at any rate, my 2 biggest issues are with the HD and the display. is the ultra bright worth the extra 100 bucks? and on a more personal note, i cant decide if that dual HD 160 gig is worth the price...i'd REEEAAALLLYYY like that dual HD, but taking into mind ill be tossing in the $350 warranty, i think i may have to sacrifice it to keep cost down.
thoughts? opinions?
I feel you would be better off with a single hard drive option. You can always upgrade the hard-disks when the prices comes down in the future.
Regarding the Ultrabrite display, its a must if you own a digital camera / if you watch movies on your laptop. Else if you use it strictly for work, you would do better to skip it as the screen exhibits copious amount of glare in a brightly lit room. Often you can see your own reflection on the screen and this would be a real annoyance.
You know i didn't get the Ultra bright screen for the pure fact it only supported 1440 x 900... I think the 1680 x 1050 version works great. Movies games and anything else looks crisp and clean... save the cash on the screen and get a better CPU. "Trust Me"
well supposedly the ultra bright improves contrast, and one of the games i play (WWII Online) gets VERY dark at night and w/o proper contrast it will look like a giant grey blur. but, as u say, urs works fine so...i can always increase the gamma
i think i will opt for the 1680 X 1050 display
o, about the bright room thing...this will be in a dark dorm for most of the time so that shouldnt be a problem =P
and speaking of the cpu, right now im looking at the 1.83GHz version. dont think i'd want to get less than that (this desktop currently has a 1.8 GHz amd that works fine) but not sure the price difference is worth it to increse to 2.0 (2.16 is out of the question. $350 for .16 GHz is ridiculous).
and theres a few big reasons i'd like the dual HD. for 1, i need XP for school but i'd like linux also, so 2 HD's helps there. also, i've got a lot of video saved to HD's and i cant lose a lot of it, so should i have a system crash i could save that info. its also a pain in the arse to reformat with info onboard u cant lose. plus, i have no idea how to upgrade a laptop so =P im beginning to think i might just shell out the $ for it after all
Like I have said on other forums I haven't had the issue some are talking about. I have done a nice guide on how to check you keyboard connections just incase your Laptop falls under the keyboard issue. But in all honesty the issue seems to be happening on the AMD versions and not the Intel versions.
I bought my dv8000t from HP online in May and have have been extremely happy with it. It really is better than most desktops I've used and I've had absolutely no problems with it.
I found SH's review very accurate. Here are few a additional comments:
1) The keyboard is full size and includes a separate numeric keypad. Some people really find this useful, and I'm really old school so I still use the num-pad for navigation (with numlock off).
2) I got the Ultrabright 1440x900 screen because I read some comments about the screen not being bright enough. I'm 45 yrs old and my eyes aren't what they used to be, and I don't think I'd be comfortable reading smaller text on a dimmer screen. But even so, a bright screen is really wonderful for watching movies. I think the only disadvantage is the battery life is reduced because it uses two lamps instead of one.
3) SH mentioned that he added a soundcard. It should be noted that the speakers on this laptop are only okay. The speakers in the comparable Fujistu Core Duo laptop that I was also looking at are much better and include a mini-subwoofer, but the Fuji costs quite a bit more. In the end, if you want quality room sound (i.e. not just headphones), you're going to want separate external speakers.
4) Like SH, I am using a bluetooth mouse (MS Intellipoint for BT) which works perfectly with the built-in BT. (Look Ma! No wires or adapters for my mouse!)
5) As a software developer, processor speed, RAM, and hard drive performance are all critical to rapid development. I went for the top end processor, slipped in 2G of 667Hz RAM, and upgraded to the 7200RPM hard drive. It's as fast as any desktop I've used in recent years (although some software shops are starting to give their developers 64-bit XEON 4-processor systems; yowsa!).
6) HP's Compaq division also sells business versions of this laptop (the nx9420 and nw9440). You can get some different graphics options, and up to 4G of RAM; I think the only downside is the loss of the multimedia buttons and the extra cost. If you really need more than 2G of memory, this is a great alternative if you can afford it.
-- GL
I bought my dv8000t from HP online in May and have have been extremely happy with it. It really is better than most desktops I've used and I've had absolutely no problems with it.
I found SH's review very accurate. Here are few a additional comments:
1) The keyboard is full size and includes a separate numeric keypad. Some people really find this useful, and I'm really old school so I still use the num-pad for navigation (with numlock off).
