With the help of Jasmine, I placed an order for a HP Pavilion Entertainment Notebook PC DV2201tx (I named it D22!) on March 26 at the price of RM3,799, which was after a whopping RM1,200 discount from the actual price of RM4,999. For any models with the same specifications, the price will linger around RM4,500 to RM5,000. Hence, I would say, it’s a good bargain. Again, thanks Jasmine! Who needs PC Fair when we have Jasmine.

The notebook arrived at my door step on April 6, which was surprisingly fast considering that the salesperson told me that I would only get my notebook on April 18, 2 to 3 weeks from the date or order. Kudos for the speedy delivery. Egghead received his notebook 2 to 3 weeks later though, because he bought it during Christmas and New Year (holiday season).

The first thing I did when I got hold of my notebook (with the wrapper still intact) was to visit the computer shop to upgrade my RAM to 2GB. The default system came with 2 * 512MB DDR2 SDRAM 667Mhz and because I am running on Windows Vista Premium, I forked out another RM434 to change it to 2 * 1GB (2GB) so that I can run the operating system at a smooth speed and performance. On the other hand, I am still finding a buyer for my RAMs. Any takers?

As usual, the notebook came with its corresponding pamphlets, instruction booklets, a 6-cells lithium ion battery, adapter, plugs, a HP remote control and a Targus-inspired (Read : Targus-inspired, not Targus.) HP notebook bag. Inside the package was a small piece of cloth for you to wipe the surface of the notebook without scratching it.

The notebook cover / lid is a piano black polished surface, which gives the notebook a very classic and elegant look. Upon closer look, there are spiral lines on the surface. Due to its polished surface, you can see the reflection of objects on the cover. Black, is certainly the more preferable colour compared to the dull and plain silver colour, which most of the notebooks opted for. There’s a layer of protective plastic layer on the lid, which I am very tempted to peel off to reveal the oh-so-shinning-black surface.

The lid doesn’t have a lock mechanism like what most notebooks have. In other words, you don’t have to press any button to “unlock” the notebook to open the lid. All you need to do is just flip it open or press it to close. At certain angle, the lid will close on its own. It’s a spring mechanism, like you always see on auto closed doors. I am not sure whether you get what am I trying to say, but I like the concept that HP opted for.

On the left side, you have a security cable slot, S-video out jack, external monitor port, expansion port 3, RJ-45 (network) jack, USB port, 1394 port, 5-in-1 digital media slot reader and ExpressCard slot.

On the right side, you have the optical drive (LightScribe super multi 8X DVD-RW with double layer support), two USB ports, RJ-11 (modem) port and power connector.

On the front, you have the power light, battery light, drive light, wireless switch (Bluetooth and wireless LAN), consumer infrared lens, microphone jack and headphone jacks.

Opening up the lid and the first thing to catch my eyes was none other than the LCD screen. The colours are nothing but spectacular, especially with the BrightView technology, I basically can view my LCD from most of the angles. Resolution of 1280 * 800 means its a wide screen, which is the trend of most desktops’ and notebooks’ LCD monitors. On top of that, since I have my 15″ LCD monitor which I bought almost 4 years ago, I am trying my best to make it into a dual LCD display workstation for myself. Wicked, isn’t it?

On the front panel, you have the power button, media button, DVD button, media button controls, internal microphone, camera light, 1.3 megapixel web cam, volume mute button, volume scroll button and a two-button touch pad. The Altec Lansing speakers are sitting above the 101-keys compatible keyboard (not at the palm rest). Hence, not obstructing the sound output. Sound produced by the notebook speakers are crisp and clear, which is also rather loud for a notebook. Keys are soft are quite responsive for the mean time. Not sure about after wear and tear.

DV22 comes with a HP remote control, which you can power it up (not sure about offing it though), play, pause, stop, fast forward, rewind, mute, volume up, volume down and play DVDs. The remote control is very thin, just 1 or 2mm thicker than your SD card. There’s a slot for you to safe keep the remote control too!

Weighing at only 2.45kg, its relatively light. With such configuration, I got to say, it’s really a bargain. Not to mention, the design appeals to me.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5600 (1.83Ghz)
120GB (5400 RPM) Hard Drive
1024MB DDR2 SDRAM (2 DIMM)
nVidia GeForce Go 7200 with 128MB DDR Dedicated Graphics Memory
14.1″ WXGA High Definition BrightView Wide Screen Display (1280 * 800)
1.3 Megapixel Web Cam
LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD-RW with Double Layer Support
Intel Pro Wireless 3945a/b/g 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN and Bluetooth
5-in-1 Digital Media Reader
ExpressCard/54 PC Card Slot
Expansion Port 3
6-Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Windows Vista Home Premium
HP Mobile Remote Control

However, there’s a really huge mistake that HP and Compaq made in their package. Any PCs under Compaq and / or HP don’t come with their’s bundled essential CDs like the driver CDs and the operating system CDs. You read it all right, no CDs at all. As written in their pamphlets, restore your system without CDs.

