HP Pavilion dv2500t Review

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by Jerry Jackson

The HP Pavilion dv2500t replaces the dv2000t as HP's newest 14.1&quot; consumer notebook offering cutting edge design and performance in a mobile package. With Intel Core 2 Duo (Santa Rosa) processors, available LightScribe optical drive, available nVidia dedicated graphics, and a stylish yet tough design, the dv2500t might just help HP keep its place as one of the leading notebook manufacturers. Let's take a closer look.

The HP Pavilion dv2500t (starting at $949.99 after $100 instant savings) is available with a range of Core 2 Duo processors (from the Intel T5450 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo up to the T7300 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo). There is only one 14.1&quot; screen offering, a 1280x800 WXGA glossy display. HP officially states that this notebook can take up to 2GB of RAM but multiple dv2500t owners in our discussion forums have upgraded their notebooks to 4GB. HP is unique among affordable notebook manufacturers in that they currently offer both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista. If you want to be able to use a full 4GB of system RAM you need 64-bit Vista ... 32-bit does not support a full 4GB of system memory. We are glad to see HP giving customers the option of 64-bit Vista, and we hope other manufacturers will start doing the same thing.

Our review unit of the dv2500t has the following specifications:

• Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
• Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7300 (2.00GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
• 14.1&quot; WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
• 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS (128MB dedicated memory plus 191MB shared, 319MB total)
• HP Imprint (Radiance) Finish + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone
• Integrated Altec Lansing stereo speakers
• Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth
• 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
• 6-Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• 12-Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• Dimensions (with 6-cell battery): 13.15&quot; (L) x 9.33&quot; (W) x 1.02&quot; (min H)/1.54&quot; (max H)
• Weight: 5.29 lb
• 65W AC adapter

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Build and Design

The dv2500t is visually identical to its predecessor the dv2000t, and with good reason. The design of the dv2000t has been very successful for HP and it is still arguably one of the best designs on the market. By using the same external casing customers get an attractive notebook and HP saves on production costs. As the old saying goes, &quot;if it ain't broke, don't fix it.&quot;

HP's glossy &quot;Imprint Finish&quot; on the lid and palm rests remains one of the key design features of the dv2500t. HP's &quot;Imprint Finish&quot; isn't just paint, it's actually a complex process that starts with the molding of the plastics. The swirling design and glossy coat on the HP Imprint Finish is actually &quot;inside&quot; the plastic ... it isn't just a top layer that scratches off. Our particular review unit has been handled by multiple news organizations before it made its way to us and was covered in fingerprints and a few unidentified smudges. As proof of the durability of the finish all we needed was the included cleaning cloth to wipe the notebook clean. In a matter of seconds the dv2500t looked as good as new. Few stylish notebooks have glossy finishes that are as durable as this.

The dv2500t lid does not have a latch to hold it closed, but the hinge mechanism works well and firmly holds the lid in place. There is almost no flex to the screen.

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We managed to take a few comparison photos of the dv2500t and another competing 14.1&quot; notebook, the Dell Inspiron 1420. Both notebooks are nearly identical in size, although the dv2500t is slightly thinner toward the front of the notebook and the rounded edges make the HP feel much more compact than the boxy Dell.

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Performance and Benchmarks

The dv2500t has more than enough performance for a full range of multimedia entertainment needs thanks to the range of Core 2 Duo processors that are available. Even the entry-level 1.66GHz T5450 packs a powerful punch. The 2.0GHz T7300 processor and nVidia 8400M GS dedicated graphics card in our review unit provides plenty of power for games and streaming media over the web. While the 3DMark05 and 3DMark06 benchmarks are a little below what we saw in a similarly equipped Dell XPS M1330, we believe this has to do with the significant amount of bloatware that came pre-installed on the dv2500t. In any case, the scores are still quite good.

