Customer Reviews

HP Pavilion DV6-2170US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you are looking at the DV6 line of notebooks you may have noticed that there are several new models out with model numbers like "DV6-21xx". These are basically the same notebook as the previous models with a new CPU/graphics combo that greatly improves performance. Like the previous DV6 generation it is well constructed with a metallic toned black exterior (HP also offers versions in white). Take a good look at the shell art since it is something that may not appeal to everyone. I bought mine for my mother-in-law and she 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.

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 - This is one of the first models from HP that sports Intel's new "Core i5" line of CPUs. The short version is that it outperforms the older "Core2" chips and is slightly better than the (also) new "Core i3" chips. As noted in the description it's 2.26GHz part that can "Turbo Boost" up to 2.53GHz. What isn't mentioned is that this is a dual core part with 3MB of cache. That may sound a lot like the old Core2 chips but don't be fooled: this chip will outperform the old Core2 by 20%-50%. If you are trying to decide between the "Core i5" and "Core i3" I would recommend the Core i5 to gamers and people who run high end applications (like CAD software) and the Core i3 for people running business applications (like MS Office) and web browsing. If you want to know more read on. If nerd stuff bores you then just trust me, this is a great chip to have in your laptop.

Okay here is why the Core i5 is a big deal: The Core i5 (and Core i3) have Intel's newest, fastest and smallest CPU core (also known as the "Westmere" core) which is two generations newer than the "Penryn" core used in the Core2 line. Because with each generation the parts get smaller they get cheaper to make. Also with the Westmere core Intel has bundled the chipset and a new graphics chip onto one package which also reduces cost (and allows Intel to do some new and cool performance tricks). One thing the Core i3 and i5 have that Core2 does not is "hyperthreading." Hyperthreading is a feature that makes two CPUs act like four. To do this Intel has enabled each CPU core to act on two software threads at once. So the two CPU Core i5 is almost as good as a four CPU part for a lot less money and requiring a lot less power (there are a few four core mobile CPUs out there but the battery life is terrible and I don't recommend them). Hyperthreading is something that every user can benefit from: no more watching your computer slow to a crawl because your anti-virus kicked in. Windows 7 just dumps that off on a new thread and you keep humming along surfing the web or playing a game. The main difference between the Core i3 and i5 is that the Core i5 has "Turboboost" (which can speed up your CPU or the graphics chip as needed) and the Core i3 does not. If you aren't stressing the CPU or the graphics chip then the Turboboost found in the i5 isn't going to do a lot for you.

RAM - 4GB of DDR3 RAM running at 1066MHz is combined with a 64bit OS to which should provide more than enough memory for pretty much any application you can think of outside of extremely high end gaming. Note that most older notebooks come with "DDR2" and this one has "DDR3". The main difference is that "DDR3" uses about 20% less power "DDR2" which of course equals slightly better battery life.

HDD - The 500GB drive is far more space than most users need (few people will use more than 100GB). HP also offers 320GB and 640GB drives in some models. This one runs at 7200RPM but HP has version that run at 5400RPM. The 7200RPM drive offers better performance but the failure rate is slightly higher than the slower 5400RPM drives. I have a slight preference for the slower drive just because I hate HDD failures but honestly the 7200RPM drives have improved to the point where there's not much difference in failure rates anymore.

Graphics - This model is using uses Intel's new "HD" graphics which is vastly superior to their old "4500MHD" chip. You can actually do a some 3D gaming on this notebook though newer high-end 3D games will need to run at reduced settings. Online games like World of Warcraft will run best at reduced settings. It can do 1080p HD graphics but notice this model doesn't have a Blu-ray drive so I'm not sure it matters that much (the only DV6's I know of with Blu-ray are custom models ordered direct from HP).

