HP Pavilion DV6662SE 15.4-inch Entertainment Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5250, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)

by HP

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.5 x 1.7 inches ; 6.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 9.5 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000VDCGBC
• Item model number: DV6662SE
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 30, 2007

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed for fast access to your entire entertainment library, the HP Pavilion dv6662se notebook PC is a great choice for both families and business travelers on the go. The 15.4-inch high-definition BrightView display looks good even in direct sunlight, and you'll enjoy movies or music in seconds with the external DVD or music buttons to launch HP QuickPlay (which bypasses the boot process). Control playback settings from up to 10 feet away with the included HP remote, then store it conveniently in the Express card slot. Easily manage your digital photo library and share with friends and family using the included HP Photosmart Premier software. This stylish laptop also features a high-gloss, durable HP Imprint finish with an inlaid wave design.

This notebook is powered by the 1.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, which offers a 20 percent performance boost over its predecessor while using 28 percent less power--so you get the benefit of a powerful dual-core PC plus all the benefits of mobility. It includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect to draft 802.11n routers and offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. This notebook also features a 250 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), 8x multi-format/dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard slot, and Intel GMA X3100 video/graphics card with up to 384 MB of shared video memory. It also has a 1.3-megapixel WebCam (with integrated microphone), enabling easy video conferencing via VoIP and video IM chats.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor has a 1.5 GHz processor speed, fast 667 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and large 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

  The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

  • Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.

• Hard Drive: The 250 GB Serial ATA hard drive is more than double the average size for notebook PCs, and it offers a fasts 5400 RPM disk speed--an improvement over other notebooks with extra-large hard drives. It provides more than enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and video editing software. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (2 x 1024 MB DDR2) will satisfy many users, but this notebook's two DIMM slots have a maximum 4 GB RAM capacity--perfect for high-end video editing and 3-D gaming. The additional capacity helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card.

• DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 2.4x DVD+R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, and 40x CD-ROM speeds.

  This LightScribe DVD+/-RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad. It also includes two quick-launch buttons (HP QuickPlay Music and DVD).

Screen, Video & Audio
You'll enjoy razor-sharp graphics and widescreen movies with the 15.4-inch WXGA high-definition screen, which displays an 18 percent larger picture than standard 15-inch screens and offers up to an 18 percent improvement in contrast ratio. It has a widescreen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels--perfect for watching DVD movies the way they were meant to be seen. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which uses shared video memory (up to 384 MB allocated from the system memory) and provides Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.

The Altec Lansing speakers provide exceptional sound, and a pair of stereo earbud headphones with volume controls is included. You'll be able to privately share enjoyment of multimedia with a friend via the dual headphone jacks.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965 AGN LAN chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments).

It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot (though no standard PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. You get a good offering of connectivity options:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video port for connecting to a TV
• 1 ExpressCard 54/34
• 2 headphone jacks (1 with S/PDIF digital audio compatibility) and 1 microphone jack
• 1 notebook expansion port 3 (for use with the HP xb3000 Expansion Base or the HP Notebook QuickDock)
• 1 consumer IR (infrared)
• 5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card)

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Includes Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial), Muvee Autoproducer Basic Edition, Roxio Creator 9 Basic, PC Recovery, HP PhotoSmart Essentials, and Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.05 x 10.12 x 1.69 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 6.14 pounds.

Power
This notebook is powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which offers up to 2 hours of battery life (dependent upon computing conditions).

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Pavilion dv6662se notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, IR remote control, earphones, and operating instructions. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 30 days from date of purchase.

