL-66 @ 2.3GHz)	34.023s
Dell Inspiron 1525 (Core 2 Duo T7250 @ 2.0GHz)	43.569s
Dell XPS M1530 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)	37.485s
Portable One SXS37 (Core 2 Duo T7250 @ 2.0GHz)	41.908s
Sony VAIO NR (Core 2 Duo T5250 @ 1.5GHz)	58.233s
Toshiba Tecra A9 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)	38.343s
Toshiba Tecra M9 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)	37.299s
HP Compaq 6910p (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2GHz)	40.965s
Sony VAIO TZ (Core 2 Duo U7600 @ 1.20GHz)	76.240s
Zepto 6024W (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2GHz)	42.385s
Lenovo T61 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)	37.705s
Alienware M5750 (Core 2 Duo T7600 @ 2.33GHz)	38.327s
Hewlett Packard DV6000z (Turion X2 TL-60 @ 2.0GHz)	38.720s
Samsung Q70 (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2.0GHz)	42.218s
Acer Travelmate 8204WLMi (Core Duo T2500 @ 2.0GHz)	42.947s
Samsung X60plus (Core 2 Duo T7200 @ 2.0GHz)	44.922s
Zepto Znote 6224W (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2.0GHz)	45.788s
Samsung Q35 (Core 2 Duo T5600 @ 1.83GHz)	46.274s

HDTune Results

Keyboard/Touchpad/Pen

The keyboard feels solid. The keys don't flex too much and response time is good. HP is making the keyboards even better on the production models with improved accuracy and response. I also like the durable finish they have, which is good for preserving the keyboard from those greasy fingers.

The keyboard and touchpad. (view large image)

The touchpad is still the famous perforated design. I like this design very much because it doesn't get worn down easily and is responsive. Your finger doesn't slide off the touchpad because it is indented in the palm rest area, which makes navigating a breeze.

The pen is solid, but still your basic pen. It reads the screen when it's about an inch above and then disables the touchscreen, this way your hand doesn't interfere when writing. Some users rest their palm on the screen and since the tx2000z also has a touchscreen you might think this would cause a problem, but it doesn't. The Wacom technology used is great, just remember you can't keep picking the pen up or the touch feature will be activated again and your hand might be detected. The pen has an eraser on the end as well, which is a feature I like especially when taking notes because you can flip the pen over and erase your mistakes, it's very convenient.

Tablet Features

There are plenty of multimedia buttons for watching DVDs, listening to music or viewing your photos. There is even an optional Webcam, which makes this tablet great for chatting with friends over the Web. It converts into tablet mode with ease and when in tablet mode the speakers are still accessible.

The tx2000z has both a touchscreen and active digitizer, so now you are getting the best of both worlds for a starting price of $1,299. You can take notes on the screen because it is no longer has a passive display. The pen has nice feedback and is easy to navigate with, but if you like using your finger then you can use it to navigate through windows as well.

The tx2000z in notebook mode, multimedia buttons on right side of screen. (view large image)

If you go into the Control Panel on the tablet to Tablet Properties you can calibrate the pen and touch capabilities. This is a nice feature because you can calibrate the pen's tip and eraser to your liking either soft or firm. The same options are available for the touchscreen too. This way you get the response you prefer.

Heat and Noise

I didn't notice any excessive heat from the tx2000z, but when running benchmarks on the system it got warmer than normal and the fan was pumping out some very warm air from the back right vent. The keyboard area doesn't get hot, but in tablet mode when you’re holding the underneath of the tx2000z you’ll feel that warmth, especially on the back right side where the vent is located.

The fan does get a bit loud when it kicks on during benchmarking, but besides that the tx2000z runs fairly quiet. When playing a DVD it is noticeable, but nothing that causes a distraction.

Ports

I don't think you can ask for much more then what the tx2000z already offers. It isn't the lightest tablet I have held, but it is the funnest. I wasn't disappointed with the feature set and the entertainment features are an added bonus for this tablet.

Front view of the tx2000z. (view large image)

Left side view of the ports, has 4-cell battery installed. (view large image)

Right side view of the ports, has 6-cell battery installed, notice the height. (view large image)

Back side view of the ports and extended battery. (view large image)

Underneath view of the tx2000z. (view large image)

Battery

Battery life was good. I got around three to four hours with the 4-cell battery, which sticks out the back of the tablet a bit. The 6-cell actually raises the tablet's height from 1.23" to 1.52", so that is something to think about. If you carry your tablet in slate mode the 4-cell battery might be more comfortable, but obviously the 6-cell is going to give you more life. I actually got around five hours of usage with the 6-cell. I don't work in high performance mode very often, so the battery life might be less if you need this extra power.