Super Pi comparison results:

Notebook	Time
HP dv2500t (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300)	0m 58s
Dell Inspiron 1420 (2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500)	0m 54s
Sony VAIO FZ (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300)	0m 59s
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300)	0m 58s
Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300)	1m 01s
Lenovo 3000 V200 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300)	0m 59s
HP dv2500t (1.80GHz Intel 7100)	1m 09s
Lenovo ThinkPad T61 (2.00GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T7300)	0m 59s
Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (2.00GHz Core 2 Duo T7200)	1m 03s
Toshiba Satellite P205-S6287 (1.73 GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T5300)	1m 24s
Toshiba Satellite A205 (1.66GHz Core 2 Duo)	1m 34s
HP Compaq 6515b (1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52)	2m 05s
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T2400)	0m 59s
Dell Inspiron e1705 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo)	1m 02s

PCMark05 comparison results:

Notebook	PCMark05 Score
HP dv2500t (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)	4,522 PCMarks
Dell Inspiron 1420 (2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS)	4,925 PCMarks
Sony VAIO FZ (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)	3,377 PCMarks
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS)	4,591 PCMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)	4,153 PCMarks
Lenovo 3000 V200 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)	3,987 PCMarks
Lenovo T60 Widescreen (2.0GHz Intel T7200, ATI X1400 128MB)	4,189 PCMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)	4,234 PCMarks
Fujitsu N6410 (1.66GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400)	3,487 PCMarks
Alienware M7700 (AMD Athlon FX-60, Nvidia Go 7800GTX)	5,597 PCMarks
Sony Vaio SZ-110B in Speed Mode (Using Nvidia GeForce Go 7400)	3,637 PCMarks
Asus V6J (1.86GHz Core Duo T2400, Nvidia Go 7400)	3,646 PCMarks

3DMark05 comparison results:

Notebook	3D Mark 05 Results
HP dv2500t (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)	2,157 3DMarks
Dell Inspiron 1420 (2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)	2,840 3DMarks
Sony VAIO FZ (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)	910 3DMarks
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)	3,116 3DMarks
HP Compaq 6510b (2.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, Intel X3100)	916 3DMarks
HP Compaq 6515b (1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52, ATI x1270)	871 3DMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)	2,013 3D Marks
Dell Inspiron e1705 (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400)	1,791 3D Marks
Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 256MB)	4,236 3DMarks
Alienware Aurora M-7700(AMD Dual Core FX-60, ATI X1600 256MB)	7,078 3D Marks
Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400 128MB)	2,092 3D Marks
Dell XPS M1210 (2.16 GHz Core Duo, nVidia Go 7400 256MB)	2,090 3D Marks

3DMark06 comparison results:

Notebook	3DMark06 Score
HP dv2500t (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)	1,055 3DMarks
Dell Inspiron 1420 (2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)	1,329 3DMarks
Sony VAIO FZ (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)	532 3DMarks
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)	1,408 3DMarks
Samsung Q70 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 and nVidia 8400M G GPU)	1,069 3DMarks
Asus F3sv-A1 (Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, Nvidia 8600M GS 256MB)	2,344 3DMarks
Alienware Area 51 m5550 (2.33GHz Core 2 Duo, nVidia GeForce Go 7600 256MB	2,183 3DMarks
Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi 1526 (1.66 Core Duo, nVidia 7600Go 256 MB)	2,144 3DMarks
Samsung X60plus (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7200, ATI X1700 256MB)	1,831 3DMarks
Asus A6J (1.83GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 128MB)	1,819 3DMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)	827 3DMarks

Screen

The 14.1&quot; WXGA glossy screen on the dv2500t isn't ideal for HD video, but it does offer sharp contrast, excellent color, and reasonably even backlighting. Unlike many other 14.1&quot; 1280x800 pixel displays the screen on the dv2500t doesn't suffer from &quot;graininess.&quot; Horizontal viewing angles were excellent although vertical viewing angles were only average. The screen itself didn't suffer from ripples, stuck pixels, or any other problems.

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Keyboard, Touchpad and Other Input Buttons

The full-sized keyboard on the dv2500t has almost no flex. The keys have excellent cushion and response and were quiet during use. There are dedicated keys for home, end, page up, and page down. The f-keys also control a range of features (such as raising or lowering screen brightness) when they are pressed in combination with the function key.

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The touchpad is nice and large and features a durable and responsive surface that is also covered in the HP Imprint Finish. The marked vertical scroll section is likewise accurate and responsive. The touchpad buttons have deep feedback and produce quiet, cushioned clicks. One of the nice features found on HP touchpads is the touchpad on/off button. If you press the small button above the touchpad you can disable it ... perfect for people using an external mouse. Although the touchpad is quite nice I would have liked to see the same style of touchpad that HP started using on the tx1000z and HDX notebooks ... perhaps on next year's notebooks?

