In order to get it all working, the software needs to be specifically DXVA compatible, otherwise you're simply relying on the might of the processor. Using the excellent open source VLC, which doesn't support DXVA, saw minor dropped frames when playing back 720p material and a stuttering mess when we switched up to 1080p.
External DVD writer comes bundled
Media Player Classic Home Cinema (MPC-HC), which includes experimental support for DXVA, saw perfect 720p playback but it still struggled when faced with 1080p content. We also tried streaming content from BBC iPlayer which resulted in decent playback of standard definition material, but it wasn't up to the job of high definition.
3DMark06 Results
Longer bars are better
Battery Life Results
Notebook-centric PCMark05 Test
Battery Life in Minutes
Longer bars are better
Netbook-centric Video Playback Test
Battery Life in Minutes
Longer bars are better
COMMENTS
Looks like I wont be replacing my Vaio SZ2XP/C with this thing
Same weight, better performance, better battery life
Does come at a pretty stiff price
DV2 is great !!!
I ordered a DV2 the day it came out and I love it. I travel a great deal and the DV2 is perfect - I had a netbook but it was just too underpowered even though the size was great. I also have a core duo 14" notebook. I like the power and speed but not the weight or size for travel. The DV2 is a great compromise. Not the most powerful but powerful enough and not the smallest or lightest but small and light enough.
As far as heat from the DV2 is concerned, I just returned from Phoenix,USA ( American Southwest ). In the two days I was there the temperature was 105F and 103F respectively. To put it another way - THE WHOLE WORLD was as hot as the exhaust from the DV2. People live, work and love in that heat. I use my DV2 on my lap all of the time in airports and hotel lobbies with no problem.
Battery life is good enough for me but I concede it may not be enough for some. Most airports have charging stations now so about the only place I run on battery power anymore is on the plane. I don't play movies but in just ordinary use I would agree with the Register review that the battery would last about 3 hours or so. I have used it over 2 hours with no problem. Turning off the WiFi helps.
One last note, I have used HP extensively for 30 years. Overall their quality is the best.
Useless
I'll never understand the thinking behind such poor designs. A downsized, performance reduced, ultraportable that can't do the one thing an ultraportable needs to, run for at least a couple hours per charge still after you've owned it a year.
I completely disagree with the suggestion in the review that if one test causes 81 minutes, we can wildly assume 3 hours otherwise. What use is there that isn't running the screen, Vista itself constantly hammers a hard drive with prefetching and auto-defrag let alone the bloated files it really is running, and you can't even browse the 'net these days without needing to view a few pages with flash content because people forgot how to design a website properly.
Simply playing an SD movie on this you probably can't even watch one of typical length due to insufficient battery capacity. I mean after you've had it a few months, battery capacity when brand new is a bit beside the point as it is brand new only once.
HP is all Style and no Quality
My HP Pavillion 9655ea had many overheating and hardware issues from day one, it died just two months out of warranty. Considering that I paid £650 for this Stylish Laptop and had go and get a new machine for almost the same amount within just 14 months, I Wouldn't touch HPs even with a barge-pole.
Pirates coz thats what HP are.
