The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition adds Beats Audio to the portable dm4 14-inch notebook frame, but that’s not all that sets this special edition apart from the average dm4.

HP packs in a flash hard drive for faster resume from sleep, a high-resolution matte display that is easy to use outdoors and a beautiful black finish.

Who is the Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition for?

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition is a good fit for students and consumers looking for a portable stylish notebook. The high-resolution display is enormously helpful in comparing several documents or working in multiple windows at the same time, and thanks to the matte finish it is perfect for working from the park. Users listening for better sound form a notebook will enjoy Beats Audio paired with a decent pair of headphones.

Design

The dm4 Beats edition has a striking black and red design looks great, and the notebook is slim enough to go to class or to the cafe without a second thought.

The black metal lid adds to the overall durability of the notebook, but it attracts fingerprints and smudges quite easily. The big red Beats Logo dominates the lid so everyone around knows your computer has Beats Audio.

The notebook exhibits little flex around the corners and on the display, thanks to the metal lid. There is some flex on the middle of the notebook and in the keyboard, but overall the dm4 Beats edition feels sturdy.

Keyboard and Touchpad

For everything HP got right, the keyboard isn’t on the list. The keyboard is incredibly mushy, especially on the left side of the notebook. Combine this with flat keys and we have the makings for many typos.

The dm4 keyboard does offer good key spacing and placement, though the split arrow keys cause some errant cursor movement. The keyboard has red backlighting that looks great and makes it easier to work in low light conditions.

The touchpad on the dm4 Beats Edition is surprisingly good. I experienced no palm movement while typing long documents like this review. Users who prefer external mice will appreciate the ability to turn off the touchpad with a double tap in the upper left.

The touchpad was accurate and the smooth finish provides an excellent mousing surface. Two finger scrolling  was smooth even in troublesome text boxes.  I wish every Windows notebook mousepad was this good.

Display

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition uses a 1600 x 900 resolution 14-inch display with a matte finish that is amazing.

It’s tough to find a high-resolution display on a 14-inch consumer notebook, let alone one with a matte finish and a $800 price.

The 1600 x 900 resolution display is perfect for working on two documents side by side or surfing the web, controlling music and chatting without switching between windows.

Thanks to the matte display the dm4 Beats Edition is easy to use outdoors, even in the bright sun. I wrote this review on my patio in direct sunlight. I would prefer a slightly brighter display but the display was easy enough to see in the sun.

Features

Beats Audio – Beats Audio delivers higher quality notebook audio with 2 speakers and a subwoofer, and shines with headphones.

HP Launch Box – HP bundles a number of commonly used apps into a single Windows 7 Taskbar shortcut box.

HP SimplePass – Easily log into websites with a swipe of a finger or fast switch between different users.

HD Webcam – The TrueVision webcam delivers better than average images for Skype and Google Hangouts.

HP Premier Experience – Like the Lenovo Enhanced Experience, the HP Premier Experience includes a number of user experience improvements, highlighted in the video below.

Performance and Graphics

HP didn’t skimp on the Beats edition of the dm4, which ships with a 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 6GB RAM and a spacious tk hard drive that gets a boost in speed thanks to a small flash cache. This makes the notebook resume from sleep faster and provides other speed enhancements without the need for a small and expensive flash drive.

When it comes to working in multiple apps and listening to music or watching streaming video from Netflix or Hulu there was no slowing down.

The Integrated Intel graphics and 2.5GHz processor deliver enough power to use apps like Photoshop Elements and do light movie editing before sharing clips on YouTube.

The notebook uses integrated graphics, which limits the gaming potential, but doesn’t rule out gaming on the go. I wouldn’t suggest playing the latest Call of Duty games, but casual flash games and games like Portal 2 are perfectly suited for the dm4 Beats Edition.

Audio

The Beats Audio sounds good on the dm4′s speakers, but the audio really sparkles when paired with a good pair of headphones.

Listening to a bit of everything from Van Halen’s Hot for Teacher and Foster the People’s Pumped Up Kicks to Bruno Mars’ Lighters and a bit of Frank Sinatra was a delight with Beats Audio and my Nox Audio Scout headphones.

No matter which genre I’m listening to I was impressed with the clear audio. From the crisp sound of drums on Hot for Teacher to the floating piano and bass of Lighters it was clear that Beats Audio delivers a better audio experience than the average notebook and most gadgets for that matter.