Product Description

HP Pavilion dv6662se Entertainment Notebook PC. HP innovation is most visible in its breakthrough notebook PC designs that truly integrate fashion and technology for today's mobile, digital lifestyle. High gloss HP Imprint finish encases the elegant, curvilinear form and is more durable than traditional painted surfaces. It features a subtle HP exclusive Influx special edition pattern that expresses the flow of our ever changing universe. Departing from the original pattern of concentric waves, Influx captures the dichotomy of randomness and order. It changes color as well, moving from a piano black exterior with silver interior to a clean ceramic white and silver finish throughout plus a coordinating sliver keyboard. Its freshness sets it apart. Encouraging more direct interaction, the backlit media control panel responds to the touch or sweep of a finger. HP QuickPlay provides access to DVDs, videos, photos, music, karaoke, streamed or recorded TV and now games at the touch of a button. Watch DVD movies on the full screen using simple media controls. Add music to your slide shows or videos with drag and drop functionality. Stream, watch live and record TV. Throw an impromptu karaoke party or play preinstalled games from leading brands. Find and stream media from universal plug and play devices such as Windows Media Connect. Listen without disturbing others with included stereo earbud headphones. And control content from up to 10 feet away with the HP Mobile Remote Control that can be stored in the system ExpressCard slot for convenience. Dual headphone jacks with Altec Lansing audio help you to share and enjoy your entertainment. And Intel mobile dual core technology enables use of multiple demanding applications. This 6.1 lb, starting weight, light notebook exists at the intersection of computing and entertainment with its 15.4 inch High Definition BrightView widescreen display, innovative entertainment features and fresh design.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great deal for its specs, November 3, 2007

By 

J. Kim (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: HP Pavilion DV6660SE 15.4-inch Entertainment Laptop (AMD Athlon 64 Processor TK-58, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

Having been a long time HP user, I researched other laptop brands but was lured right back in with (initially) this dv6660se's sleek appearance. The powerbook-esque keyboard and subtle design patterns on the glossy packaging is a joy to look at everyday. Easy to use, and even the built in software isn't as useless as stock programs usually are.

PROS: design, 2GB RAM, 250GB, Vista home premium (mine was 32-bit unlike above comment).

-Comes with 12-cell battery which is bulky but lasts at least 4 hours watching movies and listening to music. The battery also raises the laptop off the table, which helps with cooling.

-Roxio software for CD/DVD burning is sufficient, and its LightScribe software is easy to use.

-I wasn't too impressed with the LightScribe function as it prints light-medium gray text/images onto the CD - a little too light for my taste. But the technology is supposed to replace chemical damage your CDs would otherwise get from stickers and writing.

-I thought 14 inches would suffice, but 15.4 inches really make a difference in organizing my desktop and music folders, navigating through Excel spreadsheets, and obviously watching movies.

CONS: no bluetooth (I didn't think I'd need it but found it would've been helpful for a wireless mouse or keyboard, etc), and a little heavy for everyday portability. Although Home Premium is equipped for TV recording, you need to buy a separate TV tuner for that to happen.

OVERALL: GREAT product for its price, especially if you can find it on sale like I did. It is in no way a high end laptop but pretty darn good for everyday use. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being a lay user and 10 being very tech savvy, this would be perfect for up to 8.5

52 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sleek powerhouse with so many attributes it will make your (non-gamer) head spin, December 18, 2007

By 

Mindwalker - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP Pavilion DV6662SE 15.4-inch Entertainment Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5250, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

**THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE HP DV2660SE, not the 2662se, but they have almost identical specs and there was no space for the 2660se. Many of the same comments are relevant to both.**

I am not a gamer, so I ignore features that are solely relevant to gaming. This laptop has many positive qualities to recommend it. I have two older model HP laptops from pre-2005 and had decided that I needed a personal laptop, so that I wouldn't have to keep lugging my work laptop, a Dell Latitude D620, home from work with me. (I use my laptop as a desktop replacement.) I was very skeptical about buying an HP: both of my previous HPs from pre-2005 died within a year. Both were slow, clunky machines that didn't work conveniently from the beginning.

I was stunned to discover this machine on sale for $899 at Best Buy. The Geek Squad employee spent 2 hours (!) answering my questions, reading positive and negative reviews of this PC with me online, and discussing the pros and cons of this laptop. He said that HP has improved dramatically in the past 2 years to become one of the top notebook PC makers. In fact, he said that some of the longest-lasting laptops with the fewest problems are from HP.

When I got on the test model in the store, I was impressed by just about everything- since I am not a gamer and my only need in a graphics card is a machine that allows me to do digital video editing. It has decent specs for that, which is all I need.