HP also includes a Media Center remote that fits inside the notebook's ExpressCard slot. The remote is perfect for controlling movies, music, photo slide shows, and presentations.

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The dv2500t also features dedicated touch-sensitive media buttons above the keyboard and beneath the speakers. The media buttons make watching DVDs or listening to music files as easy as using a DVD or CD player. These media buttons have blue LED backlights that are always on.

The touch-sensitive media buttons with blue LED backlights. (view large image)

Input and Output Ports

There is a reasonable selection of ports on the dv2500t including an HDMI out port for connecting the notebook to your HDTV and an expansion port for connection to HP's xb3000 expansion base/docking station. The complete list of ports includes:

• ExpressCard/54 slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
• two USB 2.0
• HDMI out
• IEEE 1394 Firewire
• expansion port 3
• TV out (S-video)
• Integrated Consumer IR (remote control receiver)
• 5-in-1 digital media card reader
• microphone in
• RJ-11 (modem)
• RJ-45 (LAN/Ethernet)
• VGA out

Let's take a quick tour around the port offerings of the dv2500t:

Front side: LED status lights, wireless on/off switch, IR receiver, microphone port and dual headphone ports. (view large image)

Back side: Nothing here but hinges and a heat vent. (view large image)

Bottom view: Here you can see access to memory slots, several heat vents, and the battery. (view large image)

Left side: Lock slot, S-video out, VGA out, expansion port 3, Ethernet, HDMI, Firewire, ExpressCard slot and 5-in-1 card reader. (view large image)



Right side: Optical drive, two USB ports, modem and DC power jack. (view large image)

Although it's somewhat sad to see there are only two USB ports on the dv2500t you do get an HDMI port and docking station expansion port which are two ports you don't often find on 14.1&quot; notebooks. If you configure the dv2500t with integrated Intel graphics you will get a third USB port instead of the HDMI port.

Audio

The Altec Lansing stereo speakers located above the keyboard are quite impressive. While the built-in speakers didn't produce as much range as notebooks that are also equipped with a subwoofer, the speakers did have impressive clarity and loudness with excellent highs and midtones. The dv2500t also features dual headphone jacks located on the front side so that you and a partner can listen to movies or music on a plane. Although it's nice to have the headphone jacks located at the front it is a less than ideal location for people who like to plug in external speakers.

Heat and Noise

The dv2500t runs extremely quiet but not particularly cool. The fan remained on most of the time when the notebook was plugged in and turned on frequently while the notebook was on battery power. Although there was some minimal warmth coming from the hard drive (left palm rest) the most significant heat came from the memory slots in the middle on the notebook on the underside of the dv2500t. The heat coming from the RAM was enough to make the notebook uncomfortable on the lap after about two hours. If heat is an issue that concerns you then I would recommend using an external notebook cooler/fan with this notebook.

Battery

The dv2500t with the standard 6-cell battery performed reasonably well in terms of battery life. With the screen brightness set to about half, wireless on, and Vista power settings set to maximize battery life, the dv2500t powered down in just above 3 hours (3 hours and 2 minutes). Using the same settings the 12-cell battery provided 5 hours and 41 minutes of battery life. Clearly the standard battery will provide enough power for casual use and the 12-cell is a must-have for extended travel.

One other item of note regarding the battery is that both the 6-cell and 12-cell batteries fit snug inside the notebook and firmly lock into place. In recent months we've seen dozens of notebooks with loose batteries from other companies. We're glad to see that HP still cares about the &quot;fit and finish&quot; on their notebooks.

 

Conclusion

The HP Pavilion dv2500t is an impressive notebook for 2007, despite the fact that the exterior hasn't changed at all since the dv2000t. The combination of performance, stylish design, extremely durable construction/finish, and a wide array of media controls makes the dv2500t &quot;the notebook to beat&quot; among 14.1&quot; systems. After close comparison to Dell's new Inspiron 1420 the only thing Dell really offers over this HP notebook is two extra USB ports. As previously mentioned, given how much system memory Windows Vista hijacks it's nice to know that HP offers 64-bit Vista to allow you to use as much RAM as possible.

Bottom line, although the design hasn't changed in the last year the the HP dv2500t delivers modern day performance and plenty of multimedia extras with style and an affordable price tag. Overall the dv2500t is one of the best notebooks available for everyday consumers.

