Editorial Review

The mid-line HP Pavillion zv5410us is a great desktop replacement, adding mobility to its powerful multimedia and home office computing features. The large 15.4-inch screen is perfect for watching DVD movies, and the Nvidia GeForce 4 440 Go video/graphics card keeps 3D gaming smooth. The zv5410us features a strong, 64-bit AMD Athlon 3000+ processor, 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, 54g wireless connectivity, DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive, and a multiformat memory card reader for easy access to pictures captured on your digital camera. For a more powerful AMD processor, 80 GB hard drive, and a DVD+/-RW and CD-RW combo drive, see the HP zv5430us. Read more

Features

• 15.4” WXGA high-definition BrightView widescreen 1280x800 display
• 1.8GHz AMD™ Athlon™ 64 Processor 3000+ with PowerNow™, 1MB L2 cache, 1600Mhz FSB
• 512MB DDR SDRAM at 333Mhz
• 60GB 4200RPM HDD
• 24x DVD-RW combo drive

Reviews (6)

Great widescreen HP for short money
I bought this HP Pavilion ZV5410US about fifteen months ago. No hardware problems. Just a few dead pixels - that's average, I understand. I play a few DVD's on it weekly. I've used some demanding video editing, photo editing, CAD programs, drawing programs, games... you get the picture; it doesn't choke on anything. I paid $950 for it at Staples on sale. Very happy with it.

Gotta buy this one!
I purchased this computer almost a year ago from Circuit City.I bought it on special for $980!I think it's the best laptop for the money. This is my third laptop and by far the best.It's fast, bright and quite. Everything you can want in a mobile laptop.What sold me was the speakers.Harman/ Kardon are the BOSE system for the common laptop.Wait til you hear one of your MP3's on the system...it ROCKS!The base, the treble, the surround sound.Go to Best Buy and take a listen. ;0)
Pavilion zv5410
I just picked up the last model of this (actually the display model) from my local staples for $989 + the extended warrenty and this has got to be one of the best notebooks I've purchased.
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Editorial Review

Access your digital audio library wherever you roam with the HP Pavilion dv1520us notebook PC, which weighs just over 5 pounds and comes with 80 GB of storage space. It features a widescreen, BrightView 14-inch display, which provides improved viewing in direct sunlight, and dedicated external media and menu control allow you to navigate your video and music files quickly and easily. Control playback settings from up to 10 feet away with the included HP remote, then store it conveniently in the PC card slot. You'll keep the party going thanks to the battery-friendly 1.7 GHz Intel Pentium M (Centrino) 735a processor. This notebook also features 512 MB of installed memory (2 GB maximum), built-in 54g wireless connectivity, multi-format/dual-layer DVD burner (with CD writing capability), and Windows XP Home Edition (SP2). Read more

Features

• Notebook PC with widescreen 14-inch LCD and 1.7 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) 735a with 2 MB L2 cache, 400 MHz FSB
• 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB of RAM (2 GB max), multi-format DVD/CD burner with dual-layer support
• Three USB 2.0, one Firewire, one VGA, one S-Video, one PCMCIA, microphone, headphone
• 10/100 Ethernet; 56K (V.90) modem, 54-Mbps wireless LAN (802.11b/g)
• Windows XP Home edition, SP2; HP Image Zone Plus

Editorial Review

Balance your need for productivity with great multimedia performance with the HP Pavilion dv8280us notebook PC, which features an amazingly bright, widescreen 17-inch BrightView display--perfect for multitasking between document windows and watching movies in their native aspect ratio. And you can easily burn your home video productions to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc. Enjoy movies or music in seconds with the external DVD or music buttons to launch HP QuickPlay (which bypasses the boot process). Easily share digital photos with the included HP Image Zone Plus software. Read more

Reviews (2)

HP Sucks
HP has the WORST customer service of any company of any kind that I have ever dealt with. I have never called without having spent at least one hour on the phone with them before the various extensions in India, none of whom are helpful. And once the service is complete the computer is usually returned with more problems than they were originally sent with. I would never buy another HP again.