What I love:

It is LIGHT, even more easy to carry around than my work laptop, which I take with me everywhere.

This laptop manages to be sleek, thin, and gorgeously designed (which is a feature about which I didn't even care, but it does make a difference to look at something beautiful while you work), while being fully functional and feeling sturdier and more rugged than other 14" laptops I have played with.

It comes with a 12 cell battery that is supposed to last for up to 9 hours- I haven't tested it for that long yet, but I played on it all night on the battery and was pleased that the screen works well even on battery power.

Some reviewers don't like the fact that the laptop battery sticks out of the bottom of the machine. However, this has the (perhaps unintentional) benefit of giving the laptop a healthy tilt when it is on a flat surface. This tilt is a built-in mechanism that ensures ample space beneath the laptop to avoid blocking the fans. Since one major cause of premature laptop death is overheating, the fact that this laptop runs cool and has a built-in laptop-cooling tilt is a selling point for me. It also puts the laptop at an angle that I (being a guy with small hands) find far more comfortable than working on a flat surface.

I love the keyboard, which is just right for small hands (roughly the same size as the average woman's hands). Some reviewers complained about the keyboard- if you have large hands, you should use an external keyboard, but it is far more comfortable typing on this machine for those of us with smaller hands. I was on this computer for seven hours last night and found my hands pain-free, which doesn't happen when I use larger keyboards.

The speakers work well for me as a music aficionado- again, gamers won't be satisfied but that's why people buy external speakers.

The screen and internal speakers deliver crisp, clear quality for home viewing of DVDs and listening to CDs.

Having read many negative reviews of Vista, I was delighted to encounter this extremely user-friendly OS. Vista Home Premium, the OS on this laptop, runs very smoothly at fast speeds on this PC. It took under 10 minutes for me to go from taking this out of the box to being online on my web site, though this may be quicker than what some others describe. After initial set-up, I am able to go from totally shut off computer to being on the web in under 5 minutes, which is better than average for most PCs. It might be around 3 minutes. Yes, you will have to play around to learn the new OS, but it doesn't take long and everybody seems to forget that people hated Windows XP when it first came out, too.

The Intel Core2Duo processor says it's only 1.5 GHz speed, but don't let that fool you. Only a gamer will notice the difference between this and the Santa Rosa procesor. For even the intensive non-gaming, all-purpose user, fast is fast, and this processor socks it to you like lightning.

I was impressed by how little bloatware came on this PC, given its low price. I uninstalled only 3 pre-loaded programs: HP Games, muvee autoProducer, and one other program that I don't plan to use. As with all laptops, I recommend removing any unwanted programs, installing antivirus and antispyware software yourself (if you work at a college or large business, your company/university may have free downoads like mine does), and defragmenting the disk to optimise (yes, I use British spelling) performance. You really don't need to buy the Geek Squad install unless you have never had a laptop. Also, make your own restore CDs using the self-explanatory "make restore CD" command (just read your manual) without paying a Geek to do it for you. Laptops no longer come with restore CDs on standard issue, but don't waste money buying one from HP or BB. Just make sure you select "include drivers" when you make the disk.

Speaking of manuals, they have lost about 100 pages since I last got a laptop manual. You will have to google or read your box for some details- not a reason to avoid buying this laptop, just something that is true of most laptops nowadays.

The very generous 250 GB HHD is not the latest solid state drive (SSD), but most laptops have components that are weaker than the SSD anyway, so it doesn't matter if your hard drive is virtually indestructible if the rest of your machine isn't. Wait a year or two for the price of SSDs ($500+ for 32GB SSD, not including any other laptop parts) to drop and the GB size to rival HHD options before you consider making the switch.

2GB of built-in DDR2 ram/667MHz at 5400 rpms is excellent for all but those demanding gamers who want 7200 rpms. Not necessary- even demanding home users who don't do gaming won't notice the minimal appreciable difference.

The webcam works far better than I expected in a laptop. It's not Hollywood quality, but again, buy an expensive external webcam if you want that. It worked very well for video conferencing in yahoo messenger. My only complaint was that movements were a bit slow, but that might be my fault for not configuring the specs properly.

