HP Pavilion HDX "The Dragon" Announced

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HP has unleashed what it is calling &quot;The Dragon&quot;. Otherwise known as the HP Pavilion HDX, this notebook offers a 20.1-inch screen, Ultra BrightView display, and four Altec Lansing speakers plus a subwoofer.

The Dragon is quite obviously HP's biggest notebook to date, previous to this the 17&quot; dv9000 series was the biggest. The HDX uses the imprint design used on other Pavilion notebooks, the the finish includes a pattern aptly called &quot;Dragon&quot; imprint.

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The 20.1-inch display on the HDX is dubbed by HP as being &quot;Ultra BrightView&quot;, it's capable of true HD 1080p resolution. The screen has dual lamps for extra brightness and also a unique adjusting dual hinge design that allows it to be adjusted to a position that's just right for viewing:

Fittingly HP is offering an HD-DVD ROM with SuperMulti DVD+-R/RW for the optional playback of high definition content. They've also included an HDMI port so you can play that HD-DVD content through to a TV if you like. If you'd rather watch TV on the HDX, there is of course a built-in HP HDTV Hybrid TV tuner that can stream HD content over the air.

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Speaker wise the HDX has four Altec Lansing speakers, and one HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer. Integrated amplifiers provide approximately 20W total output and supports a full range of treble and bass frequencies. An integrated audio processor supports 7.1 analog audio for external speakers.

Another unique feature of the HDX is the dockable Media Center remote control. The control simply slots into an area adjacent to the keyboard for easy access, you push an eject button to pop it out. It works in or out of the dock.

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Following are the specs of the HDX:

• Processor: Intel Centrino Duo processor technology featuring, T7700 2.4GHz processor
• Screen: 20.1&quot; WSXGA+ High-Definition HP Ultra Brightview Widescreen Display (1680
  (1680 x 1050)
• Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT with 256MB GDDR3 (dedicated) and up to 2048MB Total Available Graphics Memory
• Memory: Up to 4096MB (4GB) DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• Hard Drive: 400GB (4200RPM) Hard Drive Dual HDD - 200GB x 2(SATA)
• Wireless: Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection &amp; Bluetooth
• Optical Drive: HD DVD ROM with SuperMulti DVD±R/RW
• Ports: 4 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0, 2 Headphone out, 1 w/Side Digital Audio, 1 microphone-in, 1 HDMI, 1 VGA (15-pin), 1 eSata, 1 TV-Out (S-video), 1 RJ -45 (LAN), 1 Expansion Port 3, 1 IEEE 1394 Firewire (4-pin), 1 Consumer IR (Remote Receiver), Native External Speaker Configurations Ports, SPDIF, Rear, Center/Sub, Front, Integrated HP HDTV Hybrid TV Tuner: NTSC/ATSC, Input, Blaster (IR emitter), Stereo Audio Input
• Digital Media: 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards
• Slots: ExpressCard 54
• Dimensions: 18.7&quot; (L) x 13.4&quot; (W) x 2.3&quot; (H)
• Weight: 15.5 lbs

The dedicated graphics card performance from the ATI 2600 is a bit of a mystery in terms of the performance we can expect, the assumption is that it's on part with say an Nvidia Go 7900 graphics card and will of course support DX 10 graphics.

Pricing will start at $2,999 for the HDX and availability will start in the summer, at around the end of June.

 

it looks like one of dell comp.....

 

It does indeed look like Dell has a real competitor to their XPS M2010:
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xpsnb_m2010?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
This should also compete with Acer's 20.1" Aspire 9810:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115347

I think the HDX looks very sleek and I like how the remote fits next to the keyboard. I'm interested to see the performance of the ATI HD 2600XT.

 

A tad bit on the large side there, aren't we? It was rumoured to only be 12.5 lbs, but I guess 15.5 is more reasonable considering the size. Interesting hinge design there, somewhat reminiscent of the XPS M2010, except that the keyboard isn't removeable.

Is this the first official notebook with one of ATI's DX10 cards? The X2600XT should perform on par with the Go8600GT, if not, then its pretty pathetic. I am pretty sure the next gen X2900/Go8800 will be made available eventually.

 

looks so sexy... i'd be on this if I were rich. I could also use this for some light weigh training.

 

no 8800 or x2900?

