HP Pavilion dv2z

Affordable Ultraportable

The HP Pavilion dv2z is a thin and light notebook that weighs in at less than four pounds and measures less than an inch thick. Notebooks with these dimensions used to be very expensive, but this ultraportable is now within anyone’s reach at just $549. The Pavilion dv2z is a good option for people who like the portability that a netbook offers, but prefer a larger display and keyboard.

The dv2z also excels when it comes to entertainment compared to netbooks. When configured with ATI Radeon 3410 graphics, the dv2z can playback high-definition video with ease. The 12.1″ display is on the small side for enjoying movies and video games, but users can easily hook it up to an HDTV or external monitor thanks to an included HDMI port. The Pavilion dv2z is so thin and light, that there’s no room for a DVD drive. However, you can play back DVDs and Blu-ray Discs with an optional external drive.

Video Overview

HP Pavilion dv2z Pricing and Configurations

HPDirect.com is currently offering the entry-level Pavilion dv2 for $549. It can be customized and comes with the following specifications:

• Windows Vista Home Basic
• AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 Processor (1.6GHz, 512KB L2 Cache) with ATI Radeon X1250 Graphics
• 1GB Memory (RAM)
• 250GB Hard Drive
• Wireless-G Card

HP’s recommended configuration of the Pavilion dv2 costs $749.99. It is much more robust than the base configuration because it comes with a dual-core processor and a graphics processor that can handle high-definition content. It has both a larger hard drive and more memory. It also comes with Vista Home Premium, which includes Media Center and other features not included in Windows Vista Home Basic.

• Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit)
• AMD Turion Neo X2 Dual-Core L625 (1.6GHz, 1MB) with 512MB ATI Radeon Graphics 3410
• 2GB Memory (RAM)
• 320GB Hard Drive

Upgrades to Consider: The recommend configuration is a good starting point, but you should consider making a few upgrades so you can get the best possible mobile computing experience.

• 4GB of RAM: HP is currently offering 50% off the 4GB memory upgrade. More memory will help your notebook run faster and smoother. It’s especially important for multitasking or running complex applications.
• DVD+/-RW External Drive: This drive will allow you to playback and create DVDs and CDs. It’s designed to match the appearance of the dv2. A Blu-ray drive is available, but at $129.99, it’s too expensive to buy unless you have definite plans to enjoy Blu-ray movies on your dv2.

Pavilion dv2z Reviews

• Editor’s Choice Award from NotebookReview.com.
• PC World wrote that the dv2z has “reasonable power for a moderate price.”

Design

The HP Pavilion dv2z is very rigid despite being so thin. The top of this notebook is made of magnesium, which protects the display and allows it to be razor-thin .

This cover comes in black by default and has a matching keyboard and palm-rest. The black version has a subtle pattern and silver highlights on the palm rest.

The moonlight white finish is a $25 upgrade. The display’s cover is solid white and there is a pattern on the palm rest. Some users prefer the moonlight finish because it stands out and does a better job at hiding fingerprints.

Connectivity

The Pavilion dv2z comes standard with a Wireless G card. If extended wireless range is desired, a Wireless N card card is available as an upgrade. Bluetooth can be added if you want to wirelessly sync your phone or use a Bluetooth headset.

HP’s Pavilion dv2z has plenty of ports and plugs. On the left side of it is an Ethernet port, VGA video port, HDMI port and two USB ports.

On the left side is the power switch, wireless on/off switch, memory card reader, microphone jack, earphone jack, a third USB port, AC power port and Kensington lock slot.