Bundled Software
Even now that it’s not so cool for notebook vendors to load consumer machines with trialware, many still come preinstalled, and the HDX 16 is no exception. It has trial versions of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 and Norton Internet Security 2008. It also has LabelPrint, Muvee AutoProducer 6.1, Power2Go, Sling Player, and Yahoo Toolbar. On the plus side, the HDX 16 comes with CyberLink DVD Suite for watching movies and burning discs. Finally, the machine has HP MediaSmart and MediaSmart QuickPlay for viewing your collection on that big screen.
Wi-Fi, Battery Life, and Warranty
The HDX 16’s Intel WiFi Link 5100 radio delivered strong wireless scores: 19.8 Mbps at 15 feet and 19.5 Mbps at 50 feet. In addition to 802.11n Wi-Fi, it has Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity. The six-cell battery lasted 1 hour and 59 minutes on the LAPTOP Battery Test (continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi). That’s about an hour and a half short for a mainstream notebook, but we suspect that people who want a multimedia machine this big aren’t likely to leave it unplugged much anyway.
HP covers the HDX 16 with a one-year warranty, including 24/7, toll-free phone support. Click here to see how HP fared in our Tech Support Showdown.
The Verdict
With its stunning display, Blu-ray drive, TV tuner, booming Altec Lansing speakers and 16:9 aspect ratio, the HP HDX 16 is made for people who want a powerful multimedia machine that’s still light enough to carry around once in a while. Although the Sony VAIO FW series is sleeker and lasts longer on a charge, for nearly $300 less, the HDX 16 excels where it really counts, delivering superior productivity and graphics performance and more-powerful sound. The HDX 16 also looks more like a premium machine compared with the HP Pavilion dv7, which lacks the HDX 16’s 1080p display option. The touchpad could be smoother, and we wish the touch-sensitive buttons were more responsive, but overall the HDX 16 is a desktop replacement in a mainstream notebook’s body that delivers great value for the price.
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