Even with the volume at 60% music was loud enough to drown out any surrounding noises and deliver a great listening experience.

HP explains Beats Audio in the video below:

I’m not going to pretend to be an audiophile, but I love it when music sounds good and that’s an area where the dm4 Beats edition delivers.

Battery Life

I tested the HP Pavilion dm4 beats edition with the Laptop Magazine battery test, which simulates web browsing with the screen set at 40% and the notebook lasted 5 hours and 52 minutes.

Even under a full load, with the screen at full brightness, multiple Chrome Windows open and music at full blast the Pavilion dm4 lasted a respectable 4 hours. That’s great considering I paid no attention to activities that drain the battery.

The Bottom Line

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition delivers great sound and performance with an elegant design.

Despite the keyboard issues and integrated graphics performance the HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition offers a lot of value.

The HP software extras and great price combine to offer a wonderful package.

Gallery

Specs

HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

It’s hard to find the perfect bag or backpack, but even harder to find a bag that adjusts to carry a different set of gadgets and gear every day.

The Tom Bihn Brain Bag can do just that, slimming down when I need to carry just a notebook, and expanding when I need to carry two notebooks, two tablets and a DSLR.

For the past 6 months I’ve abused the Tom Bihn Brain Bag from Detroit to Denver and through a long week in Vegas covering CES 2012.

I’m impressed with the versatility and the durability of the Brain Bag. Because I can grow and shrink the bag to fit my needs for that day it is my go-to bag.

Tom Bihn Brain Bag

The Tom Bihn Brain Bag has room for 2 Brain Cell notebook cases. These light, but durable cases lock into the compartment to offer a higher level of protection that can easily be removed to double as a stand alone bag.

Tom Bihn sent over one Vertical Brain Cell with the Brain Bag, and it is a perfectly sized for the MacBook Air. Larger sizes are available for almost any notebook. The Vertical Brain Cell is $60.

Brain Cell inside Tom Bihn Brain Bag.

I like that this is a separate part of the bag, and that it provides protection on the base of the bag, a place where many bags skimp.

I often kept my MacBook Air in this spot, and in a pinch kept my iPad in between this and the remaining room.

Tom Bihn Freudian Slip

The next large section can hold a Brain Cell, but I used the Fredian Slip here to keep odds and ends and paper. The large pockets on the back of the Fruedian Slip proved perfect for any size tablet or a thin notebook like the Toshiba Portege z835.

When carrying two notebooks I keep one in this section behind the slip. I also keep adapters and a portable hard drive in the elastic sections at the base of the removable organizer. I used the Snake Charmer to carry my cables to CES and eventually to hold my iPhone 4S camera rig when not in use.

Tom Bihn Snake Charmer

When I arrived at CES I removed the Freudian Slip and the Snake Charmer to lighten the load without the need to do any real unpacking.

When I was in Detroit to check out how Ford is using technology to make awesome cars I had to have my notebook, iPad and a camera on hand, and the front section of the bag proved large enough to hold my Nikon D5100 DSLR without bulging.

A portion of what I carry in the Tom Bihn Brain Bag.

I really like the ability to use the four straps on the sides of the bag to tighten up the bag when I am only carrying a notebook, or let them out when I have a lot of gadgets in the bag. This versatility allows me to pack heavy for a trip and go slim when I arrive.

In addition to the two main compartments, the Tom Bihn Brain Bag includes a large top pocket that is perfect for iPhone battery cases or a MiFi. On each side there is a pocket large enough for a water bottle complete with interior pockets for pens and papers. There is a mesh pocket on the outside of the left pocket as well.

The Tom Bihn Brain Bag has plenty of pockets.

In between the pockets is a hook and latch system that can hold a water bottle, thermos or an umbrella.

The bag is water-resistant and has a water-repellent finish to keep rain and snow from damaging your gadgets and documents. The overall build of the bag is great with little wear noticeable after six months of use.

The bag is comfortable to wear even when loaded up with multiple laptops and tablets and includes a removable chest strap.

I highly recommend the Tom Bihn Brain Bag and accessories to travelers that need a durable, versatile bag. The Brain Bag is well worth the $150 price, especially considering the ability to do the job of more than one bag.

