HP dv2000t Review (pics, specs)

HP dv2000t Review

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Overview and Introduction

HP's dv2000t is the "next generation" of the aging dv1000 series. Because of its 14.1" widescreen LCD, 1"-1.5" thickness, and 5.4 lbs, the dv2000t is portable and large enough to be used comfortably. Even though the dv2000t is not built for gaming, it is a great solution for those who need everything in a portable system.

Here is the breakdown of my notebook's configuration:

• Processor: Intel Core Duo (Yonah) T2300E 1.66GHz
• Screen:14.1" WXGA BrightView TFT LCD 1280x800
• GFX Card:Intel GMA 950 (integrated, 128MB shared)
• RAM: 1024MB DDR2 at 533MHz
• HD size: 80GB 5400MHz
• Disc drive:Super 8x DVD+/-RW with DL support
• Wireless:Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG w/ Bluetooth
• OS:Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Communication:Built-in 1.3 MP Webcam with 2 omnidirectional microphones
• Ports:1 ExpressCard 54/34 Slot, 1 Firewire, 3 USB 2.0, TV-Out (S-video), IR (for remote control), Microphone in, 2 Headphone out (with one also as SPDIF Digital Audio), 1 RJ-45 (ethernet), 1 RJ-11 (modem), 1 Expansion Port 2 Connector, Light-up DC port for power supply

Reasons for Buying

For the past few months, I've been searching for a notebook that is small enough to carry in a backpack and sufficient for use as a desktop replacement. I had briefly considered Dell's Inspiron e1405/e1505 because of the popularity & low prices, but I quickly lost interest due to the poor construction and bulkiness after examining my friend's e1505. Later I saw the HP's dv1000 (14.1") and dv5000 (15.4") series and was amazed by the sturdy build quality, so I decided to look into HP notebooks a little more. Luckily, HP decided to release their dv2000 product line while I was on my search for the perfect notebook for college. Blown away by the new glossy piano-like ebony finish and vast configuration options, I immediately ordered the dv2000t.

Where and How Purchased

I purchased the dv2000t directly off of HP's website. At the time of purchase there were no pre-configured models for this new series, so I had to configure my own specs (known as a CTO, or Configure-To-Order). They offered free shipping for my order, but the building took weeks before I actually received the notebook.

I would like to point out that there are now numerous pre-configured models available from HP. In fact, some models are already available at retail stores like Best Buy. Later, I will discuss why it may be better to still go with a CTO online.

Build & Design

As mentioned before, the dv2000t sports a new glossy finish on the cover and inner faces of the notebook (it even comes with a gray cloth to wipe the glossy exterior!). This thing really is quite a beauty compared to the dull square edges of the older dv1000/dv5000, but is very susceptible to fingerprints due to the glossy nature. Overall, HP has done a great job designing an elegant notebook that is sure to get some attention.

HP dv2000t above view (view large image)

The notebook does not have a latch to hold it shut. Instead, it "clicks" shut at the hinges like in MacBooks, and is surprisingly secure. One thing I don't like about the design, however, is that the screen only folds out to approximately 135 degrees; most other notebooks I've seen can fold out 180 degrees flat.

HP dv2000t screen fully extended (view large image)

The AC port also lights up when it is plugged in:

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Screen

Because there were no other options for the screen configuration, my dv2000t came equipped with a WXGA BrightView 1280x800 LCD. When I first turned the notebook on, I was very surprised that the dv2000t's screen was almost as bright as Sony's XBRITE screens. Along with the glossy screen, this notebook produced very crisp text and vibrant colors from movies. In addition the screen had very little light leakage at the bottom only, allowing even brightness across the screen.

Although the resolution is only 1280x800, I found that if it were any higher the text would be too small and hard to read. Still, I felt that the resolution provided plenty of room for most applications unless you're doing high resolution image editing or something.