Desktop replacement at a geat price
This notebook is a monster.The processor speed and memorymake doing anything fast.I purchased this because I am a software developer and I like to have a large display, fast processor and a lot of RAM for running my applications.
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Features

• 1.73 GHz Intel Pentium M 740 CPU, 533 MHz front side bus, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 graphics controller (128 MB shared memory)
• 512 MB PC2-4200 533 MHz RAM, 80 GB hard drive, double layer CD-RW/DVD-RW optical drive
• 3 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire, Memory Stick media slot
• 802.11b/g wireless, 10/100 Mbps network interface, 56K modem
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 8.5, Intuit Quicken 2005 New User Edition, Sony VAIO Zone

Reviews (3)

beautiful screen, pitiful system
The good :
the big bright beautiful screen is the only good thing on this laptop
My gf brought this laptop when it just came out and paid a hefty price. after several month of use here is my review:
Perfect Graduation Gift
this was requested as a graduation gift by my little brother who just finished college thank GOD! He wanted something that closely resembled a Mac but not a Mac! He loved this light weight notebook with all the trimmings. It was a fantastic bargain for the features it offers.
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Editorial Review

Blending affordability with productivity power, the HP Pavilion dv5020us notebook PC is a great choice for both business road warriors and multimedia enthusiasts on the go. The 15.4-inch BrightView display looks good even in direct sunlight, and movies and games will look clear thanks to the ATI Radeon ATI Radeon XPress 200 video/graphics card (with 128 MB of shared memory). Enjoy movies or music in seconds with the external DVD or music buttons to launch HP QuickPlay (which bypasses the boot process). Control playback settings from up to 10 feet away with the included HP remote, then store it conveniently in the PC card slot. And you'll stay productive with the 1.8 GHz AMD Turion 64 ML-32 processor. This notebook also features an 80 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB max), built-in 54g wireless connectivity, and dual layer DVD+/-RW drive (which also burns CDs). Read more

Features

• Notebook PC with 15.4-inch screen and 1.8 GHz AMD Turion 64 ML-32 with 512 KB L2 cache
• 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB of RAM (2 GB max), multi-format DVD/CD burner with dual-layer support
• Two USB 2.0, one VGA, one S-Video, one PCMCIA, microphone, headphone
• 10/100 Ethernet; 56K (V.90) modem, 54-Mbps wireless LAN (802.11b/g) with HSM/Speedbooster support
• Windows XP Home edition, SP2; HP Image Zone Plus

Reviews (6)

Great Laptop for real heavy duty work
Pros:
HP Sucks
HP has the WORST customer service of any company of any kind that I have ever dealt with. I have never called without having spent at least one hour on the phone with them before the various extensions in India, none of whom are helpful. And once the service is complete the computer is usually returned with more problems than they were origionally sent with. I would never buy another HP again.

poor customer service and setup
First HP does not include a backup copy of the XP software unless you buy the system directly from HP. Also HP recovery system takes up to 17 GB of hard drive space. Which deduces the stated drive space. After being passed around the HP customer service, 7 persons and five different phone numbers, I have come to the conclusion that I will never buy a HP or compaq computer even if it was the only computer aviable and it was free. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Elegantly styled, the Sony Vaio VGN-FE680G notebook PC is more than just a pretty face. It offers cutting-edge processing power from Intel's new Core Duo line for outstanding multi-tasking performance as well as a tri-mode wireless LAN, enabling you to connect to a full assortment of 802.11a/b/g networks. A 4200rpm Serial ATA hard drive and advanced DDR2 memory enable high-speed computing, resulting in sizzling performance for work and multimedia activities. It also features a bright widescreen 15.4-inch XBRITE-ECO LCD screen that offers excellent color purity even in the brightest daylight. And communicate with pals all around with world via VoIP calling and video conferencing using the built-in microphone and camera (with zoom function). Read more

Features

• Stylish, powerful multimedia notebook with 15.4-inch screen and 1.83 GHz Core Duo T2400 processor
• 160 GB Serial ATA hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB max), multi-format/dual-layer DVD burner
• Three USB 2.0, one FireWire, ExpressCard/34 slot, memory card reader (SD, XD, Memory Stick)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (128 MB shared RAM), tri-mode wireless LAN (802.11a/b/g), Bluetooth, Ethernet, modem
• Windows XP Media Center 2005, Update Rollup 2

