News, Reviews, and Pictures of the HP Pavilion Laptop and Notebook PCs
What is the best HP notebook computer? HP's main line of notebook computers is the Pavilion. Their highest end laptop (designed more as a desktop replacement) is the ZD8000, with a 3.4GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor and a 17" wide screen display. At over 9 pounds and almost 2 inches thick, these machines are not really designed to be tucked under your arm and whisked around throughout your day. The DV4000 and DV1000 offer slower processors (unless you are a 3-D gaming master, they are a better bet), they drop a few pounds, and they save you about $500. In general, avoid the top of the line, fastest Intel chips out there. You usually pay a big premium without seeing any meaningful performance improvements.
One highlight is the QuickPlay function HP includes - you can DVDs and music without having to boot up the PC. A minor complaint about the DV4000 - it has a very glossy screen which increases the glare under very bright conditions. Also, the vertical viewing angle is limited, mainly noticable when watching DVDs. If you go with an extended life battery, be warned that it increases the size of the unit by exentending underneath the laptop, tilting the back end up when you are using it. Front facing speakers provide loud and clear sound, without the usual "tinny" sound associated with smaller speakers. Look for Centrino mobile technology if you are planning on wireless internet connections. These special chipsets are designed by Intel to save power (ie, longer battery life), and they work. In terms of RAM memory, 512MB should be considered the minimum for WindowsXP - 1GB is even better if you use multiple apps at the same time, or plan on doing any serious video editing. The standard battery clocks in at just over 3 hours of use - about average for laptops these days.
Compaq Presario Notebook Computer
HP has retained the Compaq line of laptop computers, and brands them under the Presario name. The high-end is the V4000 series, designed for mobile computing, with the Intel Celeron M 360 processors, a 15.4" WXGA screen, and coming in at 1.67" thick and 6.4 pounds. The R4000 series features AMD processors and is about $75 cheaper. Their smallest machines are the V2000Z and V2000 notebook families, at just over 5 lbs. HP provides complete specs on their website (shopping.hp.com). It seems HP engineering spends its time on the Pavilion series - we'd stick to that line. The links on this page provide additional information, search suggestions, and resources.
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