So you're probably wondering why I said that "it may be better to go with a CTO" earlier. After I got my notebook, I decided to check out the same notebook at several retail stores to see if they were all the same. Unfortunately, the dv2000t I saw in retail stores had a significantly dimmer screen than my notebook's. I found out that the in-store models had screens manufactured by SEC; mine is from QDS. My friend's dv2000t CTO has a QDS screen too, so this may be something worth considering before purchasing.

At the top of the screen is the 1.3 MP Webcam:

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Speakers

The speakers are nothing spectacular. They're exactly what you would expect from notebooks: tinny and lacking in dynamics. Some may argue that they're "Altec Lansing" speakers, as if that's supposed to make the speakers any better (or worse?) than it really is. Luckily, the dv2000t comes with 1 microphone and 2 headphone 3.5mm jacks (one works as SPDIF too) in the front edge for you to use your own headphones / headset.

There's a row of QuickPlay buttons right above the keyboard which allows direct controlling of back, play / pause, stop, forward, and volume within Windows XP. The buttons are actually "touch sensitive", which is a nice idea, but makes it difficult to operate.

QuickPlay buttons (view large image)

Processor and Performance

The Intel Core Duo T2300E 1.66GHz working with 1.0GB of DDR2 memory enables most applications to run in a snap on this laptop. Although the dual core feature is useless for the average user, it is great for applications that utilize multi-threading. The benchmark results below show how the dv2000t compares to other notebooks:

SuperPi:

Notebook	Time
HPdv2000t (1.66 GHz Core Duo)	1m 26s
Asus W3H760DD (2.0 GHz Pentium M)	1m 33s
Dell Inspiron e1505 (2.0GHz Core Duo)	1m 16s
Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (2.0GHz Core Duo)	1m 18s
Toshiba Satellite M100 (2.00GHz Core Duo)	1m 18s
Samsung X60 (1.66GHz Core Duo)	1m 29s
Dell XPS M140 (1.86 GHz Pentium M)	1m 41s
Sony VAIO FS680 (1.86 GHz Pentium M)	1m 53s
IBM ThinkPad T43 (1.86 GHz Pentium M)	1m 45s

HD Tune:

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Detailed PCMark2005 Results:

HDD -- XP Startup	5.910 MB/s
Physics and 3D	68.785 fps
Transparent Windows	125.618 windows/s
3D -- Pixel Shader	n/a
Web Page Rendering	1.828 pages/s
File Decryption	41.556 MB/s
Graphics Memory -- 64 Lines	494.824 fps
HDD -- General Usage	4.146 MB/s
Multithreaded Test 1 / Audio Compression	n/a
Multithreaded Test 1 / Video Encoding	n/a
Multithreaded Test 2 / Text Edit	89.118 pages/s
Multithreaded Test 2 / Image Decompression	19.943 MPixels/s
Multithreaded Test 3 / File Compression	6.069 MB/s
Multithreaded Test 3 / File Encryption	16.135 MB/s
Multithreaded Test 3 / HDD -- Virus Scan	27.871 MB/s
Multithreaded Test 3 / Memory Latency -- Random 16 MB	7.315 MAccesses/s

Heat and Noise

This notebook is extremely quiet under normal operations. Besides the faint access noises from the hard drive, the DVD+/-RW drive is the only other part that is louder. While I was typing papers and surfing the internet, there was almost no noise at all aside from the occasional fan and hard drive use.

For the most part, the heat is nothing unbearable. The only heat you'll ever notice is beneath the left palm area, which is where the hard drive is located. Even then, it is only warm to the touch and isn't really uncomfortable.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard has a very solid feel and does not clatter if you run your hands over it. Although I've always used a desktop keyboard, I had no trouble getting used to the dv2000t's keys. My only complaint is that the keys to the right of the spacebar are slightly shifted to the left in order to squeeze in the arrow keys, but this shouldn't be an issue if you're not keyboard-shortcut savvy like me.