Battery comparison, 6-cell on left and 4-cell on the right. (view large image)

Speakers

The tx2000z is fitted with Altec Lansing speakers, which produce good sound quality for listening to music or watching movies. That was HP’s focus; I mean the tx series are called entertainment notebooks. I am comparing these to the hardly noticeable speakers on the Asus R1F I use. If you compare the speakers to your standard notebook, they produce comparatively loud, clear sound, but they don’t compare to the higher-end multimedia notebooks equipped with subwoofers. Even in tablet mode you still get that loud clear sound from the speakers because they don't get covered like on other tablet models, which is a definite bonus.

OS and Software

The review unit I had ran Windows Vista Home Premium. It didn't come with much bloatware, but it does come with Norton, which you can uninstall with ease. It did come with a 60-day free trial of Microsoft Office 2007 though.

Wireless

Wireless options are endless from 802.11b/g WLAN to 802.11a/b/g/n with Bluetooth and everything in between. At the office I had no problems connecting to the Internet, but at my house the tx2000z wouldn't pick up a signal for anything. It was either hit or miss, but the Verizon coverage isn't so great in my neighborhood. Anywhere else I am sure you would be fine and it works great on the road. The consumer level Infrared for controlling media functions via the included remote is a plus because you can watch movies while laying in bed on those raining days.

Conclusion

The tx2000z is going to be a hit with all the mainstream users. HP gave this model just what it needed. The active digitizer and touchscreen make this a true tablet PC now, but it still maintains the entertainment notebook status unlike any other model on the market at this time. The mini remote and multimedia buttons are very convenient when conducting a presentation or watching movies. If you want to do some work the pen is responsive for photo editing and taking notes is great. Not only does Vista help with handwriting recognition, but so does the active digitizer and fact you can calibrate the pen.

The tx2000z has that personal feel that you don't find in many tablets especially with its sleek glossy appearance.

Pros

• Active digitizer and touchscreen
• Solid keyboard
• Great entertainment features
• Mini remote control (same as tx1000z)
• Reasonable price

Cons

• A little on the heavy side
• Screen can be extremely reflective in well lite areas

Pricing and Availability

The tx2000z is available now for ordering at hpshopping.com with prices starting at $1,299. If you want some hands-on time with the tablet you will have to wait until March when they hit retail stores.

 

Great battery life for an AMD processor which is fast, 2.3GHz.
Impressive wPrime score though compared to equivalent C2D, whereas SuperPI isn't accurate any longer to measure dual core processors' performance

 

SWEET!!!.. This laptop is amazing, it's packed with more features than any other 12" laptops around..even some 15" cant compete with its features..
The problems....
Why o why is Hp still using AMD's... ULV intels will save this pc from all the heat and fan noise that users complain about.
The so reflective glossy screen. This is a tablet, people who use it are likely to stand outside or under some form of light...in my view, it would be much better if they simply use matte.(at least give us that option)
Why use '6150 graphics' when the '7150' has been out for sometime now? I have the 6150 in my current 14" laptop and i play Psyconauts, NFS:MW and GTA:vice city so its not that bad...
No SSD options??
This is a great improvement and Hp has done a great work.
It has much more features than the Mac air...oooops

 

I really love the tx1000z and tx2000z from HP. If I was shopping for a 12-inch notebook right now there isn't another notebook that I would even consider on the market right now.

I was a little sad that HP didn't use Nvidia 7150 for the integrated graphics in the tx2000z (even if the benchmarks are almost identical between the 6150 and 7150). The reflective screen isn't that big of a deal for me ... it's the price you MUST pay for having a durable touchscreen tablet interface.

I personally like the fact that HP's using the AMD chips, but the fan noise and heat when you are running heavy apps/games are annoying.

I agree that HP needs to start offering SSDs in their online build-to-order page. Sure, SSDs are expensive and few people will select that option ... but consumers should have the choice. If I was going to buy a tx2000z this year an SSD would be a REQUIREMENT for me.

 

Good review!

