HP dv2500t Review

Because we want it all!! Haven't you listened to the song "Bojangles"?

 

actually if you read the details, the webcam includes dual mics...so if you pick the webcam+fingerprint reader you get all 3.

 

Fant is correct all Three options include the dual mics, so the options are:

1. Dual Mics Only
2. Dual Mics, Webcam
3. Dual Mics, Webcam and Fingerprint Reader

 

Can this play Call of Duty smoothly?

 

I would assume that if you pick the option with webcam and fingerprint scanner, the mic will be included. It makes *no* sense whatsoever to offer a webcam without a mic, regardless of the fp scanner.

EDIT: didn't see the posts above mine.

 

Is the NIC in the DV2500T Gigabit Ethernet?

 

Can this be also compared to ASUS A8JP? or ASUS F5R?

 

The NIC is a Marvell Yukon 88E8039 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller. I believe it is only 10/100.

 

eureka,

I am not sure as I have never used Asus Laptops, at least in southern CA(USA) I am not sure of a single retailer that stocks Asus laptops.

 

My dv6500t has the Intel ABGN nic but I think its also 10/100 only. They should have put gigabit for futureproof. The wireless is capable of higher speeds than the wired. Sad.

 

Thanks docangle,

I'm considering of buying one, but torn between those ASUS A8jp, F5 and U5. How long is the lifespan of this model? I'm a newbie for notebooks.. so bare with me

 

I agree...Gig-E chipsets are cheaper now - at least have the option.

 

eureka,

HP generally refreshes it laptop designs every 2 to 3 years. The dv2000 series replaced the DV1000 series about 1 years ago.

 

I just see that when a manufacturer has a winning design they get a huge budget and see a need to redesign it.

 

I was wondering if the integrated X3100 would be enough to run Photoshop CS3 Extended and some other Adobe Design Products. Or would it be better to wait for the nVidia cards, would those run CS3 better?

 

Does photoshop CS3 support any type of 3d hardware acceleration? If not, you wont see a bit of difference between the two cards.

 

All Adobe products will run just fine on the X1300.

 

Thanks Alot!

Do you think the nVidia card would make difference for using a 3d program such as Autodesk VIZ or Maya?

 

The difference between the X1300 and the Nvidia cards with Autodesk VIZ and Maya will be small.

 

Let's re-iterate...as a general rule...the new nvidia cards will help for 3D Gaming. If you are not doing that, than the x3100 should be sufficient.

 

Thanks; I don't really play any FPS games but will occasionally play warcraft III, or civiliaztion 4, also starcraft II whenever that comes out; would the nVidia make a big difference for these RTS games. Also does anyone know if the cards will allow for higher screen resolution and finally has anyone heard when in June they should be released, early or late? Because I need to get it soon.

Thanks again. This site is really helpful

 

Not sure, why the review presents a Quanta screen as something new on dv2XXX; it's been available since day one on dv2000t...

 

sav,

It is true that HP uses many different LCD Vendors, my review was a comparison between the two machine I currently own. I have noticed that most new HP machines I have come across have the Quanta Screens (which I have stated is a good thing.)

 

Interesting..the model name on the top of screen on the DV2500T says "HP Pavillion DV2000, not DV2500.

 

It is still part of the DV2000 series right?

 

Will the dedicated graphics card increase screen resolution? and does anyone know when in June they will be released, early or late?

Thanks.

 

The dedicated GPU is currently available on the dv2500t. But I wouldnt get my hopes up on a higher resolution screen screen considering HP never offered anything other than WXGA in the 14" series and they dropped offering high resolution screens on the 15" models about 2+ years ago.

 

Finally the Nvidia card is available, but only 8400 GS for dv2500 and dv6500, and only 8600 GS for dv9500 ?!?! HP a hate you !

 

I very neally bought one of these this morning. I just spec'ed out the following machine for under $1300:

Vista Home Premium
T7300
14.1 WXGA
2GB RAM (thought there is no mention of the speed of the RAM on the site - so I am a little concerend about this)
GeForce 8400M GS
Wireless 4965AGN
80GB 5400RPM HD (would have preferred 7200RPM)

I honestly think I would have bought if it had the following:

Memory confirmed to be 667MHz
HD 7200RPM.
Dedicated sound card with spdif output for 5.1 sound.

