Stylish modern design meets solid multimedia chops in the HP Pavilion dv4t, a $599 notebook designed for entertainment seekers who want to stay productive and amused on the go. Featuring responsive touchscreen controls, MediaSmart software for fast access to photos, music, and video, and quality Altec Lansing speakers, the 5.2-pound Pavilion dv4t is a very good machine for the price; we just wish it had a little more muscle.
Design
One of the first things you’ll notice about dv4t is its slick, eye-catching HP Imprint 2 design. Our model was Express Black; it is also available in Moonlight White. The onyx and chrome “liquid metal” finish (highlighted on the lid and base with subtle stripes) has stylish swirls and circles that give the notebook extra pop. Its mesh design, which surrounds the keyboard and extends upward toward the hinges, blends well with the system’s overall look.
Measuring 13.2 x 9.5 x 1.6 inches and weighing 5.2 pounds, the dv4t is slightly thicker and about half a pound heavier than competing 14-inch notebooks, such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Y450, but it’s a shade lighter and about the same size as the Gateway TC Series. This notebook isn’t tailor-made for travelers, but students and home users shouldn’t have much difficulty carrying it around.
Keyboard, Touchpad, and Ports
The dv4t’s keys feature a glossy coating that matches the rest of the notebook’s aesthetic, but some may find its slickness problematic. The keyboard itself is sturdy (with only a hint of flex), and we experienced adequate feedback when typing e-mails and URLs. Above the keyboard are touch-sensitive multimedia keys, and a Wi-Fi on/off switch that reacted swiftly to our finger inputs. To the left of these controls is HP’s touch-sensitive MediaSmart key, which let us quickly access our photos, music, and video content.
At 3.0 x 1.4 inches, the dv4t’s touchpad is wide, but we felt as though it would have benefited from additional vertical space. And, as with most Pavilion notebooks, the touchpad’s mirrorlike surface requires too much effort to make fine cursor movements. Otherwise, it’s pretty smooth, if a bit fast. Positioned above this area is a button to deactivate the touchpad when you’re using an external mouse. A pair of mouse buttons provide adequate feedback, but we would’ve liked more responsiveness.
The perimeter of the system is packed with ports. On the right side, you’ll find two USB 2.0 ports, a power jack, and the DVD burner. Up front are two headphone jacks, a mic jack, and an infrared window (does anyone use this any more?). The left side of the dv4t houses a Kensington lock slot, VGA, HDMI, an USB/eSATA combo port, 5-in-1 memory card reader, ExpressCard/54, and an expansion port for HP’s optional docking station.
Display, Webcam, and Audio
Our There Will Be Blood DVD looked great on the 14.1-inch, 1280 x 800-pixel resolution display, provided that we stayed directly in front of the system. The dv4t’s viewing angles were extremely tight: the glossy display kicked back heavy reflection as we moved left or right of center. We didn’t particularly mind the screen’s resolution, but for an extra $20, the IdeaPad Y450 offers a 1366 x 768-pixel display.
Above the display, the 0.3-megapixel webcam served up solid skin-tone replication when we video chatted with friends and colleagues using Meebo. We saw only minimal motion blur and stuttering when they made quick movements. People on thDe other end reported that we looked fairly good, even in low-light situations.
Twin Altec Lansing speakers provided very loud, room-filling sound when watching DVDs and listening to music. While streaming tunes from Slacker, songs with strong bass lines (such as Brick’s “Dusic”) packed a satisfying amount of thump.
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