HP's Pavilion ZD7000 Series

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://napps.nwfusion.com/weblogs/cool/archives/004691.html' target='_blank'>http://napps.nwfusion.com/weblogs/cool/archives/004691.html</a><br /><br /></div>"HP recently upgraded its Pavilion zd7000 widescreen notebook, with an improved graphics card, additional video memory and new bundled software. The zd7000 series includes a 17-inch BrightView display, a wide viewing angle and 16:10 aspect ratio, as well as support for WSXGA+ resolution. The notebook has 2M bytes of Level 3 cache, and a 100G-byte hard drive, HP says. The new model now includes Sonic Record Now software, an NVIDIA GeForce FX Go 5700 graphics card with an 8x accelerated graphics port. The new model also includes options for 64M bytes of 128M bytes of video memory, and also includes updated HP Image Zone Plus software."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/zd7000series.jpg" /><br /><br />Yummy! :) I can totally see myself making this my multimedia workstation. One can certainly game on this machine and the HDD, the cache and the large screen would make it ideal for watching movies and/or editing videos or music. Lots more information available on the HP site <a href="http://h30015.www3.hp.com/hp_dec/products/zd7000series.asp">here</a>.

[Jason Dunn]

Aieeee!!!! My dream laptop just got dreamier - a 100 GB hard drive???? Holy @(#@!!! I thought that 80 GB was the biggest HD on the market...oh wow, this is so sweet! Now if I can just accept the touchpad - someone told me that I can adjust the sensitivity via the control panel, which I hope it true, because in two stores I've tried it out and it has completely sucked - it takes a VERY light touch to work it...

[Jason Dunn]

Ah crap. The 100 GB drive is only 4200 RPM - the biggest 5400 RPM drive is 80 GB...so close, yet so far. Nuts. :?

[encece]

I just purchased a similar notebook.
The Toshiba 17" P25-S509
2.8Ghz
80GB HD
512 RAM
DVD/CD Multi Drive
Built in 802.11g

I was split between this and the HP....but when I was presented with the opportunity to buy this for $1399 (none is stock...brand new store model at BestBuy)...I couldnt say no.

The Toshiba has some wasted space when it came to keyboard layout. They went with a smaller laptop configuration where HP's seem to have a full layout including a number pad.

Also, I'm not really sure about this DVD/CD drive....seems a bit slow reading (havnt written yet) but it may be the sony disks I'm using.

All in all, I really like it. I'm switching from a Sony Vaio desktop and it's really weird with all this computer,`having to do nothing but plug in the power cord!! :)

Though dont fool yourself. At 9 pounds, it's not the most portable notebook around. If you dont need the optional portability (I do)...a lower priced desktop may be just as good an option for you.

Anyone have any thoughts on the Toshiba, good or bad?

[Jason Dunn]

The Toshiba 17" P25-S509...

I'm trying to decide between the zd7000 and that Toshiba, but I'm leaning more towards the HP now. :-)

[Bob12]

I have the 80GB version of the HP7000 Notebook and am really pleased with it. I too dislike the touchpads because I apparently have a heavy touch and they think I'm clicking all the time. However, the one on this ZD7000 is the first one I have been able to adjust to my touch and have it work reliably. And, considering how much I use the number keys, the real number pad is a welcome addition. My digital photos also look very good on the wide screen - especially those from the EOS D60.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

You guys like to lug 4kg+ notebooks around? 8O Personally I like my notebooks portable.. all the more so when the photography equipment is heavy as it is. =P

[Suhit Gupta]

You guys like to lug 4kg+ notebooks around? 8O Personally I like my notebooks portable.. all the more so when the photography equipment is heavy as it is. =P
I agree. Even though I would love to have the above machine, just to show off 8), I don't think it is anything but a desktop replacement. Having said that, I did lug around a Sony F580X (7.8lb) laptop 4 years ago for almost two years (just because there was nothing else available at work). So I can definitely see some people carrying this sucker around.

Anyways, my current laptop is a 4.4lb Toshiba Portege M200 (1.7GHz, 2GB RAM, 60GB 7200rpm HDD, 1440x1050 display) Tablet PC.

Suhit

[Suhit Gupta]

The Toshiba 17" P25-S509...
I'm trying to decide between the zd7000 and that Toshiba, but I'm leaning more towards the HP now. :-)
Is either one of them offering a disk with 7200rpm. If so, you might want to go for that. I think we all agree that the 4200rpm disks suck, but I do have to say that the 5400rpm drives are not very speedy either, though they do eat up less of the battery than the 7200. For serious performance however, go with the 7200rpm.

Suhit

[Bob12]

Actually, the weight of the ZD7000 doesn't bother me in the least. If extreme portability was the primary issue, the logical choice would be a PDA. Thanks, but no. I prefer the power and usability of the larger platform. Plus, considering that I carry the computer and my cameras in two Pelican cases, the heavier notebook provides a nice balance to the cameras. :)

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

You mean you use your Pelicans all the time?

