Are HP's Notebooks Good?

[craiger]

Sorry, if this is wrong to post this in here. I tried this in the Hardware Forum and no one answered my question.

Are the new HP Notebooks any good? I like that they are desktop replacements. Best Buy.Com has a HP Notebook with a Pentium 4 2.4 processor, 512mb of ddr ram, 40 gig hard, 8x8x24x8x CD-RW/DVD-Rom combo drive and a ATI Radeon 64mb 4x AGP Mobility graphics card for $1449.99. Is this one good? They also have an HP AMD XP 1.8 processor with the same hardware for $1249.99. I was wondering because the combo drive seemed slow. They also come with 802.11b. Thanks, Craig.

[MikeTR]

They're pretty good. A bit overpriced in my opinion (you pay for the HP name). Check out the exact manufacturers data on the components used. They tend to be different even in the same line of notebooks. The main thing holding me back on buying a HP/Compaq is the bad experience I've had with Compaq notebooks. The Armada's I've used all had some problem concerning the motherboard (integrated NIC etc.).

[cfoster]

I purchase one made to order from there web site. It's P4 2.4GHz, 512MB, 40GB, Built in Wireless, 15 inch LCD and CDRW and DVD player for $1100.00 with rebates. It's a little heavy but I love it. I use it as a desktop replacement.

[craiger]

Cool. Is your HP 2.4 Notebook fast? How fast does it boot up? Do think the CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo is slow since its only a 8x8x24x8x? Thanks, Craig.

[cfoster]

It's a ze5200 series. Mine does no burn DVD's, only plays. It' fast for me but I don't use it to to play games. My desktop system is P4 3.06GHz with a Radeon 9700Pro. It boots up pretty fast, I really have no complaints considering the price I paid. You can get a faster computer but you pay more $$$.

[Boone]

We bought a HP/Compaq Presario notebook. It's a desktop replacement with an XP 1800+, 512MB, 30G. Like was said before, they're a touch heavy but they seem sturdy enough.

[Turkeyscore.com]

check these out www.sagernotebook.com (Almost exactly like alienware but you get more for your money) (Much less $$ than Alienware though)