Because the entire computer is pretty much glossy, why not make the touchpad glossy too? Yes, it's glossy. And yes, it makes it harder to slide your finger on it. However, I got used to it pretty quickly and it didn't seem that much of a nuisance anymore. The mouse buttons feel rather flimsy and don't give you a solid "click", but you get used to that too. Another feature on the touchpad is an on/off button, in case you want to use an external mouse. Unfortunately, the button is rather small and difficult to press. The touchpad isn't as bad as I make it sound though, really!

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Input and Output Ports

The dv2000t offers a plethora of ports throughout the notebook. Because all the ports are on the left, front, and right sides (none on the back), they are very easy to access.

Front side view of dv2000t (view large image)

Back side view of dv2000t (view large image)

Right side view of dv2000t (view large image)

Left side view of dv2000t (view large image)

Wireless

Setting up my notebook with my wireless router was quite effortless. I get good signal strength throughout my house when used with my Linksys wireless-G router. I also chose the Bluetooth option, which lets me connect my PDA/cellphone to my notebook. There's also a sliding wireless on/off switch on the front to let you save battery life.

Battery

While configuring my dv2000t, I had the option of choosing either a 6-cell battery or a 12-cell battery. I decided to go with the 6-cell battery because the 12-cell sticks out on thebottom (not at the back like Dell's larger batteries). HP claims that you can get up to 4 hours from 6-cell batteries. However, the battery life with my 6-cell was rather disappointing.

I timed the battery life under different conditions (H:MM):

• Wireless OFF; Lowest brightness; Word Processing only: 3:05
• Wireless ON; Lowest brightness; Chatting only: 2:30

(Results may vary for you, since other factors like the number of background processes may affect your battery life.)

I really hoped that it would at least hit the 4 hour mark like MacBooks can, but it apparently fell short of my expectations.

Operating System and Software

You have the option to pick either Win XP Home or Win XP Pro while configuring your notebook. I chose Home because I believe most extra features in Pro are quite useless for most people.

As expected, my notebook came preloaded with a bunch of junk applications and trial-ware. A 20-minute run-through in Add & Remove Programs should free up a lot of space on your computer. I've heard of people formatting their dv2000t and installing their own copy of Win XP, but I don't recommend it because of potential driver issues.

Customer Support

My experience with HP's customer support has been fantastic so far. When I had trouble burning the 3-DVD (or 15 CD) recovery disc set, they promptly replied with an email in less than an hour and said that they would ship out a set to me. The downside is that the dv2000t comes with only a 1-year limited warranty, but you can always purchase an extended warranty.

Conclusion

To reiterate, the HP dv2000t is a lightweight but powerful machine that's perfect for college or home/office use. Although it lacks in gaming performance for post-2004 3D games, it is a great solution for people who only do office work, listen to music, watch movies, etc. The webcam option makes the notebook great for Skype or MSN video chatting with its decent 1.3 Megapixel camera and 2 omni-directional microphones integrated above the screen. Aside from the cheap mouse buttons and glossy touchpad, the notebook feels very solid throughout. The 14.1" BrightView widescreen 1280x800 LCD and full size alphanumerical keys makes it comfortable for long-term typing and viewing.

Pros:

• Clear and vibrant colors on widescreen LCD
• Full-size buttons on keyboard
• Plenty of ports
• Lightweight and small; Can fit in most backpacks
• Lots of configuration options
• 1.3 MP Webcam
• 2 headphone jacks
• Very quiet
• Good wireless connectivity
• Good build quality
• QuickPlay software to play DVD/CD/music without booting WinXP

Cons:

• Sub-par battery life
• Cheap mouse buttons
• Glossy touchpad
• Difficult to use QuickPlay buttons
• Prone to fingerprints
• Weak graphics processor
• Cheap built-in speakers

(Note that if you find the 14.1" size to be too small but like this notebook's style, you can go for the dv6000 (15.4") or dv9000 (17.0") series that are all similar in build & design.)

