The HP Pavilion dv2 Entertainment Notebook computer has just arrived in for review. The dv2 is the newest 12-inch notebook from HP which hopes to fill the void between low-performance netbooks and high-priced ultra-portable notebooks. At first glance, the dv2 appears to be the perfect notebook for college students, given its affordable price and impressive specs.
When it comes to notebooks, I'm a big fan of ultra-portables and the new dv2 looks promising. The model we’re looking at is Moonlight White (also available in Espresso Black).
Let's briefly take a look at some reasons this notebook would be great in a college setting:
Looks: All I can say is WOW! Unboxing the dv2 was a jaw-dropping experience. This notebook looks sharp! The glossy look of the Moonlight White is impressive.
Power (Specs): The dv2 comes loaded with Windows Vista Home Premium and packs everything a typical student needs: speed, storage and entertainment. The dv2 will fit all your needs from gameplay, watching/listening to movies and music, and easily being able to handle all school work in a conveniently portable manner.
Price: A price of $699.99 makes it affordable when compared to other notebooks. The dv2 also packs some impressive specs compared to cheaper alternatives such as netbooks.
Entertainment: The dv2 is a perfect mobile entertainment center. It includes HP MediaSmart, a slick interface which makes movies, videos, music, photos, and live TV just a click away. The sound is actually pretty crisp and clear for the small built-in notebook speakers.
Size and Weight: The dimensions of 11.50 in (L) x 9.45 in (D) x 0.93 in (min H) and a 12.1” widescreen display makes it easy to carry around. For those of you that are worried 12.1" is too small, have no fear. I had the same thought when I purchased my first ultra-portable notebook and feel it’s the perfect size for taking it with you on the go. It comes in weighing just under 4 lbs (with 6-cell battery).
Check out some of these other cool features of the HP dv2:
- External Blu-ray ROM with DVD burner. Having an external Blu-ray DVD drive helps keep the unit thin and lightweight.
- Bundled with Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit) with Service Pack 1.
- 320GB Hard Drive.
- AMD Turion Neo X2 Dual Core Mobile Processor (1.6 GHz 1MB L2 Cache).
- 4GB DDR2 SDRAM.
- 12.1" Diagonal WXGA High-Definition BrightView Widescreen display.
- Built in HP Webcam.
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD Premium Graphics 3410 with 512mb DDR2 dedicated graphics memory.
- 802.11a/b/g/n wireless and Bluetooth.
- 5-in-1 Digital media reader.
- 6-Cell Li-ion battery.
Inputs
- 1 HDMI
- 3 USB 2.0
- SD card reader
- Headphone/microphone jacks
- VGA-out
- Ethernet port
An ultra-portable usually means a smaller-sized notebook with good battery life. Because it's not a full-size notebook, the keyboard is only 92% of its original size, but is still easy and enjoyable to type on and pretty sturdy (with no flex).
We'll get a better look at this notebook over the next couple weeks, but first impressions are:
- This thing looks amazing! The moonlight white glossy look is so nice I almost don't want to touch it for fear of getting fingerprints on it. You could use the track pad as a mirror with its chrome finish.
- Great value. For the price this looks like a great deal for what’s all included.
- Pretty strong chassis: thin, light and well built. This notebook can survive the daily wear and tear from students who plan on carrying it around with them everywhere.
With its price and performance specs, I foresee the HP dv2 being a great notebook for students because it is compact and lightweight, affordable, and equipped with a powerful processor. The dv2 is available for $699.99, which I think is a fair price for what you’re getting. It should be a popular choice for budget conscious students this upcoming school year. Some of you who are considering netbooks for their cheap price, may want to pony up a little more cash and highly consider the dv2 from HP.
Stay tuned for a full review of the unit coming soon.
Until then, check out these reviews of the dv2:
NotebookReview.com
CNET
