 Great notbook but consider other DV models |
| Review Date: December 21, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Dave, Portland |
My wife and I purchased a slightly different version of this laptop for her mother and I have been very impressed with the features and build quality (there are several DV6 models but they are all built on the same chassis). It is well constructed with a metallic toned black exterior (HP also offers versions in white). Take a good look at the shell art since it is something that may not appeal to everyone. My mother-in-law definitely appreciated having something a little more individual than the usual dull grey exterior. Despite the glossy exterior we haven't noticed much in the way of finger prints or any scratches despite the helping hands of our kids who love to "help" grandma with her computer. (There are some older DV6 models without art work such as the older HP Pavilion DV6-1050US 16.0-Inch Laptop).)
The specs for this model are set well above what the average home owner needs today which (in my mind) future proofs it nicely. If you are on a tight budget you can get what you need for less (look at the HP Pavilion G60 line). If you have a little bit more to spend and you want some headroom to handle your computing needs for the next few years this is a great choice. The 1360 sits in the upper middle of the DV6 line. For me it makes sense to either step or step down the line depending on your needs, but this is a great notebook none the less.
CPU - 2.13GHz Intel Core2 Duo Processor P7450 is a decent notebook processor. It can handle two software "threads" which means you can have the virus scanner running while you surf the web with no noticeable slowdown. There is a quad core version of the DV6 out now that uses the new Intel "i7" processor, but I think for most home users the increased power requirements isn't worth the two extra cores. If you expect to do a lot of video and audio editing then stepping up to the i7 would make sense. If you are mostly looking to use Office type-applications and browse the web I'd suggest sticking with the Core2 Duo.
RAM - 4GB of DDR3 RAM running at 1066MHz is combined with a 64bit OS to which should provide more than enough memory for pretty much any application you can think of outside of extremely high end gaming.
HDD - The 500GB drive is the largest offered in this line and is far more space than most users need (few people will use more than 100GB). Most DV6 models come with 320GB HDD drives.
Graphics - This model is using an integrated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 which is vastly superior to the usual low-end graphics that plague notebooks. You can actually do a some 3D gaming on those notebooks which is a truly rare thing. The cheaper DV6s use the Intel 4500MHD which isn't going to win any awards for performance will satisfy any non-gamer (it chokes on newer 3D games).
Display - HP has a reputation for high-end displays and this one delivers. Tuned slightly for indoor use the 15.6" HP Brightview display is good enough for outdoor use though not as much as a more matte display. Indoors it is brilliant with surprisingly strong blacks (too many notebook displays are all brightness with no depth). I like that the screen provides a decent amount of vertical space without overdoing it. The difference between this and a 14" is surprising.
Sound - Surprisingly good sound for a notebook. The speakers are well positioned and deliver a good range. I've heard better but it was on a $3K notebook.
Battery - HP bundles their standard 6 cell Lithium-Ion battery. The HP Pavilion DV6-1350US has a 12 cell battery (which you can also order separately from HP). If you are on the road a lot the 12 cell is nice. Home users who plan to plug in a lot may not care.
I don't have any serious "cons" for this computer. The "Touch Media Controls" for things like the volume (as opposed to buttons you push) are a little odd at first but we got used to them quickly and hey, they look cool when they light up. I also don't find the included remote to be that useful but anyone planning to hook this up to their TV might like it. I suspect most people will just put in a drawer and forget about it.
If you're staring at the various DV6 models trying to decide which one to buy my advice is: For non-gamers save some money and buy the 1350US. The performance for non-gaming software will be about the same as the 1260 and you get a better battery out of the deal.
If you are a gamer just skip up to the HP DV6-1361SB (Windows 7 Professional). Let's be clear: this isn't a gaming laptop. A real gaming laptop will easily run you another $500. But you can play newer 3D games at reduce settings and older 3D games will run at more aggressive settings. If you are a power user who needs the fastest CPU and memory the 1361SB is also your best choice. You get a small speed bump going to the 1360US but the real jump is the 1361SB (thanks to it's faster CPU).
To wrap it all up: you can always buy more features for more money but if you are looking for a laptop with some higher-end features and upscale build quality the DV6 line from HP is an excellent choice. HP spent money in the right places and has created a high-end laptop at a mid-tier price. I like this model but overall I think the HP Pavilion DV6-1350US is a better choice for home users. If you are a student you may want to check out HPs "Academy" program which offers student discounts (it can be hard to find on HP's web site so you may be better off searching for "HP Academy").
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Killer PC
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| Review Date: November 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Armando Castillo, |
This is one the best laptops that I ever had. Beautiful finish, nice diplay. I really like the keybord with the numpad.
Win7 runs smoothly on the hardware. I'm very impressed with the performance of the hardware. Things like the fast porcessor and the fast hard drive make thing easy with this machine, you can even play games with the GPU Radeon Card.
I didn't have the oportunity to play HD content but I'm sure that the DV61360 will handle it very easy.
Also I really like the HP advisor that's help you to keep you pc in good shape.
If it is true that is it a fingerprint and dust magnet, I don't know a fingerprint and dustproof laptop at this price. Aslo the battery is not bad considering the kind of hardware that this laptop has.