Pros

• Fast Core 2 Duo processors
• Solid dedicated graphics option
• Still one of the best designs on the market
• Excellent build quality
• Good keyboard and touchpad
• Great screen
• Responsive media buttons and nice remote

Cons

• Glossy Imprint finish is a magnet for fingerprints
• Only 2 USB ports with dedicated graphics option
• Bottom of notebook near the memory slots gets a little too warm

 

Nice review Jerry! I am glad the 2500t offers the same GPU as Dell's 1420. Only thing I don't understand is why the 6500t does not offer the same GPU option as the Dell 1520. Anyway, thanks for the review.

 

Great review mate

 

Nice job on the review!

EDIT: Didn't you say you were going to check about the "magnesium alloy" casing or something?

 

Well, it's true that this is probably the better offering in the price range (not counting the macbook). The keyboard on the 14" models doesn't flex and sag cheaply like it does on the 15"+ models, though all the blue LEDs still look silly, made to attract simpler minds. Now, there's one meme that needs to be corrected: the notion that the awful imprint case design "looks cool". It looks infantile, like the blue LEDs. People who like it also think that leaving all the stickers on the laptops "looks cool".

HP get points for battery life though.

 

And well another thing the 1420 has over this is a better performing GPU - and if it is indeed due to bloatware on the HP, kudos to Dell for minimizing the amount of pre-installed software (and giving consumers more control over what's installed). After seeing the HP in the store, it felt a bit more "cheap" and plasticy than the new Dells. Any comment on this?

The battery life is a nice plus over the Dell though. Wonder if Dell will address this.

 

While I'm not crazy about glossy finishes that the swirly pattern isn't the most attractive, HP has done an amazing job with the Imprint Finish in terms of durability. Most of the notebooks with glossy lids that we get for review aren't nearly as durable as the HPs. And several painted notebooks from other manufacturers (including Dell) are showing up with damaged paint or paint that hasn't been correctly/evenly applied to the surface of the lid.

I think HP is doing a great job with their Imprint finish ... I just wish it wasn't as glossy and I'm not big on the swirl design either.

 

I think it's a bit of a matter of opinion ... but only because the glossy nature of the Imprint Finish and the rounded edges of the design. When you see something matte and boxy most people tend to think "rugged" and when you see something rounded and glossy most people tend to think "fragile."

As we compare the dv2500t and 1420 in our hands the dv2500t looks more delicate at first, but when we start squeezing the notebooks and tapping them with our fingers we get the sense that the dv2500t is more "solid" and the 1420 is more "hollow." In addition, the plastics on the dv2500t feel pretty even in terms of thickness around most of the notebook while there are areas where the plastics on the 1420 feel thinner and you can tell they are relying on support from a metal frame inside.

Again, it boils down to the "fit and finish" just being better on the dv2500t compared to the 1420. It also certainly isn't helping Dell that the 1420 and now the 1720 we received have minor issues with the paint (chips, uneven application, and flaking of the outer layer).

We will comment in more detail on the paint issues with the 1720 when we post that review next week.

 

I would love to see a detailed 6500t, and Acer 5920 head to head, covering everything from materials to performance. I love the imprint finish, wish my Acer had it. Yet, the casings are pretty similar.

 

I still find your experiences with the paint of the new Inspirons vexing. I'm not doubting your review units as you describe them, but perhaps as this is a brand new design and direction for Dell, paint issues can be chalked up to early hiccups in their first production run. Didn't you guys mention some sort of paint issue with your pre-production XPS M1330 as well?

As for the construction of the laptops, I still have not heard an official analysis of build materials in the new Dells. I do believe though that the Inspirons (at least the 1420) are encased in magnesium-alloy as well as having metals throughout the inside. When you say hollow though, are you possibly referring to the interior of the 1420, around the keyboard? If I tap on the palm rests I do hear a sort of hollow sound, but overall it feels very solid otherwise. Perhaps why I find the HP less solid in construction is partially due to the excess of glossy plastic throughout. It gives it a very consumerist, entry-level look and feel to it.

 

very nice review! I have seem a lot of HPs in computer stores when I was shopping for a notebook but they are mostly older models. I was concerned that the hp notebooks might have questionable build quality as the dells (although the inspiron 1420 and 1520 I had the chance to check out at a dell kiosk were much more solid than I would imagine something from dell).

