HP - Pavilion Laptop with Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor Technology - Bronze/Chrome

I bought this laptop three months ago, and I must say I am impressed. I'll try to keep the review short. The 13-inch screen, although glossy (and therefore troublesome outside), is amazingly sharp and easy on the eyes. The 1280x800 resolution is more than enough for common tasks, and the colours are always crisp and natural. By me, the size is just enough - neither too tiny nor too big. The wireless/media controls are touch-operated, which means there are no buttons you can switch on or off. They take some getting used to (and especially to the annoying ticking sound of the volume control, which sometimes goes on some time after you've stopped using the volume 'button'), but they work ok. The keyboard is amazing, although a little slippery if your fingers sweat easily; it is totally responsive, not slushy, and I can achieve reasonable typing speed with it without my fingers straining too much. I'm not a great fan of the arrow keys, since they are above the DVD drive and wobble a little (also, at times the surrounding plastic creaks because it has no hard surface underneath). By pressing fn+spacebar, the keyboard lights up like a Christmas tree - great for typing at night. The glossy touchpad is a tough thing to get used to; after I did, however, I must say it is much better than the one I was used to (the 'standard' touchpad of a Toshiba Satellite). There's even a tiny button that switches it off, but the touchpad is so well placed that I seldom need the switch. The sound card is decent, there are two headphone outputs, and it usually doesn't trouble me (because the IDT High Definition Audio drivers are kind of tacky, sometimes crashing). The fingerprint reader is amazing - not only can you log on to your account with it, but you can also log on to gmail, skype and basically every website that requires a password. For example, you only need to swipe your finger, select 'skype' from the shortcut list, and it automatically launches skype and logs on! Neat. There's even a remote control which fits in the media card slot, so you can't lose it. It is basic but useful, though you must use the integrated media software which is not so useful. And of course there are all the bells and whistles you would expect (and one you wouldn't) from a new machine: an eSATA port (which doubles as an USB 2.0 port), 3 USB ports (including the shared one), an outdated dial-up modem port (why, HP, why?) and a HDMI that you can connect to a megalomaniacal screen and impress your family, friends and onlookers alike. There is no firewire, though. Finally, the 6-cell battery. If you're careful with the wireless and the screen brightness, you can get a little over 4 hours out of it. However, on average I can't eke out more than 3.5 hours (but on the other hand, the laptop is not so heavy so you can easily take your power cord along). On the flip side, the battery wobbles a little. You should not use the laptop on a soft surface (like a pillow or a blanket) anyway, so it's not really a big issue. The roomy 320 GB hard drive allowed me to install Ubuntu (using wubu) and both operating systems work in perfect harmony! Overall, I am very happy with the purchase.