Guess they are trying to keep prices down, just curious how can it do 1080p HD (1920x1080) if its max resolution is (1680x1050)? (sorry if this is a dumb question).

 

... ... ...
i don't know what to say....
is 20" too big for a notebook, even for a DTR?

 

Umm.. wow.

 

15.5 lbs? Ouch.
And 4200rpm hard drives? That's disappointing for a machine at this price point..

 

"Weight: 15.5 lbs"

I wouldn't mind the weight but if I were to carry that think around I think it would destroy my bag. I really don't see the purpose of a 20" laptop other than using it for bragging rights.

 

Don't forget men with short... Erm... Manhoods.

Just like huge SUVs, the bigger the computer, the smaller the.........

 

Cant they just stuff the desktop 8800 into it... i know it has enough space! Who needs battery for this type of notebooks anyway...

 

Disappointing machine:

- Two slow hard drives, and hard drives are notebook's bottlenecks.
- Just an HD 2600XT, I really expected an 8800Go.
- A 1680*1050 screen for a 20" and they have HD-DVD? Hello?! Where is the 1080p support?!

They need to revisit this product for sure.

 

What's the purpose of this laptop when you can have a desktop?

 

Well, you wont have those messy wires to clean up... and that is all

 

Portable Lanning!

And of course, e-wank factor!

 

1680 x 1050........ not even 1080p ... sad....

 

Are the dual hard drives really just 4200rpm? That would be another disappointment, after the 1680x1050 res. And since it's a consumer model, I don't think the HDX has Intel Robson motherboard flash? Hmm, maybe we can replace the hard drives ourselves with faster, hybrid models?

Anyways, does Dell plan to update their M2010 with Santa Rosa?


P.S. Regarding 1680x1050, this resolution seems standard on desktop 20" monitors -- why is it that laptop screens tend to have higher dpis than desktop screens?

 

Nice design. I like the space for the remote control. Nice touch.

 

I like the design and the name, but it doesn't live up to my expectations. I do think it's a lot more sleek and attractive-looking than Dell's version. I like how this still looks lke a laptop and what they've done with the keyboard and overall style of the casing.

However, the hard drives at this price point are too slow, the graphics card is too weak (ATI x2600? Should have been an Nvidia 8800. Sorry, I don't like ATI), the screen's resolution cannot handle 1080p properly, and HD-DVD should be an option instead of standard. I personally reject both of the next-gen standards and would rather stick with regular DVD. I'll have to see HP's configuration pages for this thing, but I have a feeling it'll stick people with a bunch of useless features or be way-overpriced so as not to hurt VooDoo.

 

Pricing will start at $2999??

Too rich for my blood. Besides, I'm a bit hesitant about going with a 17'' notebook and worrying about size (let alone this new monster).

 

Did you guys read PC Magazine's review of the HDX:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2127461,00.asp

 

They forgot the Nvidia 8800

 

I think an WUXGA screen should come standard on a notebook like this. WSXGA+ is a waste, and it's not full 1080P. Full 1080P High-Definition is 1920x1080 and you need the 1920x1200 WUXGA screen to utilize that.

 

http://www.shopping.hp.com/store/product/product_detail/CTOPROMOSKU

I'm getting one.

 

Sweet, I can't wait to buy this.

 

How's heat with all these 20" monsters that have led to " laptop" being dropped? Certainly not risking my future unborn, no matter how shiny the new toy is

Seems very stylish, but... wouldn't you be better off buying a desktop and LCD? At least 17" are transportable... but come on!

 

These are great for people who rarely move around, but need to take what they have when they do move that once in a month or two time. Or those who want a desktop but do not want the cords.

 

That's the type of computer i want. XD
Thanks.

 

If you're looking to game, you can get something like the Clevo D900, a 17" behemoth that will have SLI 8800M GTX's when they come out later this summer as well as support for RAID-5 for the same price.

The HDX is aimed more at multimedia/entertainment users who want to use their laptop as a small TV/combo entertainment center. It has the HD 2600XT, which is about as powerful as a Geforce Go 7900GS. Of course, a single 8800M GTX would blow it out of the water, let alone SLI 8800M's.

 

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I dont know if anybody wants to carry this thing...

