HP Pavilion dv6700t Review
The HP Pavilion dv6700t replaces the dv6500t as HP’s newest 15.4″ consumer notebook offering cutting edge design and performance in a mobile package. With Intel Core 2 Duo processors, available LightScribe optical drive, available nVidia dedicated graphics, and a stylish yet tough design, the dv6700t might still be one of the best 15-inch notebooks on the market. Let’s take a closer look.
The HP Pavilion dv6700t (starting at $649.99 after $100 instant savings) is available with a range of Core 2 Duo processors (from the Intel T5450 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo up to the T7500 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo). There is only one 15.4″ screen offering, a 1280×800 WXGA glossy display.
The version of the dv6700t that we have in our office is actually the dv6780se special edition notebook available exclusively at Best Buy. It features a unique version of HP’s Imprint finish called “Clay” which gives this notebook a distinctly different look than the rest of HP’s lineup.
Our review unit of the dv6700t (dv6780se) has the following specifications:
- Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
- Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5450 (1.66GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)
- 15.4″ WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
- 3GB DDR2 System Memory
- NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS (256MB dedicated memory)
- HP Imprint (Clay) Finish + Webcam + Microphone
- Integrated Altec Lansing stereo speakers
- Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection
- 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
- LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
- 12-Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- Dimensions (with 12-cell battery, including feet): 14.1″ (L) x 10.1″ (W) x 0.75″ (min H)/2.0″ (max H)
- Weight: 6 lb 10 oz (6.625 lb)
- 65W AC adapter
Build and Design
The dv6700t is visually identical to its predecessor the dv6500t, which was virtually identical to the dv6000t … and with good reason. The design of the dv6000t has been very successful for HP and it is still arguably one of the best designs on the market. By using the same external casing customers get an attractive notebook and HP saves on production costs. As the old saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
HP’s glossy “Imprint Finish” on the lid and palm rests remains one of the key design features of the dv6700t. HP’s “Imprint Finish” isn’t just paint, it’s actually a complex process that starts with the molding of the plastics. The swirling design and glossy coat on the HP Imprint Finish is actually “inside” the plastic … it isn’t just a top layer that scratches off.
Our dv6780se features the “Clay” Imprint Finish which looks like a combination of copper and silver. The copper lid is genuinely unique and gives this special edition notebook a steampunk appearance (almost as if it’s something straight out of the video game Bioshock). I have to confess that I wasn’t a fan of the “Clay” Imprint Finish at first glance: there’s just something about the copper lid and silver palmrests that left me feeling unsettled. That said, after using the dv6780se for about an hour I found that the finish grew on me. At this point I’d have to say the dv6780se has one of the best Imprint Finishes we’ve seen on an HP notebook. The dv6700t lid does not have a latch to hold it closed, but the hinge mechanism works well and firmly holds the lid in place. There is almost no flex to the screen.
Performance and Benchmarks
The dv6700t has more than enough performance for a full range of multimedia entertainment needs thanks to the range of Core 2 Duo processors that are available. Even the entry-level 1.66GHz T5450 packs a powerful punch. The included nVidia 8400M GS dedicated graphics card with 256MB of RAM in our review unit provides plenty of power for games and streaming media over the web. While the 3DMark06 benchmark results might not be as impressive as what we saw in the new Dell XP M1530, the dv6700t still provides more than enough power for average gaming needs.
Additionally, the 250GB hard drive in the dv6780se is more storage than most consumers are likely to need in a laptop. Sure, if you download tons of music, movies, and TV shows then you’ll quickly fill the 250GB hard drive in a few months … but that’s what external hard drives are for.
With the basics out of the way, let’s jump into the performance benchamrks.
wPrime is a program that forces the processor to do recursive mathematical calculations, the advantage of this program is that it is multi-threaded and can use both processor cores at once, thereby giving more accurate benchmarking measurements than Super Pi.
Screen
The 15.4″ WXGA glossy screen on the dv6700t isn’t ideal for HD video, but it does offer sharp contrast, excellent color, and reasonably even backlighting. Unlike many other 15.4″ 1280×800 pixel displays the screen on the dv6700t doesn’t suffer from “graininess.” Horizontal viewing angles were excellent although vertical viewing angles were only average. The screen itself didn’t suffer from ripples, stuck pixels, or any other problems.