I agree with popextra, it would be nice if there was an intel version of this. SSD would be nice, but it would raise the price of the notebook to astronomical proportions. The 7150 would be better too, but I'm concerned about the additional heat and power consumption over the 6150. And, why is HP NOT offering a matte screen version of this?? I understand that glossy screens "look cooler", but jeez, this is a tablet PC!

Also, the "echo" imprint finish looks a bit "girly" for my tastes. I prefer the older "wave" finish the tx1000z had, even if it was a bit "plainer".

Other than that, this looks like one of the best tablets out there. I love the fact that it has both a passive and an active touchscreen, which means you get far better precision than the old tx1000z while still being able to use your finger.

It looks like HP has another winner here!

 

Whoa, can't believe a 12" laptop w/ an AMD proc beat out even a T7500-wielding lappy! Powerful indeed!

I'd love to get my hands on one of these. Weird, but I find the HP-super-glossy look kinda attractive, even though I know it won't look that shiny after a while.

 

Cool review, the idea of a tablet has been growing on me again and I like this ones unique affordability. However I know the glossiness turns in to a gross, greasy mess after a while because that's how my sister's Dv2000z looks now.

 

Great review, and I love this notebook. It is very tempting to pick it up since the price is right and it has so many nice features such as the active/passive screen, great keyboard, and great multimedia features. It's a great mobile companion and is a powerhouse with that fast 2.3GHz CPU in there. Well done HP! Making a good thing great. I didn't take the original tx1000z seriously since it only had a touchscreen and didn't even come with that standard, but this one HP has really stepped up to the plate with.

 

um question... do these companies that send out pre-production samples to websites like this one let you keep the items or do you have to send it back? just wondering...

 

we have to send it back. often, it is the same review model that they shuttle from one review site to another

 

Oh this looks like an awesome notebook. At this rate, I'm really looking forward to what HP might offer by Fall (when I transfer to a UC/CSU ).

 

Although anything is possible, based on previous years it's highly unlikely that HP will change the design of the tx2000z this year.

HP will probably release at least one "refresh" of the tx2000z before the end of the year (processor upgrade and "maybe" an upgrade of other features) but the exterior will most likely remain unchanged this year.

So, if you like the tx2000z it will probably still be around (with few changes) when the new school year starts.

 

Its instock at futureshop right now,
Bestbuy.ca, so you're effectively paying a $300 premium on the speed and better touchscreen.

 

it's not just a better touchscreen. the active digitizer makes it a true tablet. on the tx1000, you cannot write on the screen, just touch things instead of using a mouse. but with the tx2000, you can actively write and take notes or draw, which is really the main reason anyone would buy a tablet in the first place.

 

Have you actually used the tablet? I go to school and at least 10 kids have the tx1000, it's easy to take notes on it. It requires significant pressure in order to activate the digitizer and easily allows for penabled note-taking.

My 0.02$

 

Yeah.... the tx1000 is capable of being used as a tablet. It just requires physical connection with the pen, and there is no pressure sensitivity. If you are just jotting down notes, its usable.

So once again, $300(in canada atleast) buys you a better touch interface and 200 extra mhz. I personally would be willing to pay that, but thats just because i'm also in the market for a wacom tablet. If you have no plans on actually used the touch screen, other to poke around in menu's, the tx1000 is a better buy.

 

well, i feel stupid. thanks for correcting me i misunderstood what passive digitizer meant. regardless, as an everyday tablet user, i would definitely want to have an active digitizer as i often make use of the pressure gradients of strokes and the eraser.

 

No no no no no. You understand what a passive digitizer - Picture the nintendo DS, that's passive, but very sensitive - the slightest touch will activate it.

In the tx1000 it is a passive digitizer, but it requires considerable force in order to activate it - You hand resting on it will not trigger the digitizer function. I've used this tablet personally and know how it works

 

Another example would be PDA's(palm pilot)

 

I'm in the market to shop for a laptop.. and i have a question: is it just me or does the display look REALLY grainy? it's as if I'm looking at a display through some sort of smoked glass.

for those of you that have this or the tx1000z, is this really the case? can someone perhaps take some more pictures of the tx2000z's laptop screen?

thanks!

 

Part of it is just the camera/photographer ... I think the screen looks better in real life. That said, the screen on the tx1000z and tx2000z have more reflection and a bit more graininess than normal glossy notebook screens because of the thicker layers used for the durable touchscreen.

