A Review of the Highly Mobile HP Pavilion DV6880SE 15.4" Laptop: High End on a Budget

Mobility and performance haven't always gone hand and hand. If you could find a notebook that would perform like a desktop it was typically about the size of a desktop with a 17"+ monitor. As technology has improved we've seen more and more mobile entertainment notebooks. At this point the technology is inexpensive enough that just about any consumer can afford a powerful yet mobile laptop. In this review I've gotten my hands on the HP Pavilion DV6880SE15.4" notebook. I'm going to discuss its benefits and its drawbacks but first let me start with some of the basics.

Hardware:

Processor: 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5550

Storage Space: 320 GB hard drive

RAM: 3 GB RAM (upgradable to a 4 GB maximum)

Optical Drive: a CD R/RW with integrated dual-layer DVD +/- drive

Graphics Accelerator: Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS (up to 1535MB of dedicated and shared video memory)

Dimensions: 14.0" x 10.1" x 1.5" and weighs 6.1lbs.

The first thing you notice when you take this notebook out of the box is the wave imprint on the bezel. While I think it is tasteful you may want to see one of these notebooks in person to make sure it looks professional enough for your work setting. On the other side of the bezel however is a display that is sure to make nearly anyone happy. It has a crisp clear 15.4" screen with a glossy finish. It has a bit of glare in direct light but nothing obscene. I love the huge hard drive and the 3GB of ram allows for Windows Vista to run flawlessly. Also, after the initial boot up, the notebook is quite fast to load. The graphics card is sufficient to run most games however the hardcore gamer may be a little disappointed.

Connectivity:

Integrated WiFi

1 Ethernet port

3 2.0 USB 2.0 ports (these are used to connect a number of devices from mice and keyboards to digital cameras and printers)

1 FireWire port (this port is used for high speed data transfer between digital camcorders as well as other compatible PC's)

1 HDMI output (this is a video output designed for high definition televisions)

1 VGA output (this is a typical monitor connection)

1 SVideo output (this is used to connect the notebook to a projector or compatible TV)

1 ExpressCard slot (used to add peripherals like a Bluetooth adapter or cellular modem)

2 audio out jacks and 1 mic in

5 in 1 memory card reader (this is so the consumer can directly insert solid state memory into the notebook from their mobile devices)

1 56K modem port (so that this notebook can dial up to the Internet)

This notebook is loaded with features and I doubt that anyone would be disappointed with it (aside from the videofile or hardcore gamer). It would be excellent for students, professionals or even just to go into the living room. Thanks to the HDMI output you can download and watch high definition video on the HD television in your living room. Also, Coming in at around $1000 makes it one of the least expensive HDMI compatible notebooks on the market.