dv1000 - First Take
Key: =Poor, =Average, =Good, =Excellent, =Outstanding
My Overall rating: Excellent
Rating criteria:
Design
Features
Cost
Performance
Portability
Build Quality
Ruggedness
Materials
Heat
Screen Legibility
Viewing Angle
Sound
Keyboard
Touchpad
Ports
Expandability
Accessories
Warranty
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home
Processor Class: Pentium M
Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz
RAM: 512 MB
Hard Drive Capacity: 60 GB
Hard Drive Speed: 4500 rpm(toshiba)
Graphics: Intel 82855 GME
Graphics Memory: 64
Primary Optical Drive: DVD-ROM/CD-RW
Wireless: 802.11b
Screen Size: 14.1 inches (BRIGHT)
Screen Size Type: widescreen
System Weight: 5.5 lbs
Type: Mainstream, Media Center, Multimedia
What i did after i got it was to reformat it to install a fresh xp PRO!!!. the software bundle was really hoggin the unit.. but after the new install..WOW>. its so much better.. ITS A GOOD DARN UNIT!!!
Design
What's not to like? Well, there are a few things. While the gloss-black accents are beautiful on a new unit, they scratch easily and show fingerprints with ease. These pieces will most likely not look new for long. Also, a disk activity light at the top of the keyboard (as opposed to the front of the unit) would make it visible while in the expansion base - important if you need to know whether the notebook is hung - or just taking its time to do something. All in all though, there is a lot to like here.
Features
From good speakers, to the new Media QuickPlay function, to the stowable remote control, to the touchpad on/off button, to available WirelessG, Bluetooth and BrightView screen - the dv1000 is packed with excellent and useful features. The Centrino chip and long battery life add to the package. The only features missing in my opinion: an available video card upgrade, a built-in microphone, a second firewire port, and a CF card reader built into the 6-in-1multi-card reader. Malaysia version doesnt come with G and bluetooth.. so. go get external usb !!!!
Cost
Wow - got mine for RM5499.. its actually 5599 similar to that of B series. but i decided not to take any free gifts. so its down RM150.. but at the end of the purchase. thy still included the free gifts.. so.. uhmm HAPPY MAN!!!!
Performance
With a Centrino 1.6-1.8 with an 400MHz front side bus (and 2MB of cache) and fast RAM and decent hard drive (5400rpm - but no available 7200rpm) you would think this would be a killer system. Unfortunately, the inclusion of the integrated Intel Extreme Graphics brings the performance back down to the "Good" range for this type of notebook - on par with its competitors. Too bad a higher video offering isn't available, or this would be the portable gaming system of choice.
Portability
With a travel weight (including AC adapter) of around 6 pounds, while still providing over 3 hours of battery life, the dv1000 is extremely portable. The AC adapter is one of the smallest I've ever seen for a notebook. And with that 14" widescreen providing 1280x768 resolution, and the built in optical drive, you're not compromising usability for portability.
Build Quality
Build quality is excellent, and all components fit tightly and securely. There are a few areas where tolerances could have been tightened up just a bit more, but overall the construction looks and feels top-notch.
Ruggedness
Obviously, since this is a new platform, there's no basis for any durability estimates. However, there are a few areas of concern. The materials, which do seem a bit thinner than some previous models, have a bit of flex to them which could provide potential for distortion, or breakage, down the road. The lcd panel exhibits quite a bit of distortion when the lid is pressed from behind - meaning there's not as much protection as I'd like to see. And there appears to be a bit much "give", or flex, in the top cover when carrying the laptop closed from place to place. Basically, it just feels as though the case could have been stiffened up a bit. Also, the painted plastic top will most definitely become scratched - they always are.
Materials
While all the materials used do appear to be of excellent quality, they plastic casing feels a bit thinner than you'll find in many other notebooks - including HP's. It's too early to tell whether or not this will be a problem.
Heat
Unlike HP's other Centrino offering (the x1000/xt3000 series), the dv1000 does get warm to the touch on the left side (where the hard drive is) and underneath during use. However, this is "warm" not "hot". It is still much cooler than the zd7000 and R3000 series, and can comfortably be used on your lap. All in all, heat does not appear to be an issue with the dv1000 at this time - but I'll continue to watch this.
Screen Legibility
Excellent for the normal screen and Outstanding for the BrightView screent. Crisp, bright, high contrast, black blacks - just an enjoyable experience.
Viewing Angle
Decent horizontally, but very limited vertically. For everything the dv1000 "is" in screen legibility it "is not" in viewing angle. If you are looking straight at the dv1000 from the optimum viewing angle it is beautiful - except even here the top of the screen looks darker and the bottom a bit washed out. The middle 2/3 of the view is perfect. If I had to list one disappointment with the dv1000 it would be its vertical viewing angle performance. Note: my unit is a BrightView screen.
Sound
This was a pleasant surprise. The speakers on the dv1000 provided a nice full and rich sound with lots of volume. In fact, if anything, the volume may be too loud. Like you've ever had that problem with a laptop before! But one oddity is that the volume levels within Windows are much louder than the levels during Media QuickPlay.
Keyboard
Also a nice surprise. While the keyboard is a soft touch keyboard, it had a crisp feel with good travel - not a dull muffled stroke like many others. Good feel. Note that there is a bit of flex in the keyboard of pressed hard, but not too much. I wouldn't consider this a problem (like on many Dell laptops) because there is already good travel in the keys. And again, the overall feel of the keyboard (to me at least) was very good. It doesn't feel overly compact.
Touchpad
After my experiences with the zd7000 and R3000 touchpads, I was beginning to give up on HP producing another good touch pad to the level of the original x1000 series. But, the dv1000's touch pad is smooth and responsive. The textured surface provides good feel, and the precision is excellent. One quirk is the scrolling which seems to enable long-scrolling at times even when that feature is turned off - but this is most likely a Synaptics driver issue, not a hardware issue.
Ports
With the possible exception of a second firewire port, there's not much missing in this area. Also, the ports are well placed. I would have liked to have a single USB port on the rear as well - but hey, you can't have everything! Also, please note that there are no parallel ports either on the dv1000 nor on the expansion base.
Expandability
RAM and hard drive are easily upgradeable, and you can purchase an extended double life battery. Like most notebooks, the optical drive bay is fixed - but with 3 USB 2.0 ports, a firewire port and Bluetooth you have access to an unlimited number of external peripherals as well.
Accessories
The available expansion base, wireless keyboard and mouse, extra ac adapter, and extended battery provide a good complement of accessories that can turn the dv1000 into a decent desktop replacement. But be prepared, while the dv1000 itself is very economical, the accessories are expensive.
Warranty
1-year warranty is the industry standard.
OTHER REVIEWS
there are better pictures then this.. go look at them.. ill tell u its a very good design!!!! with cool lights and all. ofcourse u might say fujitsu and toshiba is better!!! but ill still luv my dv1000!!!!
This post has been edited by ruztynail: Jan 4 2005, 11:14 AM 
Jan 1 2005, 01:00 PM
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Why dun u take a look at the acer aspire 1804wsmi mobile pc
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