Features:
- Intel Celeron M processor
- 1.4GHz, 512MB, 60GB
- DVD+R/RW, 14'' W-XGA, XPH
Description:
The Basics
If overwhelming power and top-notch 3D graphics performance aren't your main concerns and you appreciate amenities such as DVD burning, wireless operation and easy portability, the affordable HP Pavilion dv1010us Notebook PC may strike your fancy. This is not the ideal unit if you regularly put your notebook through its paces with high-end programs that require a lot of computing horsepower, but it's just fine for organizing photos, checking email, doing homework, hammering out word documents or tracking sales contacts. Moreover, it's not overly cumbersome at just a smidgeon over five lbs. Processor
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The Pavilion dv1010us features a Mobile Intel Celeron 330 processor running at 1.4 GHz. Although this is a new and much improved version of the venerable Celeron chip, it remains a midlevel processor that is best suited to midlevel duties. If you intend to run ultra-high-end processor-intensive applications, you will encounter degraded performance. Memory
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Pavilion dv1010us incorporates 512 megabytes of RAM, a surprisingly generous allotment for an entry-level machine and certainly enough to permit satisfactory multitasking. Moreover, the unit supports memory upgrades to a whopping two gigabytes -- more than you'll ever need. Video
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output, particularly 3D graphics, to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). A graphics controller with "dedicated" built-in video memory is preferable to one with "shared" video memory wherein the graphics controller borrows a portion of the all-important main system memory. The cost-effective Intel Extreme Graphics 2 chipset installed inside the Pavilion dv1010us is integrated to the mainboard and features shared (not dedicated) video memory. This is a typical setup for budget-priced notebooks, though it is not ideal for anyone who deals with visually demanding applications such as the latest 3D games or 3D graphics design. Display
Featuring a DVD-friendly widescreen format and supporting crystal clear 1280 by 768 resolution, the system's 14-inch display is slightly larger than average. Hard Disk
The Pavilion dv1010us features a 60 GB hard disk. This is a typical size for a notebook in this price range and more than enough for a broad range of applications and also a library of space-gobbling music and/or multimedia files. Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Most drives support several of these operations. This system boasts a versatile DVD+R/RW and CD-RW combo drive, through which you can do all of the above. Audio
The Pavilion dv1010us offers solid mobile sound via a pair of Harman/Kardon-designed speakers and a pair of stereo earbud headphones. Keyboard and Controls
You'll control your notebook via a 101 key-compatible keyboard, a Touch Pad with an on/off button and dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad, and several one-touch hotkeys. Connectivity and Expansion
The Pavilion dv1010us doesn’t offer ultra-upscale perks such as Bluetooth or Infrared, but it's equipped with all the connectivity you're ever likely to need. The unit features a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port for high-speed wired network and Internet, and 802.11b/g wireless technology for cord-free communication. Other key amenities include three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), and a 6-in-1 card reader for reading and transferring files from popular memory cards. Operating System and Software
HP will pre-install a copy of Microsoft's Windows Home Edition operating system and an assortment of useful applications including Microsoft's Works productivity package, Microsoft's Money financial suite, and several multimedia utilities. Dimensions and Weight
Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and too cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two or three lbs. and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The Pavilion dv1010us is comfortably undersized and therefore more easily portable at just 5.3 lbs and 13.5 by 9.3 by 1.2 inches. Power
The Pavilion dv1010us sports a 6-cell Lithium-Ion battery.
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