Reviews June 17, 2009

Unboxing the HP Pavilion dv2-1199us Laptop

HP and Microsoft sent me an HP Pavilion dv2-1199us Entertainment PC to try out. Once I got past the fact that the model number is a mouthful, I couldn’t help but notice how lovely this moonlight white computer is – both in appearance and specifications.

The exterior is described as a “magnesium-aluminum-alloy case in a white imprint finish,” but that barely describes it; the look is stunning. The touch pad is a mirrored surface, and it runs Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit). The dv2 has a bunch of bells and whistles…both in the hardware and in the included Microsoft software, and you can watch me make a complete dork of myself opening it here…

Also included in my package was MusicMaker14, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, and an HP Wireless Comfort Mobile Mouse.

Kevin is already talking about how he is going to commandeer the laptop to load Stronghold Crusader (which he swears is the best! game! ever!), because he can’t get it to play properly on his MacBook Pro’s Windows partition.

Specs from the HP Pavilion dv2-1199us’s box:

* • Moonlight White
* • Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
* • AMD Turion(TM) Neo X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processor for Ultrathin Notebooks L625 (1.6 GHz)
* • 4GB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm)
* • 320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* • 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD Premium Graphics 3410
* • 12.1″ diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
* • Webcam
* • Wireless- 802.11 a/b/g/n (draft802.11n) Card with Bluetooth
* • HP Color Matching Keyboard
* • 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* • External Lightscribe Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
* • Microsoft(R) Office Home and Student 2007

For reference, the retail on this particular laptop is ~$984 after the $150 rebate.

I’ll post more about the experience, after I have had a chance to use it regularly…

Tags: HP, Laptops, Unboxing

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About Judie Lipsett Stanford

View all posts by Judie Lipsett Stanford

I have had a fascination with all types of gadgets and gizmos since I was a child, beginning with the toy robot that my grandmother gave my brother - which I promptly "relieved him of" in 1973. I have long been captivated by devices that did anything interesting or served a unique purpose - however silly. I can't tell you how everything works – but I am known world-wide for using a product until I have a full understanding of what it does, what its limitations are, and if it excels in any given area...or not.

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runningman

Judie, you are a riot! Nice looking PC; interesting that the external drive does not match the PC. Let us know how it runs – those are pretty good specs for under a grand.

Bill
http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

I thought I was going to stab myself with that knife…and the box was tricky.

And yes, so far I am quite impressed with the laptop. It is very FAST, and the specs make it seem like a pretty good deal.
http://www.gamingwithchildren.com Michael Anderson

Definitely an impressive bargain PC! Should run something as ancient as Stronghold without issue … unless Kevin has Vista on the MBP as well … Vista is crappy with games and compatibility, just as it is with everything else …
http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

He’s having no issues with it running Stronghold (of course), but believe it or not – the MBP is running XP Pro, and it won’t work properly at all.

This laptop has Vista, which I have to admit – other than the *annoying alert popups* (which can be turned off, at least) – is performing very well. I guess it really does make a difference when the laptop ships with Vista versus getting and upgrade.
http://www.gamingwithchildren.com Michael Anderson

Interesting – because despite my Dell XPS being a stronger game system, I use the WinXP side of my MBP for pretty much all of my gaming.

And it is true about Vista – at this point it is still no-go for netbooks and really low end systems and those with anemic memory, but anything decent will run it without issue. My issue has been getting some of my older stuff to run properly – so I had to give up DirectX 10 for the ability to play older games properly.
Joel McLaughlin

Nice machine there!

Oh and you are not a dork….you just play one on the Interwebs…
http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

LOL No Joel, I really am one.
http://www.andlinux.org LordDavon

When is the second part of this review coming out? I just ordered the DV2z (got it in black as a trade off for the portable burner), but am excited to know the performance and features of this bad-boy!
http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

I’ve got to use it a little while longer, but so far the (few) negatives include that it gets hot (as in “fear for your future babies hot!” when it’s in your lap) and the fan is obnoxiously loud – it seems to be on all the time. I am about to install a BIOS update that is supposed to help with the continuous fan running issues among other things.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-70900-1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&os=2093&product=3928779

Fingers crossed that it makes a huge difference.
http://www.andlinux.org LordDavon

From what I read, the BIOS update does help the fan and battery life (at least with the 1030us model). I wonder if it gets as hot as my Macbook Pro (15″ version just before the unibody release). Playing WOW on the Macbook Pro allows for an alternative to cooking on the stove!
http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

Just did the BIOS update: muuuuuuuuuch quieter.

And yes, the MacBook Pro can double as a stovetop.
shawngee

Is it still very hot? Also do you happen to have a round about ETA of when you will be making another video, i am looking forward to it.
Thanks
Shawn
http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

@shawngee – It seems to be averaging around 119/121º, according to CoreTemp (http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/). I don’t know if this is necessarily hotter than usual, especially on a smaller laptop like this with the processor that it has, but it does seem a bit warm. If I keep it on the table, I hardly notice.

Next installment is coming soon, but first I need to get some of these HTC phones off my plate…
aggie75

Judie – very entertaining video but I was distracted by the knife you were using to open the boxes. Please consider safety first and check out the OpenX Dual Blade Universal Package Opener – it sells for about $5 at Amazon and other places. I have 4-5 of these stashed all over the house so wherever I open a box or those dreaded plastic packages I will have a OpenX nearby. My wife and I have used them for several years now without any cuts or accidents!

Oh, and nice review of the HP laptop…
http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

You aren’t telling me anything I don’t already know! But the knife was really handy…
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shawngee

still no update?
http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

@shawngee – on track for next week!
shawngee

thanks Judie, wondering if hp is ever going to let this hit the stores. ;[