May 2008
HP Pavilion HDX notebook: First Look
A laptop computer that's at home entertaining—from a desk
HP Pavillion NDX Entertainment Notebook
HP’s Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook PC is a heavyweight among laptops at 15¾ pounds. But its heft accommodates ample
features geared for multimedia use, including a 20.1-inch display, two 160GB hard drives, and a built-in TV tuner.
Our tested model also included 2GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth, two front-mounted headphone jacks, DVD burner, webcam/microphone, an e-SATA port for an external hard drive, outputs for surround-sound speakers, and an infrared device that lets the Pavilion control your TV’s cable set-top box. Prices start at $2,000; our tested model was $2,700.
Clearly, you'll find much lighter—and less-expensive—models in our Ratings of laptop computers (available to subscribers). But if you're looking for a multimedia, entertainment-focused luggable laptop, here's what our testers found:
HIGHS
Big display. A 20.1-inch display is a larger screen than most desktops had not so long ago. It provides more than enough real estate to comfortably view a large spreadsheet, look at photos, watch a movie, or play a game. The screen is tiltable, making it easier to read.
Very good sound. For a laptop, the sound was very good, an important feature in a multimedia system. There’s a subwoofer in addition to the four speakers.
Fast processing and graphics. The HDX uses the latest Core 2 Duo processor, and the graphics are fast enough for gaming enthusiasts. You can equip the system with up to 4GB of RAM and 512MB of video RAM.
Variety of features. In addition to what’s listed above, the laptop includes four USB ports, a FireWire port, a memory-card reader, an ExpressCard slot, and an optional Blu-ray drive.
LOWS
Poor ergonomics. Given the available real estate, the keyboard is annoyingly cramped and the cursor keys are small. The trackpad is also smaller than it could have been. The left side of the palmrest tends to get warm, which might bother some people.
Too much glare. Everything on the case is glossy, which could create more glare than you’re comfortable with. Aside from the screen being big, it is otherwise ordinary, with somewhat uneven illumination and a typically narrow viewing angle.
Not-so-touch-sensitive buttons. The touch-sensitive buttons for disc navigation and sound adjustment didn’t always activate when we touched them. The worst was the slider for bass and treble, which we couldn’t adjust precisely.
Weight. At more than 15 pounds, the HDX is too large and heavy for travel.
BOTTOM LINE
The HDX is equipped like an all-in-one desktop, so if you want an entertainment system to take from your primary residence to, say, a vacation home, this could be a good choice. But it’s not a system you’d want to carry around on a regular basis.
Our tested model also included 2GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth, two front-mounted headphone jacks, DVD burner, webcam/microphone, an e-SATA port for an external hard drive, outputs for surround-sound speakers, and an infrared device that lets the Pavilion control your TV’s cable set-top box. Prices start at $2,000; our tested model was $2,700.
Clearly, you'll find much lighter—and less-expensive—models in our Ratings of laptop computers (available to subscribers). But if you're looking for a multimedia, entertainment-focused luggable laptop, here's what our testers found:
HIGHS
Big display. A 20.1-inch display is a larger screen than most desktops had not so long ago. It provides more than enough real estate to comfortably view a large spreadsheet, look at photos, watch a movie, or play a game. The screen is tiltable, making it easier to read.
Very good sound. For a laptop, the sound was very good, an important feature in a multimedia system. There’s a subwoofer in addition to the four speakers.
Fast processing and graphics. The HDX uses the latest Core 2 Duo processor, and the graphics are fast enough for gaming enthusiasts. You can equip the system with up to 4GB of RAM and 512MB of video RAM.
Variety of features. In addition to what’s listed above, the laptop includes four USB ports, a FireWire port, a memory-card reader, an ExpressCard slot, and an optional Blu-ray drive.
LOWS
Poor ergonomics. Given the available real estate, the keyboard is annoyingly cramped and the cursor keys are small. The trackpad is also smaller than it could have been. The left side of the palmrest tends to get warm, which might bother some people.
Too much glare. Everything on the case is glossy, which could create more glare than you’re comfortable with. Aside from the screen being big, it is otherwise ordinary, with somewhat uneven illumination and a typically narrow viewing angle.
Not-so-touch-sensitive buttons. The touch-sensitive buttons for disc navigation and sound adjustment didn’t always activate when we touched them. The worst was the slider for bass and treble, which we couldn’t adjust precisely.
Weight. At more than 15 pounds, the HDX is too large and heavy for travel.
BOTTOM LINE
The HDX is equipped like an all-in-one desktop, so if you want an entertainment system to take from your primary residence to, say, a vacation home, this could be a good choice. But it’s not a system you’d want to carry around on a regular basis.
