Any experience w/HP laptops?

[Forsaken]

I am looking at buying a new laptop. One of the companies I am looking at is hp, their zd8000. Has anyone had any issues with their laptops? Here are the specs I am looking at for the laptop:

Windows Media Center
3.0ghz
17.0" WSXGA+ BrightView Wide Viewing (1680x1050)
1.0GB DDR2 SDRAM, 533MHz (2x512MB
60 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
DVD+/-RW/R CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer
256MB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) X600
54g(TM) Integ. Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN & Bluetooth
12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

If you have had issues with them, any advanced warning would be nice. Thanks in advance! :cheers

[ECA]

GET EVERYTHING you want or NEED...
Laptops tend to be obsolete after 2 years..finding stuff LATER isnt worth it..
changeing the OS, can be a headache(and 1/2)...
There should be a LOADOUT of windows on the system and a DIR of the DRIVER...COPY THEM OFF, DONT leave on the system.

What is this monster costing you...I see about $3.4-4000...CHECK for hardware updates...MAKE sure you get the RIGHT ONES...they should be at HP..including the VIDEO..

[Forsaken]

The monster is looking to cost about 1950.00 or so. I guess I should have narrowed the question down: how reliable are these? Is there consistent issues with one piece of hw or not? Are people generally happy with these laptops, or would they warn others away from buying them?

[ECA]

In the end, it comes down to, WHAT USE are you going to make of it..
This looks very nice for its setup..

I would consider that there are 3 types of laptops..
1. CRAP(fall apart, cant be fixed easy)
2. NICE(almost durable, as long as you care for it)
3. SUPER(GREAt warrenty, but never use it)

HP makes a decent laptop, but not the best, and they DO have a warrenty.
This would be a 2 rating.
Its not the HIGH end machine, NOT SUPER light, DECENT case to protect it, and the USB/POWER/Ext ports shouldnt BREAK on you..

But i REALy wouldnt think about it as a FPS Shooter.. Whats the refresh on the monitor...Gotta get it under 25..
You didnt supply a link, i would check HP and post one..

[Forsaken]

Valid point. It was my customization: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cto/computer_customize_components.do?storeName=compute r_store&eppPrefix=&category=notebooks/hp_pavilion/zd8000_series&destination=components&productId=PF456AV
My primary purpose was to have a decent multimedia machine/workhorse. Not looking for a game machine: I already have one. I don't if HP has a good rep for sturdy machines. IS there a lot of returns on HP laptops? Does the case fall apart? Just looking for others experience with these. That is a factor I would consider. Also, what brands would people stay away from? :cheers

[ECA]

That is something to wait for...
Im just keeping this thread active to see who replys..
As far As I know, they are pretty tough..
If you look threw the threads in this section, there is a reference to a few sites for eval..

[Sunny]

I have an HP laptop I purchased last year, and I love it. I got an 80 gig hd--not too many do--and I am so glad I did! No problems at all, so far. HP is highly recommended by me. :)

Sunny

[ECA]

they used to be TANKS, Tough laptopops, but not ALWAYS the fastest..
they DID what they were made for..Very well.

[gary_hendricks]

The ZD8000 is rated very well in most magazines.

The pros: Excellent performance; comprehensive feature set; powerful graphics card; 17-inch wide-screen display; dual TV tuners and digital recorder; remote control; crisp speakers; built-in FM radio.

The bad: Huge and heavy; short battery life; noisy fans; runs hot.