I'd like to think that portability doesn't always have to mean a PDA. Currently I'm using IBM's X20 and it's proven to be really great. It's small enough to be tucked into almost any bag I use, it's light enough to be part of the day's luggage. I'd jump at the X31.. but budget says no. :(

[Jason Dunn]

You guys like to lug 4kg+ notebooks around? 8O Personally I like my notebooks portable.. all the more so when the photography equipment is heavy as it is. =P

Nah, I have my wee Fujitsu P5010D for travel (using it now to post) - the zd7000 is simply meant to be a portable desktop replacement specifically for media editing and production. I would never take it on a plane or very far from home. ;-)

[Jason Dunn]

Is either one of them offering a disk with 7200rpm?

Nope. I wish they did...

[Bob12]

Yes, if I'm not actually using one of the cameras or the notebook, I store and carry them in the Pelican cases. The natural exception is when I'm in an area taking frequent pictures - the camera(s) stay close at hand for the short intervals between shots.

[encece]

You guys like to lug 4kg+ notebooks around? 8O Personally I like my notebooks portable.. all the more so when the photography equipment is heavy as it is. =P

Nah, I have my wee Fujitsu P5010D for travel (using it now to post) - the zd7000 is simply meant to be a portable desktop replacement specifically for media editing and production. I would never take it on a plane or very far from home. ;-)

If I wanted true portability, I would have gotten a lightweight notebook. I was just looking for the option to take this with me (to work mostly). I describe it as a desktop pc that doesnt need to be tied to your desk. I can bring it into a differnt room (or outside) and I can carry this into work alot easier than my Sony Vaio desktop....but I wouldnt want to do it everyday!

Imaging whipping this thing out in a cyber-cafe hotspot type setting. You'd probably get some dirty looks for taking up too much space! :D

[foldedspace]

I'd never buy an HP/Compaq. Having owned an HP and servicing them over the years, they are a pain. Once it's a year or two old, it's difficult to find drivers; my omnibook X2 was superseeded by the X3 and I couldn't find word one on the HP website about it after that. If I wanted to buy a heavy desktop replacement, I'd go with the eMachines 64-bit AMD, Toshiba P25 or maybe a Fujitsu Celsius.

[Jason Dunn]

For those that have the zd7000, how do you find the touchpad? It drove me crazy in the store - it seemed as though using my index finger put too much force on it, and it became less responsive. I've been told you can adjust this - any first-hand experience with this?

[Jason Dunn]

If I wanted to buy a heavy desktop replacement, I'd go with the eMachines 64-bit AMD, Toshiba P25 or maybe a Fujitsu Celsius.

Yeah, I looked seriously at the P25 and I'm still considering it (even though in the latest issue of Maximum PC they discovered it's a sluggish performer). eMachines? No trust in that brand name. Celcious? I love Fujitsu laptops, I have two, but I want widescreen and that doesn't offer it. It's really down to the hp or the Toshiba...

[Bob12]

Jason - As I said in my first post on this thread, this is the first touchpad I've had that I can use reliably. In all previous ones, I've had to turn the "tap/click" off to use it. But the one in the zd7000 has so far worked without any false detections. The scroll band also seems to be fairly easy to use.

[karen]

I must also confess my lust for the 17.0" WVA WSXGA+ BrightView screen.

For my work, I need an excellent display. I've seen this laptop at Fry's, but with a lesser screen.

I've talked myself into buying it twice, but HP's lead time is over a month away. Once I've made this decision, I want it NOW! - not a month from now.

Why can't they have these high-end machines in stock. Most of us who are still looking to spend 3 grand on a laptop generally don't have the patience to wait a month to fulfull our greedy hearts.... :roll:

[Jason Dunn]

The new model has a much higher resolution, but I find myself wondering if I really WANT a resolution so high...the normal one (1440 x 900 I think) was nice and easy to read. :-)

[karen]

The new model has a much higher resolution, but I find myself wondering if I really WANT a resolution so high...the normal one (1440 x 900 I think) was nice and easy to read. :-)

See, I want more DATA on my screen. So resolution is important, as well as screenscape.

I'm definitely looking for a portable desktop replacement. When I retire can get a tiny sub-sub notebook. Until then, I'll lug anything around...except for those DELL 2.5 inch high lugables.

Karen

[Jason Dunn]

See, I want more DATA on my screen. So resolution is important, as well as screenscape.

Well, yeah, so do I. :wink: The problem is that Windows doesn't have an easy way of making everything bigger to compensate for the huge jump in resolution that makes everything smaller. The DPI and "large font" settings are a kludge - they break dialogue windows and just don't work very well. I no longer have 20/20 vision, so sometimes things being a little bit bigger helps... ;-)

[Bob12]

I run my ZD7000 at 1440x900 and the 6.3 & 8mp digital photos certainly look good on it.

[Jason Dunn]

I run my ZD7000 at 1440x900 and the 6.3 & 8mp digital photos certainly look good on it.

That's the resolution of the previous units, which I had a chance to check out in person and it looked great. The new display option is 1680 x 1050, which is almost 40% higher in resolution (1.02 million pixels vs 1.76 million pixels). I wish I could SEE one of these newer units in person to check out what the resolution looks like. Ack, paralysed by lack of data... :?