 RenoPremium
join:2008-10-26
Keller, TX | Just got a HP dv7-4285dx ($859) (wow) I haven't bought a new laptop in a long time. I'm use to always building my own systems (since 1996), so laptops are always a shock to me being mostly un-exposed to manufacturer built systems.
I know Windows 7 installed fresh should be around ~5GB. The HDD was 40GB full. I assume a lot of that is the bloatware, who knows. What got me about that is you really have no choice but to make the recovery DVD's right away. So, being so full it took 7 DVD's. That took 4 hours to do + 30 minutes for the first bootup to get past all the bloatware popups. I know everyone does it but I can't believe the don't spend a few cents putting recovery DVD's in the box. Seriously, wholesale DVD's much cost a penny. Is it really worth saving the money at the expensive of your customers loosing 4 hours of their life as soon as they get home? Each DVD was burned and verified. The recovery software was made by Cyberlink which I don't like. It's a sub-par Korean software company that puts out a lot of junk.
Next up, I'm going to put an SSD in an install Win7 fresh. I need to lookup how to make an OEM disk from a retail disk - been awhile.
Otherwise... Man this is a massive laptop. My work laptop (Dell E6510 Latitude 17") and my wife's laptop (17" HP from 7 months ago) are maybe an inch and a half less wide than this one. It doesn't feel any more heavy though (6.9lb). Really nice laptop though. $859 and having a 3D card is really nice. It also has an integrated Intel video chipset you can switch over to or it automatically switches to it on battery power (to save battery power). It doesn't show it anywhere, but on the top left corner of the tuchpad surface is a very tinyLED. If you tap that area twice the touch-pad disables or enables. The best thing I like is the dual HDD slots. I only like laptops with SSD's now and it's nice not having to sacrifice mass storage space. The battery life really is 4 hours... and the battery for a 9 cell really isn't that big. There's also a sub-woofer vent next to the battery. The sound is rather amazing for a laptop. The touchpad is weak and I also don't like the fact there's no gap at all between the numberpad and keyboard.
I'm pretty happy overall so far. Really nice specs for $859.
»www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavili···37&st=hp laptop&cp=1&lp=4 |
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 trparkyApple... YUMPremium,MVM
join:2000-05-24
Cleveland, OH
kudos:1
 ·Time Warner Cable
 ·Time Warner VOIP
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| Please tell me didn't let the Idiot Squad lay a finger on that computer.
Anyways, nice notebook you scored there. Good specs, especially the processor. I think you'll be good to go with that processor for a long time to come. Either that or we're in a world of hurt for programs have become beyond bloated.
Cyberlink? They practically make the best DVD playing software so they don't do everything wrong.
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Tom |
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Indy SabreSabre Rider From Indianapolis
join:2003-10-02 | reply to Reno
"Windows 7 installed fresh should be around ~5GB" I have never seen a Win 7 install that wasn't at least 30GB......although I am talking OEM factory installs though.
The thing that bugs me about HP is now that they ship with 4 partitions installed so you can't create another primary data partition. I need to stick with primary or simple rather than dynamic so i can image with Acronis.
Sounds like you got a very nice laptop though and installing fresh will aleavate the 4 partition thing. |
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