 

Thank you for the Review.

Here is a video of information about HP's Design and Durability coming from the Director as he's going though the HDX, dv6500, and dv2500 verve

http://video.gearlive.com/

 

Thanks for an informative review of a attractive notebook. Only two USB ports isn't very generous for a 14.1" machine. However, had this been available with a 1440 x 900 display then I might have gone for it instead of my Zepto.

John

 

I completely agree. The glossy plastic all over the HP Pavilions is ugly, cheap-looking, and cheap-feeling, and the reflections from the glossy plastic would annoy me. Plenty of people seem to like it though. Materials aside, I do think the Pavilions are pretty well put-together though. But I'd rather have a metal frame like the Dell with perhaps a thin layer of plastic over it than all-plastic construction like the HP Pavilion.

 

I don't know, each time I see and handle one of those HPs (namely at Costco and from friends who own them), I get amazed how flimsy they all feel. Ridiculous flex everywhere, especially the keyboard. When I pick up the thing by one of its corners, it just doesn't feel solid at all. These shiny HPs are all plastic. The Dell 1420/1400 are magnesium top and bottom. I am amazed how Dell uses a full mag alloy chasis on a $549 laptop (base Vostro 1400).

I've fully disassembled my Vostro 1400. Yes the whole thing is mag alloy, except only the palm rest and screen bezel. It is the easiest notebook I've disassembled. I helped a friend upgrade a CPU on an HP DV2000 a while back. OMG that is one of the toughest laptop I've had to displeasure to work on, never mind that the whole thing had to come apart to get to the CPU! Second only probably to a Compaq I remember working on in the mid 90's (like a Pentium 133mhz) - that thing had no screws, had to pop the very hard plastic snaps all over.

BTW, upgrading the CPU on the Dell 14" models is the easiest thing in the world - accessed from the bottom, 4 screws to remove the cover and you're there!

I am sensing bias towards HP.

 

I sense people basing their opinions without actually using the notebooks. Having owned my V3000 which is basically a dv2000/dv2500 with a different case design for about a year, I have to disagree with the flimsy build quality argument. Yes, the chassis is made of plastic but that necessarily doesnt mean it will break during normal usage. Being a student I carry my notebook around in my backpack almost everyday and over the past year I have travelled overseas and used it quite extensively in a variety of places. Other than a few nicks which can occur in any notebook there are no issues with the imprint finish fading. The only scratch was from a exposed staple. The finish is definately scratch resistant and compared to other notebooks I have seen and owned in the past it is holding up very well. The latch-less screen still closes in place like it did when new. Ofcourse if you pick the notebook from the corners will hear some creaking noise but thats due to the plastic and most certainly not related to build quality issues.

The keyboard flexing issue again cannot be generalized. Personally, I have experienced no flexing issues with my keyboard. Ofcourse with any notebook keyboard if you press hard enough you will notice some flexing.

 

I have nothing against Dell. If you ask me whether the Dell XPS M1330 is better than the HP dv2500t I'd tell you to buy the M1330 in a heartbeat.

As I type these comments I'm typing on the keyboard of one of the BEST business notebooks currently on the market ... a Dell Latitude D630.

If you read my review of the 1420, overall I was very impressed with that system.

However, I (and several other members of our editorial staff) liked the dv2500t better than the 1420 as a 14.1" consumer notebook. That's not bias, that's just opinion.

I'm sure that there will be many Lenovo Thinkpad users who will read my comment above about the Dell D630 and accuse me of being biased against Lenovo.

 

I like the new line of HPs...I have more experience with the dv6000 than the dv2500, but since you are speaking to the whole HP lineup....

They are pretty solid machines, miles better than the E1505 (I haven't had a chance to use the new Dells much, so I will use what I know for comparison), and better than my much more expensive Sony FJ. Its not ThinkPad level by any degree, but for a consumer notebook, its excellent. The finish deserves special mention. Its very nice looking, and fantastically durable. I am a fan of glossy things, and I find it makes the dv series look very upscale, especially when compared to the low rent plastic Dell line.

