HP Pavilion dv5z Customizable Notebook PC user reviews

Pros everything

Cons it startup is too slow

Pros Cheap!
HDMI (video+audio)
Decent build quality
eSATA port
Whisper quiet
Excellent ATI integrated graphics
Express port sized remote

Cons Surface is fingerprint reproducer!
Runs HOT
Poor battery life (~2 hours)

Summary I bought this as a 2nd computer/PVR (added USB TV Tuner). I have no complaints. Surprising build quality for price. HDMI is great for connnecting to LCD monitor/TV.
I got Athlon processor, but newer AMD Tiburon is available. It runs very quiet, which is good for a living room PVR. I have no regrets with this purchase.

It should be said though that the included, 6 cell battery, will last about 2 hours. I keep mine plugged in at all times as a PVR, but if you are going to be mobile, consider a 12 cell battery.

Pros -The price/performance ratio is outstanding.
-The AMD processor can handle anything.
-Surprisingly good integrated graphics
-Sexy new chassis design.
-Vista is stable and user friendly
-This laptop is LIGHT for a 15' screen UNDER 5.8 POUNDS

Cons -Touch sensitive controls are sometimes slow to respond.
-Your gonna spend 20 minutes uninstalling crapware. (which is less then average)
-Speaker doesnt amaze, but is good nonetheless.
-No tv tuner option (but who wants that anyway?)

Summary Well i've had this laptop for about a month and i've been VERY happy with it.

I got this laptop at an incredible price with a coupon code. I got 3 gigs of ram, an amd zm-82 processor, wireless N and Bluetooth, webcam and fingerprint reader, 160 gigs of hardrive, and the ati hd 3200 graphics, and an upgraded battery...all for $707 (including tax and shipping) I HIGHLY recommend searching for coupon codes before buying.

Performance with this laptop is top-notch. The zm-82 processor provides performance similar to that of a Core 2 Duo that costs hundreds more.

The integrated graphics in this laptop can run any game on the market today. The gaming graphics has a rating of 3.7 on Windows experience Index. I'm not much of a gamer, but i've played the Sims 2, and microsoft flight simulator x with top settings. The sims 2 played flawlessly, and fsx had very little slow-down on top settings. (both at 1280x800 resolution)

I expected a little more from my upgraded battery, but it was still very sufficient. The laptop runs for about 3.30 hours while websurfing and screen set to medium brightness.
Screen's great, speakers are average... and it is lighter then your average 15 inch laptop.


Overall, i HIGHLY reccomend this laptop to anyone.

Updated on Sep 13, 2008

Oh, and about the ports: It has 3 usb, 1 hdmi, 5-in-1 reader, 1 vga, 1 LAN port, , 1 microphone, and 2 headphone.
And i was surprised to find a little express remote control for multimedia hidden in the laptop. I was happy, because hp.com didnt even advertise that and yet they included it anyway.