Reviews (1)

Sony VGN-FE680G
This is my second Sony Notebook, and it ROCKS!The one complaint I had with my old Sony - VGN-FS760 - was that the battery life wasn't great.But Sony has corrected this issue with the FE series!And with this improvement, there is no way I would buy any other brand.
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Editorial Review

Read more

Features

• 2.0 GHz AMD Atlon 64 3200+, up to 2000 MHz front side bus
• 512 MB 333 MHz memory, 80 GB hard drive, double layer DVD-R/RW CD-RW drive
• 4 USB 2.0, FireWire, S-Video TV-out, 6-in-1 memory card reader
• ATI Radeon Xpress 200M graphics controller (128 MB dedicated memory), Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG, 10/100 LAN, 56K data/fax modem
• Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Money, HP Image Zone

Reviews (8)

the best laptop i have ever used!!
This is the best laptop that I have ever used! I got it for my 14th birthday. The graphics and sound are awesome. Nice rich graphics and good quality sound for laptop speakers. Its pretty light compared to other laptops. I would give it 6 stars if I could!

Excellent
I have been using this laptop for a few months now and it is a killer. It does it all. It may not be top of the line but it had EVERYTHING I needed and I am picky about computers. I am in the industry networking, graphics, webpages.
Great Buy
This a laptop that you can use for anything you want, I am curently runing the game F.E.A.R and it is not to bad it is never slow.The graphics arnt the best but its integrated not dedicated so you get what you pay for.still a great buy for any begginer.It runs movies wit hgood sound for speakers on a laptop.I would reccomend this to anybody.If there is anythingI could change on this I wold ge quieter fans but that comes with any laptop. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The luxuriously designed Sony VAIO VGN-AR230G Digital Studio notebook PC provides a power multimedia computer platform for enhanced entertainment performance. But it can also be admired for its gorgeously appointed design, featuring a black exterior, sleek profile, and interfaces and ports that are easily accessible yet discreetly integrated. With Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, you can view your movies and photos with stunning clarity and brilliant, true-to-life color. NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 graphics and GDDR3 memory deliver advanced graphics performance for immersive game play. You're also ready to capture and edit 1080i HD camcorder content. A built in camera and microphone means it's conference and VoIP ready. Read more

Features

• Multimedia studio notebook with 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 processor (4 MB L2 cache) and 17-inch LCD
• 200 GB hard drive, 2 GB installed RAM (max), Blu-Ray Disc burner, integrated NTSC TV tuner
• Three USB 2.0, one, FireWire, one HDMI output, S/PDIF audio output, ExpressCard 54 card slot, Memory Stick reader
• Nvidia GeForce 7600 GT graphics (256 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM), tri-mode 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi
• Windows XP Media Center 2005; Windows Vista ready

Reviews (1)

Great deal for a large premium notebook!
REAL SPECS:
Read more

Editorial Review

The mid-line HP Pavillion zv5430us is a great desktop replacement, adding mobility to its powerful multimedia and home office computing features. The large 15.4-inch screen is perfect for watching DVD movies, and the Nvidia GeForce 4 440 Go video/graphics card keeps 3D gaming smooth. You can also burn your own CDs and DVDs with the multifomat DVD+/-RW and CD-RW combo drive. The zv5430us features a strong, 64-bit AMD Athlon 3200+ processor, 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, 54g wireless connectivity, and a multiformat memory card reader for easy access to pictures captured on your digital camera.Read more

Features

• WXGA high-definition BrightView widescreen 1280x800 display
• 2.0GHz AMD Athlon 64 Processor, 3200+ with PowerNow, 1MB L2 cache, 1600MHz FSB
• 512MB DDR SDRAM at 333MHz
• 80GB 4200RPM HDD; DVD-RW combo drive
• Includes 3 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, 1 parallel, 1 S-video, 1 headphone and 1 microphone

Reviews (2)

