Customer Reviews

HP Pavilion DV6-1260SE 15.6-Inch Entertainment Laptop

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

My wife and I purchased a slightly different version of this laptop for her mother and I have been very impressed with the features and build quality (there are several DV6 models but they are all built on the same chasis). It is well constructed with a metallic toned black or white plastic exterior (this model is white, we have the black). Take a good look at the shell art since it is something that may not appeal to everyone (especially this one which is the "SE" artist edition). My mother-in-law definitely appreciated having something a little more individual than the usual dull grey exterior. Despite the glossy exterior we haven't noticed much in the way of finger prints or any scratches despite the helping hands of our kids who love to "help" grandma with her computer. (Update: I've learned there are some models without art work such as the HP Pavilion DV6-1050US 16.0-Inch Laptop and the HP Pavilion DV6-1030US 16.0-Inch Laptop.)

The specs for this model are set well above what the average home owner needs today which (in my mind) future proofs it nicely. If you are on a tight budget you can get what you need for less (look at the HP Pavilion G60 line). If you have a little bit more to spend and you want some headroom to handle your computing needs for the next few years this is a great choice.

CPU - The dual core Turion is a solid notebook processor. It can handle two threads which means you can have the virus scanner running while you surf the web with no noticeable slowdown. No it's not the most aggressive notebook CPU out there but it's a solid mid-tier processor that runs cool and has a great power envelope. Outside of gaming CPUs are not the performance bottleneck in notebooks so most users should aim for a mid-tier CPU and spend their budget on things that will get them more tangible enjoyment (like a nice display and good graphics).

RAM - of RAM is combined with a 64bit OS to which should provided more than enough memory for pretty much any application you can think of outside of extremely high end gaming.

HDD - 500GB plenty is far more space than you need now but again, I like the future proofing. Some people may not like that it is 5400 RPM (vs. 7200 RPM) but the performance difference for home users is nearly zero and the reliability of 5400 RPM drives makes me prefer them in notebooks which are hard on hard disks (because they move around while in use notebook HDDs suffer far more failures than desktop drives)

Graphics - The integrated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 is vastly superior to the usual low-end graphics that plague notebooks. You can actually do a little gaming on this notebook which is a truly rare thing.

Display - HP has a reputation for high-end displays and this one delivers. Tuned slightly for indoor use the HP Brightview display is good enough for outdoor use though not as much as a more matte display. Indoors it is brilliant with surprisingly strong blacks (too many notebook displays are all brightness with no depth). I like that the screen provides a decent amount of vertical space without overdoing it. The difference between this and a 14" is surprising. (Note: HP recently starting mixing 15.6" and 16.0" screens in the DV6 model line. You can usually buy a very similar model with either screen size though you may have to custum order).

Sound - Surprisingly good sound for a notebook. The speakers are well positioned and deliver a good range. I've heard better but it was on a $3K notebook.

Battery - For years the retail notebook market has been plagued with cheap six cell and even four cell batteries that could barely deliver 90 minutes of real computing use. To see HP bundle a 12 cell Li-Ion battery in with this notebook is hopefully a sign the industry is recognizing that noteboo users want good battery life. With a 12 cell battery you can realistically plan to go all day without plugging in. This does add slightly to the weight but few users will notice (about 1/10 of a pound).

I don't have any serious "cons" for this computer. The "Touch Media Controls" for things like the volume (as opposed to buttons you push) are a little odd at first but we got used to them quickly and hey, they look cool when they light up.

To wrap it all up: you can always buy more features for more money but if you are looking for a laptop with some higher-end features and upscale build quality this is an excellent choice. HP spent money in the right places and has created a high-end laptop at a mid-tier price.

