Product Review of the HP Pavilion DV6470US 15.4" Laptop

The HP Pavilion DV6470US has been out for a while and has been a popular seller. I've decided to get a hold of one and give it a once over just to see what it can do. This notebook has a 15.4" display and has a mixture of mobility and modest performance. I'm going to let you know how well it performs for me and if it is still a good deal. First I'm going to get started by reviewing a little of its included hardware.

Hardware:

Processor: 2.2 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-64 dual-core

Storage Space: 200 GB Serial ATA hard drive

RAM: 2 GB of RAM (this is an unupgradable maximum capacity)

Optical Drive: a CD R/RW with integrated 8x LightScribe DVD-/+ drive

Imagining: an integrated WebCam (generating an image about as good as a cell phone camera)

Video Accelerator: Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 video card (using up to 335 MB shared video RAM)

Weight and Dimensions: 14.05 x 10.12 x 1.56 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 6.14 pounds.

This notebook comes with an HP imprinted bezel, so just be sure you have a good look at this notebook before you purchase it. The screen on this notebook is clear and crisp with a glossy finish ultimately about average. The AMD is a strong power plant and the RAM is decent in this notebook at 2GB but unfortunately this is un-upgradable. It has average boot times and runs vista smoothly with limited system lag when performing typical multitasking (multiple internet explorer tabs, and an office program). The video card isn't bad however don't expect to turn the graphics to high on the newest games.

Connectivity:

3 2.0 USB ports (The gold standard in peripheral connectivity use with the likes of mice, keyboards, printers, and iPods)

1 FireWire port (these ports are used for high speed data transfer typically between digital camcorders or other compatible PCs)

Integrated Wireless

1 VGA port (this is a typical monitor connection)

1 S-Video port (this is used as a typical projector connection, and sometimes a compatible TV)

1 ExpressCard slot (to add temporary hardware like a Bluetooth adapter or cellular modem)

2 audio out (with digital support) / 1 microphone in

1 Ethernet Port (so that this notebook is capable of connecting to a wired LAN)

5 in 1 memory card reader (these slots allow users to directly insert the memory from their mobile devices into the notebook)

I like where all the ports are located on this notebook. For a right handed individual like myself they aren't obtrusive and seem to be naturally placed (I can't vouch either way for a lefty). This notebook is a decent offering from HP however the average online retail price of $1200 may be a bit lofty for its capabilities. One thing that bothers me is the unupgradable RAM. A 2GB maximum indicates to me that it is based on an older mother board. I would look around for a better deal until this price drops a little.