 

cool , it is a real winner , the AMD seems very fast , just wonder is it noisy or getting hot after using it for while .

but I think they wont come to Asia until May or June, I can't wait to see it, just hope it will be sold in Thailand or Singapore very soon.

my DV2626 TX gets hot after using it for a while and its fan is noisy, but Acer 4920 model was even noisier and both of use T7500.

I wonder if the AMD TL66 even gets even hotter than the T7500 ?

 

nice review. Seems like a nice laptop.

 

When will there be LED touchscreens? The Asus EEE might be getting a touchscreen and it currently uses a LED screen.

 

Whether or not a laptop runs warm depends almost entirely on the cooling system. I've found that Acer notebooks have subpar cooling systems in general because I have yet to find one that runs reasonably cool. As long as a review says the notebook runs cool then there is no reason to worry about the amount of heat the components produce, because, well, the notebook runs cool. That's all there is to it.

 

JerryJ,

Thanks for the reply. I have several questions though:

1) I wanted to ask this: when you say a screen is grainy, are you referring to the fact that color is more washed out -> less saturation of color? Is text on the screen crisp and clear or are they fuzzier than a normal laptop lcd screen?

2) Is the tx2000z's screen better than the screen on the tx1000z? significantly better?

thanks!!

Edit: I have a couple more questions:

3) What's the resolution on the webcam?

4) How easy is it to upgrade the RAM and HD on this thing?

 

The tx2000 does have the active digitizer and touchscreen, which is much nicer then the tx1000's passive/touchscreen combo. The pen is more accurate and responsive so taking notes requires less pressure and is way easier.

The screen is grainy because of the extra layer for the tablet mode. At full brightness though it looks good. The colors are bold, not washed out just not as crisp as a notebook LCD. No word if HP will make these LCD backlite yet. The tx2000 and tx1000 have similar screens and have the glossy reflective display, which shows everything. They are pretty much the same though.

Not sure what the webcam resolution is, but I will check. It works well, and is good for chatting with friends online. You can get the RAM and HD upgraded from HP if you wish.

 

sorry, what i meant to ask was:

1) is it easy to do the RAM & HD upgrades yourself?
2) in your opinion, is the tx2000z's screen better or worse than the tablets from IBM or Fujitsu, what would you rate HP at? by better or worse i mean how clear the image and text is to your eyes.


personally i'm worried about the fact that you said the image isn't as crisp as it could be (when compared to a normal notebook lcd). looks like i'm going to have to wait until a retailer has one of these and then try it out then.

thanks again for the review. appreciate the info!

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the way I understand it, the Wacom digitizer is behind the screen (so that wouldn't have any impact on graininess), but the touchscreen is in front of the screen, and it doubles as the screens protective layer. So the graininess should be no worse than the TX1000Z (which you should be able to see at any local retail store). I've seen the TX1000Z a few times in stores, and in my opinion, it's not that bad at all.

 

so I stopped by local staples, office depot, best buy and circuit city, none of them have this in display. bestbuy does have the laptop but it's a "special order" laptop only. (in case you ask, i'm in the socal area)

so i'm stumped. i guess i'll check again when tx2000z comes out to the retail stores and hopefully they'd have that.

 

great review, and seems to be a great tablet PC as well... i'm really considering getting this one, but I’m very hesitated by the AMD processor thing..

I’ve been always an Intel user, and I’m completely lost with AMD Pros/Cons .. also I noticed that the processor has only 1MB L2 cache!!! SCARY ?!!!

So my questions would be:

1 - What can you tell me about AMD vs. Intel with regard to this specific NB?

2 - I believe you can't play around with VMWare Workstation as good as you would on intel, especially that this processor doesn't have the famous intel VT (Virtualization Technology) within. Am i right ?

3 - In my local market (Dubai - UAE) I can see these three models:
HP tx2030 - AMDTurion-X2 TL-60Ghz - 2GB - 160GB
HP tx2600 - AMDTurion-X2 TL-68Ghz - 2GB - 250GB
HP tx2070 - AMD Turion TL - 68 ( 2.4GHz) - 2GB - 250GB

Any heads-up for these models? is there any major deference other than the processor speed and HD capacity ?

i really appreciate your help in this...

thank you

 

AMD has their own virtualization technology. I am a huge Intel fan and disliked the Turion X2 in my Compaq so I really wish the TX1000/TX2000 used Intel processors.