I bought this laptop for the wife as a going back to school gift. So far its been a great laptop. There are two things that I don't care for too much (but not a big issue) The screen resolution is pretty low. It barely meets the minimum for Windows Vista But otherwise the resolution is ok.(720p) The other thing is the battery. I guess it has the extended battery and it sticks out of the bottom about three inches. This does add a nice little incline when sitting on a desk, but trying to find a sleeve or bag to carry it in is proving difficult because of this. Otherwise, the laptop is great. Good sound, Great battery life (extended battery) and the Graphics card is very good. It runs the Sims 3 perfectly, albeit at a low resolution, but with all the eye candy turned on in the game its still looks really good and runs very smoothly. There are plenty of ports and connections along all sides(Including HDMI) and the DvD drive is quiet and fast. I bought a bluetooth mouse for her and it connected and works will with the built in bluetooth of the laptop. The build quality is some of the best i've seen. (Better than the Alienware laptop i have)

I would recommend this laptop to others.
I have no problem rating this laptop as 5 stars.

I received this notebook the morning after I ordered it from Amazon. With Amazon prime shipping it only cost $6.99 for overnight Saturday shipping, which is well less than what other companies charge for the same service. As of the time of me writing this review the HP dv6-1260se cost $799.99. I have been researching notebooks for the past two months and I have looked at everything in the 15'' inch multimedia/light gaming laptop family. I looked hard at the Dell Studio XPS 16 but was turned off because I read it had overheating issues; I looked at the Asus G50vt family but was turned off by battery life; I even purchased a Dell Studio 1555 but had to return it because it was overheating. The only model that I found that was as good as this one that I found was the Compal KHLB2 (aka the Force KHBL2 or Sager 2098). That model cost about $1000 and had virtually the exact same specifications as the HP dv6-1260se.

Some of the highlights of this laptop that I have found are,

Processor: Coming recently from my Dell Studio 1555 with an Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 I can safely say that for all intents and purposes, the AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 is just as good. I haven't noticed any difference while doing normal things like web surfing and typing documents. I was also wary of buying an AMD processor because I had heard that they have overheating problems in notebooks. Doing normal tasks, I can safely say that this isn't true for this model.

Graphics Card: For the $700-800 price range the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 is one of the best cards out there. It can handle every game currently on the market at low settings at worst and most games run fluently at medium to high settings.

Build Quality: Once again, compared to the Dell Studio 1555, this notebook compares more than favorably. The Dell creaked and flexed a lot when it was being moved around and the hinges connecting the screen seemed weak. The HP has very little flex throughout the whole laptop, it does have a little by the optical drive, and the hinges are top-notch.

Keyboard: I absolutely love the keyboard. It is very responsive and, to me, it just fits my hands perfectly. Even with the number pad the keyboard does not feel crapped at all.

Battery: I haven't had time to calibrate the battery properly or test it yet but right now it seems like I will be fine with it. While typing this review, installing updates for Vista, and installing/uninstalling programs and with the screen at 50% brightness I currently have 80% remaining after being on for nearly an hour. I can estimate that, once calibrated, the 12-cell battery will get ~4 hours of battery life, which is fantastic for a notebook with this much power.

Pre-installed software: I usually hate bloatware but the software shipping with the dv6-1260se is actually useful. I have already had fun playing around with the photo editing software and the video and music editing software looks promising. HP also ships it with a few useful tools like the MediaSmart program.

Ports: This laptop has a fantastic selection of ports.

But, even though I like most of the things about this laptop there are a couple things that I don't.

Touchpad: Don't get me wrong, the touchpad is responsive and works great but it is a fingerprint magnet. After a while, though, there are so many fingerprints on it that you don't notice they are there at all. You can also turn off the touchpad with the touch of a button right above it and use an external mouse.

Artist Edition theme: I wanted to try it out when I set up the computer but soon realized that I did not like it. I could not figure out how to change my theme to the regular Vista theme, however, so I had to contact HP. I waited on hold for about 30/45 minutes of the call and it was obvious the operator had no idea what he was doing. After 45 minutes he hung up on me. I eventually figured out how to do it myself but still.

Overall, I am very happy with my purchase so far. With the $50 rebate this laptop cost me $756 with Saturday shipping and I can safely say that is the best deal anyone will find on a laptop this powerful. If anyone has any questions just comment and ask.

