HP Updates Notebooks For The Holidays

by Jerry Jackson

If you have been sitting on the fence waiting to make that new laptop purchase, HP just gave you a few more reasons to click the "buy" button. Today HP updated the entire line of notebooks with increased dedicated video RAM options for gaming, Blu-Ray optical drives for you HD movie fans, and a few subtle refreshes to the design of their notebooks.

Santa's elves have been busy over at HP this week.

New HP Pavilion notebook configurations include:

14.1" Notebooks

• dv2700t
• dv2700tbw
• dv2700tse

15.4" Notebooks

• dv6700z
• dv6700t
• dv6700tse

17" Notebooks

• dv9700t
• dv9700z

The basic hardware remains the same with a range dual core Intel and AMD processors to choose from and up to 4GB of system RAM. The major feature updates include:

New Dedicated Graphics Options

• 128MB nVidia 8400M GS for dv2700t, dv2700tbw, and dv2700tse (upgraded from 64MB)
• 256MB nVidia 8400M GS for dv6700z, dv6700t, and dv6700tse (upgraded from 128MB)
• 512MB nVidia 8600M GS for dv9700t and dv9700z (upgraded from 256MB)

New Optical Drive Options

• Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer

Overall, these "refreshed" HP notebooks aren't that much different than earlier configurations ... so don't worry if you already purchased an HP notebook for Christmas. However, gaming enthusiasts and Blu-Ray disc movie lovers have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season.

Bottom line, these new notebooks shouldn't make new HP notebook owners upset and improve the features of the HP lineup just enough to make last-minute shoppers give HP a second look.

More information and detailed technical specs are available on the HP website.

 

And you can *finally* order that Verve laptop from HP online in a configurable manner now. Best Buy was selling that as an exclusive Verve for the longest time.

 

I wish they could have added Intel chips to the TX1000 line, oh well.

 

i wish they added the 8600mgt

 

That is the one thing that really amazes me. The tx1000 line has remained one of the most popular tablet PC notebooks for all of 2007 ... but HP hasn't updated it at all even though the rest of HP's lineup has seen several minor refreshes.

Although I still think the tx1000 series is one of the best consumer tablets on the market (if not THE best) I really think HP should have updated/refreshed the tx1000 series six months ago.

 

Since all their other consumer notebooks have AMD/Intel options, they must have inked an exclusive deal with AMD for the TX1000 series. I agree its a really nice consumer tablet but it has mediocre/poor battery life and outputs lots of heat (complaints from me and many other TX1000 owners). Intel processors would fix that.

 

Switching to an AMD chipset from NVIDIA would fix that, much of it at least. AMD has done some amazing things since purchasing ATI. HP is probably waiting for AMD's next-gen integrated graphics chipset at this point though, not sure when that'll be ready for notebooks (read: don't wait).

 

what sense does a 256mb 8400GS make ?
should have offered 8600GS instead in 6700 series IMO

 

blah! not yet in Canada.

 

HAH... this is like what happened with the dv9000t laptop a few months ago. HP added a 512mb version of the Go 7600, which made absolutely no difference in comparison to the 256 version since the card is too weak to handle all that memory effectively anyways. They definitely should have just replaced the 8600m gs with a 256mb gt version.

 

Where is the 8800GTX. Now that is what we call a Christmas present.

 

Useless updates. Except dv2700tse (upgraded from 64MB to 128MB).

 

When does HP plan to release LED screens and slim down the dv2700?

I think frame could do with an upgrade.

 

HP likes to get away with these mediocre "refreshes" instead of putting out new lines. Granted, the pavillions are pretty good, and all I really want to see is a 1900x1200 screen on the dv9000s!

 

Maybe by next summer with Montevina?

 

There STILL isn't an 8600M in the 6x00 series?? Get your act together, HP!!!

 

I wonder if they'd let 2500t users upgrade to 128mb if they paid for it.

(I'm not thinking about it -- need my laptop too much -- but it'd be a nice option to have and good customer service.)

 

God, couldn't they have had this Verve cto model out in like September? Or even October? I was so in love with the design, but the Best Buy configuration just didn't cut it for me - the 12 cell battery (sticks out the bottom) and the integrated graphics made it impossible to buy for me.

 

I just don't understand how the pattern printed on the plastic makes such a big deal. In daily use, you hardly even notice it. It's certainly not worth the amount of fanfare HP gives it.

 

WTF

I just bought a dv2500t! AGGGHHH!!!

Thank God that technically all I'm missing out on is the 128MB GeForce 8400M GS. That still really hurts, though.

 

It does, really. Its better looking, the keyboard is nicer, and uhhh, call me really superficial, but EVERYBODY has a regular dv2000 or dv6000. Just go into the cafeteria, half the laptops there will be a new generation HP. For good reason too, but I mean, I don't want the same notebook that everyone else has....Its like buying an Accord or Altima. I'd rather get a Mazda 6, even though I'd be just as fine with the other two, primarily because it isn't the 2nd and 3rd most popular car on the road (after the Camry). Same deal with notebooks.

 

Will the 128mb dedicated vs the 64mb dedicated make a large difference in the refreshed dv2700t? I just recently received my 2500t/2600t(not sure which) and was wondering if I should send it back in and get the refreshed one, 128mb is obviously better, but by how much?

 

The updates aren't really anything significant. Rather than bumping up the memory to 512MB in the 8600M GS, they should've added a 8600M GT.

 

Keep an eye on the price of them, because if the dv2500 price goes down within 30 days, you can call them and get a refund for the difference.