If you're interested in this notebook, there are some other accessories / configurations that I do not have but are worth considering:

• dv2000z series (based on AMD cpu's) (click here to se see dv2000z Review)
• Upgrade to Geforce 7200 Go (6150 for dv2000z; both have 128MB dedicated)
• HP Media Remote Control (I find this to be useless)
• 12-cell battery (if you don't mind the extra bulge and weight)

 

oh man beautiful review the laptop is so schexzee!!!! :> i want one now

 

Man, those HPs are getting better on the exterior. I say that they should have an option in the customize menu to either get their notebook done like the dv5000 or the dv2000. It's not going to happen though.

I would defenitely get one, if they came with a dedicated GPU like, say GeForce 7600 or X1600.

 

Wow, this HP is beautiful. Since some months ago HP is improving their style. That's only one thing I don't like of this laptop, this is the integrated intel graphics. I think that HP have to improve this.

 

you can get the 7200 128mb while its not anything good for newer games it will suffice for older ones if your not an avid gamer like me the most 3d intense game i play is sims 2 haha

 

why didn't you customize your dv2000t to add the Nvidia 7200. With that you can play a decent games.

 

maybe they didnt offer it at the time he bought it cuz for awhile it was only available with the GMA950

 

Outstanding review! I just love the new look of the dv2000.

 

just wondering.. can the 7200 play games like WoW and GW?
cuz i have an e1505 rite now with the x1400 but i mite get the dv2000t because its smaller for college.

 

good review... and nice couch btw

 

thx for the review, but your pics are incredible underexposed.

 

They might be a bit underexposed, but most of the pictures are pretty clear and have pretty good details. Nice notebook, and great review.

 

Why can't they freakin offer this to us Canadians? Looks exactly like what I'm looking for

 

i thought it was? check this post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=64869

 

Right, I didnt mean to knock him. The pics are more glamour than detailed, thats my only point. laptop looks great though, even better in person

 

Thanks for the great review!

Only thing I'd disagree with is your statement that the remote control is useless.

For $15, you get a remote that tucks inside your ExpressCard slot, so you never lose it or even have to remember to bring it along.

I use it all the time, to turn up/down the volume or pause while listening to MP3's, and while watching movies! I love it!

Don't have to jump out of bed to pause the movie I'm watching, or lower the volume.

Guess everyone has their own needs/wants...

 

Well...lets just say two very watered down and uncustomizable forms are available (dv2020CA and the dv2050CA) both of which barely match up performance and pricewise to other laptops. =(

 

The short answer is yes. Please see http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=66711

for the dv2000t 3dmark scores for more details.

Then again, anything could run WoW and GW.

 

I've been looking forward to a review of this great-looking machine. Well done! This is such an improvement over the bland dv1000 design. Glad you're happy with your new HP.

 

God I hate those brightview xbright whatever displays. You can't do any real work on them unless you are sitting at a desk in a controled light environment. Freaking mirrors they reflect so much.

Terrible displays.

-d

 

im on my first glossy screen, and it def reflects a tad, but its completely usable in my day to day use.

 

I'm actually surprised but mine isn't too bad. In a lighted enviroment I can still see something quite clearly. It does reflect like no tomorrow but I can still see. It even seems like the screen feels a bit nicer than my old non brightview x1000 (no I don't touch the screen I notice when I wipe it clean with a microfiber cloth that came with my Samsung LCD, now that is a nice piece of cloth)

 

Being an employee of the great (*cough **** /cough*) Best Buy, I would like to comment on these new lines HP is bringing out. The DV2000, 6000, and 9000, to me, are awesome designs. A lot of customers like them, but what bothers me most is when the review said SEC/QDS displays, in which the CTO displays vs the displays in the retail versions were considerably brighter. Could HP be shortchanging customers, again? (By the way, how did you find out the manufacturer/specs of the display? is there a program or something?). I still wish that HP would amp up the graphics on these things. Yes, a 6150 is definately a step up from 950 built in on the DV2000s, but the DV6000s use 7200s, while you can find others with 7400s, and the DV9000s are the only ones with medium graphics, of a 7600. I also wish that they had a 1680x1050 option for the DV6000s =[...