Buy the Tom Bihn Brain Bag at Tom Bihn for $150.

Tom Bihn Brain Bag Gallery

Tom Bihn Brain Bag Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

AMD’s second-generation APU called Trinity, is the company’s new take on low-power high-performance processors.

Trinity will make its first appearance in the HP SleekBook and other sleek and slim notebooks.

You won’t find the AMD Trinity APU inside an Ultrabook, as that trademark is owned by Intel, but sleek & slim notebooks are starting to look a lot like Ultrabooks.

The graphics power of the new AMD Trinity APU is one of its biggest draws, but we’ve yet to see it go head-to-head with the new third-generation Intel Core i family of processors that are rolling out a new notebooks.

AMD is toting the battery capacity of notebooks with the new AMD Trinity second generation APU, with low power draws. AMD hopes that the AllDay battery life claim holds true when the first notebooks arrive with Trinity. AMD claims that Trinity will deliver better battery life to users for gaming web browsing and even when Windows is idle.

Consumers will love the new AMD Quick Stream technology that prioritizes video streaming over other activities to prevent start-stop-start-stop viewing that can occur.

The new AMD Trinity systems will be capable of AMD Eyefinity, which delivers an immersive gaming experience across three monitors. It is not clear if this will be available on all systems.

The first AMD Trinity powered systems will arrive this summer, but many more will arrive later this year alongside Windows 8. AMD says that the Trinity platform has an advantage thanks to hardware acceleration for the Windows 8 Metro UI and Metro style apps.

The AMD Trinity processor will allow manufacturers like HP, Samsung and others to offer lower priced thin and light systems. The HP Sleekbook with an AMD Trinity processor offers an Ultrabook-esque experience at $599. The 14-inch HP SleekBook with an Intel Core i 3rd generation processor is $100 more.

Look for these new notebooks and AMD powered systems later this year.

AMD Trinity A-Series APU Boasts Power and Battery Life is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The Samsung Series 7 CHRONOS notebook marries a 17-inch monitor and the latest 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GPU for a desktop replacement notebook that doesn’t break your back, though it might put a pain in your wallet.

The new Samsung Series 7 CHRONOS notebook has a 17.3 inch 1080P HD display with Samsung SuperBright tech that Samsung claims delivers 36% to 50% brighter screens than conventional notebooks.

The quad core Intel 3rd generation Core i7 processor with TurboBoost 2.0.1 for more power when applications demand it, and Samsung Fast Start will speed up the sleep to go speeds. It doesn’t hurt that the notebook includes an 8GB flash memory on the motherboard to speed up operations without limiting file storage like a SSD only system.

Samsung claims that the battery will last up to 8 hours, which most likely needs discounted for real world use. Samsung says that the battery will retain 80% of its capacity for 1,500 charges, or about 3 years, which many consumer notebooks cannot claim.

There is a premium placed on entertainment from the full HD display to the graphics and even the speakers. The Series 7 Chronos has JBL speakers and a subwoofer for above average sound. The new NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GPU allows users to play games, edit movies and perform lots of multitasking. The notebook also features Wireless Display, with the ability to mirror content to an HDTV wirelessly, with a $99 adapter.

The Samsung Series 7 CHRONOS is retails for $1,499 and is available at most Best Buy locations and online for $1,399.

Samsung Series 7 CHRONOS Gallery

Samsung Series 7 CHRONOS Specs

Samsung Series 7 CHRONOS 17-inch Desktop Replacement Launches is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Standing while you work isn’t something most office workers think about, but it’s an easy way to work healthier and be more productive.

The Ergotron WorkFit-D is the best sit-stand desk I’ve used, solving many of my complaints about the half-dozen sit-stand desk configurations I have used over the past few years.

The Ergotron WorkFit-D delivers a sit-stand experience without losing the benefits of a traditional desk, including space to put papers, coffee and accessories while sitting and standing.

Users can adjust the height of the WorkFit-D’s 23-inch by 48-inch workspace up to 20-inches in height, from  29-inches tall to 49 inches tall. Users can place monitors or notebooks right on the desk, or opt for a monitor mount that attaches to the center for an ideal experience.

I love sit-stand desks because I don’t need separate workspaces to stand and sit while working. Sitting all day can play a factor in various physical ailments and even earlier death than those who stand for a portion of the day. It also plays a role in weight gain and increase in cardiovascular troubles. Check out Sitting is Killing You for more information.