 

So put a sticker on it, or tint the windows, or put a lame sounding pipe on the exhaust. Maybe some lights on the bottom

 

The 15" AMD has gigabit ethernet but the Intel still doesn't. When will gigabit become the default ethernet for systems? Apple has made this standard. Why won't the others?

 

It's the chicken and egg problem. Of course, Intel could use their ahem, clout, to promote gigabit quite easily, but I think they want people using wifi.

 

The dv9000 had gigabit. They probably got a better deal using a 100Mbit chip that might already be integrated onto another of the chips instead of using a new chip just for gigabit. That type of stuff is usually more of a part-sourcing issue than anything else.

 

So wait, HP is no longer calling their souped up 15.4" CTO notebook the dv6500t Special Edition anymore? It's now called "dv6700tse". Also, it's worth mentioning that the option to stick a T7700 in the Special Edition is not valid anymore... people will have to do with the T7500.

And I'll be honest, I loved the look of the Verve imprint finish on the 14.1" HP laptop, but hell, nearly every notebook you see is black...

 

People aren't allowed to like something that's esthetically pleasing? Do you only date ugly people or something?

 

Everything has it's place, but putting some new design that you can barely see more then a few steps away from it is hardly a, "WOW LOOK AT THIS GREAT NEW FEATURE WE PUT ON OUR COMPUTERS!!!!" worthy "feature". Sure, having a nice design is, well, nice, but it says to me that HP might be focusing a little too much on the fluffy things.

 

c'mon hp, give us an option of LED and WSXGA+ screen for dv6xxxx please.

 

They should make the Verve Edition for the 15.4'' and 17'' too. It's really nice.

 

At least WXGA+ on both the dv2xxx and dv6xxx series

 

i was looking at the dv9700t and in their options for processors they have 1.8, 2.0, 2.00 and 2.2 ghz. any ideas on how to notify hp of this?

 

Would have been interested if they would have offered a decent game worthy GPU for a change.

 

I guess the reason for the hype is that HP claims that the pattern is not regular paint, but rather molded into the plastic.

I assume this is the reason why the pattern in the palm rest area does not peel off.

Whatever the case, I guess HP is selling the experience.

 

Although they have the same 2GHz frequency, they are different processors. T5750 vs T7250

 

512MB nVidia 8600M GS -- how extreme .

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, I cannot understand how HP sells more than Dell. Considering the major manufacturers, Dell seems to use top end graphics cards. HP is always behind in that matter, yet still making the claim they are "gaming" notebooks.
A 512MB 8600GS is just marketing fluff, makes it sound far more capable than it really is.
Releasing this refresh of notebooks now is no coincidence, it is the holiday season after all, but hmm, 5 days before xmas is a bit late.

 

Yeah, I understand your feelings .. ..

I'd really appreciate 128MB of VRAM . .. . man . . . . ..

Well, I'd say the majority of users have little knowledge in this area.

So, they'll obviously go for something prettier (subjective, but you know the "Dell" looks . . .) and seriously, not all ppl game . . . HP laptops do have decent specs, and at least it does have a dedicated graphics card . . .

 

HP claims them to be "entertainment notebooks"...

I think it's a bit lame that Sony, Dell, HP, and countless others offer Blu-Ray & HD/DVD drivers yet Apple does not.

What a waste of a 17" WUXGA.

 

Hmm...I think most of HP gaming laptops are not as good as Dell or Sony

 

Yes true, before, with the 9500 and before, they said "gaming" under the "Great for:" section, but I noticed it's missing now.

Yes that's true. But I imagine some person (who doesn't know much about computers, which is most people), baffled why they don't get such great performance in games saying "but it's 512MB!"

 

Just like s... sells, pple go after more s..y lappies, which with exception to Dell's new 1330,1530 is usually the case with pple who don't game or not aware of differences in GPUs.

 

Nobody noticed that they slashed prices too? The HDX now starts at $1999 instead of $2499. That's pretty newsworthy to me and puts it more in a reasonable price range.

 

Has anyone confirmed this yet (no gigabit on the 6700t)? That would be a real bummer... I was hoping the next iteration would have had what they initially promised with the 6500t.

 

Hey everyone! I'm new to the site, although I've been consulting it for the last week or so in my quest for a laptop.

After reading the very positive review on here, I customized a 6500t Special Edition this week and had it just the way I wanted it. But now, the 6700t has replaced it and my saved customizations for the 6500t can no longer be used. What should I do? Should I just switch to the 6700t? I've come up with a similar customization on the 6700t, and it's going to end up being a bit more expensive, but not unreasonably so. Should I be able to expect a similar system quality-wise with the 6700t?

I'm a bit annoyed that a 2GHz processor isn't standard anymore. Should I be fine with 1.67 (the T5450)? Also, is LightScribe worth the extra $15? Is a fingerprint reader worth the extra $25 (probably not, I'm guessing). Is bluetooth worth the extra cash (my sister has it on her Vaio and never uses it)? I'm trying to trim the price as much as possible. I apologize if I sound stupid...I'm a bit new at all of this. I just want to know which things are necessary and which are superfluous. I'm a college student and need to keep it reasonable.

Thanks!

 

Ooohh, oohh, I wanna answer!

There are TWO reasons why HP is outselling Dell.

1. I can go into any local electronics retailer and pick up an HP laptop. I cannot do that with Dell.

2. HP notebooks are just plain nicer looking. Outside of Dell's XPS M1330 and M1530, Dell's notebooks have traditionally been hideous.

Sidenote:

Most consumers don't care about the graphics cards used in notebooks. We do, because we're enthusiasts and gamers, but the vast majority of users just want to buy something that works.

 

That's a good point. I think HP looks nicer too. But too "plastic-y".