Time to get rid of that bulky desktop PC.
Written: Apr 23 '03 (Updated Apr 23 '03)
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Pros: P4 2.2gHz, 802.11b WiFi port, 15” Display, 40GB HDD, Firewire, HP customer service.
Cons: No Bluetooth, faulty HDD had to be replaced.
The Bottom Line: This is a full functioned notebook PC that makes for a viable desktop alternative. However, users who demand an ultra-light ultra-portable notebook should look elsewhere.
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| aashok's Full Review: HP Pavilion xt375 P4 2.2 GHz / 40 GB / 512 MB / 15 |
My Buying Decision.
On a recent trip to India, I decided to take my old notebook to play some DVDs and MP3s. It’s a 15 hour flight with a connecting flight at London. Without some form of entertainment, it can be brutal. I decided to leave it with my dad because I needed a way to keep in touch with my parents thru email and messenger. For him, it was not an easy relocation into the information age. But with a little patience and support on my part, my dad has become quite adept and comfortable using e-mail, instant messaging, sharing pictures and all the other benefits of a PC (which we take for granted). This computer was purchased as a replacement.
My minimum system requirements.
I needed a computer that would not be obsolete for at least the next year. Also I run large PowerPoint presentations on business trips. So I summarily came up with a must have list, which served as my starting point. It is as follows:
- P4 1.5 – 2.0gHz,
- 256MB RAM,
- WiFi / 802.11b port,
- Firewire or ieee1394 port,
- 14” TFT display,
- DVD CD RW drive.
After some due diligence and some comparison-shopping, I narrowed the selection down to 5 models. The final decision was based on the fact that HP customer service had really come thru for me, on my previous HP notebook. Also I had enjoyed my old computer and wanted the same quality. I was pleasantly surprised that at my price point, the XT375 far surpassed my minimum requirements.
My Personal Usage.
During work hours, I usually use my notebook for PowerPoint presentations, play MP3 files, DVD movies, manage my PIM in Outlook, word processing and spreadsheets. At home, 90% of my usage is web related. Since I use an 802.11b home wireless network, WiFi connectivity is essential for me. I also use the wireless connection to swap files and folders with 2 other computers in my home. Occasionally I also use the firewire port to import video from a DV camcorder, and output to VCD.
The Layout.
My first impression out of the box was that it had an attractively designed dark gray case with silver trim. The 15” screen looked huge. The speakers were located above the keyboard near the hinge. It had a standard notebook keyboard layout with 5 quick launch keys above it and the power on/off near the top left. The silver colored touchpad was below the keyboard and had a dedicated scroll area to its right. There is a WiFi port switch on the edge nearest to yourself. On the right edge are the speaker on/off switch, vol /-, DVD/CD-RW drive tray and a USB port. On the left hand edge are two PC card slots, floppy drive, firewire port, phone jack and Kensington lock port. On the rear edge arethe S-video out port, VGA monitor port, parallel printer port, PS2 mouse/keyboard port, Ethernet port, 2 USB ports and a 90 watt AC adapter jack. Under the computer, I did not find any plastic flip out elevators to raise the rear for ventilation purposes. In spite of this, the PC does not get excessively hot.
When you turn it on for the first time, you will be startled by the really bright blue system LEDs located at the front edge and around the power button. The power/charge LED lights up yellow when charging the main battery, and green when fully charged.
What’s HOT:
Gorgeous 15 inch display.
HP has really improved the quality of the LCD screen compared to their older models. My old P3 Pavilion display had a few bad pixels, and every now and then the display would go black without any reason or warning. HP was nice enough to replace it twice. In contrast, the xt375 display is flawless. It is a super clear and bright 15” TFT display. On long flights, nothing quite compares to a 15” screen with your favorite DVD movies, ALL your favorite mp3 music files and your favorite games. It makes for a complete personal entertainment system.
WiFi port.