And I like the new Editors Choice feature, it really shows which ones are the cream of the crop. This certainly is one of them: beautiful design, solid specs, good quality, reasonable price. Its like the Honda Accord of notebooks

 

I was responding to Jerry's comment on HP = solid/Dell = hollow chassis, and that the HP has even plastic vs. Dell's thinner plastic. I strongly disagree with those findings. The Dell has a very strong, full mag-alloy chassis. I think it is quite a feat to offer that chassis and everything in it at a base price of $599 with a base C2D CPU. Again referring to the Vostro 1400.

 

I guess plenty of people must agree with you, since the new Gateway designs look like a ripoff of the HP Pavilions... but they're much tackier-looking than even the HP Pavilions. It's like someone melted a Gateway and an HP together.

 

I have experienced with dv2000z and tx1000z from Costco, but i return them all and get the 1420 instead. I must say that 1420 quailty is much better and feel much stronger then the hp. I returned dv2000z cuz it got really warm fast, fan kept on running, and I can't upgrade the bluetooth module myself easily. The TX1000z was nightmare!!! It has the poorest battery life, runs even warmer then dv2000z. And worst of all is the second replacement I got the chassis was bent like banana. Both tx1000z (first one and replacement) have squeaky plastic at palm rest area. I think it's due to poor location of the power button on the left between the seamline and wireless button on the right. Anyways, I was thinking about the give dv2500t if the 1420 not work out.... Fortunately, 1420 is a keeper.

By the way, the included Dell webcam software is so much fun. I recall there was no included webcam softare on HP.

 

As an owner of DV2000T, I would say this is truly a consumer class laptop. If you want something business oriented and solid build, go with Thinkpad.

I did go through hell with DV2000T, and have since completely lost trust in HP and its responsibility to maintain its own product.

 

Great review, I also like the editor's choice designation too.

 

Comparing Intel chips with AMD isn't exactly fair for heat.

 

You weren't comparing the M1330 with the HP here, if you did this would have been an endless apples and oranges argument.

Bias is when the subject of a review gets favorable comments when compared to the competing model without all the facts. The fact is the I1420 has a mag-alloy chassis, and it is much more solid than the HP. I have completely disassembled my Vostro 1400 and a friend's HP DV2000t. Like a bad habbit, whenever I have a reason to completely disassemble a laptop, I twist the empty chassis just to see how solid it is. As you can imagine, the mag-alloy shell is much more flex resistant than a plastic one.

Now how well the outside finish will hold up, I don't know. The HP may very well be scratch and finger print proof (I doubt that). The black paint on the Vostro 1400 is a finger print MAGNET, but I feel the paint is of good quality (never mind that my first Vostro came with 2 scratches on it, looked to be caused by a screw driver or something).

What IS finger print proof is the Latitude D420/430/620/630/820/830. I love that finish. I've had my share of Latitudes - D410/420/620/820. I so miss the placement of the PGUP/PGDN/HOME/END/INSERT/DELETE keys on the 620 and 820 keyboard. I'm still struggling to find those keys by touch on the Vostro. But I prefer the Vostro keyboard to the rest, nice firmness and no flex.

I can't wait to get my M1330. Another month to go! My Vostro is going to a friend. He has no computer - his Inspiron 9100 just died. The nice guy that I am offered up my Vostro so he doesn't have to run to his local library just to get online. Now I have no laptop for a month

 

I think what JerryJ meant by "solid" was that the dv2500t is more compact and less room inside. It would act more like a solid, like a rock Whereas the the 1420 was hollow and had empty space inside like shell. Thus its magnesium shell would protect it like a steel frame. I don't think he ever said one was more durable than the other. Just that they had different types of builds.

 

Great Review!! I just purchased a HP DV2402CA (aka DV2000T) it works great. It basically has the same features except the detailed shell design and the newer specs. I like it better than my sony vgn-n notebook because its more compact, better build quality and sleeker design. However, (I agree with the reviewer) it does tend to produce a modest amount of heat from the left palm rest under use for about 1 hr or 2hr but not too alarming. Hopefully I'll be able to use the HP notebook for several years in college before I get another replacement.

 

Cool editor's choice thingy!

 

Are you sure the GeForce 8400GS has 128MB of dedicated RAM? From what I gather, it should be 64MB.

For example, the current graphics options from HP's website are:
319MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS = 319MB - 256MB = 63MB
383MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS = 383MB - 256MB = 127MB
511MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS = 511MB - 256MB = 255MB

See a trend here? HP defaults its shared memory to 256MB across all discrete graphics platforms and takes 1MB of dedicated memory from actual spec.