 

Anybody know (for certain) if this "Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support" drive on the dv2000t also supports burning audio cds in "disc-at-once" mode with no gaps? I just returned a Dell E1405 that only wrote audio cds in "track-at-once" mode. I'd rather not go through the frustrating hassle again. I asked HP support three times: two said yes, one said no, and then changed it to yes. I'm not very confident that they new what I was talking about. Thanks.

 

Great review! Nice laptop!

 

Yes, it worked for me in Nero with "No pause between tracks" selected (Options: TAO, DAO, & DAO/96).

Hope that helps!

 

question for the experts....i recently bought a HP dv2000 the AMD version not the intel...but anyways the laptop is very quite but i do notice a slight kinda buzzing like noise when i for example scoll up and down a webpage or open programs....i know its not the fan but i duno if its the hard drive or not...although i think the hard drive would make more of a deep clicking noise.....this noise is more a higher pitch buzz...anyone know what im talking about? thnx

 

Well there is alot of truth to the two different screens and if I may add to that different sizes also.......

30.5cm x 19.2cm

or

30.7cm x 19.1cm.

The reason I know this is I tried to order some screen protectors and they asked me which size screen I have as they list two different screen sizes for the DV2000t model. (I didn't recieve mine yet)

So I was wondering if someone who got the QTS screen through a CTO could tell me the EXACT screen size in "Centimeters"

Thanks.

 

I have heard this sound as well, but is very faint in my case. But I think it is most likely due to leaky capacitors in the touchpad. It is fairly common occurance and I have heard it with other laptops as well. If the noise is too bothersome, then contact tech support and get the touchpad replaced.

 

What the casing is made of? Is it plastic or magnesiom alloy or carbon fiber maybe?

 

It is definately hard plastic with a smooth/glossy finish.

 

Miner, the touchpad? u mean the mouse pad area?....this sound seems to be like a consistant buzzing noise when i scroll up and down webpages even wen im using a regualr mouse...i duno i xchanged it for another one and its doing the samething too...its not so bad wen im in a little more noisy area...but wen im in my room and its very quite then i notice it alot

 

Go to PCpitstop.com run the "full test" and view results under Monnitor Please see below My Score was 2104 HINT be sure to lower cashe to 75MB and defrag HHD before running test......

MonitorsDescription
Monitor QDS 161 QDS 161 QDS 161
Max. Resolution (HxV) 1600 x 1200 pixels 1600 x 1200 pixels 1600 x 1200 pixels
Screen Size (HxV) 30 x 19 cm 30 x 19 cm 30 x 19 cm
Viewable Diagonal Size 13.98 inch 13.98 inch 13.98 inch
Manufacture Date January 2005 January 2005 January 2005
Serial Number 0 0 0

 

how susceptible will this laptop be to keyboard marks forming on the screen? (from backpack use...while you try to avoid smushage I'm just curious how stiff that lid is)

 

Touchpad = mousepad.

No idea. My V3000z(shares the same hardware as the dv2000z) does not produce any buzzing noise when using the scroll and is totally silent when I use an external mouse. I only have occasional buzzes when I 'tap' click on something instead of using the buttons.

 

BIG downside - the heat vents are on the underside ! This means uncomfortably hot legs and ineffective cooling (did the HP engineer forget that heat rises ?). Also, on my model, you have to really hit the keys hard the get them to register - touch type and only about half the letters appear. Very shoddy, and inexcusable from a company like HP. Mine came with Vista Premium as standard and runs like a very fat man carrying a tray of pies - but I suspect this is mostly down to Vista vs XP than the laptop itself.

 

hi, all

i got this jewel 2 days back....looks awesome and performance is tooo gud
vista premium rock's i am able to make 2 copies of my hp recovery cd's lucky..

how can i dual boot vista and xp ??