Now that I’ve scared you into standing up while you read this Ergotron WorkFit-D review, here’s what I like about the Ergotron WorkFit-D.

Ergotron WorkFit-D Review Video

Check out a tour of the WorkFit-D, including where the desk shines and what needs improvement.

Where the WorkFit-D is Great

The height adjustments fit me better than the previous models I have tried, and the WorkFit-D is much sturdier than the WorkFit-C, a sit-stand desk that shook some when I was typing heavily. There is still some movement on the WorkFit-D, but not nearly as much.

The WorkFit-D includes a large work area for my tablet, phone and other desk accessories, and the optional keyboard tray is large enough to hold a keyboard and a mouse, in my case the magic trackpad from Apple, but it is large enough for a traditional mouse.

I paired the WorkFit-D with the LX Dual Side-by-Side Arm monitor mount from Ergotron that slots into an opening in the middle of the desk. This mount is available for around $250 on Amazon. This allows me to move the monitors to the perfect positions. If I had it to do over, I would buy the Stacking Arm version.

Where the WorkFit-D Needs Improvement

The Ergotron WorkFit-D is almost perfect, but it could improve in a few areas.

The desk or the keyboard tray needs a few more inches of height. If I stand straight, the keyboard try is a little too low for comfortable use. I often use a wider stance to hit the correct height.

The WorkFit-D needs an optional powerstrip and built in cord, hidden inside the back-end. Combined with a small basket to hold wires, this would make for a nicer looking unit and solve the problem of wires catching when moving the desk up and down.

Why I Love the WorkFit-D

I’ve used the WorkFit-D for 5 months, as my main desk. This is the best sit-stand desk I have used. I love standing while I work, because it helps me stay focused, avoid afternoon lulls in productivity and the many health benefits mentioned earlier.

Using the Nike Fuelband to monitor my activity level, I found that I am 20-30% more active when I incorporate standing into my workday, even for just an hour or two of standing. This is thanks to the small movements I take while standing and moving to music.

Is the WorkFit-D Worth It?

The WorkFit D retails for $900 without the keyboard tray or monitor mount, but is for sale at around $800 on Amazon.

This is an expensive sit-stand desk, but it is well worth the price for users that want to sit and stand during the day without the need for separate workstations or loss of a desk to place their office clutter.

Read: Ergotron WorkFit-S Review

If the price is too much, I recommend the WorkFit-S, a sit-stand desk that clamps onto almost any existing desk, converting it into a sit-stand desk for around $360-$380.

Sit-Stand Desk Guide: Measurements, Examples and Benefits

If you are new to sit-stand desks, you can turn any desk into a standing desk with a bit of work. With a few measurements and office scraps, you can turn your desk into a standing desk. It won’t look as pretty as the WorkFit-D, but it’s a great way to try a standing desk.

Ergotron WorkFit-D Review: Nearly Perfect Sit-Stand Desk is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Building on the HP ENVY Spectre brand announced at CES 2012, the new HP ENVY Spectre XT is a smaller ENVY Ultrabook with a friendlier $999 price.

Like the rest of the HP ENVY notebooks, the ENVY Spectre XT, focuses on the look and feel of the notebook. HP focuses on the aesthetics, but doesn’t forget about power, including third generation Intel processors.

The Spectre XT has an all-metal chassis with a slim bezel that helps keep the size of the notebook in check. The Spectre XT is 14.5 mm thick and weighs in at 3.07 pounds.

HP ENVY Spectre XT Hands On Video

Check out our hands on with the ENVY Spectre XT for a closer look at the Spectre XT features.

HP ENVY Spectre XT Specs

The ENVY Spectre XT will ship with third generation Intel Core i processor options and the latest integrated Intel HD graphics options. The XT has a 13.3-inch display.

The HP ENVY Spectre XT includes a 128GB SSD drive for speedy access to apps and startup. The size seems small for users coming from a standard hard drive, but the speed is a good tradeoff for most users.

HP ENVY Spectre XT Features

The ENVY Spectre XT includes a number of consumer friendly features designed to enhance the user experience.

