Key Specs
2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T58002GB RAM
250GB hard drive
DVD±RW
15.4 inches
Integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
5.8 pounds
1.7x14.1x10.2 inches
Windows Vista Home Premium
Just squeaking in under the $800 mark after rebates, HP’s Pavilion dv5-1140us Entertainment Notebook PC is at the high end of the budget-notebook price range, but you get a lot of bang for your buck. Although its performance is merely average, its feature set and attractive design make it the best all-around budget system we've seen lately.
The 5.8-pound Pavilion’s Onyx Blue lid with HP’s Imprint 2 design and white backlit logo are pleasing to the eye, but what really sets this notebook apart is its all-chrome keyboard deck and piano-black display bezel, which together create a look that is sure to turn a few heads. The 15.4-inch display has a maximum resolution of 1,280x800 and uses HP’s shiny BrightView coating to provide vivid colors and a wide viewing angle. It also has a 1.3-megapixel Webcam built in to the upper bezel. As with nearly all glossy screens, this one does reflect ambient light but not to the point of distraction. Our test DVD, The Green Mile, looked great on the brightly lit wide-screen display. Even the integrated Altec Lansing speakers were a cut above the usual underpowered speakers found on most budget systems. While they lack the ability to reproduce deep bass tones, they can handle high volume without distorting.
The silver full-size keyboard is comfortable and blends nicely with the rest of the keyboard deck, as do the silver touch pad and mouse buttons. At the top of the deck is a strip containing backlit touch-sensitive media controls, a volume slider, and the power switch. The Pavilion also comes with a handy little remote that controls media components as well as Windows Media Center, and you can stash it away in the ExpressCard slot.
The Pavilion offers more connectivity ports than you’ll find on most budget notebooks and rivals some of the more costly mainstream systems, too. In addition to a standard VGA port, you get an HDMI output and four USB ports, one of which doubles as an external SATA (eSATA) port for connecting high-speed storage devices. An ExpressCard slot, a 5-in-1 card reader, and an HP Expansion Port 3 connector are located along the left side of the system, and a DVD burner with LightScribe labeling technology is on the right. Two headphone jacks are conveniently located on the front of the notebook, so you can watch a movie or listen to some tunes with a friend. The large 250GB hard drive, preloaded with Windows Vista Home Premium, provides plenty of storage for your multimedia projects.
