Starting Sunday, 9-20, Staples is offering the HP dv7-1451nr 17" Notebook. This time, it looks like no rebate is required. 😀
HP Model: dv7-1451nr
Product Number: NV204UA#ABA
SKU: 800740
Staples product page
Specs from HP
This is another variant of the HP lappy I've posted about that Staples has run, previously for $650. I've seen this machine. It's gorgeous. 4 GB of RAM should be enough to start. You can bump it up to 8 GB if/when you reach that barrier. It's got onboard shared memory video that can take up to 2 GB of RAM, but the machine can take enough RAM to overcome a lot of that limitation, and the 8 cell battery will give you longer battery life.
Shortened list of specs:
Processor: AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-82 Dual-Core Mobile Processor
Memory (RAM): 4GB expandable to 8GB
Hard Drive Size: 500GB
Optical Drive: LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVDñR/RW with Double Layer Support
Display Size: 17.0"
Display Type: WXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Display
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with Service pack 1
Battery Type: 8-Cell Lithium-Ion
Network Card: 802.11b/g WLAN
Video Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics RS780M with up to 1918MB
Other ports: 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader
Extra Features: HP Webcam with integrated digital microphone
One other thing you'll want -- HP's tech support is excellent. They've helped me with my laptops, including free help through their online chat with one that was out of warranty. I recommended this machine (with the 320 GB drive) to my apartment manager. When he tried to burn the Recovery DVD Disk set, the burn failed. I told him to phone HP's toll free support. They sent him a Recovery Disk set FedEx overnight and phoned the next morning to make sure it had arrived, and they assured him that if the problem continued when he tried to burn other disks, they they would replace the machine.
I design electronic products, and I know that, no matter how hard you try, there will always be some field failures. The question then becomes how well the company deals with them to protect the customer. HP is kewl beans. 😎
I've seen reports that they don't cover screen damage without an extra warranty so you may want to consider that if the price is right.
For those interested in putting XP on this machine, I found a couple of interesting links:
On HP's user forum
On getpcmemory.com
Don't forget to burn your Recovery DVD disk set before you try this. :light:
Remember, a 32 bit OS will only "see" 3+ GB of RAM, but the system can use a good piece of the rest of the 4 GB for the onboard video controller. You'll have to go to a 64 bit system to use the 8 GB max memory.
If I needed a lappy, this is the one I'd buy. I don't so I won't be able to report on any success trying this conversion (I refuse to call it a downgrade). It may all be moot once Win 7 is out and known to be stable.
HP Model: dv7-1451nr
Product Number: NV204UA#ABA
SKU: 800740
Staples product page
Specs from HP
This is another variant of the HP lappy I've posted about that Staples has run, previously for $650. I've seen this machine. It's gorgeous. 4 GB of RAM should be enough to start. You can bump it up to 8 GB if/when you reach that barrier. It's got onboard shared memory video that can take up to 2 GB of RAM, but the machine can take enough RAM to overcome a lot of that limitation, and the 8 cell battery will give you longer battery life.
Shortened list of specs:
Processor: AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-82 Dual-Core Mobile Processor
Memory (RAM): 4GB expandable to 8GB
Hard Drive Size: 500GB
Optical Drive: LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVDñR/RW with Double Layer Support
Display Size: 17.0"
Display Type: WXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Display
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with Service pack 1
Battery Type: 8-Cell Lithium-Ion
Network Card: 802.11b/g WLAN
Video Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics RS780M with up to 1918MB
Other ports: 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader
Extra Features: HP Webcam with integrated digital microphone
One other thing you'll want -- HP's tech support is excellent. They've helped me with my laptops, including free help through their online chat with one that was out of warranty. I recommended this machine (with the 320 GB drive) to my apartment manager. When he tried to burn the Recovery DVD Disk set, the burn failed. I told him to phone HP's toll free support. They sent him a Recovery Disk set FedEx overnight and phoned the next morning to make sure it had arrived, and they assured him that if the problem continued when he tried to burn other disks, they they would replace the machine.
I design electronic products, and I know that, no matter how hard you try, there will always be some field failures. The question then becomes how well the company deals with them to protect the customer. HP is kewl beans. 😎
I've seen reports that they don't cover screen damage without an extra warranty so you may want to consider that if the price is right.
For those interested in putting XP on this machine, I found a couple of interesting links:
On HP's user forum
On getpcmemory.com
Don't forget to burn your Recovery DVD disk set before you try this. :light:
Remember, a 32 bit OS will only "see" 3+ GB of RAM, but the system can use a good piece of the rest of the 4 GB for the onboard video controller. You'll have to go to a 64 bit system to use the 8 GB max memory.
If I needed a lappy, this is the one I'd buy. I don't so I won't be able to report on any success trying this conversion (I refuse to call it a downgrade). It may all be moot once Win 7 is out and known to be stable.
