Hey, I'm Looking into this Notebook, what do you think?

well, here is my experence with the dv9000 series that might help you a bit in your decision. I have been looking to buy an NX9420 for about a week now and just had some questions. One was the BrightView and the other was something silly and that is a Lightscribe DVD.

I want mine for zero game playing and 100% work. Business apps and application developement as well as some graphics design. So my needs are pretty vanilla yet not really. Though I do like to watch a movie now and then for a break.

Anyway, I just could not pull the trigger and buy one. I want the non-BrightView display. So, today i went out and about shopping and happened to go to CostCo and they had a display model dv9033cl marked way down. It has BrightView but I bought it anyway. I figure if I do not like it I have 6-mos to return the thing for a full refund.

Here is what I see as reasons the dv9033cl is going back next week. First and formost is the dumbass'd keyboard layout. I love the full sized keyboard and what has to be the best feeling keybard ever in a laptop. BUT, some bo-tard engineer decided it is a good thing to make the right-hand shift-key the same size as a regular key. I have been working with it for almost 6-hours now and I can tell you that given the amount of times I will need to hit the right-shift key while coding, the sckewed layout due to the small key will hurt my productivity. I will always miss that key but more so, I will miss hitting the period and comma and backslash keys due the lack of feel. remember this feel has been developed from coding for over two decades and well, I just ain't gonna change. It is bad enough to live with a skinny enter/return key...but never a small sized shift key that throws the whole layout of that section of the keyboard outta whack.

Even the inverted-t layout of the arrow keys lacks the familar feel because they put that danged shift key right beside it...so there is no positive feedback when hunting for the keys in that part of the keybaord.

Next is a fairly important thing for me. They located the mic, speaker out's right in front edge of the case. They are directly belown the trackpad. So whenever something is connected the cables stick out and I find my thumb tends to rest on them or get tangled in them. Not only is this very uncomfortable as I tend to rest my thumb there when using the trackpad. Over time this might also cause a strain on the connectors themselves which are likely pretty fragile or at least not designed for years of pressure from resting the weight of a hand on them when something is connected.

I know those sound like minor issues. But sometimes it is the small things that make a person regret a purchase the most.

On the other hand the NX9420 has the speaker/mic connectors on the side where gawds intended them to be. In front they have a multi-format stick reader. PLUS the keys on the NX9420 are NORMAL. Meaning the right-shift-key is long kind. And the arrow keys are offset enough to allow the correct feel for orientation as you type.

I am still needing to test this beast under my normal use conditions. Such as visiting Starbucks and/or working out by the pool. If the display does not give me a headache then I will definately get a BrightView Display. Which will make my life MUCH easier...

Otherwise this display is AWESOME and I cannot beleive how cool the system runs. from what I have read the NX9420 runs even COOLER. And if I read anyone else complaining about how "heavy" these are...cripes it is a good 2-3lbs LIGHTER then my Inspiron 8500.

I have to say that I am very pleased with this laptop even though I am going to return it for the keyboard really and I want an WSXGA+ display not the WXGA this one has...a it more real estate will make these perfect. So consider that when you setup your budget for your new goodie!

If you are on a budget (and what student isn't) I if you choose stuff wisely you will be very happy with the dv9000 series for sure...it has me a convert from Dell..then again Dell has gone so far into the toilet anymore it's not worth mentioning...

Oh, if you are paying cash (not financing) get the minimum RAM then buy from somewhere else to build up to 2gb. And get the biggest, fastest HDD your budget allows. And remember the extended warranty! You want to protect your investment...spend the $300 or whatever to get at least 3-yrs onsite next business day. Make them come to you. I did that with my Dells for years and it does save time and is worth the small bit extra over RTD warranties.

Consider the 12-cell battery too...you can find it around the web for about $165...nice to get 6+ hours of unteathered freedom...HP claims adding that battery will boost the system to 10-11hrs that's niiiiice....

Sorry for rambling but it sounds like this is a big purchase for you so I thought I would share what I learned today. As for gaming...heck if I know...hehehehe...alst game I played on a PC was DOOM when it was NEW...

best of luk finding the sytme your want!!! Oh, don't forget to check the re-furbs on the HP site too...good stuff to be found there.

Wassup Danny32890. As far as the HP dv9000t is should b a great bang for your buck Laptop. If configured as such you will get a great deal:

Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0Ghz
512MB RAM(You can always u/g later on. You can get good deals on Newegg)
100GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
Super Multi 8X DVDRW Optical Drive
512MB Nvidia Geforce Go 7600
17" Widescreen Brightview 1440x900 (Best resolution to game with the 7600)
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Intel Wireless Pro 3945 a/b/g card
Price: $1449.99

With that laptop you can game at native resolution (1440x900) with medium to high settings (always wise not to crank up shadows or lighting in any games its a graphics hog) in most recent games out. Interestingly Im a gamer at heart too and I use to game when I had my Dell Inspiron 9300 and my Dell XPS M170. But I had to get a smaller laptop for work. I use my dv2000t to game with Warhammer 40,000: Dark Crusade and BF2. If your looking for an alternative laptop look into the Dell Inspiron E1705. Configured below for an extra $50 you can get a better deal.

Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0Ghz
1GB RAM
120GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
8X DVDRW Optical Drive
256MB Nvidia Geforce Go 7900GS
17" Widescreen XGA+ (Best resolution for playing natively with the 7900GS)
Intel Pro Wireless 3945 a/b/g card
Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition
Price:$1507.00

Im just giving you an honest suggestion. Either choice you cant go wrong and both give you a great bang for your buck.

As far as video game suggestions Im more of a RTS and FPS gamer myself. I tried the MMO thing and didnt c the payoff for all the time spent. If you do decide to get the HP ill be here to give you some support if you need it. Im not active on the Dell forums as much obviously as you can c by my sig. Good luck and I hope this helps.

Wow I couldnt disagree with either of these last two posts more stongly......

HP DOES NOT make a gaming laptop in the traditional semse!!!
What you really need to do is find out your gaming requirements. This laptop has the strongest video card they offer I believe (512mb 7600) and this video card is still considered just getting by- by serious computer gamers.
It should play just about any game out, but forget turning up the eye candy and getting a decent frame rate.

If you truly want to game, look at Alienwares m5550 and m5750 MXM grahics based laptops they offer better graphics that are upgradeable, while they lack some of the HP's features... Webcam,HDMI they are much better choices for a gaming platform.

This is followed by some absurd advice!
Yeah the shift key sucks, but if u cant adjust, well then this isnt a good choice, but most peeps can so I wouldnt worry too much.
The audio ports in front are GREAT so dont listen to that guy, I have them and never in 3 years did it ever bug me.
LCD screen is up to u, go with the higher res and u get better looking frames but at the cost of your frame rate, conversely the lower res screen can have more eye candy on and still maintain a higher frame rate although its still a lower res.
Max out ram, there price is competitive and its not like u will ever be able to put anything faster in it
AND get the cheapest harddrive u can so u can immediately replace with the faster models HP doesnt even offer!!!

Of course these r my oppinions though
If u want real gaming laptop look elsewhere, if u want casual gaming laptop, get T7200 processor, 2 gigs ram, 512mb grfx card, low screen resolution, and smallest harddrive just so u can replace it w/ a 7200rpm one, THAT will be a kick-a$$ all around machine for everything else and that will play all but the newest games decently just not anywhere near a gaming laptop and WAY behind a gaming desktop.

Unfortunately 1500 just isnt enough for a quality gaming laptop cuz the SLI ones are sooo darn expensive- see Alienware m7700 and mALX

It is possible to have a different opinion yet not be insulting or agressive in tone. Such comments are far from necessary and also far from helpful to the questions at hand. But eveyone treats those around them differently, some do so in a considerate fashion, yet others chose a, well, different approach.

The system is wonderful but it certainly has design issues if you will be using it daily with productivity applications such as word processing, coding, and grahic design. As long a person is aware these issues exist then the can make a more informed decision.

I code for a living and dont have the issue with the keyboard. Grow some balls and a spine dude, I didnt attack you personally, I said I think your advice was bad, gave a differing opinion, and restated as such. If you cant handle a differing opinion the internet is not for you!

Wouldn't be too difficult to make a case exactly like this against the comments you made about Dell, the HP keyboard, and the engineer. I'd suggest being careful about chastising someone unless you follow your own advice.

Sigh

you have got to be kidding? observatons about a PRODUCT and it's design vs other designs are to be censored yet aggressive and derogatory comments about an individual poster who is offering comments are observations about said product are fair game?

I leave this place to the kids...sorry to have intruded on your territory.

Sorry to bud into this debate but isnt this thread about helpin Danny decide whether or not the dv9000t will suit his needs?

For once truth in advertising.......
His name says it all haha

Sad thing is Im prolly older than he is.....

Censored? Damn, people disagree with you or see things in a different light, so you get flustered and insult us by calling us kids and then run away? Ok, have it your way - thanks for stopping by.

Danny32890,

First thing you should read thru this thread, advice in that applies to other mfgs as well, lots of tech tips, GPU info, etc. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=86901

On that dinky R shift key on the dv9xxxx's... Yes it is dinky, I think the Left shift key is (sort of?) normal size...

On the HP NX9420 mentioned... fine machine... but at what price?... If the price is close, by all means go for a business class machine....

(On the dv9xxxx.. , If push came to shove you could use an external keyboard -tip=order unit with bluetooth)


PS: grumpy3b ..... You said you got the dv9033cl display, it being marked way down.... How much ? , and maybe you should consider selling it (giving someone here on the board a deal).

(Better option, would be to post which Costco Store you plan on returning it to, and for the "new" owner to be there when you "return" the unit so the new owner has the 6-month Costco return window option, full mfg warranty...)


BTW for you other guys suggesting this or that machine (which is great!) .... Post the price (and link to deal /spec's) so we can compare apples to apples...

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