Well, I am just starting to check out the zt3000, and my first disappointment was that I didn't get a Samsung LCD panel. I GOT A CHUNG HWA, you got it, Chung Hwa. I posted another thread about this. They may be the best LCD panel ever, I just had never heard of them, nor have many others. Apparently HP now uses them. Anyhow, maybe 6 months from now they will be the panel that everyone wants!!
As for your concerns, standard LCD's are NEVER going to seem as bright as the glossy ones. Never. And, since you seem to be like me (you don't like the glossy ones) you will have to be satisfied with the best of the matte panels. The ACER's are supposed to have the really good widescreen panels, but, I don't go for ACER support or ACER as a company in general. Long story, but ACER is the same company as AOPEN, and I never liked their stuff at all. Also, they don't offer accidental damage protection, and that is vital to any notebook that I go with. It has saved me a ton of money on a lousy Dell already having that kind of coverage. And, no you can't duplicate it with Homeowners or a third party insurance policy IMHO. Bluetooth is not a big deal, since you can add a small dongle, unless that bothers you, but you can't get around poor battery life.
As for the zt3000, yes, the keyboard does have stickers, but they don't cover most of the key (like others I have seen), and it looks like they are almost "welded on", I don't think they are ever coming off.
Yes, all the darned ports are in the back, and the darned power cord plugs in the side, which is kind of the reverse of how it should be.
The HP looks to be a really good value for what you pay for it, but for me, it is really a lot bigger and heavier than what I really want (I know this has no meaning to you.)
Again, depending on if you are going to order standard WXGA, WSXGA+, etc. there are several screens that you could get. You need to order one, run Knoppix or Ultimate Boot CD to see which LCD panel you got, check it out, then use the 30 day return if you are not happy. HP will even pay the return freight, and since they offer free shipping the total cost is zero if you don't like it.
Hope I helped some, I will let you know if I decide to keep it, but it does not look extremely likely now. Again, if I don't keep it, I won't be going for another notebook as large as a 15.4" so it probably won't have relevence to you.
I did find out an interesting tidbit about HP's that some of you may know:
The consumer models are all assembled in China and shipped here. Takes about 2 days to get one here (even though you pay ground shipping). In fact, because of crossing the International Date Line, mine got to Anchorage BEFORE IT LEFT SHANGHAI!! Cool!
Anyhow, now for the interesting tidbit:
The Business models (nc6000, nc8000, nw8000) are actually assembled here in the USA (Indiana, etc) by the old Compaq "crew" (that was based in Houston). They use the same Chinese, Taiwanese, etc. parts but they are assembled here.
Which are made better??
I have no idea.
Still waiting on my nc6000, which, at this point, I may cancell before it ships, don't know how long I can wait.
Most of the consumer stuff, you order it, and away it goes, usually ships in a couple days. They say 10 days, but it is usually about 2 or 3.
Andrew
Austin, TX
. My brother needed a laptop so I hoooked him up with my Acer 2012WLMI. Time to pull out the old IBM T20 from the closet. Phew...gone from a Toshiba 5205-S119 to a Dell 8600 to an Acer 800lci to an Acer 2012WLMI back to my trusty ole 3 year old T20. I truly have learned my lesson this time though. NOTHING bigger than a 14" for me. I am thinking about the XGA nc6000 as well. The 3 year warranty sounds good with the carry-in as there appear to be over 10 authorized service centers within a 5 mile radius of where I live (one benefit of living in the Megalopolis known as Southern California 
