HP Pavilion dv2000 (Core Duo T2400 processor 1.83GHz, 1GB RAM)

Little touches like the LED-lit charging port, usually seen in Mac notebooks, is part of HP's attention to design. (Click for larger image)

In order to qualify as an entertainment system, a good display is a must. The 14.1-inch transflective widescreen LCD of the Pavilion dv2000 offers a nice compromise between the portable but eye-straining 12-inch models and the comfortable but heavier 15.4-inch entertainers. The base model uses the integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 graphics renderer to drive the display. For those who prefer stronger video performance and light gaming capabilities, you can opt for an Nvidia GeForce Go 7200 graphics card model.

The integrated sound chip drives the Altec Lansing branded speaker bar located at the top of the keyboard. Though audio reproduction is good, there is a lack of bass that is inherent in most notebook speakers without a sub-woofer. Two headphone jacks (one of which is S/PDIF-enabled) and a microphone port are located at the front. The full-size keyboard is comfortable to use while the touchpad is a little too responsive, though there is a dedicated switch to disable the latter.

Performance And Battery Life
Our S$2,814 (US$1,883.16) review unit was configured with an Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz processor, integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics card, 1GB of DDR2 RAM and 80GB harddisk. It received an impressive result of 217 on MobileMark 2005, which is comparable to models such as the Toshiba Satellite A100 and Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi, both decked with faster 2.0GHz Core Duo processors. Graphically, the integrated graphics card churned out a nice score of 488 on 3DMark05, which stands almost level with the ThinkPad T60's 451 result on the same benchmark.

BAPCo MobileMark2005 performance rating (longer bars indicate faster performance)

HP Pavilion dv2000 (Core Duo processor 1.83GHz; 1GB RAM) 217 Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi (Core Duo processor 2.0GHz; 1GB RAM) 236 Toshiba Satellite A100 (Core Duo processor 2.0GHz; 1GB RAM) 241

 

Despite having a smaller display, the HP dv2000 ran out of juice at the 3 hour 9 minute mark compared with the 3 hour 8 minute battery life of the 15.4-inch Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi. Fortunately, high-power users can buy the optional high-capacity 12-cell battery for S$199 (US$133.17), which should theoretically double the uptime.

BAPCo MobileMark2005 battery life in minutes (longer bars indicate longer battery life)

HP Pavilion dv2000 (Core Duo processor 1.83GHz; 14.1-inch screen) 189 Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi (Core Duo processor 2.0GHz; 15.4-inch screen) 188 Toshiba Satellite A100 (Core Duo processor 2.0GHz; 15.4-inch screen) 156

Service And Support
HP notebooks in the Asia-Pacific region have a one-year local warranty. At HP's support Web site, laptop owners can download the latest drivers and manuals. In the event of a simple malfunction, the company offers an online knowledge database and support forum for troubleshooting. Further diagnosis or repair can be made at the service center, though the owner has to bring the notebook there. Telephone support is available during normal working hours and for current or potential customers who are not sure which HP notebook is right for you, a dedicated number is available for assistance in purchase selection. There is no option to extend or upgrade the warranty.

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