HP Pavilion dv9100

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HP has amended the price of the xb3000 expansion dock to S$399 from the previously stated S$299.

The Pavilion dv9100 belongs to HP's line of entertainment notebooks with a distinct industrial design that departs from the traditional chassis of its competitors. As one of the first Core 2 Duo-equipped laptops from the US-based vendor, it fills the gap between the budget-level Dell Inspiron 9400 and the premium-priced Toshiba Qosmio series, standing toe-to-toe with our Editors' Choice awardee Asus A7J. Though the HP Pavilion dv9100 is not considered a high-end gaming platform in the US market, which has a wider range of notebook brands like Alienware and Falconware which offer amazing visual experience, in Asia Pacific it can proudly stand as one of the top contenders when it comes to graphics performance.

Audio quality was reasonable using the Altec Lansing speaker bar located at the top of the keyboard. In line with the new Pavilion series, two audio jacks are found on this unit, with one being S/PDIF-compatible to permit digital hookup to superior horns. An alternative is the HP xb3000 expansion dock, which adds more speakers, subwoofers, wireless input devices (via included infrared adapter like HP Pavilion DM1-3000 AC adapter, Hp compaq dv2000 AC adapter, Hp compaq nc6000 AC adapter, Hp compaq R3000 AC adapter, Hp compaq ZE4000 AC adapter, Hp compaq R4000 AC adapter, Hp compaq ZE5000 AC adapter, Hp compaq tc1000 AC adapter, Hp compaq 164854-001 AC adapter, Hp compaq nx6110 AC adapter, HP G60-200 AC adapter, Hp Pavilion DM4z AC adapter) and connectivity ports to the dv9100 for a mere S$399 (US$310.60).

Productivity-wise, this Pavilion offers four USB 2.0, FireWire port, ExpressCard slot, dual SATA hard drive bays and a DVD Super Multi writer. The optical drive, unfortunately, is not swappable, and hence, upgrades to the next-generation Blu-ray or HD DVD format will not be possible. A 5-in-1 memory reader is also incorporated for transferring files from SD/MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro and xD-Picture Card to the PC.

The full-sized keyboard makes typing comfortable, while a dedicated number pad makes inputting numeric entries a breeze. The touchpad was responsive with tactile-friendly buttons, both of which can be disabled using a dedicated control located on the bezel. Gamers who have had the painful experience of unintended mouse movements when the thumb glances over the touchpad will appreciate this feature.

Network connectivity is handled by the wired Gigabit Ethernet and modem port, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios available for those who scorn cables. If required, a switch enables the wireless radios to be turned off to save battery. When the dv9100 is hooked up to the Internet, a 1.3-megapixel Webcam located at the top of the display allows for video conferencing when coupled with the dual omni-directional microphones located beside it.

The genealogy of the dv9100 is apparent, as it shares the same design as the smaller HP Pavilion dv2000 and dv6100. The wavy pattern extends from the showroom-shine ebony top cover to the internal silver palm rest, both of which are laminated with a scratch-resistant coating. Unfortunately, the care that would have been taken to prevent disfigurement would need to be used on maintaining the chassis, which picks up fingerprints faster than bird droppings on a freshly washed car. Another gripe was the latch design which protrudes to spoil the overall sleek profile that's made worse by a flimsy catch.

As a desktop replacement system, portability is not too great a concern, though its 3.52kg weight is significantly lighter than the 4.1kg Asus A7J. The dv9100 tapers from the back to the front, giving an impression of sleekness despite its 396 x 285 x 41.8mm footprint. The unit's rear end is reserved solely for the battery, with connectivity ports lining the flanks. To prevent headphone wire tangles, the audio jacks are conveniently located next to the Wi-Fi switch in the front.

Out review unit crammed in the latest Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz processor, 2GB memory and 100GB harddisk under the hood. Despite the performance boost promised by Intel, our MobileMark 2005 numbers begged to differ, as the dv9100 came in at a mediocre 204. Even the HP Compaq Business Notebook nx9420 fared better despite using an older Core Duo processor.

However, the lackluster productivity result was saved by one of the best 3DMark06 scores we have tested to date for 17-inch desktop replacements, beating the 1,964 points of the previous gaming crown bearer (the Asus A7J) by a wide margin of 263. Only the expensive Sony Vaio AR18GP scored higher. It might also be possible that a Dell Inspiron 9400 equipped with an Nvidia GeForce Go 7900 GS might outperform the 256MB Nvidia GeForce Go 7600 found in the Pavilion.

Service And Support

The HP dv9100 comes with a one-year international 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. If more comprehensive coverage is required, you can purchase an extended three-year pick up and return option in which HP will collect the unit and send it back after it's repaired.