Display - I don't like that about a year ago HP switched the DV6 from a full 16" display to the slightly smaller 15.6". Still the 1366 x 768 widescreen LED Brightview display on this model doesn't disappoint. Indoors it is brilliant with surprisingly strong blacks (too many notebook displays are all brightness with no depth). Outdoors you'll have some issues with glare but it's better than a lot of competitors. I like that the screen provides a decent amount of vertical space without overdoing it. The difference between the 15.6" and a 14" is surprising (go compare them in a store if you haven't had a chance).

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 - HP bundles 12 cell Lithium-Ion battery on this model but most DV6 models have a 6 cell. If you are on the road a lot the 12 cell is nice. Home users who plan to plug in a lot probably won't care. Personally I prefer the 12 cell. The 6 cell will give you 2-4 hours of real use and the 12 cell will give you 3-6 hours (HP claims "up to seven hours" on their website but that's only if you do everything possible to conserve power). The 12 cell will bulge out a little in the back and adds about 1/5 of a pound to the weight.

Operating System - This model the "Premium" version of Windows 7. The "SB" (small business) models have the Win 7 "Professional" version. Win 7 premium is fine for most users but the Pro version lets you back up over a network and better support for older software (it can basically run Windows XP in the background for your older programs). Most homes users will be fine with Win 7 Premium but if you have a lot of old software you may consider getting a notebook with Win 7 Pro (which will add a little to the cost of the notebook).

Optical Drive: The standard HP DVD/CD RW Drive with Lightscribe. If you haven't used Lightscribe it basically allows you to burn black text or images onto LightScribe compatible CD or DVD media. A typical image burn takes 20 minutes or so. It's nice to have but be aware the images are a little dull. I've noticed mine fade over but I mostly burn copies of CDs for my kids and they are rough on them.

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. I also don't find the included remote to be that useful but anyone planning to hook this up to their TV might like it. I suspect most people will just put in a drawer and forget about it.

If you're staring at the various DV6 models trying to decide which one to buy my advice is (based on the models available when I wrote this):

- For home users who aren't gamers you can save about $100 if you go with the HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop which combines a Core i3 with Win 7 Premium and a 6 cell battery. The performance for non-gaming software will be very close to the more expensive i5 models and you'll save money by going with Win 7 Premium and a smaller battery.

- If you need good battery life, run higher end software, or like to game a bit go for the HP Pavilion DV6-2170US which combines the Core i5 with the 12 cell battery. The Intel graphics aren't the best but it's a big improvement over past products. This is the model I think has the best balance of features.

- If gaming matters more than battery life you should probably look at other laptop lines but if you are sold on the DV6 go for the HP Pavilion DV6-2190US which has a quad CPU Core i7 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M graphics. It's only got a 6 cell battery and that CPU and graphics are going to drain it quickly. On the plus side it's the only model in this group with gigabit ethernet (most home users will be fine with 10/100 ethernet [which is more than enough for several computers surfing the web] but if you want or need 10/100/1000 ethernet only the higher end DV6 models have it).

- If you have a lot of older software consider the HP Pavilion DV6-2157SB Small Business Editionwhich comes with Windows 7 Pro (which can run older software in a WinXP kernel). It has a Core i3 and a 6 cell battery. It also has a different finish ("Plaid Mocha") but I haven't seen it so I can't comment on it.

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 think the HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop is one of the better values out there today but I prefer the features offered in the HP Pavilion DV6-2170US. If you are a student you may want to check out HPs "Academy" program which offers student discounts (it can be hard to find on HP's web site - just search for "HP Academy").