Best DTR Notebook Value
After reading all of the positive reviews on the HP v5430, I decided to take the plunge and get one myself.Almost 2 weeks later, I have been continually impressed with all the things I can do especially when compared with competing offerings, most of which cost more and have less.
Awesome!
This computer rocks!Athlon 64!Very cool, no problems with heat and have had it on my lap for 3+ hrs!Nice keyboard/trackpad.This is a big computer, definitely not for the road warrior but excellent desktop replacement.Be careful with the specs of this site, there are certain things that are wrong, such as does not take XD cards.I wish there was bluetooth in it.For the money, you're not going to find a better desktop replacement. ... Read more

Features

• Powerful portable digital studio notebook PC with 17-inch screen and 1.67 GHz Core Duo T2300 processor
• 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB max), multi-format/dual-layer DVD burner
• Three USB 2.0, one FireWire, HDMI out, ExpressCard/54 slot, S/PDIF digital audio out, memory card reader (SD, Memory Stick)
• Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 with 64 MB video RAM, tri-mode wireless LAN (802.11a/b/g), Ethernet, modem
• Windows XP Media Center 2005, Update Rollup 2

Reviews (3)

SONY VAIO AR Series ROCKS!
I have my VAIO for three months and It works very good. The big screen it's the best and the design of the notebook it's the best. I used to make multimedia content and develop systems. The user experiencie is awesome... because you have a lot of space to work and multitasking work. About the heat, It's not a problem, I work a lot of hours with no problems, well only when you put a CD/DVD it makes a lot of noise, but that is because the quality of the disc.
Sony is fine. Their screens are the best.And, none of mine have ever broken down.
I have always had Sony laptops and been very happy with them. Their screen is better than anything else I have looked at in the local computer stores. My latest laptop is still working fine after 4 years of daily use! Yes, Sony laptops have had problems with running hot. But, they are fine as long as you keep the airway clear of dust.
Sony Vaio Laptops are the worst in the world, take it from a corporate IT guy who supports thousands of these worthless bricks !
Sony Vaio Laptops are the worst in the world, take it from a corporate IT guy who supports thousands of these worthless bricks !
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Features

• CD-ROM
• MODEL- 3264WW VENDOR- PALM COMPUTING DIV. FEATURES- Sudoku Deluxe Join the puzzle craze that is sweeping the World! Sudoku Deluxe offers thousands of high quality grids to challenge your logic skills, whether you are just learning the game or you are a full- fledged Sudoku addict!* Compatibility: Palm Treo 90, 600, 650, 700w, 700p Palm TX/Palm z22/Zire 31, 71, 72 Tungsten C, E, E2, T, T2, T3, T5

Editorial Review

The Acer Aspire 5102 (AS5102WLMI-MCE) is a great choice for mobile professionals who like to play as hard as they work--and who have an eye on the budget. This Aspire 5102 has a bright 15.4-inch LCD that takes advantage of Acer's CrystalBrite set of display technologies, which provide great color saturation and excellent contrast in all environments. The powerful 1.6 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-50 processor is ready to handle the demanding 64-bit applications that are coming down the pipeline, and will speed you through your work today. Other features include a large 100 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a multi-format DVD burner, 5-in-1 memory card reader, integrated 54g wi-fi connectivity (802.11b/g), and Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system. Read more

Features

• Business notebook with 15.4-inch LCD; 1.6 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-50 processor
• 100 GB hard drive, 512 MB of RAM (2 GB max), multi-format DVD burner
• Three USB 2.0, one PCMCIA, VGA out, 5-in-1 memory card reader
• 802.11b/g wi-fi, 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
• Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Editorial Review

The sleekly designed, lightweight Sony VAIO VGN-SZ230P/B notebook PC delivers intelligent mobile design while placing a priority on usability and performance. Coolly contemporary, it has a magnesium coating and aluminum finish on the palm rest for a great blend of the fashionable and the functional. It measures a mere 1.5 inches thin and features a superb 13.3-inch widescreen display with XBRITE LCD technology, long battery life, and a generous, comfortable keyboard. The integrated tri-mode 802.11 a/b/g wireless LAN enables wireless connectivity on the fly, while the integrated wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) technology helps keep you connected and productive when away from your workstation. It also offers the revolutionary Hybrid Graphics System lets toggle between internal and external graphics chips, enabling you to choose lighter battery consumption or better performance depending on the situation. Read more

