Running the machine through standard benchmarks shows a design with a lot of potential. PCMark Vantage 64 returned an overall index of 3803, which is a reasonable score.
PCMark Vantage Results
Longer bars are better
The HP didn’t do so well on 3DMark Vantage's Performance setting, however, giving an overall score of 1263 and separate CPU and GPU indexes of 4433 and 1020, respectively. These Futuremark simulations work the system harder than current games, and we saw frame rates in the region of 60f/s in World of Warcraft, for example.
3DMark Vantage Results
Longer bars are better
Although it has a six-cell, 55Wh lithium-ion battery, the laptop only managed two-and-a-quarter hours of video playback on a single charge, which is enough for a movie, but not much more. If you’re on an InterCity journey, make use of the complimentary mains sockets.
Not that you'll really want to be taking this boy out and about with you. It may be less bulky than its predecessor, but it still weighs 3.4kg. And at 379 x 335 x 33.2-44.2mm in size, you'll need some big, tough luggage to carry it around in.
But is it all worth a grand? It's not woefully over-priced - it's a branded product and you're paying for the name. You can certainly spec up a 15in or 17in notebook to offer what the HDX-16 does for a fair bit less that £999.
Verdict
HP's HDX16 is a multimedia powerhouse, handling TV, HD content and music with aplomb. It's not a games machine, but it'll run most modern titles well enough to suit casual players. Just don't expect to do all this multimedia malarkey for too long away from the mains, OK?
HP HDX16-1000 16in multimedia laptop
COMMENTS
Shiny display?
A shiny display? For me that's a completely no-go. No matter what else it has to offer. I wanna see my data, not myself.
the hdd
Are there better options for the HDD? for £1000, i would expect something significantly better than a 5400 RPM HDD, which is woefully underpowered for this kind of rig, any probably why the reviewer said that vista didnt feel 'snappy'.
Current Games?
"These Futuremark simulations work the system harder than current games, and we saw frame rates in the region of 60f/s in World of Warcraft, for example."
World of Warcrack is over 4 YEARS old, it's not current and it's graphics engine is about advanced as Quake 2. Try something like CrysisWarhead for a current game or Stalker Clear sky and this thing will crawl very very badly. For that price I would expect much much better 3D support.
Well worth the grand...
...since SWMBO will actually let you have it in first place, unlike most other "oh, you bought *another* computer" notebooks around. A mere two hundred pounds is a moderate surcharge for this.
One might even be allowed to place it on the living room table...
...the black one, please
I was expecting something better...
That notebook looks exactly like HP's dv7 which comes with a 17" screen, blu-ray, HDMI, 4GB ram, 320GB HDD...sounds pretty much the same spec, and is a fair bit cheaper. Why release basically the same model for a higher price?