Just my luck to get the computer (DV6-2170US) that has problems right out of the box. A brand new computer and customer service had me flash the BIOS the first day! The second day the monitor stopped working altogether. Customer service confirmed it was a backlighting hardware issue, not a software issue and, therefore; I was encouraged to send it in for repair. Repair on a brand new machine??? I returned it instead. Back the my review: In the few hours in which I was able to use this notebook computer, I was able to rip some music faster than on my previous HP laptop (DV5000) or HP desktop. And, unlike the DV5000 or desktop, it was a clean rip. Would have kept the DV6 if it wasn't broken. I agree wholeheartedly with the person who stated that the keyboard seems to be a little off...but, in my opinion, it is because of the addition of the numeric keypad to the right of the alpha/numeric keys. May take some getting used to positioning your fingers on the home row. Seemed like a nice computer though. Altogether, I have been an HP customer from way back when. It saddened me that no one from HP cared to offer me a replacement computer or a discount to keep me as a customer. This is the third HP computer I have had problems with and as the saying goes, three strikes and they are OUT! If you purchase the DV6, I wish you better luck than I had. Choose wisely. Oh, and regarding HP's customer service, one thing I noticed, when you order from HP you will get someone in the United States, after that point, you will be dealing with someone overseas. Yes, they speak English, but...

i am an engineer that works with high end computers and various operating systems on a daily basis. i have a work laptop (compaq 6910p) but this is my 1st personal laptop and 1st experience with windows 7. my previous computer was a compaq desktop with windows xp that i purchased ~8 years ago and has had no issues (other than i had to have the floppy drive replaced several years ago). even though i was growing sick of waiting 10 seconds for a window to open, it was difficult for me to spend $ on something that i already had. but now (1 week after owning the dv6-2170us) i have no regrets!
i did a lot of research on amazon.com before i bought this laptop. my requirements were windows 7 home premium, at least 4gb of RAM (this laptop is expandable to 8gb of RAM), high-end processor (see [...] - this processor is in the 'high-end' category), HD monitor (absolutely beautiful, even capable of 3D graphics; however, i haven't attempted this), optical / dual layer DVD burner, large hard drive (500GB is more than i'll probably ever use).
in addition to my requirements, this computer features bluetooth, the longest battery life i've heard of (up to 8 hours), a remote control (it'll come in handy when watching movies from my bed; however, i purchased a 23" HDTV monitor to plug into via HDMI cable from this laptop), and a built-in webcam (picture looks good, resolution???).
i was initially concerned with the 'espresso' design (turns out it doesn't bother me at all; actually, i kind of like it because it prevents me from focusing on finger print smudges - i'm kind of a clean freak) and 15" would not be big enough (it's more than big enough).
i am amazed at how fast this laptop operates. i assume that this is in part because of windows 7 but it could simply be this laptop's processor, RAM, bus, etc.
my only complaints are that i was not aware that the battery would give this laptop a bubble butt (however, i don't mind it because i like how it angles the keyboard for my hands to access...like a docking station would) and you have to create your own 'system recovery' DVDs (however, it only took ~ 20 minutes to do this myself).
i have arthritis in my hands/wrists from using computers (in general, not this computer) for long periods of time without resting over several years; therefore, i pay attention to ergonomic design nowadays. i like the keyboard and touch (mouse) pad on this laptop. i was pleasantly surprised that the keyboard encompasses a numeric pad as well. however, i did purchase the hp elite wireless keyboard and mouse combo (for $15 at dealpal), which should be showing up within the next day or 2.
overall, i am a very happy customer (yes, you could even say i love it)!

So far I am quite happy with my new DV6-2170US. It is not destined to run software that will tax it, but after my first week it has performed well with the applications I have. Technical support from HP was awful, but I expected that. (During the process of making Office 2003 operational I was informed that, among other things, Office 2003 was not oompatible, even with Windows 7 Professional, and that my wireless router was not compatible with Windows 7! Both issues were overcome with a few minutes of help from my ISP's technical people.)

I did enable Windows 7 Professional immediately, and I did download the XP emulator (all 400+MB!) I have not needed the emulator to-date, however. I can not speak for Windows 7 Premium, but Professional supports Office 2003 Professional, and all of my other XP applications. (Sony Sound Stage, Starry Night Pro, Photoshop, a British-based laboratory data acquisition system, an many others.) If you plan to use the XP emulator, note that not all processors are supported. (And it requires enabling the processor's XP emulation mode in the BIOS.)

