HP PAVILION DV2800T REVIEW - ARTIST VERSION OF DV2700

The HP Pavilion dv2800t Artist peculiar Edition series laptop is a notebook "designed by young people and selected by young people" for its distinctive style. This notebook has all the creature comforts as compared to the standard dv2700t, with the only addition to it being a custom paint job. Is this the kind of notebook that will make you one among Star-Bucks?

Design
The design on the Artist Edition dv2800t is very exceptional, and unlike anything we have been exposed to before. It starts with custom graphics embedded into the imprint finish, then it has matching synthetic trim around the laptop that gels in with the design, and even stretches as far as a custom painted keyboard and touchpad that also syncs with the design. All of these modifications give you a laptop that has the feel of a mass-produced notebook with a very own custom design that few notebooks could hoard up against.

Performance
The dv2800t comes with a Windows Vista Home Premium and a heart of Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7500 and a memory of 2GB DDR2 System Memory. The 14.1" WXGA glossy display isn't the best on offer, but it does perform nice enough for a laptop of this size and price. Colors and brightness were decent enough for mild gaming or movie watching.

The keyboard on this HP is very comfortable to use, with nominal flex and very receptive keys. Key spacing and key size is outstanding for a 14" laptop, leaving little to be desired when typing for extended stretch of time. Gelling along with the custom design, the keys on this Artist Edition are coated dark brown to match the ritual design of the rest of the laptop.

The touchpad keys provide good feedback, above all give you a nice throw that you don't get to find in several other touchpad buttons. Instead of giving you a trivial "click" they move down 3-4mm with a nice firm "thuk." It also includes the touch-sensitive media buttons universal to HP Pavilion laptops positioned above the keyboard.

The Altec Lansing speakers located at the top of the dv2800t performs above average for a laptop speaker, and an ideal match for watching movies or listening to music when on the move. High and midrange audio is good, but low-end bass is lacking.

Thermal performance of this HP is very good, but a bit on the warmer side. When gaming or doing other kinds of demanding activities, I would prefer laptops that keep most of the heat towards the rear and bottom of the notebook. This notebook does the same.

Overall
The HP Pavilion dv2800t Artist Edition laptop offers a very exclusive design paired with first-rate system performance. While the design might not be liked by everyone, you have to accept that the finished material is probably one of the best tradition products on the market right now.

Pros
+ Great custom design artwork that will last long without wearing off
+ Good sturdy build quality
+ Quiet coolers, even when gaming

Cons
- Left side of palm rest warms out because of the hard drive below it
- Painted keyboard gives a really slippery feel

Value For Money

Our Rating