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Review of HP Pavilion DV4

Six months ago, I purchased my first laptop for $480 at Office Depot: the HP Pavilion dv4. As a bargain shopper, I was primarily looking for an inexpensive model that offered sufficient speed and memory for regular, but light, use. The Pavilion dv4 has a 2 GHz AMD Athlon II dual-core processor and 4GB RAM. Even when I'm multitasking, this laptop keeps up with me very well, and I've experienced no delays in switching between windows or launching programs. HP Pavilion DV4
I have found a lot to love about this HP model. The laptop's 14 inch screen, a bit smaller than the standard 15 inch size, is bright and clear. A shiny black finish and silver accents gives the Pavilion a sleek, modern look. At 4 pounds, I can easily carry this HP around.

Since this is my first laptop, I was concerned about getting used to the touchpad, but this computer's touchpad is the right size and has a great responsiveness. While I cannot comment on how the sound card and graphics would work for a hard core gamer, both of those features have suited my needs well. A couple of really nice features are the included remote control, Windows Live, and built-in memory card slot.

Over the last six months, I've discovered a couple of things that I'm not as happy about. While the laptop has a great, sleek look, its surface easily shows fingerprints and scuff marks; the surface can be difficult to keep clean. Some of the programs installed on this model, like the HP Advisor and HP Doc, are intrusive in my opinion and not very intuitive. I've finally gotten to the point that I ignore them. Battery life is average, but I would prefer a longer battery life.

One thing I would like to stipulate at the tail end of this review is that I would make this purchase over again in a heartbeat. The model has been more than adequate for my needs: word processing, moderate internet use, movie watching, and multitasking. - (Submitted by Brooklyn)

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