I have just been through the most frustrating and ridiculous experience with this laptop in my entire technology-buying life. But before I share that experience, I want to go out of my way to compliment Best Buy for the way they handled things. They were patient, understanding, helpful, and really stood behind the product. I would never buy anywhere else as a result of this experience. They have earned my loyalty for many many years!! I first purchased this laptop on Jan. 17, 2009. It was fantastic- ran like a dream, love the feature set and display, size, portability, and fingerprint reader. Couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. Then, after exactly 30 days, it started to run real slow. Looking in task manager, it showed that Explorer.exe was grabbing 30-50% of the processor and never letting go. I took in into the Geek Squad, and after 3 days on the bench and every test they could think of, the only option was to wipe the machine clean and re-install Vista. So I said, as long as I have to start fresh with a machine, could I just have a new one out of the box? They said of course, and I took home machine #2, not thrilled about having to go thru the lengthy set up and customization again, but pleased that I had potentially dodged a bullet by getting a new machine. Well, about three weeks later, machine #2 wouldn't boot up properly anymore. I got Vista safe mode, the BSOD, etc. so I tried removing Norton, virus scans, etc and nothing would fix it, so back to the Geek Squad. Again, the only alternative seemed to be a wipe and re-install of Vista, and given my poor history with the prior machines, they were very accommodating and gave me another new machine. So, home I go with machine #3! Did all my set-up, customization, etc., and after loading Microsoft Office 2007, discovered that MS Word crashed every time it was launched. No amount of un-installs and re-installs would fix it. The Geek Squad tried deleting some registry keys, to no avail. So, guess what? Another machine. This time I paid Best Buy for the optimization and install of Office, so I could be sure it was working OK when it left the store. So, home I go with machine #4. Small problem in that it won't read the installation CD-ROM for my Logitech mouse. Back to the store, Geek Squad installs it for free off a store external hard drive that can read it. We attribute the problem to a rouge disc, even though it installed the night before on machine #3. Oh well, I'm nervous but still happy. Works perfectly, runs beautifully. I'm happy and feel I finally have this behind me. The first night, I leave it on all night so it could load updates, index the C drive, etc., and when I got up in the morning it's still running great (8:00 am). I come home for lunch at Noon, still running great- what else would I expect? I leave it on. I come home from work at 5:30, and as I walk in the door of my home office, the BSOD (blue screen of death) is staring right at me. Unbelievable. Not even 24 hours have elapsed since I got it home. So back to the Geek Squad. Must be a failed hard drive. I couldn't stand it anymore so I got a completely different machine- the Toshiba Blue Label E105 machine with better specs, but inferior display, non-functional fingerprint reader, no dedicated graphics card, loud fan, worse web cam, but it was $200 less than the HP so I wouldn't expect it to be as good. But it works!!!! The odds against getting four bad machines in a row must be astronomical, but it happened. I baby my computers, always run AV and updates, and even though I use laptops, they rarely leave the desktop in my office. I can usually make a laptop last years, I get tired of them before I could wear one out. So what happened? I really don't know. The only lesson I learned is to always buy stuff like this from a store that has service and support, and stands behind the product. Otherwise this would have been even more of a nightmare. In conclusion, if you can get one of these that works, go for it. I just couldn't.

This computer has it all. Its fast and has a clear screen with great battery life. It is extremely portable; The CD drive can be removed to make it even lighter and there's a nice "dummy" almost weightless plastic piece that slots in to fill the CD bay. The CD bay on the display model in the store rattled around a bit, but on my model it was a little more snug. Some media features were a let down: The touch volume control above the keypad had no sensitivity and if touched at all it racked the volume up or down by way too much. The webcam opened with a program called YouCam which might be interesting to 14 year olds, but was otherwise too gimicky. I tried installing other webcam software from the HP website but the installer would just quit half way through and would never actually install. The keyboard was cheap and annoying. If you depress one key, the whole keyboard depresses - slightly annoying and making it feel less than solid. The touchpad was really really terrible. Honestly, doesn’t HP test these things before going into production? It had a mirrored surface that was "sticky" and difficult to use. My finger stuttered across it instead of gliding. And if you get a little hot (my office gets sun in the afternoon), your warmer finger literally wont move on the touchpad. The scroll function on the right was similar to the volume control described earlier: it jumped and stuttered rather than gliding, so it was unusable. I liked the performance of the computer so much that I bought a bluetooth mouse (Microsoft: worked seamlessly) but in forgetful moments when I reached for the touchpad, it reminded me again of how bad it was. The screen was bright and clear, but it is small and if you are used to bigger, don't downsize. There was also a lot of glare of the screen which I could live with but it may trouble others. If you work in a bright location, like by a window, it may be bothersome. Overall, the computer felt flimsy: The hinges didn’t hold the screen very solidly in my opinion (someone walks by and it vibrates), the keyboard was cheap, and the frame was prone to fingerprints, scratches and actually chipping. I am an extremely careful person but after just 2 weeks of going back and forth between home and office, it was starting to look scruffy. In the end, after laboring on the decision for days, I returned the computer to Bestbuy (which by the way must be done within 14 days of purchase). I liked it a lot and it did everything I wanted, but the cheap feel, annoying keyboard, awful webcam software and ridiculously bad touch pad did me in. The staff at Bestbuy was terrific and gave me no trouble. I did not have to pay the 15% restocking fee, and they helped me choose a new computer which looks good so far (2 days in).

