HP dv2 Hits Staples for $599 After Rebates
While on special assignment this weekend, I’ve been to the future. Well, only one day in advance, but we’re on a tight travel budget, and each day costs us extra. I’m sure you understand. Get out your “That Was Easy” button and be prepared to press it tomorrow, because Staples will be offering the HP dv2 for $599. The normal price is $799, but Staples has two offers to offset the cost of the 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo-powered notebook: a $150 instant savings and a $50 easy rebate.
This dv2 package includes 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, an external DVD drive, 512MB of dedicated graphics memory for the ATI Radeon 3410, and the 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium. The device is thin for a 12.1-inch notebook and weighs around 3.8-pounds. It’s bigger than a breadbox netbook but not a behemoth that you’d opt to leave at home. Check my first impressions, the benchmarks and the battery testing that I’ve done on a loaner dv2 before hitting up Staples. While you do that, I’m firing up the time machine for another trip. I have some rebates in-process that I don’t feel like waiting for. ;)
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Kevin,
Any idea if this model comes with the gobi card built in? Bluetooth? I know HP, and they have tons of versions of the same machine, so I am curious what comes in this one…
Scott, I don’t think it inludes an integrated 3G radio nor Bluetooth, but that’s simply an educated guess by looking at the device on the Staple site. They’ve been selling this model for a few weeks and the SKU on their site matches the one in the ad I found. Neither were listed listed in the specifications so I’d check directly with Staples to be sure.
Wonder about the battery life.
Wonder if you clicked the battery testing link in my post. ;)
It’s a nice machine, I played with it at the store about two weeks ago, but I’m not a big fan of the design. I don’t like not having an optical drive in a notebook.
The dv3 has much more muscle under it’s hood and is only about a pound heavier and an inch bigger. Since this model can also be configured to order, my bet stays on the little 13 inch.
My favorite 12 inch by far is the tx2. That swivel touch screen is one cool feature.
I’m looking for a laptop that’s pretty much as small as possible, under a grand, has a screen resolution around 1280×720 (the vertical rez on netbooks is just unusable for me) and can play hulu full screen without stuttering (something the atom processors can’t do). I figure that’s enough performance to do most of the stuff I need.
Did you test this laptop playing Hulu? I was thinking about the x340 but if I can get something close for $200 less I feel like I might as well. I really want a multi-touch screen tablet with these specs, but they all seem to be well over 4lbs and I want something closer to 3lbs.
Thanks for the input.
I haven’t tested Hulu on the dv2, but it should handle Hulu with ease. The device has an ATI Radeon GPU and can play 1080p content from the external Blu-Ray optical drive option. BTW: this device is closer to four pounds in weight than three. It is relatively thin and has a light “feel”, but it is nearly four pounds.
That is a little pricy for a 12.1″ laptop.
The specs aren’t all that great, just average.
I need a big screen when I work. I tend to use up a lot of workspace on my laptop. I have noticed the 9″ notebooks are selling like hotcakes, but is it worth it? I do understand the process and thought behind the 12.1″ notebooks, but for me on a personal choice, it’s too small for my type of work.
PriorityElectronics: 12″ too small for you, then get a 17″ or 20″ so-called desktop replacement. Leave the 12″-14″ sets to casual users.
As far as price is concern, a subnotebook with dedicated ATI graphics that outperforms any Intel Atom sets by a factor of 10, taking into account its light weight and thinness, 599 is hardly what I’d call expensive. OTTH, 400 bucks for your average Eee variant, now that is expensive. Considering we mainly use those netbooks for web surfing and other super light chores.