-Zach

I just received this laptop yesterday after doing extensive research. You can't touch this laptop with the same specs anywhere for this price. PLUS, this is a GREAT looking laptop - I just love it. The keyboard is like a pearly white and the graphics on the front are awesome. I am definately a person who doesn't like "cookie cutter" things - so this was right up my alley. I know that these types of graphics aren't for everyone, but I absolutely am blown away. Now for the good part! This laptop has amazing speed. It was up and running in about 15 minutes - right out of the box. I just love my new laptop and am extremely pleased!

I may not be as technical as some of the previous post but this notebook is mind blowing and I will try to explain.

After a couple of months researching what I wanted and wanted to spend, I was lead to this notebook. Of course, I went to the HP website and customized a model with the exact same specs as this one from Amazon to find the price tag, $1200 plus. So for me to get this notebook, a new one, at $800 bucks was just what I was hoping for.

Out of the box, the notebook is beautiful and very unique. The shell is like a platinum white (matches my car) and the artwork is just enough to not take away from it's background color. Upon powering it up, initially it was a little slow but I was able to connect to my home network in seconds and after removing the bloatware and updating windows, I was zooming the net. The display, a 16", is very clear, crisp like and bright. The sound for a notebook is really very good and the touch controls, a perfect compliment. I really like the 12cell battery, it gives such a nice lift / tilt that it make typing very comfortable plus it fits perfectly in the carrying case I purchased with my 15" Toshiba Satellite, so I don't have to worry about popping the battery out to use the case. Also, I spent a good 7hrs playing music, browsing through the apps, updating windows and installing software all at the same time, trying to deplete the battery so I know I won't have to worry so much about plugging in or where.

All in all, I am so very happy I lucked up on this PC. Everything else you want to know is pretty much summed up in the previous posts. I have not a single con thus far. You cannot beat the price this computer is sold on Amazon and you will not get these specs & the quality from any other notebook in this price range. I soooo recommend this PC to anyone looking for one that has everything you want on the inside as well as being very pretty on the out.

UPDATE: 02/23/2010*************

Ok, I have had this PC somewhere just over 6 months and I have already had to replace the hard drive. HP had the replacement drive overnighted to me (which was covered under the one year warranty), as well as the recovery cd's because I hadn't created back up disk yet. Frustrating since I was just getting the PC set up & personalized to my liking. I am definitely recommending that you opt for the extended warranty, since I can only imagine the issues that will pop up after the initial year. Also, both the left and right click bars on the notebook are loose. I am worried they are going to pop completely out before I have the chance to have them repaired. It's funny because I use a mouse 95% of the time and am not sure why the buttons have dislodged. I am still loving the PC despite these minor issues but I am wondering if I made the right decision for a long term choice.

This is a great Laptop, I purchased it for U$799 and comparing the features of this machine i think no other laptop can beat this. The design is great mainly inside the notebook.

To be honesty the first time that I turn it on I felt like the sun of Okinawa was clouded, it took more than a half hour to finish windows instalation. After start windows for couple times everything ran slow and I started to be concerned about the laptop performance. So, I formatted the computer and installed windows again. The drivers worked perfectly and now everything is running like a charm. The windows starts quickly, I can use photoshop, play a DVD and play games without performance penalty. I think this problem was caused by bad windows installation or because of the tons of HP softwares that comes with the laptop.

The features are great, I mean HDMI, Bluetooth for an affordable price. The Keyboard is nice, but the arrows are too tight. The monitor is fanstastic, bright and vivid colors I liked it very much. The video card is powerful and allows a great game experience, much more than I expected, but it runs hot!!. I leave in Brazil and in the summer we have high temperatures such 34 or 36șC and I'm thinking in spent some money in a good cooling solution fot this notebook.

Finally, I liked very much of this laptop and I think for this price it's a winner. But as it runs considerable hot I gave it 4 stars.

This is an excellent laptop you can use for your home and/or school. I am an architect and use this for AutoCAD, Photoshop and other "heavy" software on this but it runs great.

I got for $800 without tax (in CA). If I buy same product from local best buy (or online, it is sold out at bestbuy.com), I would have to pay close to 10% tax and recycling fee $16. After the rebate, this will be $750 only after FREE shipping. I got within 7 days after I order.

AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 Dual-Core Mobile is great very smooth. I believe getting AMD based computer would save you between $50 to 100 vs same performance CPU from Intel. For current tough economies why we need to spend extra for nothing?
4GB RAM, 500GB SATA HD, LighScribe DVD, Bluetooth, nice size LED screen all works great and more than enough for daily and/or school use.

ATI Mobility Radeon(tm) HD 4650 (M96) graphic card is excellent for notebook. When I am at home, I can connect to larger LCD for CAD. Windows Experience Index for Graphics was 5.6 and Gaming Graphics was 5.9.
I like the exterior design and clean white keyboards, it got 10 keys, etc. not a typical notebook.
I tried the HP Sea & Sky design for the Windows Vista. I didn't like it so just changed it back to the regular Vista desktop theme.

64bit is running great. I am still waiting for the official Windows 7 to come out (I will get free upgrade with this computer). So, there will be not extra expense in the future.
The 12-cell battery is sticking out from the typical laptop exterior lines. I think if you are planning to bring this to school, you would prefer to get a smaller HP Enviro Battery (EV03)
This is a great high spec. notebook with midrange or close to the entry level price. This got all the hardware we need for the near future Win7 and 64 bit applications.
I can recommend this it almost any time of users! A+

I purchased this laptop last week, after extensive research at Best Buy, and online. Decided to go with HP after a friend at work recommended it. I wanted an entertainment laptop, and was immediately drawn to this computer. I was also very impressed that previous reviews gave this product 5 stars so I went with it. My laptop came in the mail, I was very excited to get it and start playing with it. I haven't purchased a new computer in over 10 years so I was looking forward to getting it!

Immediately out of the box, I loved the design. The computer is beautiful. My husband was excited about the HDMI input so he could watch his Yankees games on the computer. I began to upload my photos from my flash drives. That's when the nightmare began. This computer is equipped with a software called MediaSmart. It's brand new and even when I called tech support, they had not heard of it. The problem: my photos would upload to my computer, but would not upload to media smart. This software is one of the "artistic version's" big selling points and it didn't work. I spent my day off of work, completely frustrated, on the phone with HP tech support, on 4 separate occasions, for over 8 hours. I finally received a call back yesterday stating that HP HAS FOUND THAT OTHER USERS OF THIS LAPTOP HAVE HAD SIMILIAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS COMPUTER, and that they are working on the problem. I did not expect that, right out of the box, I'd be dealing with such a mess. The first tech I spoke with at HP logged onto my computer and didn't recognized 2 of the programs installed. He made me go thru a complete system recovery--that took 2 hours-- He said he'd never heard of these programs and thought that they were spyware. I told him, there's no way..It's brand new, haven't even gone on the internet yet.. After listening to him, I did a full system recovery and HP called me back after 2 hours. Boy did they get an earfull. The 2 programs that "he had never heard of" were actually factory installed by HP with this version. He just didn't take the time to check it out. Waste of time--again.

I am returning this product to Amazon. Return policy is very easy. Thank goodness. I will purchase another laptop from them, however it will not be HP.

By the way, I ran a test of the sound on the computer just to check out the speakers, and it went from on--to static--to no sound. Only when I rebooted it did it work.

Shame on HP and their tech support. They should all be retrained on new products coming out, and making sure that they work before they are distributed to the comsumer.

I have the artist edition 2 .This laptop's battery lasted me 100minutes on "power save" and it has been less than 2 years, now it doesn't work at all. It over heats within minutes,and over heats faster when watching a movie. I was told it was a gaming computer, yet it can't play my video games properly. The mouse jumps and when I write in word document, the curser jumps to the middle of my page and starts typing through what I already typed. I have no plans on buying an HP again, this was a complete waste of money and performs poorly.

I bought this in Sept. 2009. The track buttons had to be fixed multiple times. Constant issues with overheating. Now end of 2011- hard drive is destroyed due to overheating. Not worth the money or time.