Features

• Sleekly designed, lightweight notebook with 13.3-inch screen; powerful 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor T2400 (667 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 cache)
• 120 GB Serial ATA hard drive, 1 GB RAM (2 GB max), multi-format/dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive, multi-format memory card adapter
• Two USB 2.0, one FireWire, one PCMICIA, one VGA, Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), tri-mode 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN, Bluetooth, Ethernet, modem
• Hybrid Graphics System lets toggle between NVidia GeForce Go 7400 (128 MB dedicated) and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (128 MB shared)
• Windows XP Professional edition (SP2), biometric fingerprint scanning, integrated camera

Reviews (4)

LCD screen died / Bad Customer support
Just before a couple of months after purchase the LCD screen died; now I have to ship the computer to Sony and wait until they send it back, which means I'll have no computer for a couple of weeks.Had a couple of other problems with a printer and my digital camera, called sony support and it was really bad, didn't solve my problem after 2 hours on the phone and their only brilliant solution was telling me to re-install windows.
Sony Vaio Laptops are the worst in the world, take it from a corporate IT guy who supports thousands of these worthless bricks !
Sony Vaio Laptops are the worst in the world, take it from a corporate IT guy who supports thousands of these worthless bricks !
I like it so far
Well, I have had this a couple of months and it has not had obvious hardware failure, except the Cingular wireless antenna falling off immediately out of the box. The salesman told me that the loose fit is intentional. Um! But I don't care as I do not use it. Read more

Editorial Review

Access your digital audio library wherever you roam with the HP Pavilion dv1650us notebook PC, which weighs just over 5 pounds and comes with 100 GB of storage space. It features a widescreen, BrightView 14-inch display, which provides improved viewing in direct sunlight, and dedicated external media and menu control allow you to navigate your video and music files quickly and easily. Control playback settings from up to 10 feet away with the included HP remote, then store it conveniently in the PC card slot.Read more

Features

• Notebook PC with widescreen 14-inch LCD and 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo T2400 with 2 MB L2 cache
• 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (2 GB max), multi-format/dual-layer Light scribe DVD/CD burner
• Three USB 2.0, one FireWire, one VGA, one S-Video, one PCMCIA, microphone, headphone
• 10/100 Ethernet; 56K (V.90) modem; tri-mode 802.11a/b/g wireless connectivity; Bluetooth
• Windows XP Home edition, SP2; HP Image Zone Plus

Editorial Review

Blending affordability with productivity power, the HP Pavilion dv5030us notebook PC is a great choice for both business road warriors and multimedia enthusiasts on the go. The 15.4-inch BrightView display looks good even in direct sunlight, and movies and games will look clear thanks to the ATI Radeon ATI Radeon XPress 200 video/graphics card (with 128 MB of shared memory). Enjoy movies or music in seconds with the external DVD or music buttons to launch HP QuickPlay (which bypasses the boot process). Control playback settings from up to 10 feet away with the included HP remote, then store it conveniently in the PC card slot. And you'll stay productive with the 2.0 GHz AMD Turion 64 ML-37 processor. This notebook also features a 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB max), built-in 54g wireless connectivity, and dual layer DVD+/-RW drive (which also burns CDs). Read more

Features

• Notebook PC with 15.4-inch screen and 2.0 GHz AMD Turion 64 ML-37 with 512 KB L2 cache
• 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (2 GB max), multi-format DVD/CD burner with dual-layer support
• Two USB 2.0, one VGA, one S-Video, one PCMCIA, microphone, headphone
• 10/100 Ethernet; 56K (V.90) modem, 54-Mbps wireless LAN (802.11b/g) with HSM/Speedbooster support
• Windows XP Home edition, SP2; HP Image Zone Plus

Reviews (1)