I was worried that a 14" screen would be too small, but it is designed to provide satisfying video entertainment and the screen gives me as much quality as a 15.4" screen.

Port and external hardware slots are very well-designed. There are two side-by-side USB ports on the right between the DVD player- dual layer, writes DVDs and CDs, and has lightscribe- and the LED-lid power cord plug. This avoids some of the fumbling caused by having two USB ports on top of each other. Having the 2 (!) headphone jacks (in addition to the separate microphone jack) in front is very helpful. There is an additional USB port on the left side, in addition to an ExpressCard/54 PC card slot, Expansion Port 3, 5-in-1 digital media reader, etc.

The design is stunning and does make a difference to any user with aesthetic sensitivities- I found myself gazing happily at the designs in between video creations.

This computer also comes with a Roxio package and I found QuickPlay a helpful little program.

It comes with trial norton antivirus and trial windows office 2007. I downloaded Symantec antivirus and Spybot Search and Destroy from work, as well as the full package of Windows office 2003 programs from my work. (Office 2007 is incompatible with Adobe Acrobat Professional, which I need in case I'm working from home.)

The a/b/g wireless picked up 3 times more networks than my wireless work laptop. When the new 802.11 n standard is approved, possibly as early as February, most a/b/g laptop owners will be able to download an upgrade online from HP, so the current draft n on some laptops isn't worth it until the specs of actual n are decided.

Does this have built-in Bluetooth? Since this is a feature I don't use, you might want to check on that. I think so, but find out for yourself.

No built-in TV tuner, but most of us either watch on the NBC/ABC/CBS innertube web site OR have an actual tv. You can always buy a TV tuner, no big deal.

I really don't care about HDTV capacity, as the HD "revolution" has failed to take off the same way that Blu-Ray disk (which I am not sure is supported by this computer- probably not, but check for yourself) has utterly failed at replacing the DVD and CD mediums.

All in all, this is a brilliant little powerhouse that feels like a MacBook without the high price tag. Unless you are a gamer playing games that demand the most competitive specs in existence (Santa Rosa processor, NVIDIA 8100 graphics card with 512+ dedicated VRAM, 7200 rpms, harmon kardon speakers with internal subwoofer- *eyeroll*- none of which this laptop offers), there is no task that this beautiful, sturdy, and lightning fast computer can't handle.

This is an impressive deal- even a steal for the quality. While extended warranties are often rip-off attempts, if you add total accidental damange protection with next-day onsite service for up to 4 years from purchase date, you are ensuring that you will have a functional computer or its replacement for a total of 4 years, making your annual cost under $250 for this machine. The investment is well worth it.

Run, don't walk. Catch this baby while you still can.

36 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's alright..., October 5, 2007

By 

L. Ung (NJ, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: HP Pavilion DV6675US 15.4-inch Entertainment Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7250, 4 GB RAM, 250 Hard Drive, Vista Ultimate) (Personal Computers)

Potentially a good computer if it didn't had Vista Ultimate 64-Bit! I found out most applications and more importantly my iPhone wasn't compatible with the pre-installed 64-bit version of Vista Ultimate. Recommend buying the Vista Home Premium 32-bit separately and download the drivers at the HP web site so that you can transfer your XP applications over to Vista. Tried doing a fresh reinstall with the recovery discs it came with to see if I had the option to install the 32-bit or just install the OS without the junk software but that's not possible. You're stuck with the unnecessary junk they installed for you unless you manually uninstall them or like I said buying Vista Home Premium 32-bit separately. The built-in web cam and microphone is nice and the sleek shiny casing will turn heads. The fingerprint reader is buggy. The audio jacks are awkwardly positioned up front so if you're using this as a desktop replacement and you're trying to connect external speakers it will be hard to hide the audio jack that's being plugged in. The 4GB of RAM is plenty but the hard drive is at 5400RPMS. If hard drive speed isn't a factor for you then you won't notice it. Wireless A/G/N receiver is very strong and fast. Lastly, be careful when you close the laptop. The monitor just snaps down like a spring loaded flip cellphone. Laptop will be great in the future when most applications and peripherals will adopt the 64-bit OS.

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