2) I got the Ultrabright 1440x900 screen because I read some comments about the screen not being bright enough. I'm 45 yrs old and my eyes aren't what they used to be, and I don't think I'd be comfortable reading smaller text on a dimmer screen. But even so, a bright screen is really wonderful for watching movies. I think the only disadvantage is the battery life is reduced because it uses two lamps instead of one.
3) SH mentioned that he added a soundcard. It should be noted that the speakers on this laptop are only okay. The speakers in the comparable Fujistu Core Duo laptop that I was also looking at are much better and include a mini-subwoofer, but the Fuji costs quite a bit more. In the end, if you want quality room sound (i.e. not just headphones), you're going to want separate external speakers.
4) Like SH, I am using a bluetooth mouse (MS Intellipoint for BT) which works perfectly with the built-in BT. (Look Ma! No wires or adapters for my mouse!)
5) As a software developer, processor speed, RAM, and hard drive performance are all critical to rapid development. I went for the top end processor, slipped in 2G of 667Hz RAM, and upgraded to the 7200RPM hard drive. It's as fast as any desktop I've used in recent years (although some software shops are starting to give their developers 64-bit XEON 4-processor systems; yowsa!).
6) HP's Compaq division also sells business versions of this laptop (the nx9420 and nw9440). You can get some different graphics options, and up to 4G of RAM; I think the only downside is the loss of the multimedia buttons and the extra cost. If you really need more than 2G of memory, this is a great alternative if you can afford it.
-- GL
Thanks for the info greylight, the issue with #6 is that XP can not and will support over 3.32GB of Ram maybe Vista or XP 64 but XP Pro or WMC will not support 4 GB of Ram.
Just thought i'd add that HP is currently offering a free upgrade from 512 to 1 gig of ram (used to be something like $75 upgrade). just wish i could get that gig in 1 stick instead of 2 512's...o well.
0
LeonardoWake up and smell the glaciersEagle River, AlaskaIcrontian
edited July 2006
Just thought i'd add that HP is currently offering a free upgrade from 512 to 1 gig of ram (used to be something like $75 upgrade).
Every little bit counts! Sort of funny though, that the offer of 1GB is made just as the standard is now moving from 1 to 2GB.
Recently got one of these. I have a few questions...
1. Does anyone have a list of software/services I can remove. All this bloatware pre-installed is ridiculous.
2. What type of motherboard does it have? I have a monitoring program that requires me to select the brand/name of my motherboard, but I can't seem to locate it.
3. I have been thinking about returning it due to some things that are bothering me with it...does anyone know if HP pays for shipping or what not?
IO hate when I do that... I just typed like 2 pages of notes of what I do and the browser crashed... leaving me with nothing.. I will be back to type it again
Greetings!! This past week I have done nothing but research laptops online, and Sledgehammer's review is the best by far. So good in fact, I purchased a dv 8000t last night :smiles: . I do have one question though: is there a significant difference between the 100GB HD @ 5400rpm versus the 100GB HD @ 7200rpm? Here's the rest of the specs:
– Windows XP Media Center
– Intel Core Duo processor T2500 (2.0 GHz)
– 17.0" WSXGA+ BrightView Widescreen (1680x1050)
– 256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600
– 1.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2x512MB)
– 100 GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
– Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support
– Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
– 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
If you are gaming you will see load time difference. If you not a hard core gamer you most likely won’t see the difference between the two. I did notice it also in Photoshop and programs like it. I mean really what is an extra 2 sec's? They fly by so fast
Let us know how you like it, I am glad my review helped you in your decision making
Wow, really fast reply there! I'm an occasional gamer, probably going to play more once I'm at college. This will be my first laptop, and I'm sure it will be great once I start school. Glad to know that the the difference in rpm isn't really major. I'll definitely let you know how it is once it arrives.
Theres a nice rebate from HP that all of you considering the dv8000t should check out. When you purchase a dv8000t, you get a free HP F380 All-In-One printer/scanner/copier after an $80 mail in rebate if you buy from http://www.shopping.hp.com. It's a sweet deal, but is only good till July 29. I purchased my laptop on the 18th and received the F380 on the 20th. Pretty sweet if you ask me.