Nice Machine, no complains
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A great upgrade for me
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| Review Date: December 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Richard H. von Lehe, Champlin, MN |
I really am enjoying the new DV6-1360US. Windows 7 is new to me and so far I really like it. The boot time is short - a major improvement from my old Lenovo (possibly because of additional software installed on that). There are some things that were installed that I chose to remove, but nothing that really slowed the system down - I just don't like a lot of unnecessary clutter.
I tried to undervolt this processor using RMClock, but it didn't recognize the P7450. So I chose to purchase CPUGenie and am now running all processor clock speed settings at a mere .875 volts which saves on power and battery usage. Speaking of battery usage - this one uses more than my previous laptop by quite a bit. I would say about 3 hours would be the most I could get on this 6-cell battery.
I really like the HDMI output, the fact that this can accept a docking connection, and the big speedy drive. The fast memory and relatively low-power CPU are nice, too. I am able to run Unreal Tournament 3 on this laptop no problem thanks to the ATI discrete graphics.
The remove control works well if you have a line-of-sight. It's a nice idea, but it didn't do anything with the VLC player when I tried. So it may only work with the HP-supplied media software.
Pros:
* Fast boot times
* Nice performance combo with CPU/GPU (good for gaming)
* 4 gigs of RAM at 1066Mhz is nice
* Beefy 7200rpm hard drive
* Good price ($749 after rebate)
* Windows 7 x64 is pretty slick
* Wireless N built in is a great thing. I can watch 720p video over the wireless network.
Cons:
* Can't really use RMClock (as of this writing) to undervolt
* LCD is great, but not as sturdy as old Lenovo screen (probably true of most manufacturers)
* I miss the little keyboard illuminator that my Lenovo had (used it when typing in dark room).
* The P7450 doesn't support hardware virtualization (some core 2 duos do, some don't).
* Remote control storage and removal is difficult (when removing, it acts like it's not coming out, then 10 seconds later springs out unexpectedly).
* Would rather not have a fax port.
None of the cons are significant enough to drop this down from a 5-star rating.
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great laptop, good performance
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| Review Date: December 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: D. Lin, |
This is one great laptop with decent performance, and in a bargin price too! I purchased this laptop at [...]). With that price, I don't believe you can find other laptops with such spec.
It runs cool, not like Dell xps, and has the power the handle videos on the web with ease. I am sure playing games on it should be a non-issue. |
Nice Laptop - Actually has Decent Graphics
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| Review Date: January 21, 2010 |
| Reviewer: T. Cramer, Madison, WI |
The kicker for me with this laptop is that it actually has a decent video card. You're not going to be playing any demanding games with it, but for working with HD video it works quite well.
If you need a laptop that is capable of doing more than internet and office apps, this would be a wise choice. A couple of things that make it stand out from other 'budget' laptops (this may cost a little more than most budget laptops, but the differences are well worth it in my opinion).
- The P7450 processor has a 1066 MHz FSB, whereas most of the cheaper laptop processors (6000 line) are 866 MHz. This equates to better data transfer.
- The 4gb of ddr3 ram is faster and more efficient than traditional ddr2 ram.
- As mentioned earlier, the HD4650 video card with 1 gb dedicated memory actually makes the laptop usable for lower end games and HD video. This also frees up some RAM that would normally be used for any on-screen graphical display/videos.
- The 500gb hard drive is 7200 RPM vs the common 5400 RPM speed. This will also provide faster access data
All of these items listed help increase the performance of the laptop. Throw in Win7 x64 and this machine can fly. I can't comment on the camera or sound as I have not used those features yet, but overall I would highly recommend this machine, possibly as a lower end desktop replacement. |
very satisfied
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| Review Date: February 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Sandra L. Coffey, |
i purchased this laptop for school. and i am very satisfied. previously i owned a dell but i really prefer the hp. since i have always had hp products.
i would recommend this product to anyone |
HP Pavilion DV6-1360US 15.6 inch Love This Baby!
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| Review Date: February 25, 2010 |
| Reviewer: David R. Freiman, Phila, PA USA |
I am an extremely frugal shopper who took my time searching many different stores and sites, spoke with techie friends, salesmen, and even technical support at Activision to ensure high quality and compatibility of this computer's components and my needs/desires. This HP meets and exceeds! And Amazon saved me about $160 in buying this HP with an advanced graphics card.
-blvd1@hotmail.com |
Fair purchase
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| Review Date: March 7, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Leonardo Kim, Sao Paulo, Brasil |
Well, actually I haven't "played" so much with my new computer yet, but it seems to be a pretty good one.
The only thing I should say is that this Windows 7 is still horrible compared to XP: ok, it's better than Vista, but you can't really compare with it in a serious manner. |
A gaming computer for cheap!
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| Review Date: March 17, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Rich Brons, USA |
This computer will run all the games you want. It runs Fallout 3 consistently at 40fps avg average max settings. Make sure all apps are closed though and you don't have virus checking running.
I wouldn't run too many apps at once like you can do with an Intel I3 or quad core but the computer doesn't slow too much if you forget to close a few apps. With Windows 7 Premium (WMC)and the remote it's also a speedy multimedia machine. The Radeon 4650 works superb with the 4GB DDr3 ram and 1 gig dedicated (it's needed with all the shaders it can handle) and 1066FSB. Run's a little hot while gaming but not if you raise the computer up.
If you want to stay cutting edge without breaking the bank or brag about the price you paid while zipping through your favorite games at high settings this is it. I would also get a 12 cell battery and turn off the power saver settings for when the plug is out so you don't loose speed. |
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