HP takes on MacBook with dv3500t
updated 08:50 am EDT, Wed October 1, 2008
HP dv3500t
HP on Wednesday rolled out its first 13.3-inch home user's notebook and its first more direct challenge to the same-sized MacBook and to Sony's VAIO SR. The dv3500t is one of HP's first systems outside of special editions to focus on style and comes in a unique bronze pattern that extends through to the keyboard. The company also gives it features that have either been off-limits or uncommon to the dv4t, including a dedicated 512MB GeForce 9300M GS graphics chipset as standard, a backlit keyboard and the option of an LED-backlit display for longer battery life and dropping the weight to as little as 4.1 pounds.
The PC builder has ambitions for the system as a portable home theater PC and gives the dv3500t an HDMI 1.3 output as well as a mini remote; it also carries HP's relatively unique combo external SATA port that can double as an extra USB port when necessary. Every system comes with 802.11n Wi-Fi as standard.
HP is pricing the new notebook aggressively and sells a base configuration for $1,000 with a 2GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB of memory, a 160GB hard drive and a DVD burner. Adding the LED lighting lifts the price by $100, while options exist to bring the system up to as much as 8GB of RAM, a 400GB hard drive and a 2.53GHz processor.
HP takes on macbook?
10/01, 08:59am reply
With this ugly thing?
Ikon
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
Windows
10/01, 09:38am reply
HP makes nice machines. I just wish there were an OS alternative to Windows on them. (Linux?) If Apple ever gets to license their OS to 3rd parties then the choices will be very nice. (This is of no benefit to Apple of course, but one can dream)
driven
Addicted to MacNN
Joined: May 2001
RE: HP takes on macbook?
10/01, 09:52am reply
Yeah it's ugly alright. They're using encapsulated artwork, I think they call it embedded or fused artwork, you can actually choose the pattern. But still, it's no MacBook.
No dual boot, no VM Fusion, therefore I no need.
BelugaShark
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2007
FUGLY
10/01, 09:58am reply
Klunky and hideous to behold.
Okay, the HDMI 1.3 port is a nice feature.
There's VirtualBox, but it doesn't run Mac OS X, so you're stuck with Windows or some variant of Linux. Does anyone dream of Ubuntu?
8GB of RAM is nice but even 64-bit Windows can only use a fraction of it, so what's the point?
JeffHarris
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 1999
Wrong
10/01, 10:59am reply
64 bit windows can use all 8 gigs of ram (up to 16 gb). 32 bit would only be able to utilize 3 to 3.5 gigs.
It takes 30 seconds to look up that info.
luckyday
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2008
FUGLY indeed!
10/01, 11:35am reply
I'm typically a fan of HP's laptops but this thing is just hideous looking. Seriously, of all the colors in the world they settled on BRONZE?!?
snork
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2008
Takes on the MacBook?
10/01, 12:45pm reply
No matter what HP or Sony does with their industrial design, the OS installed on them is c***. Consumers are switching to the Mac more for its OS than for industrial design. The beautiful hardware is the just the icing on the cake :) ... or... carmel on the Apple.
howiethemacguy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2007
what happened????
10/01, 01:44pm reply
I can't believe it! MacNN did NOT refer to this HP laptop as a "MacBook Killer"! What gives?
Feathers
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 1999
Pretty laptop
10/01, 08:53pm reply
Not to sound like a Mac elitist or anything, but I think the only problem w/ this laptop is that it runs Vista.
I've owned two Vista laptops and am convinced that it is way too topheavy of an OS to be of any use. Mac OS X, h*** even XP is far and away a better OS than Vista.
JuanGuapo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
Weight?
10/04, 08:17am reply
Price/performance/weight - you can optimise any two.
It's nice to have dedicated graphics rather than Intel voodoo on the motherboard, but that adds weight.
makuribu
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2004