Powerful PC
I was going to go for a Mac, but PCs are cheaper and my friend got an HP Pavilion which blew me away with performance and design.
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Editorial Review

Easily mobile at just 6 pounds, the Toshiba Satellite A105-S2021 makes it easy to get your work done with a large, bright 15.4-inch screen (which is also great for watching DVD movies when you need a break). This affordable notebook PC also features a battery-sipping 1.7 GHz Celeron M processor, a large 100 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), dual-layer multiformat DVD drive that also burns CDs, integrated 54g wireless connectivity, ATI Radeon XPress 200M video card with up to 64 MB of shared video RAM, and Windows XP Home edition operating system. Read more

Features

• Affordable notebook PC with 15.4-inch LCD; 1.7 GHz Intel Celeron M 380 processor, 1 MB L2 cache
• 100 GB hard drive, 512 MB of RAM (2 GB max), dual-layer/multi-format DVD burner
• Four USB 2.0, one VGA, one S-Video, one PCMCIA
• ATI Radeon XPress 200M with 64 MB of shared video RAM; 54g wi-fi connectivity
• Windows XP Home edition, SP2

Reviews (2)

last guy is a moron
maybe if you would have looked at a review M. Ongoco you would have saw that there is no firewire.
No FIREWIRE
The product description says 1 Firewire/i-Link port.
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Editorial Review

Take your entertainment center with you wherever you roam with the HP Pavilion zd8230us Media Center notebook PC. Record your favorite TV programs and watch them--via the included HP Dual TV Tuner--on the widescreen 17-inch LCD monitor, view photo slideshows with your own soundtrack, or watch DVD movies, and control it all with the included remote. The zd8230us can also unleash your digital creativity with the multiformat, LightScribe DVD/CD burner with dual layer support and included Image Zone photo editing and management software. This multimedia notebook features a super-fast, hyper-threaded 3.4 GHz Pentium 4 650 processor, 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM, 54g wireless connectivity with 125HSM SpeedBooster support, multiformat memory card reader, a powerful video/graphics card with 128 MB of dedicated RAM, and Bluetooth wireless capability (for connecting to compatible PDAs, cell phones, printers, and more). Read more

Features

• Multimedia-focused laptop with 17-inch Brightview screen and 3.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 650 processor (800 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 cache)
• 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (2 GB maximum), multi-format DVD/CD burner with dual-layer support
• Four USB 2.0, one Firewire, one VGA, one S-Video, one PCMCIA, microphone, headphone, IR receiver
• Built-in 10/100/ BASE-T ethernet; 56K (V.90) modem, 54-Mbps wireless LAN (802.11b/g) with HSM/Speedbooster support, Bluetooth
• Windows XP Media Center; HP Image Zone Plus; includes external dual TV tuner

Reviews (12)

HP Sucks
HP has the WORST customer service of any company of any kind that I have ever dealt with. I have never called without having spent at least one hour on the phone with them before the various extensions in India, none of whom are helpful. And once the service is complete the computer is usually returned with more problems than they were originally sent with. I would never buy another HP again

Solid performance, well worth the money
HP offers many different configurations of the HP dv8000 series. The unit I'm reviewing (dv8235nr) has two 100 GB hard drives, TV tuner, and an Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 GPU. From a performance aspect, this machine is simply amazing. Whether you want to record a TV show to watch later, play graphics-intensive video games, or burn CDs/DVDs...the 8230 can do it all without flinching. I bought this machine mainly for playing video games that most laptops on the market could not handle. Even with all the details and effects set to the highest level, the gameplay experience is very fluid and framerates are stable. With 200 GB of storage space, even I'll be hard-pressed to use half of it and the 1 GB of RAM makes for very smooth multi-tasking. Battery life is decent for a device of this caliber; usually about three hours on a full charge. The TV tuner is very handy and fairly simple to set up, even for a digital cable connection. The 17 inch screen is breathtaking, and really makes the gaming/movie/multimedia experience quite enjoyable. There is only one negative to the dv8230: its big footprint. The large screen and keyboard (yes, it has a dedicated 10-key pad!) take up some space. As you might guess, the machine is heavier than most laptops because of these added features.
True Desktop Replacement
This is the best laptop I have ever owned, but only because I do not travel ANYWHERE with it (on purpose). This is my "kitchen computer" where I do all my work when I'm in the house. I can run any of my desktop apps on it including graphics (Adobe etc) apps, connect everything I have including my bluetooth phone and headset, dock and sync my iPod, etc etc.. It handles everything I throw at it. If you use this unit in a mobile fashion on battery power you will hate it for its weight, low battery life etc. But if you use it mainly docked in one place or primarily when it's plugged in, you will have yourself one fine desktop replacement in a compact unit. It's all about buying the right machine for the right purposes... no one machine can do everything. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Easily mobile at just 6.2 pounds, the Toshiba Satellite M45-S165 makes it easy to get your work done with a large, bright 15.4-inch screen (which is also great for watching DVD movies when you need a break). This affordable notebook PC also features a battery-sipping 1.5 GHz Celron M processor, 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), dual-layer, multi-format DVD burner, integrated 54g wireless connectivity, and Windows XP Home edition. Read more

