I'm an avid HP User, Almost everything I own is HP. I didn't go for another iPAQ this time around because their current models are ugly. Laptop wise I own a Pavilion DV1620LA. Overall, I love the design and how everything is connectable on the sides, its very ergonomic in the most part. The wide screen must NEVER be changed, it makes work so much easier. Webcam and mic included and all, I love my machine. Things to fix:
1. Where is the PCMCIA card slot? If I would've seen before I bought it, I would've retracted on time. The slot for what ever type of new card that will come is still not in so stick to PCMCIA.
2. Cooling. Move the fan somewhere else or put some more fans to ease the amount of heat in my legs. Remember, its a "Lap top". If you can't stand the heat, it looses its point.
3. Try SDIO support. The 6 card media slot is bliss, why not support SDIO on these for more periferals.
4. Get an extra USB port. USB hubs are always helpfull but its hard to use them on the go. You want all you use to be ergonomic while on your lap.
5. Hardware volume button. One thing I do hate is for somebody to come into my office, I'm playing music and my pavilion is very charged with files and slow and I can't mute the volume just then. Get a track wheel or something for volume and make it hardware based completely. I love'd that about Toshiba.
6. Try to stick to the black finish or a stronger paint for grey so it won't loose color after use.
7. Since my pavilion is media oriented, why not have the media buttons available even when closed? Toshiba is great on this. You can use the remote already included and not have to open the screen to change things.
8. Return to the DVD Backup option. 6 to 8 gb of space for a backup file is just too much.
9. HP Customization just too much. I would recommend making the installment of HP's customization as optional. You install only what you see you'll need.
10. Battery Life. Though extended batteries are an option, why not try a battery that doesn't stick out. Probably try a larger battery slot and get a larger battery from the start.
Think about it. I probably will by another HP by the end of this year to update my current, but simple things make large differences.
I've been happy with my HP laptops, but have been forced to use, at times, cheaper versions, including Compaq branded ones.
While I agree with many of the posts here, I now only buy laptop models that have excellent keyboard feel. This is something that many people take for granted, but I have to tell you, a cheap or mushy keyboard is the kiss of death for a touch typist.
So all my HP laptops have had great keyboards. My Compaq ones have felt like a cheap happy meal quality keyboards. I replaced those laptops asap.
So while I want HP to work on battery life and multipurpose bays, I really want them to maintain or enhance keyboard feel and functionality.
For me, a laptop needs to be very small - I still use a Vaio U3 (6.5" 1024x768 screen), small enough to hide almost anywhere, and you don't shout "mug me, I'm carrying a laptop!". It would be nice if it didn't cost the earth too (like the Sony UX series... :drool: )
The size is paramount - I'm not too worried about absolute speed or having to plug in peripherals like opticals... I don't use them too often anyway.
Oh, and no bloatware, just the OS. I'll choose what software I want!
As many have stated already, enough with the bloatware. Put it on a CD or DVD and let people install it if they want. We shouldn't have to uninstall 20 demos just to get a clean machine. Plus, all that software just slows the system down, giving people a bad first impression of your notebook lines, which I personally think are soe of the best.
Also, a number of your Entertanment notebooks (like the new 1220 tablet I have) have difficulty playing video, like iTunes content (stuttering and such). I've heard it's a problem with the hard drive and/or it's drivers since same said content plays fine on a media card on the same notebook. This needs to be resolved. New notebooks should not ship with that problem, especially if they are advertisd as "multimedia" PC's.
I have a lower-end HP Laptop that I do like a lot, but here's what I think would make it better:
- Include the screw holes on the vga out connector!
- ergonomic keyboard layout (split keyboard)
- PCMCIA slot, not whatever that slot the remote control lives in is
- pop-up laptop stand built in to the bottom
- get rid of all the crapplications
- put the AC adapter port on the back
- built-in SD slot
1. Make it *fanless* and reduce the hard drive's noise as much as possible. Do you know how loud a laptop sounds when you're trying to watch a movie or music, or at night when someone in the room is sleeping? (Yes, I know this is a serious challenge!)
2. Add optical and/or coaxial S/PDIF digital audio I/O connectors. Apple's already done it. Isn't it time for a Win laptop to have this feature?
3. Provide a single 1/8-inch *stereo* microphone input connector with decent quality mic pre-amps. All PCs to date have a single mono mic input with a substandard quality, noisy mic pre-amp.
4. Keep the CardBus slot and provide CF and SDHC card adapters for it as a feature, not an option.
I'm a Mac user primarily, but I still use a Windows box to run certain software that doesn't run well in the emulation on the Mac. Boot Camp works fine for dual booting, but I need to be able to switch back and forth quickly.
As such, I'd like to see a small notebook with a 10" screen (or thereabouts) and as thin as possible, while still having a reasonably close to full-sized notebook keyboard. The UMPC machines have a great footprint, but the keyboards just don't cut it for me.
I'd like something with a reversible tablet screen, built-in EVDO, standard slate of ports and as much RAM and hard drive as feasible from a physical point of view as well as cost.
Basically, I'd like to have a Windows notebook that I could carry alongside my Macbook Pro but could fit within a reasonable carrying case.
OS would be Windows Vista Business or Ultimate. XP Pro would actually be better, but ultimately that's probably out of the manufacturer's control.
My wife has a 17" HP notebook and it's got pretty much everything she could want built in, with no major hitches. The only thing that I would change is to move the audio ports to the side or back. When it's on her desk, she hooks up a standard keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, etc. and the speakers have to plug in at the front. The cables just get in the way.
My likes have oscillated between bigger w/ more power and features and smaller and lighter. Currently I favor smaller and lighter but that could change if some killer app/scenario comes along than needs power or some feature.
Looking back the thing that most (consciously) drives my satisfaction with my laptop is how well the supported drivers work. My Toshiba M2 had good (if too many) drivers and I thought that was a sturdy workhorse. It made me trust Toshiba. My current Tosh M7 (w/ Vista) has crappy drivers, particularly, it freezes in certain sleep/wake scenarios and it seems to provide functionality the OS already has (power management for example.) I don't trust it. I often leave it in my office and take my pen and paper.
So nail the tools & drivers. Make them as few and solid as possible, leveraging the OS for everything you can. You'll have a more stable, trustworthy laptop and reputation worth repeat purchases.
Stability. I purchased two within the past year 1/2 for my myself & my son. One failed within the first year. Fortunately under warranty, but still a hassle. The 2nd right after the warranty expired.
More USB ports. Back and sides.
Needs to run cooler. Maybe this causes some of the issues?
Batery life. Would like it to stay charged longer.
Better customer service.
For years, I've exclusively purchased HP or Compaq, but after my last experience, I'm trying Acer.
HP Laptops are nice but need to improve
Linear Mode
