The good: Strong graphics performance; distinctive HP Imprint design; USB/eSATA combo port; feature-packed with fingerprint sensor and multimedia functionality; Blu-ray combo drive.

The bad: Runs hot; display is not in 16:9 aspect ratio and does not have full-HD resolution option; poor battery life; glossy keyboard and touchpad; no subwoofer.

The bottom line: For portable entertainment on a budget, the HP Pavilion dv5 offers a strong feature suite like a Blu-ray combo drive and fast graphics performance while remaining affordable.

Read full review of the HP Pavilion dv5 (Intel) »

By Darius Chang, CNET Asia
Oct 6, 2008

With the recent introduction of midsized entertainment models sporting larger 16.4-inch displays and 16:9 aspect ratio like the Sony Vaio VGN-FW series and Acer Aspire 6920G, this HP Pavilion may, at first, seem a little out of date with its 15.4-inch LCD. But if you really need the new screen size and dimensions, HP has a model to compete with Sony and Acer in the form of the HDX 16. For those looking at an affordable yet feature-packed entertainment machine, the Pavilion is hard to beat despite strong contenders like the Dell Studio 1535 and Asus M50V.

Design

Bucking the trend of offering more color options, the Palo Alto company personalizes its Pavilion series with the proprietary HP Imprint technology instead. Under the black glossy coat is an embossed matrix pattern called "Mesh", while the shiny silver interior has been coined "liquid metal". The screen can also be decked out with an optional "infinity screen" that removes the usual beveled edges of the LCD by bringing the glass all the way to the sides. Though the aesthetic value of this design philosophy is undeniable, we have some gripes when it comes to actual usability.

The shiny silver keyboard, palm rest and touchpad look great brand new. However, unless you plan never to type a single word or finger the touchpad, the shiny silver surface quickly picks up fingerprint oils which leave behind a slick layer. This not only looks gross, but feels uncomfortable after some time. Though a quick wipe with a cleaning cloth solves the issue, we would have preferred that the interior had a normal matt coating. Otherwise, the keyboard and touchpad are generously sized and can be used for extended periods without finger cramps. A nice touch is a button that disables the touchpad when using a mouse.

The infinity screen looks great, assuming the unit is kept in the dark while in use. The reflective coating is effectively a mirror under normal lighting conditions and reflections can be seen even while playing a movie. The problem doesn't improve even when the brightness is set at maximum. When HP showed us two versions, one with the standard transflective display and the other with the infinity screen, the former's reflections were a little less prominent though still disturbing. It may be an issue of insufficient backlight brightness, but all we can say is that the Pavilion dv5 is best used in dark places.

Though a little thick for a midsized laptop, having a footprint of 334 x 237 x 39mm, it is rather light for its class and tips the scales at 2.5kg. The Dell Studio 1535 is a little heavier at 2.77kg, while the 3kg Asus M50Vm is considerably larger as it sports a dual harddisk setup. You won't sprain a shoulder carrying the Pavilion dv5, but it's not something you just slip into your bag and forget that it's there, either.

Tags: Infinity Screen, Laptop Computer, Hewlett-Packard Co., Keyboard, Dell Computer Corp.

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