 

Being an owner of a DV2000t for a year now, I 'll have to agree with the review points... My DV works nearly on a 24/7 basis... at work and home, and it's trouble free for the time.

Materials are of good quality, temperature remains at reasonable levels, and its plastic casing is remarkably sturdy with almost no flex even if you hold from one corner. 6 Cell battery gives me about 2,5 hours of operation with radios ON, and 12 cell gives almost 5 hours... that should be also the case for Dv2500.

 

have a correction for Jerry from HP website: guess that explains the lower 3d mark scores.

The NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) 8400M GS delivers improved quality and performance levels in 3D graphics. If configured with the 1GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm), there will be 64MB dedicated memory and up to 255MB shared memory. If configured with the 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm), there will be 64MB dedicated memory and up to 767MB shared memory.

 

"If you want to be able to use a full 4GB of system RAM you need 64-bit Vista ... 32-bit does not support a full 4GB of system memory. "

just so folks understand this, user space is limited to a max of 3GB with XP, leaving the remaining 1GB to OS space. so, yes, 32 bit XP will accept 4GB of ram, but you cannot have a user process(es) see more than 3GB of ram (without some hacking). i highly recommend if you are ram constrained (working with big documents) to move to 4GB even under 32bit XP. the OS itself will likely consume a good sized chunk of the remaining 1GB and you've increased your user process space ram by 50% (2G->3G).

 

I think the HP chassis is plenty sturdy and overall quality is excellent. The imprint finish is excellent, both inside and outside. I really don't like the appearance of the small text below the the outside logo. Hmm, this is an entertainment PC …oh thanks HP, I'm so dumb I need your label to understand what I'm looking at. I guess I should not buy one of these for my office work.

HP vs. Dell is a big argument. IMO, Dell has a serious image problem to rectify. Less so for HP. Dell's Vostro line is a step in the right direction.

Taking a notebook apart and twisting the empty shell is not particularly informative.

 

I think people need to remember this is a consumer laptop, not a business system. "Style" is much more important in this segment, with build quality taking a knock.

 

I must say that I am disappointed with this review (and that of 1420)..For example, "heat and noise" part does not mention anything about difference between under load and being idle. There's no detailed information about specification of 8400GS (say, the one you can get through nTune), and other information doesn't feel as detailed as other recent reviews here.

 

Does anyone know where I can get this in Canada? HP's website doesn't have it listed

 

The DV2500 series has just arrived in Canada. I just posted a reply to thread in the HP forums about the DV2550se (the Verve), which is at Best Buy this week for $1199.99+tax (and free HP printer too). Not sure if it's at Staples, but I'm going check their website.

 

The reviewer stated that the Dell has a plastic chassis that relies on a metal frame inside. I was trying to inform the forum it is not the case.

And you've informed the forum how? That you didn't really need the reminder that HP put on your laptop to make sure you're informed of your PC's purpose in life?

 

For me leaving all the stickers on the laptop indeed looks cool.
I don't understand how some people feel that peeling them away improves the appearance. It's baffling for me!

 

I was merely stating the results of the twisting experiment were uninformative. I wasn't reflecting on your personal contribution to this forum.

I don't like the logo text, but I like the dv2500t otherwise. I dislike excessive product branding in general. No big deal.

 

hi guys, im planning to buy my first laptop. i customized one at hp.com. im planning to buy one for college. I'm working with 3d applications like maya and autocad. what do you think? is it good enough? Im also thinking (2nd choice) of buying the HP DV2600 (verve print), the specs are almost the same but some people says that the looks of the verve print looks boring, they said that its for oldies.

Anyway, here's my customized specs:

HP DV2500t

Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7500 (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Display: 14.1" WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
Memory: 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Graphics Card: 64MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
Personalization: HP Imprint (Radiance) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone
Networking: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
Hard Drive: 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Primary CD/DVD Drive FREE Upgrade to LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support!!
TV & Entertainment Experience HP ExpressCard Digital/Analog TV Tuner
Primary Battery: One 6 Cell and One 12 Cell Lithium Ion Batteries

Price: $1,522.99

 

Nice review

btw, are you sure they shipped your dv2500t with 128MB dedicated GPU? cause the website says it only has 64MB dedicated and rest integrated, and when amount of memory comes to that small, it does make a performance difference now and then.