A good thing about the Turion X2 processors is that hardware virtualization is always on, whereas some lower end Intel processors don't have it and for those that do, Intel lets some manufacturers disable it and some do like Sony. Some make sure you can't turn it on later in the BIOS.

I think the only difference between those TX models is the processor and hard drive.

 

like the tx1000, this new model will probably generate just as much ridiculous heat. i went to office depot and that thing gets pretty hot just sitting on the shelves.

 

Good afternoon -

I have a less-usual potential use for a tablet PC; our company investigates motor vehicle accidents, and we'd like to be able to make hand notations (marks & text) to digital images we've just taken and uploaded to the tablet; has anyone tried this- or the equivalent: (A) on this HP, or (B) on any of the competing tablet PCs? If yes...

How `effective' are the results? How readable once saved & retrieved?

NEC in LB, CA

 

thanks rahulnirmal

i'm thinking of going with the Tx1350 (AMD 64 X2, 2GB, 250GB) and although i read the complete review of the new Tx2000z, i think that the only deferece is in the (Active Degitizer) thing .. i really don't see its that important for my work nature...so i want to make sure that this is the only deference in terms of new capabiliteis/technologies ...

by the way, i haaaaaaate the new design of the Tx2000z

thanks a lot.

 

well, it depends on what software you use. i use my tablet (hp tc4400) to notate powerpoint presentations on microsoft onenote. on the program, it looks great. but if it try to print it, or make a pdf file of it, it looks like crap....but i'm sure if you use the right software for it, it should be fine, especially considering that graphic artists often use tablets for their work.

also, you should check out our sister site, tabletpcreview.com for better answers to your inquiries.

 

I read that the screen automatically switches to portrait view when in the swiveled "tablet" position. Does anyone know if you can switch it to landscape while in that position??

 

There's a button on the bezel that let's you set the screen in any of the 4 orientations. So you can get some up-side-down reading done.

 

People i need your help i will buy my first notebook and i can´t decide which one, i like the tx2000, but there are two things that orry me. First i want to play some games, i don´t want to play the last games, but something like civilization 4 or some rts like generals zero hour, can yu tell me how was your eperience with the nvidia 6150 (please tell me which games could you play). Second i want to use the tx2000 as a ebook reader but every one is saying the the display is litle granny, could you tel me your experice with this, i really need your help because i can´t decidedand i must order soon, thank a lot.

 

My local Costco has the tx2113cl for $999 with 3gb RAM, the TL-62 and a 250gb hdd. I couldn't tell which battery it included, and the display model was missing the pen, but it still is the best deal in the area for a >13.3" laptop.

I'm going to buy it tomorrow, as it seems to be a lot cheaper than what can be configured online.

 

When we say the display looks grainy... how do you actually defined grainy?

 

Has anybody tried playing CALL OF DUTY 4 on this HP tx2000z laptop?

 

I don't think it's gonna be possible..

 

You're probably right, but you might want to try a freeware program called 3DAnalyze.

I use 3DAnalyze on all my notebooks with integrated graphics in order to play games that require dedicated graphics. It doesn't work on all games but it does a good job of software emulation of some graphics requirements and can disable other requirements that the games might have.

For example, using 3DAnalyze on my Asus Eee PC 4G I can play HALO at full screen resolution (800 x480) with excellent frame rates and pretty good 3D rendering.

I haven't tried playing Call of Duty 4 on a notebook with integrated graphics, but you can always download 3DAnalyze and try it yourself.

 

I have tried many a tablet PC, from little crap like Samsung Q1U (passive, LED display - quite nice!), to Fujitsu t4220, Toshiba m700, and finally IBM x61t, as well as HP tx1000 and tx2000. I have to say that the HP screens are by FAR the worst IMHO. They are very grainy, not sharp at all, sort of washed out. The Fujitsu is somewhat grainy, but much sharper, and the Toshiba is the best. My co-worker actually bought the tx2000 on-line, and returned it few days later, couldn't stand how grainy and blurry it was next to his old Dell D610 work laptop.

The constant, somewhat loud fan and heat coming out of it also do not make it a quiet machine... For the money though, if you are looking for a Tablet PC, it's hard to beat. But for anybody looking for a notebook first, with occasional tablet use, it just doesn't make sense.

Just my 2 cents...