• Beats Audio – HP boasts that Beats Audio allows users to hear music the way the artist intended thanks to a collaboration with Dr. Dre.
• CoolSense – With CoolSense, the Spectre XT knows when to adjust performance and fan settings to keep the XT cool.
• HP ImagePad – The mousepad on the Spectre XT supports multifinger gesture navigation, which HP claims is precise.
• HP TrueVision Webcam – The XT delivers an HD video chat experience thanks to this HD webcam which should deliver sharp images in Google+ Hangouts and Skype.
• Backlit Keyboard – Oddly an option and not a standard, the backlit keyboard simplifies working in dimly lit situations.
• Software – Included with the XT are full versions of Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements.
• Anti-Theft – The Spectre XT includes a year of Absolute Data Protect.

ENVY Spectre XT Battery Life

HP rates the ENVY Spectre XT battery life at 8 hours. PC manufacturers are better at measuring real world battery life, but the Spectre XT will likely clock in shorter under real world conditions.

ENVY Spectre XT Price and Release Date

HP is releasing the ENVY Spectre XT on June 3rd with a $999.99 starting price.

HP Envy Spectre XT Specs

HP ENVY Spectre XT Gallery

HP ENVY Spectre XT Hands On Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

HP is going all in on Ultrabooks this spring with the introduction of the HP ENVY SleekBook and the ENVY Ultrabook.

Both of these ENVY notebooks include 14-inch and 15-inch configurations, and attractive starting prices.

The HP ENVY Sleekbook starts at $599,while the HP ENVY Ultrabook starts at $749.

HP ENVY Sleekbook & ENVY Ultrabook Specs

HP’s Envy Sleekbook 15.6-inch size will only come with AMD APU processors and discrete graphics with a 320GB hard drive, which is why the notebook starts at $599. The 14-inch model will be available with 2nd gen and 3rd Gen Intel Core i Processors and a 500GB hard drive.

The HP ENVY Ultrabook will ship with 2nd and 3rd gen Intel Core i processors and a 500GB hard drive with a 32GB mSATA Cache for faster boots and access to frequently used programs.

Both of these notebooks are slim, measuring 19.8mm thick and starting weights of 4 pounds.

HP ENVY Sleekbook & ENVY Ultrabook Features

Even though the new Sleekbook starts at $599, all the new ENVY Sleekbooks and Ultrabooks come with a collection of features expected in the ENVy line.

• Beats Audio – Listen to music the way artists want you to hear it with this premium audio solution from HP and Dr. Dre. This is the first time Beats Audio is available in large screen notebooks, and includes a subwoofer.
• HP CoolSense – CoolSense knows when the notebook is getting to hot and can sense when it is on a lap or on a table to adjust fans and processor usage to keep the notebook from overheating.
• ProtectSmart – ProtectSmart locks the hard drive when it senses a fall, in an attempt to save the hard drive and your data.
• HP TrueVision HD webcam – The HD webcam should deliver a better than average video chat experience in Skype and Google+ Hangouts.

ENVY Sleekbook & ENVY Ultrabook Battery Life

The HP ENVY Sleekbook models claim up to 9 hours of battery life. The 15.6-inch Ultrabook also claims 9 hours of battery life, but the 14-inch ENVY Ultrabook is limited to 8 hours.

These stats will likely shrink by 20% in the real world as users crank up the screen brightness and use resource intensive programs, but that should still deliver 6-7 hours of battery life.

ENVY Sleekbook & Ultrabook Price and Release Date

The HP ENVY Ultrabook models will be available on May 9th, as will the 14-inch Sleekbook. The 15.6-inch Sleekbook will not arrive until JUne 20th.

• HP ENVY SleekBook 14″ – $699
• HP ENVY SleekBook 15.6″ – $599
• HP ENVY Ultrabook 14″ – $749
• HP ENVY Ultrabook 15.6″ – $799

HP ENVY SleekBook & Ultrabook Gallery

HP ENVY Sleekbook & ENVY Ultrabook Announced is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Building on the success of the HP Folio Ultrabook that straddles the consumer and professional line, HP has embraced the business Ultrabook with the new HP Elitebook Folio 9470m.

The HP EliteBook Folio 9470m is an attractive jump up from the new HP Elitebook 2170p’s 11 inch display, without sacrificing the size and weight. The Elitebook Folio 9470m is 3.5 pounds.