Hello, and please bear with me, I have gone through 3 laptops in the past 30 days to find this Gem. I started with a dv-7 purchased from a competitor. After its chopy performance and what I thought was poor build quality, I returned it and purchased a Dell studio xps 13. I thought the HD pic quality on the xps was the best I have ever seen. But after 5 days, the computer did a windows update. After the update, the computer went to the "blue screen of death" and never returned. I took it back to BB and they offered me a new computer of equal or greater value with no questions asked. I picked up the Sony with the blue ray player, but I could never get it connected to the net and, or my exterior moniter. The xps picture quality realy spoiled me too. And the pick quality of the Sony, running 4500hd card, was no match in pic quality to the nvidia series cards. I returned the sony the next day, with again, no questions asked by BB. who have earned my business for some time to come. I picked up this hp, knowing that it looked like a "mini" dv-7, but after looking at it, "for a very long time in the store," I decided to try it, I had the techs hook it up to a moniter using the HDMI and the pic quality was a step below the xps, but leaps and bounds better than the sony. There is still a little grain in the DVD pic. But I can live with it. The reason why is the xps, and i know this will sound wierd, was too clear. The movies took on a look that reminded me of a soap ophara or a stage play. it was difficult to "get lost" in the movie. Everything else about the unit has been great. Easy to use and very comfortable, for me, anyway. Very quiet. Low heat signature. And I added the bluetooth mouse from HP and it hooked up flawlessly. $29.00 at bestbuy. $10 less than the microsoft unit and much quieter, you do not hear the mouse button, at all. And After messing with the video controls, I was able to clean the pic up even more. I think the build quality of this unit is much better than the dv-7. It feels stronger built to me, with better qualities. the keys feel soft to the touch and I am not having the same issues with the mouse pad on the unit that others have had. I can not comment on how it works in the long run, but if something happens, I will be sure to add to this review. The studio xps 13 was removed from the on-line list of available laptops from BB at the time i wrote this review, leeding me to believe I made the right choice by returning it, and getting this unit. Thanks for reading

I got this laptop 5 days ago and have completely fallen in love. I am a college student and use it primarily for school and leisure. What I love: The screen resolution is wonderful. Everything is very clear and detailed. Backlit keyboard is nice and useful especially when I study at night or not in a well-lit area. Fingerprint reader is not really necessary, but I've found it to be useful. Battery life is great with around 3.5 hours. Compared to my Dell that only lasted 2 hours, it’s a big change. Charges fast too. Size and weight. I don't know how it compares to other 13 inches, but compared to my old 17 inch dell, the weight is wonderful! 13 inch is perfect and I had a hard time deciding between the 13 inch and another 14 inch HP (which was also cheaper), but the lighter weight was a big deal to me since I have to carry it to school a lot. Speed. Its fast and was very easy to set up. If you don't like the preinstalled programs, it was easy to uninstall them. What I don't love as much: Keyboard and letters don't have that big a contrast, so sometimes in class when the lights are very bright, it causes a glare and it gets a little difficult to see the keys (but that’s when I go to a darker corner and use the backlit keyboard). What I dislike the most: THE KEYPAD. I read in other reviews that it’s not that great, and I must agree after using it for a few days. I didn't notice it at the store when I was playing around with it, but after a few days of constant use, it almost feels slightly sticky. Even when my fingers are really dry, they drag. I've always used the keypad because I've never thought a mouse was necessary, but now, I think I'm going to purchase a mouse in a few days; It’s THAT annoying. With that said, the mouse is an easy fix, and I still love the computer. Overall: Great buy, and the 2 year manufacturer’s warranty that's included makes me a lot less nervous about it breaking or malfunctioning. I don’t regret my decision at all :)