Keyboard, Touchpad and Other Input Buttons
The full-sized keyboard on the dv6700t has almost no flex. The keys have excellent cushion and response and were quiet during use. There are dedicated keys for home, end, page up, and page down. The f-keys also control a range of features (such as raising or lowering screen brightness) when they are pressed in combination with the function key.
One important item of note with the dv6780se version of this notebook is that the keys have a durable coating which makes the keyboard look and feel better when typing. The slight glossy texture of the keys won’t develop the typical “shine” that begins to show up on keys after extended use.
The touchpad is nice and large and features a durable and responsive surface that is also covered in the HP Imprint Finish. The marked vertical scroll section is likewise accurate and responsive. The touchpad buttons have deep feedback and produce quiet, cushioned clicks. One of the nice features found on HP touchpads is the touchpad on/off button. If you press the small button above the touchpad you can disable it … perfect for people using an external mouse. Although the touchpad is quite nice I would have liked to see the same style of touchpad that HP started using on the tx1000z and HDX notebooks … perhaps on next year’s notebooks?
HP also includes a Media Center remote that fits inside the notebook’s ExpressCard slot. The remote is perfect for controlling movies, music, photo slide shows, and presentations. The dv6700t also features dedicated touch-sensitive media buttons above the keyboard and beneath the speakers. The media buttons make watching DVDs or listening to music files as easy as using a DVD or CD player. These media buttons have blue LED backlights that are always on.
Input and Output Ports
There is a reasonable selection of ports on the dv6700t including an HDMI out port for connecting the notebook to your HDTV and an expansion port for connection to HP’s xb3000 expansion base/docking station. The complete list of ports includes:
- ExpressCard/54 slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
- Three USB 2.0
- HDMI out
- IEEE 1394 Firewire
- Expansion port 3
- TV out (S-video)
- Integrated Consumer IR (remote control receiver)
- 5-in-1 digital media card reader
- microphone in
- RJ-11 (modem)
- RJ-45 (LAN/Ethernet)
- VGA out
Audio
The Altec Lansing stereo speakers located above the keyboard are quite impressive. While the built-in speakers didn’t produce as much range as notebooks that are also equipped with a subwoofer, the speakers did have impressive clarity and loudness with excellent highs and midtones. The dv6700t also features dual headphone jacks located on the front side so that you and a partner can listen to movies or music on a plane. Although it’s nice to have the headphone jacks located at the front it is a less than ideal location for people who like to plug in external speakers.
Heat and Noise
The dv6700t runs extremely quiet but not particularly cool. The fan remained on most of the time when the notebook was plugged in and turned on frequently while the notebook was on battery power. Although there was minimal warmth coming from the top of the hard drive (left palm rest) the most significant heat came from the hard drive area on the underside of the dv6700t. The heat coming from the hard drive was roughly as intense as the heat coming from the heat exhaust for the fan. This is enough to make the notebook uncomfortable on the lap after extended use. If heat is an issue that concerns you then I would recommend using an external notebook cooler/fan with this notebook.
Conclusion
The HP Pavilion dv6700t is an impressive notebook for 2008, despite the fact that the basic shape hasn’t changed at all since the dv6000t. The combination of performance, stylish design, extremely durable construction/finish, and a wide array of media controls makes the dv6700t one of the best notebook choices for average consumers among 15.4″ systems.
After close comparison to Dell’s new Inspiron 1525 the only thing Dell really offers over this HP notebook is an extra USB port and a slightly lower starting price. That said, the dv6700t is still the better choice since it offers the option of dedicated graphics (as seen in the dv6780se).
Bottom line, although the overall design hasn’t changed in two years the HP dv6700t delivers modern day performance and plenty of multimedia extras with style and an affordable price tag. Overall the dv6700t is one of the best notebooks available for everyday consumers, and the dv6780se available at Best Buy is perhaps that nicest looking version of the notebook yet.
Pros
- Your choice of Core 2 Duo processors
- Solid dedicated graphics option for occasional gamers
- Still one of the best designs on the market (see below)
- Excellent build quality
- Great keyboard and touchpad
- Responsive media buttons and nice remote
Cons
- Glossy Imprint finish is a magnet for fingerprints
- Only three USB ports with dedicated graphics option
- Overall design is starting to look dated after two years
- Did HP really need to put eight stickers on the palm rests?
Filed under: Review notebook