Features

• 1.5 GHz Intel Celeron M processor 370 with 400 MHz front-side bus and 1 MB L2 cache
• 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB RAM (2 GB maximum), dual-layer, multi-format DVD/CD burner
• Three USB 2.0, one VGA, one S-Video, one PCMCIA, headphone, microphone
• Built-in Atheros 802.11b/g LAN, 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet and 56K V.92 modem
• Windows XP Home edition

Reviews (16)

Toshiba does not honortheir warranty
I bought this laptop for my husband less than a
Average Rating -- Pro's and Con's
This laptop is less than a year old, and it has already needed the hard drive replaced.Even though it's still under the 1 year Toshiba warranty, I opted to have it replaced by my trusted computer repairman.I upgraded to a 100GB hard drive from the 80GB that it came with.Since then, there has been NO problems and it's quite a fast machine.One other bad thing, is the battery life.Included is a 4 cell battery that comes with it.Make sure there is less than an hour with of work if you are using it without an AC adapter.I have searched and there are replacement batteries with 6, 8 and 12 cells.So I'm sure a new battery would correct the problem.Other than the hard drive and the low battery, this has been a wonderful laptop.It's easy to use, has a great 15.4" display with wonderful color.If you can find it on sale at 'Better-Buy' or 'Circuit Central' I'd take advantage of the weekly sales flyers.But for the money it is an average price for a fewmore than average options on and slightly better than average laptop.Just make sure you know a little about processors, RAM and GB to do an accurate comparison.Good luck.

Generally good, horrible battery
I bought this laptop last year at Best Buy for school. I was excited to see it was only 800 dollars so I thought it was great. I've had it for a year and it hasn't done anything majorly bad. However, my battery lasts only for an hour, and it takes a while to completely load when I turn it on (this could be my own fault though.) I wish the battery lasted longer because I bought it for school. If you know you will be able to plug it in then it's great. For things like school, I would invest in a centrino computer opposed to a celeron. They last longer.
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Features

• 1.86 GHz Intel Pentium M 750 CPU, 533 MHz front side bus, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 graphics controller (128 MB shared memory)
• 512 MB PC2-4200 533 MHz RAM, 100 GB hard drive, double layer CD-RW/DVD-RW optical drive
• 3 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire, Memory Stick media slot
• 802.11b/g wireless, 10/100 Mbps network interface, 56K modem
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition, Microsoft Works 8.5, Intuit Quicken 2005 New User Edition, Sony VAIO Zone

Reviews (2)

Good notebook
I have found this notebook to be great, excellent display with the xbrite screen.Only one drawback you must create your own recovery cd.Sony, all your competitors supply recovery cds with their notebooks.

Wide and thin
Fast,lots of storage, great xbrite widescreen, looks great (wide and thin), nice keyboard, vaio zone.
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Features

• Outlets: 4 Nema 5-15R Outlets
• Data Line Protection: RJ11 Modem & RJ45 Network
• Watts: 600 Watt
• Volt Amps: 1000 VA
• Surge Energy Capacity: 1065 Joules