At home, I have connected my broadband internet modem to a D-Link DI-713p router/switch/print server. This allows me to connect my notebook to 2 other computers and share a printer along with the internet connection. The reason for such an elaborate setup is to ensure that my most important files and folders are always updated, and by default, I always have two back up copies of all my important data. It also allows me to play my mp3 song lists located on my desktop in the den, on my notebook in the living room. It even allows me to browse the internet and update my Epinions reviews, while relaxing in the park in front of my building. The WiFi port has a dedicated LED and an on/off button up front. When you are not wirelessly connected, you can turn the port off to conserve battery charge. Many hotels and airports are now starting to offer wireless connections to the internet. Besides, what’s cooler than sipping coffee at the local Starbucks while browsing the web on your new notebook!
Touchpad.
This is a minor but notable enhancement. HP has included a vertical scroll area toward the right side on the touchpad. This behaves very much like the scroll wheel on a mouse. It is very convenient while browsing web pages and scrolling thru long text and spreadsheet documents. Above it is a button that disables the touchpad for instances where you want to do uninterrupted typing.
HP customer service.
After about a month of especially heavy usage, the computer just went haywire. It would turn on and boot up, but wouldn’t load Win XP. I followed the directions to do a system restore using the supplied CDs, to no avail. I finally called HP customer support. They walked me thru a few steps, determined that it was a bad HDD, and immediately shipped me a new one. The install was a very simple do-it-yourself job. The tech guy however didn’t know that there was an additional screw hidden under a small rubber insert. Anyway, I had the HDD installed and then did a system restore. I synched my PC to one of my other PCs and I was back to normal. I have to rank HP customer service right up there with Dell. They were very professional, courteous and knowledgeable. (Except about the hidden screw)
Lots of useful software included.
There seems to be something for everyone. Here is a list of what’s included:
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Norton Anti-Virus 2002 by Symantec
Outlook Express 6.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
InterVideo WinDVD
HP RecordNow
Quattro Pro 9
WordPerfect 9
Selection of 3D Games by Wild Tangent
Britannica Ready Reference
Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0
Quicken Financial Center by Intuit
Microsoft Firewall
MusicMatch Jukebox 7.0 (CD and MP3 player)
Microsoft Fax Services
HP Memories Disc
ArcSoft (Photo-editing)
Zone Alarm (Firewall)
Cyberlink PowerDirector Pro VE (Video editing)
MS Office XP was NOT included, so I installed my older MS Office 2000 suite, and it works just fine. The only thing I did not find was an MP3 encoder. As shipped, the Windows media player is only capable of ripping CDs into WMA format files. I had to purchase and download the MP3 encoder pack from Cyberlink. I wonder why Microsoft steadfastly refuses to provide native support for MP3 audio and MPEG2 video formats. They also don’t provide native support for DVD writing. Anywho…
The Size, weight and battery life.
This notebook was not designed to compete with the ultra-portable, super slim and super light models such as the Sony R505G, Sony SRX99 or the Toshiba Portege R100. It however is a very good full functioned desktop replacement. You don’t need a docking station, but an optional port replicator is available. With dimensions of 12.96" x 10.72" x 1.79" and weighing in at 7.5 lbs, you WILL feel the burn lugging it around on long trips. But you won’t be sorry you brought it along. The size and weight is justified considering all the functionality built-in. Users who demand an ultra-light ultra-portable notebook should look elsewhere. The included Lithium Ion battery lasts for up to 3 hours. It charges up in 2 hours with the notebook off, and in 3 hours with the notebook running.
What’s NOT:
No Bluetooth.
Bluetooth is a convenient way for various Bluetooth equipped peripherals to wirelessly connect to each other. Both my Sony Ericsson P800 Mobile Phone and my Sony DCR-PC120BT, MiniDV Camcorder are Bluetooth enabled. I had to purchase a USB Bluetooth adapter that can be used either on my desktop or this notebook.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
This is a full functioned notebook PC that makes for a viable desktop alternative. The size and weight are justified considering all the functionality built-in. Users who demand an ultra-light ultra-portable notebook should look elsewhere.
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Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1300.00
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Other
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: 15 inches
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 31-40
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aashok
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Member: Ashok
Location: The BIG Apple
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