HP's new line of entertainment notebooks not only delivers in features, but also goes the extra mile in redesigning the chassis to appeal to those with unconventional tastes.

Notebooks with 14.1-inch screens seems to be gaining in popularity, with other entertainment models like the Dell Inspiron 640m and Samsung X11 sporting similarly sized displays. If you get a feeling of deja vu with the HP Pavilion dv2000, that's because it is the fraternal twin of the Compaq Presario V3000 minus the integrated Webcam and Zen wave design. Like the latter, the dv2000 offers a full suite of connectivity ports and entertainment features and -- with a starting price of AU$1999 -- doesn't attempt to bust your budget while doing so.

Design
The most striking feature is the wave design of its glossy cover. Resembling instant noodles attractively twirled on a plate, the aesthetic is further enhanced by what is best described as a showroom shine finish. The top cover and keyboard areas are laminated with a scratch-resistant coating. For those wearing watches and metal jewellery, these two areas are the most prone to surface damage and the dv2000 should be able to withstand some light abuse. An absolute fingerprint magnet, this can easily be remedied with a cleaning cloth.

Design notwithstanding, this is not really a thin laptop. Weighing 2.4kg, it occupies 334 x 237mm of real estate and stands 39mm high at its thickest portion. Similarly weighted models like the Sony VAIO VGN-FJ77GP and Acer Aspire 5550 have depths which top off at 33mm and 35mm, respectively, and sport the same screen size as the Pavilion notebook. Fortunately, the rounded contours of the dv2000 give it a slightly sleeker appearance.

According to HP, the HP Pavilion dv2000 is the first notebook to possess capacitive backlit buttons. That's a fancy way of describing touch-sensitive buttons (similar to the LG Chocolate KG800 touch keypad) which light up according to the function activated. The controls include volume adjustment, HP QuickPlay activation and standard multimedia buttons.

All the connectivity ports and optical drive are located on the flanks of the unit, with the audio jacks and wireless switch occupying the front, leaving nothing to mar the rounded hinge at the rear. However, some may find the ports are too closely crammed for comfort, especially if bulky USB devices are in use. The HP dv2000 deploys a latchless design that allows an integrated 1.3-megapixel Webcam to sit above the 14.1-inch display. All things considered, this is an aesthetically appealing portable with easily accessible connections.

Features
Capacitive buttons and showroom gloss chassis aside, the HP Pavilion dv2000 offers a full suite of features which should leave most users satisfied. Billed as an entertainment system, the dual-core platform offers sufficient processing power for work and play. For those requiring even more perks, an optional discrete Nvidia GeForce Go 7200 graphics card is available on some models for greater versatility.

Connectivity-wise, the Pavilion dv2000 offers three USB 2.0, one spring-loaded ExpressCard slot and a mini-FireWire port. Networking is handled by the Ethernet and modem ports, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios for wireless communication. The memory card reader can handle SD/MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro and xD-Picture Card flash formats. External video displays can be jacked into the VGA or S-video ports, and there's also an expansion port for the optional HP xb3000 docking station (for more connectivity options and better speakers). All these ports are somewhat crammed at the flanks of the unit, which detract from an otherwise clean and sleek design. The mini remote control -- an item which is important for entertainment notebooks -- hides in the ExpressCard slot when not in use.

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 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 (241) and Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi (236), 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.

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, which should theoretically double the uptime.

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 centre, 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.

HP Pavilion dv2000 (Core Duo T2400 processor 1.83GHz, 1GB RAM)
Company: HP
RRP: AU$1999.00