In other words, the recovery CDs are residing inside your hard disk, taking up at least 9GB or up to 20GB, depending on your system configuration. If you ever need to reinstall your operating system or your drivers for your hardwares or restore your PCs to the original factory settings, you will be booting up from your hard disk with the help of HP’s Recovery Manager software. Although you have the option of backing up the recovery partition into DVDs, in my opinion, the idea of booting up and recovering your system from a hard disk isn’t a good idea at all and also has limited the things that a user can do.

First of all, the default or factory settings has only 2 partitions, mainly the C: and D: where C: is your data and operating system while D: is for the recovery partition. Assuming all PCs come in 120GB hard disk, who in the right mind will set a full 110GB into just 1 partition, leaving the remaining 10GB for the recovery partition? Why can’t there be a combination of 40GB - 40GB - 30GB or any other possible combination of partitions?

Disadvantages of using only 1 partition :

1) If C:\ is infected with virus and / or corrupted, all the data, files, MP3s, movies and documents are in the risk of being infected and / or corrupted, which is so not cool.

2) If a user wants to do a full format, how does one going to do so without erasing his / her data at the same? If the hard disk is partitioned into various partitions like C: for system, D: for musics, E: for pictures and etc., one can do a full format on C: only yet leaving the data out. Wouldn’t that be nicer, better and easier?

Note : Partition Magic 8.0 doesn’t work on Windows Vista.

Out of 100 users, how many PC users will create a Recovery CD upon their first booting of their new PCs? I did mine on the first boot though. Considering the laziness and procrastination factors in most Malaysian users, I would say, not many. By then, if anything happens to the recovery partition or the hard disk, what are they going to do? Where and how are they going to boot and reinstall their operating system?

CDs or DVDs? Didn’t I say they didn’t make a Recovery CD at that time? Are you going to charge us at an incredibly expensive price just to get the Recovery CDs from you guys at that time? If the end users are shunned away by your hefty price tag to get the Recovery CDs, we are going to turn into pirated operating system, which will only cost us less than RM5 / USD1.56. So much for using original software. I certainly encourage people to use original software but if condition doesn’t allow, there’s no choice but to opt for the pirated version.

The user or in my case, I, cannot reinstall a clean Windows Vista without installing the bundled HP softwares, which I find it not useful at all. In other words, I don’t have the full control of installing the programs that I need or want. Come on, every one knows that the bundled softwares are either trial, useless, eat up space, take up more memory, running in the background yet doing nothing, clogging the desktop and menu bars and etc. It may be helpful for newbies or n00bs, but definitely not for advanced or experienced users like me. All I need from you, the manufacturer, is just the drivers and relevant / must installed softwares, not every software you created.

I paid for the Windows Vista OEM license. Hence, shouldn’t I be entitled to at least a Windows Vista OEM installation DVD? I paid a hefty price of RM395 (Price obtained from LiewCF.) for the license and yet, I don’t get my own CD-key. This doesn’t sound really right.

Due to the reasons above, I am actually considering of forking out another RM3xx to buy an original Windows Vista Home Premium from Microsoft, enlisting the help of Joan a.k.a Food Lover again. I know it sounds stupid since I have paid a copy of the Windows Vista Home Premium residing inside my notebook, but, I really don’t have much choice.

HP, your idea of backing up from hard disk / CD-less may be innovative or hustle free, but it doesn’t bring any good to the end users. How does the inclusion of 7 to 8 CDs or 2 DVDs or 1 dual layered DVD in every system is going to decrease your profit by 5% and / or increase your production cost by 5%?

Seriously, give us me back my driver CD and Windows Vista installation DVD. And also my CD-key.

I am not a hardcore PC user or even know how to put a stress test to my notebook as requested by Tien Soon, but, as I briefly used the notebook during the first 3 hours, running Windows Vista Home Premium on my notebook was smooth. As for a review on Windows Vista, I am not qualified at all to write one. Hence, I will just do a print screen of everything once I got my notebook fully setup-ed.

I am always a Dell fan because of its excellent products’ quality and after sales service (At least, that was what I had experienced with my desktop and notebook.). However, with such a bargain from HP, I couldn’t resist it but to put my faith and money on HP.

Every brand of notebooks will have their own problems (HP’s QuickPlay software created a havoc for Egghead.) and the end users are always the main and biggest factor. Hence, it really boils down to how the user take care of the notebook and the manufacturers’ quality control.

Nonetheless, HP is worth considering.

Call HP today at 1800-88-4889 on weekdays from 8.30AM until 5.30PM.

w00t?! w00t?! -lol- Who knows who will be reading this post right? -coughs-

P/S : The notebook is still lying untouched at the table outside my room. I’m still using my stage 4 terminally ill desktop.

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