Steps I took to allow my laptop to run at perfect settings. “Well for me anyways”
First off I start off by looking at what the computer has. As in devices like Bluetooth, Wireless net, Graphics cards etc. and I note that there is some sort of driver for each of these things. Now Once I have my list I head over to HP’s website to check for newer versions of the drivers for these devices. Once that is done I start to look for drivers that can be upgraded outside of HP. Like Intel wireless card drivers and Nvidia drivers etc. The Intel driver is pretty easy to update. But the Nvidia driver was a bit harder, I used a custom driver that I found online. I am trying to find the site for you as this driver seems to be working great.
Now that I know I have all the current drivers for the laptop I head over to my add/ remove programs section and start eliminating all those extra add-ins HP threw on. Like HP printing crap, and HP games, AOL, Microsoft money and stupid programs like that I would never use anyways. Once that was done I did a quick Defrag, and that was it. I mean I tweaked the NVIDIA drivers with the Coolbits hack to get a bit more out of my graphics, but I don’t recommend it.
As for the start-up services, if you go to Start – Run “type:” msconfig. It will pull up your System Config Utility. Click on the start-up tab and look at everything that is set to start when windows boots. I pretty much uncheck anything that is outside the system32 folder but that si just me. I click “OK” and restart, usually the first might boot slow but the 2nd time always is a bit faster. But the good thing is If I want to run a program I run it form the Start bar, I don’t need it sitting idle eating up CPU cycles and memory space.
Other than that I don’t know what else to say. Hope it helps a bit
Sledgehammer70, I also just bought a two-HD dv8000t, thanks to your review and other threads! I was looking for a 17-inch "laptop" that would let me do GIS work on it without straining my old-fart eyes. I'm very happy with it, and am busy configuring it. Thanks for all the recommendations. Keep up the good work!
I am glad the review helped Howard, and I also hope your laptop is performing as well as mine is.
I like to take the end user approach to the review, and stay away form the super tech language so anyone who is anyone can understand whet were are talking about. So in turn it will help you make a decisive decision on your purchase.
I read a lot of reviews and haven't seen one so complete for a long time. Thanks Sledgehammer. I had decided on this notebook independently by researching the Dell and HP offerings myself. I was just looking around for reviews before my purchase and happened upon your review. It does make me feel like I've made a good decision.
My remaining question is about the DVD writer. We must choose between
FREE Upgrade - LightScribe DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support
They appear identical to me except for the lightscribe. Is that true? Would you recommend one over the other? Thanks in advance!
Light scribe is a cool thing to have, as you can etch on some text on the disc... "disc must support lightscribe" I have LS on my desktop so didn't feel the need for it in my laptop. You can still use normal disks in it, but if you want to use the LS features you need a LS supporting disc... If its free why not get it? I mean you could find it useful some day.
Comments
I feel you would be better off with a single hard drive option. You can always upgrade the hard-disks when the prices comes down in the future.
Regarding the Ultrabrite display, its a must if you own a digital camera / if you watch movies on your laptop. Else if you use it strictly for work, you would do better to skip it as the screen exhibits copious amount of glare in a brightly lit room. Often you can see your own reflection on the screen and this would be a real annoyance.
i think i will opt for the 1680 X 1050 display
o, about the bright room thing...this will be in a dark dorm for most of the time so that shouldnt be a problem =P
and speaking of the cpu, right now im looking at the 1.83GHz version. dont think i'd want to get less than that (this desktop currently has a 1.8 GHz amd that works fine) but not sure the price difference is worth it to increse to 2.0 (2.16 is out of the question. $350 for .16 GHz is ridiculous).
and theres a few big reasons i'd like the dual HD. for 1, i need XP for school but i'd like linux also, so 2 HD's helps there. also, i've got a lot of video saved to HD's and i cant lose a lot of it, so should i have a system crash i could save that info. its also a pain in the arse to reformat with info onboard u cant lose. plus, i have no idea how to upgrade a laptop so =P im beginning to think i might just shell out the $ for it after all
here is the link to the guide
I found SH's review very accurate. Here are few a additional comments:
1) The keyboard is full size and includes a separate numeric keypad. Some people really find this useful, and I'm really old school so I still use the num-pad for navigation (with numlock off).
2) I got the Ultrabright 1440x900 screen because I read some comments about the screen not being bright enough. I'm 45 yrs old and my eyes aren't what they used to be, and I don't think I'd be comfortable reading smaller text on a dimmer screen. But even so, a bright screen is really wonderful for watching movies. I think the only disadvantage is the battery life is reduced because it uses two lamps instead of one.
