HP Pavilion dv9500t review: HP Pavilion dv9500t

We always liked the Pavilion dv9000 series, and today HP's desktop replacement is among the first available systems to feature Intel's refreshed Centrino Duo mobile platform (codename Santa Rosa). With the new processor comes a new model name--Pavilion dv9500t--and a few smaller changes, such as the addition of a fingerprint reader and a different Webcam. The early version of the Pavilion dv9500t we reviewed also included a discrete graphics card and an HD DVD drive--two options that won't be available for about a month. Without those high-end components, the HP Pavilion dv9500t costs a very reasonable $1,615, making it one of the most inexpensive entertainment-oriented desktop replacements on the market. Though high-definition fanatics and casual gamers will want to wait (and save their pennies) for the higher-end components to become available, we think the HP Pavilion dv9500t as it exists today is a good choice for home users who want their laptop to double as a mobile entertainment system.

The dv9500t is the same size as its predecessor, and it remains smaller than both the Dell XPS M1710 and the Gateway NX860XL. Still, the dv9500t weighs nine pounds with its AC adapter, making it too heavy to carry with you every day.

While we prefer matte screens on more business-oriented systems, we're fans of the Pavilion dv9500t's glossy display, which features a crisp 1,440x900 native resolution. The screen produced rich colors and sharp details, and there's plenty of screen real estate for traditional computer work as well. Like all Pavilion laptops, the dv9500t includes a row of light-touch buttons above the keyboard that launch the media player and provide volume and playback controls; a somewhat annoying, high-pitched beep lets you know when you've pressed a button (the beep can be disabled in the system BIOS). Altec Lansing stereo speakers, located above those controls, deliver decent sound, though we prefer the depth and clarity of the sound produced by the speakers on the Toshiba Qosmio G35. And while the pricier Qosmio G35 includes an integrated TV tuner, the Pavilion dv9500t lacks built-in TV capabilities, though HP sells an ExpressCard tuner module for $130.

While other Pavilion laptops (including the dv9000z) offer a 1.3-megapixel camera, HP has bowed out of the megapixel arms race and integrated a VGA-resolution (fewer megapixels) Webcam into the dv9500t. The company reasons that the switch will provide a better frame rate for Webconferencing, especially in low-light conditions. Two built-in microphones on the display bezel eliminate the need for an external microphone while videoconferencing. Like almost all desktop replacements, the Pavilion dv9500t's keyboard is full size and includes a 10-key numeric keypad. The somewhat compact touch pad includes a scroll zone, and we love the touch pad on/off button, which is handy when you want to use an external mouse.

The dv9500t has a typical array of ports and connections for a desktop replacement, though it lacks DVI output. We especially like the laptop's dual headphone jacks, which make it easy to share movies and music with friends. We also like that our Pavilion dv9500t preproduction unit included an HD DVD drive and HDMI output. Unfortunately, this option will not be available on initial dv9500t models, though the laptop will include a double-layer DVD burner with LightScribe, which lets you burn your own labels onto compatible discs. (When the HD DVD drive is offered, we expect it to add about $400 to the laptop's price.) We're not convinced the lack of a next-generation drive is a deal breaker, though buyers who simply must have a high-definition drive immediately should look to the Dell XPS M1710 (Blu-Ray) and the Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV660 (HD DVD).

The biggest development with this new Pavilion desktop replacement is inside its case, where you'll find the latest Intel platform (aka Santa Rosa) and a brand-new Core 2 Duo T7300 processor. Our review unit also included an Nvidia GeForce Go 8600M GS graphics card, though, in a disappointment to casual gamers, this option will not be available for another month. For now the dv9500t will include only Intel's new GMA X3100 integrated graphics. The currently available configuration that comes closest to our review model costs $1,615 for the integrated graphics; a larger, 240GB hard drive; and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi; along with the standard-definition DVD burner mentioned above.

On CNET Labs' application benchmark tests, the HP Pavilion dv9500t performed on a par with other just-announced Santa Rosa laptops, such as the Gateway E-475M and the Lenovo ThinkPad R61. (It's worth noting that these other systems included processors with faster clock speeds.) Curiously, however, the dv9500t trailed slightly behind its predecessor, the Turion 64 X2-based dv9000z, on our Photoshop CS2 image-processing test. The most likely explanation for the discrepancy lies in the laptops' operating systems: the dv9000z was running 64-bit Windows Vista Ultimate, which helps enhance some of Photoshop's graphics features. The newer dv9500t runs on 32-bit Vista Home Premium.

It seems Intel's new mobile platform gave the biggest boost to the HP Pavilion dv9500t's battery life. While the previous-generation HP Pavilion dv9000z couldn't top the two-hour mark on our taxing DVD battery drain test, the Pavilion dv9500t lasted 2 hours, 42 minutes. That battery life would be admirable on a smaller laptop and is downright impressive for a desktop replacement with such a large screen. In fact, the only Santa Rosa system to outlast the Pavilion dv9500t so far is Intel's own whitebook, which includes the company's integrated graphics; it's a slight stretch, but we suspect the first Pavilion dv9500ts (with the Intel GMA X3100 graphics) will have even better battery life than our review unit.

HP backs the Pavilion dv9500t with an industry-standard one-year warranty; the cost to extend the term to three years with express service is a reasonable $200. Toll-free telephone support is available 24-7 during your warranty period, and the HP support Web site includes one of our favorite support features: real-time chat with a tech rep. If you want to troubleshoot problems yourself, you can search through the site's thorough, FAQ database.

Find out more about how we test laptops.

Adobe Photoshop CS2 image-processing test
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

In seconds

HP Pavilion dv9000z

223 

HP Pavilion dv9500t

251 

Gateway E-475M

252 

Lenovo ThinkPad R61

261 

Intel Santa Rosa whitebox

553 

Apple iTunes encoding test
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

In seconds

Intel Santa Rosa whitebox

170 

Gateway E-475M

180 

Lenovo ThinkPad R61

190 

HP Pavilion dv9000z

200 

HP Pavilion dv9500t

202 

DVD battery drain test
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

In minutes

Intel Santa Rosa whitebox

216 

HP Pavilion dv9500t

162 

Gateway E-475M

157 

Lenovo ThinkPad R61

128 

HP Pavilion dv9000z

117 

System configurations:

Gateway E-475M
Windows Vista Business; 2.2GHz Intel Core Duo T7500; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD2300; 100GB Hitachi 7,200rpm

HP Pavilion dv9000z
Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit), AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile TL-64 2.2GHz , 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz, Nvidia Geforce Go 7600, 120GB Seagate ST912082 2AS 5,400rpm

HP Pavilion dv9500t
Windows Vista Home Premium; 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8600M GS; 120GB Western Digital Scorpio 5,400rpm / 80GB Western Digital Scorpio 5,400rpm

Intel Santa Rosa whitebook
Windows Vista Ultimate; 2.4GHz Intel Core Duo T7700; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB Mobile Intel 945GM Express; 80GB Hitachi 7,200rpm

Lenovo ThinkPad R61
Windows Vista Business; 2.2GHz Intel Core Duo T7500; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB Nvidia Quadro NVS 140M; 100GB Hitachi 7,200rpm