Business travelers will appreciate the 18.95 mm thick frame, long battery life thanks to an optional slice battery and backlit keyboard, as well as the ability to dock the Elitebook Folio in the office to quickly connect to external monitors and accessories.

Unlike many ultraportables and ultrabooks, the Elitebook Folio includes a full complement of ports including, three USB 3.0 ports, DisplayPort, Ethernet and VGA. The EliteBook Folio also comes with an option for 3G and 4G LTE embedded connectivity.

The EliteBook Folio 9470m will use the latest Intel 3rd generation processors and is capable of handling up to 16GB of RAM. HP offers a variety of storage options including the ability to install a Flash Cache for faster boots and access to often used programs.

The Elitebook Folio won’t be sold on the shelves of Best Buy when it is released in October, as it is aimed at companies who place a high value on the reliability of notebooks. Consumers who need a notebook that can last four years of college would be wise to look into the EliteBook Folio when it launches.

HP EliteBook Folio 9470m Specs

HP EliteBook Folio: Business Ultrabook with Docking & Slice Battery is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

HP EliteBook w-series mobile workstations offer top of the line performance in a mobile package. With performance meeting or exceeding dedicated desktop solutions, these notebooks are found in the hands of specialized employees performing mission critical work out in the field.

The HP EliteBook Mobile Workstations feature certified graphics, and the latest Intel 3rd generation Intel Core i processors for performance and reliability with third-party applications. The EliteBook w-series comes in three distinct sizes, the 17-inch 8770w, the 15-inch  8570w and the 14 -inch 8470w.

These notebooks will most often be found in use by financial traders, engineers, designers, and architects in mechanical CAD. Creative professionals who work with video, post production and 3D animation also favor these powerful mobile workstations.

Check out the video below to find out what’s new in the EliteBook w-series Mobil Workstations for 2012, and learn how professionals use these notebooks in the real world.

All of the HP EliteBook w-series Mobile Workstations meet MIL-STD-810G testing for dust, vibration, shock, altitude, drop, high temperature, low temperature and temperature shock, and come with a business rugged design.

The EliteBook Mobile Workstations all come with removable batteries and support external battery packs to provide power when away from outlets. Each of these notebooks can use the same family of HP docks and accessories across the entire EliteBook w-series line.

The 15.6 inch and 17-inch notebooks come with DreamColor capability, which allows the user to see what the content will look like on the display of the end-user right on the notebook’s 17 inch display, an important feature for creative professionals.

The EliteBook w-series Mobile Workstations support up to three hard drives with the optical bay removed so that the notebook is able top run mirroring and striping for data redundancy.

The HP EliteBook w-series Mobile Workstations will arrive this summer on HP.com and through authorized resellers.

HP EliteBook w-series Mobile Workstations Are Ready for Action (Video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The HP Pavilion g series notebooks occupy the shelves of Walmart and Staples, but despite the low price these notebooks offer good build quality and a high overall value to budget notebook shoppers.

The Hp Pavilion g6 starts at $479 and the g7 starts at $549, but often drop closer to the $400 price point in stores and on sale. The Pavilion g6 and g7 notebooks are typically found on sale year round, and especially during the back to school season.

The HP Pavilion g6 has a 15.6 inch display and the Pavilion g7 has a 17.3 inch display, but for the most part these notebooks share specs and looks.

If you’re on a very tight budget and need a basic computer, the HP Pavilion g series is a go to notebook. The Pavilion g series can handle basic web browsing and document editing, but users looking to play games and for a better entertainment options should consider the HP ENVY Sleekbook at $599 or the HP Pavilion dv4 which starts at $549.99.

The HP Pavilion g6 and G7 notebooks will come in a variety of configurations that vary from store to store. When shopping the Pavilion g6 or g7 models, look for an Intel Core i processor at the minimum.

Poor build quality is a common problem with budget notebooks, but the HP Pavilion g6 and g7 , but this is not a problem for the Pavilion g series. When we reviewed the HP Pavilion g6 last year, the sturdy build quality impressed, with little flex throughout the notebook.

The style and design of the new Pavilion g6 and g7 notebooks hasn’t changed much from the video below.

When possible, we recommend upgrading to a Pavilion dv series notebook, but the Pavilion g series are a good option for a second family computer for kids to use.

HP Pavilion g6 & Pavilion g7 Budget Notebooks Refreshed for Spring 2012 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.