Best Multimedia HP Notebook

The notebook's 3D performance is good but not spectacular. Dre on the Beats headphones that are available with the special Beats Edition of the Envy 15, and the clarity and punch of the tunes was superb. *

The bottom line: HP's new Envy 15 packs high-powered components into a svelte 15-inch body. The result is an upscale status symbol that still shows a few first-generation rough edges.

Thin and light for a notebook of its size. The notebook is very quiet, nothing that will bother your classmates during a lecture. *

We like the HP Pavilion dv6000's attractive design and multimedia features, but don't expect this Core 2 Duo laptop to break any speed records.

So for consumers and business users looking for a fast laptop, the HP Pavilion dv6000t fits the bill. *

The 250GB hard drive is more than adequate for my needs. *

The results are understandable, given the laptop's 43-Wh battery. The 120GB hard drive is essential for storing video and MP3 downloads. Battery life is mediocre, if not disappointing, at a mere 2 hours 27 minutes on MobileMark 2005 tests. *

Powered by the Intel Core 2 Quad processor. *

My overall conclusion for the HP Pavilion dv7 notebook is really good. *

The Bottom Line

Colors are bold and video plays smoothly, and the panel's wide viewing angle performance means you can watch videos with friends without experiencing color shifting or a darkened screen. It was unable to run FutureMark's PCMark Vantage benchmark test. *

The power button and QuickPlay launch key are discrete controls that are visible at all times. *

Your expansion options with the Pavilion dm3-1080US are impressive, given the trim dimensions. You might be able to talk yourself into purchasing it as a luxurious, large netbook—a portable second system to use on the road. The overall effect is a laptop that is surprisingly light and very thin, while also providing a sturdy feel. *

WAY overpriced for the performance it offers. *

Port selection is pretty generous: round the left side you'll find Ethernet, VGA, HDMI, two USB, an SD card slot, and 3.5mm headphone and line-in jacks, and there's two more USB on the right along with the power switch and a WiFi / Bluetooth radio toggle. Battery life was pretty terrific -- Intel's CULV chips sip juice, and we got a fairly consistent nine hours or so of general usage on a charge. *