You can read the performance results in other reviews. I am still busy uninstalling unwanted software provided by HP. Again, with the exception of HP's tech support, I am very happy.

I've owned many laptops over the years, mostly Dell and HP, and I have to say that so far, this is one of my favorites. It's fast, fast, fast, and I'm a very demanding user, running up to 7 programs at a time. This laptop has a great design (I love the light-up HP logo on the top although that's a perk and not a necessity), the keys are very responsive and feel good under my fingers, and everything was a breeze to set up. I'm a very fast typist and this laptop has no problems keeping up. I have two other HP laptops, and both my kids have HP laptops and we're all very happy with HP. This won't be my traveling laptop as it's a bit heavy for that, but as a lighter, smaller desktop replacement, it's terrific. If you want a great computer with a full sized keyboard and a small numeric keypad that will last you for years to come, then this is the laptop for you. I upgraded to the 2170 rather than the cheaper 2150 for the better CPU and bigger hard drive. I plan to use this laptop for at least 4 years, so the slightly bigger investment just made sense to me. I'm a professional IT person, so I know my stuff when it comes to computers/laptops, and I can tell you, this is one of the good ones, especially for the money.

I think this PC is great. The screen is very clear, it works every time I turn it on, and I like the feel of the keyboard.

Pros:

1. Big enough to read screen.
2. Screen really clear.
3. Keyboard has nice feel.
4. Mouse pad has nice feel.
5. Nice feature set.
6. Great price for all of these features.

Cons:

1. 12 cell battery makes it stick up in the back (you may think this is a plus if you use it on a desk all the time and like the angle).
2. It's kind of heavy especially with bigger battery.
3. It is difficult to open all the way on an airplane especially if the person in front of you is rude and leans back into your workspace.
4. Wireless is not very good. I get better reception on my old "g" Dell notebook on same wireless-N router. I thought this one would be better since it has wireless-N built in.

I also want to praise Amazon for their quick shipping and excellent customer service. I needed the computer quickly for a trip and they made it happen.

Update: Since using this for several months I've discovered the wireless works much better than I'd originally thought and the battery life is quite good and worth the extra weight. I love it. I'm raising my review to 5 stars. It has performed flawlessly over the months I've had it including several business trips and one two week cruise.

really good specs, batter really doesn't long enough specially if you're playing, so you'll have to have it plugged in all the time basically, smooth graphics, really fast, i only HP software, but is a really good choice.

If you need for work, maybe you should look for something else specially if you need to be working with the battery, if not, it rocks :P

I've worked with Maya, Oracle, .net 2010 and XNA, really responsive :P

Purchased this model from OfficeMax three weeks ago and cant say enough good about it. Love the speed and battery life. Seems to have a solid feel, but the "fit & finish" is not quite perfect. I got mine on clearance for $650, and if you are patient that can be matched on ebay. With the i5 proc thats an incredible deal.

This product is exelent, the characteristics are pretty good as shown in the web, the item arrived in perfect condition and on time, i waited a few days and the delivery was exelent. The shop (cybertech) did what they promised, i have no compleins, the computer is working perfectly and i am plenty happy! Thanks a lot.

I searched for a laptop that met my specific needs - long battery life, good built-in microphone and speakers, and a good processor - for about a month. Having being impressed by the design and reviews I had seen, and after having purchased a Toshiba which I had to return due to excessive heating of the laptop, I bought this unit through Amazon. It (the laptop) does meet all of my expectations, but the AC adapter gets very hot during the charging period if the laptop is on. I have called HP support a couple of times and my problem was esclated one level. Although, the assigned manager has been very pleasant and followed up on my problem, he has been unable to identify the source of the problem. In fairness, he did offer for me to send back the laptop for inspection and repair, but I am not sure if I want to do that. I would have gladly returned the laptop for a new replacement unit!