 

HP probably didn't bother to fit a more powerful graphics card because of the target audience they want to appeal to. Like FREN said, people who will be buying this are multimedia and entertainment users, who don't really have any need for high power and high power consumption card like an 8800M. Another reason is that the system looks quite thin, and building a cooling system that would fit in the case and still be effective, without making the notebook even more heavy would be hard. Dell didn't really go over the top with graphics either in their M2010. That notebook only has a Mobility X1800.

 

Oh my god, that thing is MASSIVE. Like I expected it to be big, but not that much bigger than a 17". Thats like half the size of the girl thats holding it!

 

Heh heh. Its much bigger than I thought it would be as well. At 15lbs, it definitely would not be something I'd want to carry around (of course it is not meant for mobility anyway).

 

I mean, I dont know but at ~3000 US starting price, I would get or a killer desktop with a 22" - 24" lcd monitor, or a killer laptop in 17" hooked to and external LCD as well.

 

I think I would get a reasonably good desktop and a Dell 27" monitor. This "laptop" makes no practical sense.

 

It´s easy to keep the desk without lots of cables laying around...
It should be ok if you are some kind of person who needs a big monitor and sometimes go to some beach house or anything like that, you can put it in the car and then put it in another desk.....

I carry my notebook in a backpack when I go to my parent´s house and even take the subway with it.....

 

In some way you are rigth, but for me this "laptop" is way to expensive, I think you can get the ultimate desktop with $2.999 US

 

Wow! 15.5 pounds! And it is beautiful for sure!

I could take this to the gym and surf the net while bench pressing the weighty Dragon . . . that will impress the the ladies!

 

My first post here.....
greetings!
I'm from Indonesia, most of the time live in UK. I am loyal fan of HP.

My first reaction was a WOW!!!
After reading the specs: Lame! (disappointed)

My question to HP (and my only objection): where is blu-ray? where is nVIDIA?? (sorry for the supporter of HD DVD and ATi)
I am a fan of BD since it was announced, and I am supporter and owner of (Japanese) PS3 as well.
Also, am a fan of nVIDIA. I don't like ATi. Well, my current Pavilion zd7377EA, Pavilion 8628AP PC, and my PS3 all use nVIDIA.
Most importantly, I collect Walt Disney movies from snow white till bridge to terabithia (there are holes in my collection, but I can say that I have all 60-70% of all disney movies), and Disney is in BD side.

I am currently considering this laptop as my next, as my HP Pavilion zd7377EA is breaking down (it turned itself off - I also have thickened the thermal paste), while my OmniBook XE3 is clearly uncapable of Vista.
I would seriously consider of buying it if HP removes HD DVD and replaced it with a BD drive. I'd like nVIDIA GeForce series 8 (BTW, I have heard on a review that they are using nVIDIA - I forgot to take a note which one, but i think it's 8 series).

Otherwise, if at any time, my current laptop broke down, I would forget about my loyalty to HP and get VAIO with BD.

weight is not a concern.
I have e-mailed HP's CEO, and sent a feedback to customer service (they can't do anything).

 

Looks cool but when you start configuring the dern thing ya start saying to yerself, WTF??? only 5400RPM hard drives? I can live with the weaker 512MB ATI 2600XT since it has DX10 capabilities but dang why not 7200RPM HD's??? $725 for the Core 2 Extreme X7800 seems a little steep, too.

 

Just odered one cant wait to use it...
One major problem!
Where do I get a carrying case for this uh thing????
No one at HP thought of that

 

re: only for bragging rights. Actually I can see a valid use for such a machine. Spending the first two years of my university degree lugging a desktop to uni AND back again 3 times a year was a right pain. For people who move around a lot but only once every couple of months I think this would be a great choice. Nobody is stupid enough (one would hope) to think this was a remotely portable machine on an every day basis.

There is also a new kind of laptop emerging. More common usage for laptops these days in the home are machines that never see a bag but sit usually in the lounge on the charger and are just more practical in the home environment than a desktop pc. This is another role such a large laptop could fulfill.

Finally: big penis competition? Well, I'm a girl and money no object I'd certainly consider a machine like this.

 

I would say this is the perfect configuration for this 20 incher, as it is HP branded and targeted towards the mainstream.

The 2600 XT is really good for HD decoding and reasonably good for casual gaming. The hard drive though is a sore point....

I Bet that Voodoo will come out with a improvised version with the 8800 or 2900 with raided hard drives et al....