Dealzon's HP Laptop Buying Guide

The HP dm1z is definitely one of the best bang-for-your-buck laptops on the market right now. It single-handedly redefined netbook-class laptops, bringing their performance level from "good enough" to "plenty fast." And the best part is that the price stayed in the same affordable range (compared to netbooks of years past), even though you're getting more performance, features, and capability in a nice, portable little package.

Recently refreshed for the second time in 2011, the current generation of HP dm1z comes with two processor choices, the AMD Fusion E-300 or the E-450, clocking in at 1.3 Ghz and 1.65 Ghz, respectively. Both are dual-core chips with a very capable integrated GPU that allows for 1080p HD video streaming, mild 3D gaming or 3D application processing. This 11.6-inch laptop sports a 1366 x 768 resolution display panel along with a HDMI output port, very handy considering HDMI is quickly becoming the norm these days. Well-reviewed by heavyweights such as Engadget and Anandtech, the dm1z is a great choice for computer users on a budget (students, or a frugal laptop for your child) or those just wanting solid functionality in a very small, lightweight form factor (current dm1z weighs in at 3.52 lbs, perfect for carrying from classrooms to classrooms).

The 14-inch laptop size has always been a bit of a "sweet spot" in laptop buying. They're not too big, and not too small. They are pretty much the perfect compromise for people not wanting to squint at a 11-inch screen, but also wanting to avoid another pound (or two!) of baggage that can drag you down with a bigger laptop.

The HP dm4x is HP's "performance" entertainment laptop in the 14-inch laptop segment. Don't let our "performance" classification fool you though. This laptop is built to be stylish, thin, and high performance. The dm4x is only 1-inch thick at the front of the chassis, weighs in at 4.41 lbs, and has a very generous battery life of up to 6.75 hours. Equipped with Intel's 2nd Gen Core series chips, the i7 config we've picked above comes with more speed and more cache is a solid high-performing processor for any heavy multitasker.

This HP 14-incher comes equipped with plenty of ports: 3 USB, multi-format memory card reader slot, HDMI and VGA. One possible minor negative on the 14-inch dm4x would be its limited resolution option of only 1366 x 768 without option for upgrade. While not necessarily bad by any means, those looking for more vertical length will be slightly disappointed at the 768 pixel size of the Brightview display panel. Other than this issue, if 14-inch is your size and your price range is under $800, the dm4x is a very good choice.

For those with a little bit more cash to burn and need for something more on the premium side of style and performance, HP's Envy 14 Beats edition is a great laptop candidate. As a successor to the previous popular high-end Voodoo Envy line of laptop PCs, the current Envy 14 Beats edition comes with a smooth black finish, keyboard with red LED back-lighting, and special Beats audio software which tunes audio output for more depth, better mid-range, and crystal-clear highs and lows.

Other perks on the Envy 14 Beats is latest USB 3.0 for fast transfer speed, HP TrueVision HD webcam, HDMI 1.4 + MiniDisplay port, and an included software bundle of Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 & Premiere Elements 9 ($100 value). You can configure the Beats Edition starting with the fast mid-range dual-core 2nd Gen Core i5 processor, or bump up to more speed with the quad-core i7-2630QM. The GPU is a fast mid-range Radeon HD 6630 with switchable graphics capability, allowing you to save battery life (by switching to the integrated Intel graphics) whenever you're not running eye-popping 3D graphics games or applications.

Like the HP dm4x, the Envy 14 Beats's 1366 x 768 resolution without upgrade leaves a bit more to be desired, but despite this shortcoming, you do get up to 6 hours of battery life with the included 8-cell battery, plus the option to extend up to 13.75 hours with the slim-fit 6-cell extended-life, lithium-ion polymer battery.

If you want to just buy one of the best-selling PC laptops on the market, you should consider the HP dv6. The dv6 continues to be one of the most popular HP models out there, and as you look into the price / performance ratio, you'll quickly realize why. The dv6t quad edition is, no question, one of the best performance-for-your-money systems out there.

Considering its price range of low $700 to $800 -- with the latest Intel 2nd Gen quad-core i7 processor, a very capable mid-range Radeon 6770M HD GPU, anywhere from 6GB to 8GB of RAM, plus a Blu-ray drive -- you get a very powerful laptop in a very affordable price range. Not to mention that most dv6tqe machines pack 750GB or more hard drive space even at this price.

Like all modern laptops, this 15-incher comes with USB 3.0 for 10x transfer speed compared to USB 2.0. HDMI 1.4 output port is a given, and so is the HD webcam along with quad speakers and Beats audio software, letting you enjoy music straight from a laptop, a relatively rarity these days. The dv6tqe comes standard in 1366 x 768 resolution, but the major positive point is that you can upgrade to a higher resolution panel for around $150 to full 1080p in an Anti-glare panel with 1920 x 1080 resolution. If you ever plan to do productivity work such as photo/video editing or working in an integrated development environment, we highly recommend this display panel upgrade.

Like the dv6t model in our HP laptop buying guide, the dv7t is a perfect laptop for those of us that needs a lot more screen real estate. With a high performance-to-value ratio, this desktop replacement laptop offers an excellent balance of speed and price. Hardware options are just as you'd expect from a modern laptop: a mix of quad-core i7 choices, from the 2.0Ghz i7-2630QM to the higher end 2.3Ghz i7-2820QM.

At prices ranging from the lower $800s to mid $900s, the dv7t quad edition is equipped with a mid-range GPU like the dv6t quad edition. Most of the time HP offers free upgrades to 6GB or 8GB of RAM, at various price points. The display panel is a high resolution 1600 x 900, and while that is a nice improvement over the standard 1366 x 768 laptop display, you can also upgrade to a 1920 x 1080 full HD display panel for $150.

Our favorite part about the dv7tqe series of laptops is its abundance in ports. You'll have 4 USB ports, with two being SuperSpeed USB 3.0, along with a multi-format memory card reader. HDMI and VGA is a given, and it finishes off with a Gigabit ethernet network port for those wanting to ensure they receive maximum transfer speed from their Gigabit network.

If you've already looked at other large 17-inch desktop replacement laptops from HP, you'll be very much familiar with the available hardware choices and configuration options. There are a few key things that makes the Envy 17 a distinctive high-end machine when compared to others though.

If you're a computer gamer, you'll be happy to know that the Envy 17 comes a high-end Radeon HD 6850M graphics card, a speedy component that will help you run modern 3D graphics games at very enjoyable settings.

Other special perks include Intel wireless TV capability, letting you wirelessly stream HD content to your HDTV from your computer. For performance geeks, you can have an optional dual hard drive setup for RAID configuration, making it immensely faster than regular single hard drive laptop, or even a fast SSD paired with a large mechnical hard drive for storage space flexibility.

The Envy 17 is priced from the high $900s to about $1,050, depending on configuration choices and current coupon savings. If money is no object, you can even consider the $1,200 Envy 17 3D laptop which comes with a 3D-capable, full 1080p display panel along with a pair of active shutter 3D glasses. Considering the upgrade to a regular 1080p panel rings in at $150, the 3D Envy 17 option isn't too shabby, since you're practically getting free 3D glasses at that price.