 

I've read a good amount of negative remarks on the screen... but i took the plunge anyways. It was a debate between the toshiba or this one and i just liked the entertainment options here. I've owned a 12.1" standard and a 11" wide before... really i wanted a 13.3" wide but we'll see how i like this one. I just order my tx2000z yesterday.

 

So... How was it?

 

Still in China... on it's way. I should be getting it either this Friday or Monday. I'll update when i get it in.

 

First thing, the tablet came with 2 scratches on it. As my wife would be using it more, I let her decide whether to return it or not. Well, she didn't want to so we're keeping it as is.

I was just going to write a brief note on it since there is already a review and such... plus i don't see much activity on the forum regarding this tablet to i take it most don't really care to know much about it. Please forgive me if i jump around a lot.

It is very fun to use. I've used tablets before but this one with Vista hPrem x64 trumps the XP tablets i've used in the past. That doesn't sound like a praise to this specific laptop really but it is. Everything from the tiny remote, active digitizer, eraser pen, myriad of controls along the screen bezel, decent screen clarity... all combined makes this a fairly well rounded tablet.

That being said, it may not be the best for those who will need to use the tablet in their hands often as there are other tablets that are lighter and cooler (temp) than this one. I say that only for those who will be carrying it around in their arms A LOT as the weight is not a problem for me at all... but i probably use it differently than some would.

I would seldom NEED to walk around while using it in tablet mode. My setups are:

1. quickdock, 42" lcd, surround sound system, logitech diNovoEdge - where i would be working from my couch with keyboard+touchpad (until i get my htpc up)
   
2. quickdock, 22" lcd, klipsch 2.1, Logitech MX 5500 Rev - working from my desk with the bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

The majority of the time that i would use it in tablet mode, i would have it propped on my lap in bed, on a recliner, or in the car... I won't use it to taking notes while walking around much at all. For those who are concerned about taking notes in class with it; you most likely won't be walking around the room while taking your notes either. I don't see a problem with the tx2000z + 6cell's weight for classroom note taking.

This tablet seems like it bridge the gap between the professionals who need a ultra portability + tablet functionalities and those those who couldn't justify buying a tablet before now (maybe need or lack of couldn't justify cost).

It is for those who have been using tablets before but now what [another] one with entertainment features. It is also for those who always wanted one or think they could use one now but have never bought one in the past because they never really NEEDED it. It fits the student and the casual home user well.

The fun thing is that you don't have to have it in "tablet mode" to use the tablet functionalities. It's nice to be able to be typing and then reach up and move a window or make selections with your finger. My wife spent some time laying out a flier and making a photo/video slideshow yesterday and she loved it.

One thing you can't do is to plug it to the docking station at 3:45am, sit down in from of your 22" lcd, and then touch the external screen to move things around. I mean you can but windows won't move... unless you had a touchscreen external i guess. I took it as i sign that i needed to go to bed.

In tablet mode - and normal mode too i guess - it does get really hot at the vent to the right of the battery. It doesn't really bother me since my hand is usually not right there to be bothered by it.

Regarding noise level, I don't think it's loud at all. The tablet is a little heavy with the 6cell batt in. I probably would've preferred the 4cell for weight.

One thing that HP should have offered was an optional bay battery to switch out with the optical drive. It would've only made sense to give people an option to slap in something like a 4cell in place of their optical when they need the extra battery life.

EDIT: another thing that i would change is for the media remote to be charged through the slot so you won't have to replace the batteries.

Ok, did i miss anything?

 

something slightly strange; i have the f.08 bios but their site only list f.07 as teh current. Anyone else have this f.08 bios?

EDIT: contacted HP about this and they told me that .07 is the latest? how in the world do i have F.08? oh well. So i asked him if i should "downgrade" and he told me "sure"... not too reassuring. Then he told me that Wondows Update takes care of HP Bios updates. I was taken aback so i asked him to repeat himself. Sure enough. He said that Windows Update will keep the bios up to date. what? oh well.

Also if anyone decides to reimage their system with the HP recovery disks (optional), be prepared to be without the tx2000z for over SIX hours! then you have to go through the setup process followed by the uninstalling bloatware process. It's not a straight image but it is a HP's base OS image and then it installs a ton of stuff one by one. Do yourself a favor and create a real image with Acronis True Image or something to save you a lot of time later. It shouldn't take but an hour to re-image this system even with all software and drivers.