I'm still going to wait a little while, but at the moment this is my preferred laptop.

 

just ordered the dv2500t with the dedicated graphics - 319MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS

receiving a built x3100 dv2500t friday, whcih i ordered a week ago - going to return it once i receieve the new one

also changing the hard drive 100gb 7.2K and 4Gb 667mhz ram

 

Is this something you are going to do yourself?

Do you know what sound output options there are on the machine? I only use HDMI for the picture.

 

yes, they dont offer any 7.2K drives and they tell you that only 2gb will work in all home laptops - which is wrong any dv2000-9000t and dv2500-9500t, will accept 4gb (if you use 32 bit vista/XP, it will only show 3-3.4gb, 64bit will show all)

all i plan to do with it is plug it into the headphone spot and output into my 7 speaker surround, always works for me

other than that, don't see any high def output options (unless the hdmi offers it, dont know which version hdmi there is)

chris

 

Cool, thanks. The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is quite important for me, so I'm going to hold off for the time being.

I've never bought a laptop as they've never had the combined requirements + features + performance, but they are starting to get mighty close these days...

 

is the 8400 GS really with only 64Mb ?! why are the HP folks so damn stupid ?

 

383MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS For HP 6500t series IS OUTTTTT !!!! Finally I can buy it!!!! I will not listen or read another discouraging comment about the product from now on!! Been waiting forever and Can't be pickier with what it has now !!
Good luck folks !!

 

Nobody wants to discourage you, but it won't bring you too much video performance over the Intel card, with only 64Mb memory !

 

The dv6500t has the 128MB version of the 8400M GS.

 

yup, you're right, i was looking at the dv2500 mainly and thought they all have the same 8400GS release.

 

Does anyone know when and if the top resellers (Circuit City, CompUSA, etc.)are going to bring out the HP dv2500t to their stores?

 

I actually asked a rep at Best Buy the other day. He said that they do not normally get the new laptops for a few months as the online retailers try and get as many Direct Sales as they can.

 

I actually asked a Best Buy rep the other day that very question. He said that, normally, they do not get the new laptops in until a few months after they are released online as the companies are trying to get as many direct sales through their online stores as possible. If you was to see one in person you will have to settle with seeing the dv2000t (or some variant) in the story, as for the most part, they are similar in style and feel.

 

^^
Double post: my bad. I do enjoy the second post better as it actually let me finish it.

 

so if the 8400 card in the dv2500t only has 64MB is it just better to get the Intel X3100?

 

No. 64MB dedicated is better than none at all. Besides, the 8400M GS is a more powerful graphics solution.

 

waaaaaaaay more powerful

 

expect mine in 2 days - shipped today (was expected to ship the 20th - 8 days from now!!)

2.0ghz, 4gb 667mhz, 100gb 7.2K, geforce 8400m, webcam, fingerprint, imprint (updating 4gb and 100gb on my own - confirmed it works already because i have the x3100 dv2500t - sending it back)

plan to hook up to a 50" plasma via hdmi - its going to be beautiful

 

Kickace, I noticed in your sig that you wish to upgrade to an X7800. Is this going to be possible? I figured the lappy would need a BIOS update and better cooling before it was doable. It would be a real screamer if it worked though.............

 

kickace: which OS did you use to confirm that it works with 4gb ram?

 

Wow! I hope this happens to me too. My expected ship date was 21st!

 

i have used both 32bit and 64bit - 32bit shows 3GB, 64bit shows all 4gb (i am using it right now as a matter of fact - the x3100, not the geforce version)

the bios showed 4Gb either way, with no updates.

and there should be no problem updating to the extreme processor, it is the same bus speed, same socket, same everything - it was made for the gm965/pm965 - santa rosa chipset

http://www.cp65.com/news/20070201.shtml - read it about it here

now we don't know if the the santa rosa "refresh" will be made for those chipsets, however the first x7800 shoudl work just fine