3) SH mentioned that he added a soundcard. It should be noted that the speakers on this laptop are only okay. The speakers in the comparable Fujistu Core Duo laptop that I was also looking at are much better and include a mini-subwoofer, but the Fuji costs quite a bit more. In the end, if you want quality room sound (i.e. not just headphones), you're going to want separate external speakers.
4) Like SH, I am using a bluetooth mouse (MS Intellipoint for BT) which works perfectly with the built-in BT. (Look Ma! No wires or adapters for my mouse!)
5) As a software developer, processor speed, RAM, and hard drive performance are all critical to rapid development. I went for the top end processor, slipped in 2G of 667Hz RAM, and upgraded to the 7200RPM hard drive. It's as fast as any desktop I've used in recent years (although some software shops are starting to give their developers 64-bit XEON 4-processor systems; yowsa!).
6) HP's Compaq division also sells business versions of this laptop (the nx9420 and nw9440). You can get some different graphics options, and up to 4G of RAM; I think the only downside is the loss of the multimedia buttons and the extra cost. If you really need more than 2G of memory, this is a great alternative if you can afford it.
-- GL
Thanks for the info greylight, the issue with #6 is that XP can not and will support over 3.32GB of Ram
1. Does anyone have a list of software/services I can remove. All this bloatware pre-installed is ridiculous.
2. What type of motherboard does it have? I have a monitoring program that requires me to select the brand/name of my motherboard, but I can't seem to locate it.
3. I have been thinking about returning it due to some things that are bothering me with it...does anyone know if HP pays for shipping or what not?
2.) it is made by HP = HP OEM
3.) I think they only pay shipping for repairs... not returns.
Do you have AIM or MSN so I could chat with you about the laptop?
If not, what are some tips/tricks you recommend to get things running at peak/desired performance?
How about a list of services that you have disabled?
I'm looking to tweak everything and get top performance.
– Windows XP Media Center
– Intel Core Duo processor T2500 (2.0 GHz)
– 17.0" WSXGA+ BrightView Widescreen (1680x1050)
– 256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600
– 1.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2x512MB)
– 100 GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
– Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support
– Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
– 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Let us know how you like it, I am glad my review helped you in your decision making
2ghz intel core duo
2 gig of ram
17in 1680x1050 screen
256 mb geforce 7600 go
80gig hd
First off I start off by looking at what the computer has. As in devices like Bluetooth, Wireless net, Graphics cards etc. and I note that there is some sort of driver for each of these things. Now Once I have my list I head over to HP’s website to check for newer versions of the drivers for these devices. Once that is done I start to look for drivers that can be upgraded outside of HP. Like Intel wireless card drivers and Nvidia drivers etc. The Intel driver is pretty easy to update. But the Nvidia driver was a bit harder, I used a custom driver that I found online. I am trying to find the site for you as this driver seems to be working great.
Now that I know I have all the current drivers for the laptop I head over to my add/ remove programs section and start eliminating all those extra add-ins HP threw on. Like HP printing crap, and HP games, AOL, Microsoft money and stupid programs like that I would never use anyways. Once that was done I did a quick Defrag, and that was it. I mean I tweaked the NVIDIA drivers with the Coolbits hack to get a bit more out of my graphics, but I don’t recommend it.
As for the start-up services, if you go to Start – Run “type:” msconfig. It will pull up your System Config Utility. Click on the start-up tab and look at everything that is set to start when windows boots. I pretty much uncheck anything that is outside the system32 folder but that si just me. I click “OK” and restart, usually the first might boot slow but the 2nd time always is a bit faster. But the good thing is If I want to run a program I run it form the Start bar, I don’t need it sitting idle eating up CPU cycles and memory space.
Other than that I don’t know what else to say. Hope it helps a bit
howard
I like to take the end user approach to the review, and stay away form the super tech language so anyone who is anyone can understand whet were are talking about. So in turn it will help you make a decisive decision on your purchase.
My remaining question is about the DVD writer. We must choose between
FREE Upgrade - LightScribe DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support
They appear identical to me except for the lightscribe. Is that true? Would you recommend one over the other? Thanks in advance!
FREE Upgrade - LightScribe DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support
What does the -R mean?