I just bought my new HP Pavillion Laptop about 2 days ago as a Christmas present to myself! :) I am a college student and my Compaq laptop was just not working for me anymore. It was time for an upgrade so I looked around for what would be the best one for me. I was stuck between an HP & a Macbook. I decided on a HP laptop because you get more for your money! I searched around for the different HP's & I wanted one that was not so heavy & huge. I searched online & instantly fell in love with this one. What I Love.... - Fingerprint Reader, My fave! Really convient to just swipe a finger instead of entering passwords or having them saved on the computer. - The Webcam, Takes pictures & video & has easy upload to youtube! - Backlit Keyboard, Works great in lowlight places or for working in the dark! - Remote Control, Mini remote control your music/movie playback from afar. Stores easily into the card reader slot! - SIze & Weight, I love how light & small it is! Perfect for carrying around! - Battery, Lasts very long! (Compared to my old laptop!) About 3 1/2 hrs! What I Dont Like... - Glossy Keypad, sometimes the mouse goes whatever way it wants to...it clicks things you werent trying to click. Although annoying @ times its not much of a problem. - Collects Dust Easily, Everytime I open my Laptop there's lots of dust particles on the screen, It came with a cleaning cloth so it's fine....Just annoying to have to clean it everyday... - No Lightscribe, I've never used it but was one of the features I was looking forward to with my new HP. I didnt realize until after I had bought it that It doesnt have lightscribe. I just found it weird how most of the HP's @ Best Buy have lighscribe but one of the more expensive ones doesnt. - No closure, Another thing that feels weird to me is that there is no closure. Im used to my old Compaq where when you closed it it old snap in place & to open it you just push the button but with this you just close & open. Its just going to take some getting used to. Overall I do LOVE my new laptop & am extremely happy with my purchase!

Wow! I have only had this laptop for a day and I am one happy customer. I have been shopping around for two months to find a portable laptop suitable for law school (my old one is 4 years old and almost 8 pounds) I did my research online and in the store and quickly discovered that although I would get the best computer (per $ spent) through Dell, Dell's computers have the worst keyboards of all time. A dealbreaker and a setback. Ultimately, I ran into this product and immediately loved the keyboard and the presentation (the case is attractive and looks sturdy, NOT cheap and flimsy like the dell). Then I discovered that it had 4GB RAM, a 2.0 GHZ dual core processor, an LED screen, AND a dedicated graphics card! I was definitely interested, but was it worth $900? I tried to "build my own" hp pavillion dv3 series online with the same exact specs and came up with a build costing about $1,050 BEFORE TAXES. This is also when I realized that this laptop features bluetooth and a wireless N card. I was sold. It was too much of a bargain at $900 AND I had trouble finding it in stock ANYWHERE. Luckily, I was out of town when I decided to buy it and found it at a local best buy (it was out of stock at the other 6 I searched). I didn't care much for the webcam, backlights under the keyboard, or the fingerprint scanner before I bought it, but wow have I changed my mind. I then came to realize that the laptop comes with a remote control, can play dvds without booting the system up, AND the dvd drive can be removed and replaced with a form fitting hollow shell piece to make it even lighter! I highly reccomend this laptop to anyone looking for portability, lightweight, and EXTREME value for the price. Furthermore, this laptop should be considered by ANYONE looking at a macbook pro because its specs are extremely competitive and its price is about $300 less.

I am constantly on the go, and this computer has been a very good investment. I have had it about a week, and I must say that everything I hoped I could do with the computer has been a reality. I am not a gamer, but I do alot of graduate-level research, and when you have several different Office documents in several different Office programs open, try to make a PDF, stay online to further research, and maybe have a little music going in the background, you can use up as much memory as some games. This computer has been able to handle the load with the 4 gigs of memory. The hard-drive is more than adequate, at least for the processes I am looking for. You could potentially do some video processing with the hard drive, I suppose, but again this is not my intention so I don't know much about that. I have really taken to the fingerprint reader, and found this to be a very useful part of the laptop. The weight and size has been a big plus, especially since I had a 17" Toshiba before this. I can't make absurd claims that "I never even know I have it" but it is lighter than most of the others I researched, and the weight reduction has been a plus. I suppose a bad feature is that the startup time to get it up and running after it has been down for several hours is a little slow, but once it is going speed is not an issue. I also wish it had 1 or 2 more USB ports, but I get a little greedy with my USB's and should probaby just adjust my methods (like using a hub when I actually need that many), but a couple more would be great. In all honesty this has been an excellent purchase for the price. I was out the door for right at $1600 after the 3-year service plan and having Best Buy set it up, which I am thinking was a good plan because it doesn't seem to have alot of junkware on it. Overall very happy...