Customer Reviews

HP Pavilion dv4040us 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 740 (Centrino), 1.0 GB RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)

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

 

 

Just got the HP Pavilion dv4040us a few days ago. Notebook looks sleek, had no dead pixels on the screen. Plus, it is fully loaded with all hardware capabilities one might need, including cool remote control that sticks into PCMCIA slot!
It is my second laptop of all (had Satellite 2805-S202, real great helper of mine).

Pros:
- Quickview capability (watch DVDs and listen to MP3s, plus control everything with remote at a distance of at least 15 feet)
- Large and bright screen with no dead pixels (at least on my machine)
- Nice software package coming with the computer
- 1Gb of RAM
- Great wireless (setting up a new connection with in-home WLAN was a breeze, once I had set up MAC permission on the router!)
- Holds over 3hrs with 6 cell battery. Get 12 cells for 6+ hrs
- Single push-forward, centrally located latch button (now that is a biased convenience thing that came from Satellite)
- Cool blue lighting
- All connections on the sides, none in the back
- Great CD/DVD drive that finally reads all CDs! My former computer could not (somehow it would not recognize) some CDs, including some National Geographic collection
- Delete button is placed in upper right corner of keyboard! No more need to look at the keyboard to find a Del. Before Del buttons were placed more to the left of the corner, thus making me uneasy getting an HP. This one is purr-fect!
- Thinner and lighter than zv5000 notebooks
- Very quiet

Cons:
- Quickplay feature would not recognize VCDs, DivX and other non-DVD movie CDs. It would also not play movies from your hard drive
- No AccuPoint (or similar) device, only touchpad.
- Touchpad's scroll area sometimes would let-the-scroll-loose
- Very little functionality could be added to the touchpad (I would like to see tapping on the corner open some program or maximize the window)


Overall, it seems to be a great notebook (I will use it for Office programs, some strategic games, movie watching, etc) for my purpose, and will update the info if something else comes up.

HP has the WORST customer service of any company of any kind that I have ever dealt with. I have never called without having spent at least one hour on the phone with them before the various extensions in India, none of whom are helpful. And once the service is complete the computer is usually returned with more problems than they were origionally sent with. I would never buy another HP again.

I have owned an HP Pavilion 4000 series notebook for about two years and have sent in for repair four times already. The issues varied from a defective battery, to a defective power supply, to defective system fans and overheating, to locking up unexpectedly. The only consistent factor was the poor customer service I received from HP and the incompetence of the customer support and service outfits for HP.

One of the times, the notebook was returned to me with the HP technician's testing drive installed in it. Another time, the notebook was returned missing all the covers from the bottom (hard drive cover, memory cover, etc.)

This time, the whole computer is missing and the customer support reps do not know the status nor where it is. I have not received assurances from HP that the issue will be resolved anytime soon and all I can get from them is that it is "scheduled" to be shipped to me a week ago.

Extremely poor quality and lack of service make me recommend against purchasing this or any HP notebook.

The dv40404us was my first notebook and I totally love it! I have it since may, 2005 and it never had a problem. I use it for everything, I work with it, I watch movies, play games... Now we bought other notebook because my husband needed one and we chose other HP.

This machine has great guts, but is poorly built. The plastic frame is not rigid enough, and mine does a lot of creaking and groaning when picked up. My DVDROM crapped out within 6 months of owning it, and the power connector has broken twice. Also, the battery gets really hot when playing games or watching movies.

This would be a great laptop if had been given a more solid case with more reliable hardware.

Best in terms of speed, reliability (no freezing) and WiFi access! About the "keys of the keyboard problem"...If you have owned a Toshiba before that, it will feel unusual the first 2-3 times, after that you get used to the feel of the buttons...

But honestly, after a Sony Vaio VGNB 100BD and a Toshiba M35-s405...this notebook is a monster! :)))

This laptop is very user friendly, and has a lot of unique capabilities. The screen is thin, and wide for a fantastic crisp looking screen display; however, the price is the biggest downfall of this product. (...)

This computer has a horrible keyboard. The keys are cheap and I feel that my fingers get caught under the thin adjacent keys that I am hitting. Eventually they will break. In addition, the center of the keyboard flexes do to pushing on a center key. This is the last HP product I'll ever buy. Should have paid more attention to what I was buying. I do not recommend any of the HP computer product line. I have an old Compaq Amarda 7400 and it is built far superior to this piece of junk.