HP Pavilion DV6000 Notebook Review

by David Risley on Aug 31, 2007 | 947 comments

Hewlett Packard is one of the most prominent manufacturers of notebook computers today, and any trip to Best Buy will make that abundantly clear. Well, as of this writing, one of the notebook PCs they have on sale right now at Best Buy is the HP Pavilion DV6000. I picked one up a couple months ago for $800. I was in Best Buy a couple weeks ago and it was on sale for $749. So, this is certainly an affordable notebook PC. So, how does it perform in everyday use? Let’s check it out.

First, The Specs

In my eyes, the DV6000 is proof that PCs are affordable as hell today. These specs compare quite favorably to my desktop, all in a sub $800 notebook.

AMD Turion 64, dual core processor
2 GB DDR2 memory
15.4″ WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7200
160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
1.3 Megapixel Webcam with mic built into screen
Altec Lansing speakers built in
3 USB ports, ExpressCard/54 Slot, Video Out, Integrated Consumer IR, 1 RJ-11, 1 RJ-45
Windows Vista Home Premium

Now, when you look at this unit on HP’s website, you will see there are different spec configurations for this model. The above happens to be what I have in the unit I am typing this review on.

Use in the Real World

Now, I am not and never have been a big benchmark guy. If you are into computer reviews that load you up with benchmark specs, go to another site. What I am interested in is real world use. I bought this notebook to get work done, not win any contests. So, how does it perform in that regard?

One of the things that sold me on this laptop was the screen. The screen is gorgeous. It is wonderfully bright and clear, and provides a respectable 1280×800 resolution in a widescreen format. Yes, there certainly are notebooks with higher resolution. It really comes down to preference. While other units may give you higher resolution, some may find it hard to read on small screens. For me, I thought 1280×800 was a good resolution to use for a 15.4″ screen. My only complaint with the screen is that the glare is really bad when trying to use the unit outside. It gets so bad that it’s more like looking in a mirror than into a computer screen. Inside, however, the screen is beautiful.

The fact that this unit uses AMD rather than Intel means that it generates more heat. Intel processors just seem to run cooler in notebook computers. All benchmarks aside (because I don’t care), the performance of this notebook is quite good. It actually opens many apps much faster than my desktop PC, which is using an Intel Pentium Core Duo. So, I have no complaints about speed, however, yes, it does generate some heat.

The built-in Altec Lansing speakers will certainly not compare to the larger speakers you would plug in externally, but they do generate a nice sound for the size. For multimedia use, the speakers will get the job done.

The DV6000 comes with a thin, little remote control for use in controlling HP’s multimedia player. HP is using a proprietary multimedia player for playing DVDs called QuickPlay. It ties in with the remote control as well as the QuickPlay buttons on top of the notebook. The player is decent, but many times I found myself simply wanting to use Windows Media Player rather than the QuickPlay popping up full screen. Also, the fact that it is tied into the QuickPlay buttons can be a little annoying at times. Several times I have rested my fingers on the top of the notebook and accidently pressed the DVD button and launched Quickplay. No matter what I’m doing, that interrupts the workflow badly.

For digital photography, I find the built-in card reader really convenient. Since my Canon camera uses SD cards, I can just pull the card out and plug it directly into the notebook to pull images onto the computer. This means I don’t have to track down the USB cable that came with the camera. Nice and easy.

But, It Uses Vista

Like almost every PC on the market today, this unit comes with Windows Vista. Now, on my desktop, I can rattle off a bunch of annoyances with Windows Vista. Many of us that follow technology all the time have many complaints about Vista, and I still stand by the fact that Vista was NOT ready for market upon it’s release. But, judging by the DV6000, Vista does seem to run better on completely proprietary machines. I do have occasional annoyances with Vista on the DV6000.. For example, sometimes it will lose it’s screen resolution settings when coming out of sleep mode. This is an issue with Vista and will be fixed. Other than that, though, Vista runs significantly better on this notebook machine than it does on my desktop. No complaints, really.

Like all pre-built computers, it comes with some pre-installed software. It comes with a 60-day trial installation of Office 2007. Since I don’t care to fork out several hundred dollars just for a ribbon interface, I opted to install OpenOffice, which gets me 95% there for free. The DV6000 comes with some other pre-installed crap, much of it I ended up removing from the computer.

Note to HP

I am pretty happy with the DV6000, but I need to mention a few annoyances for the benefit of HP. When I was at Gnomedex recently, HP was there and we had a lengthy discussion about notebook design. HP does indeed listen to feedback, so here is mine on the DV6000.

The QuickPlay buttons at the top are too easy to hit by accident, as I mentioned above. Some obvious way to control or disable those buttons would be nice.
We need some kind of anti-glare surface to the screen. It’s practically unusable in sunlight. I realize that the surface it does have plays a role in the crystal clear colors I see indoors, but something has to be done to make this thing more usable in sunlight.
AMD is good for economics, but it generates a lot more heat.

Conclusions

The HP Pavilion DV6000 is a really nice, solid notebook computer and you really can’t go wrong with this unit. The price tag makes it very affordable. The unit sports a nice, sleek design and good all-around performance. It also offers a solid balance of features which really makes this entertainment notebook usable as a desktop replacement. In fact, I enjoy it so much I find myself spending more time working on the DV6000 now than I do my main desktop computer.

So, despite a few annoyances, you really can’t go wrong with the DV6000 if you are looking for a solid, balanced work notebook without spending too much money.

Update 11/21/2007

While I have not had the wireless problems many have been complaining about in the comments, I have had another problem – the battery (maybe). The battery seems to not accept a charge anymore, and Windows says “plugged in, not charging” when I hover over the battery icon in the taskbar. So, HP is currently sending me a new battery and we’ll see if that fixes it. I guess this is the kind of thing you deal with when you buy cheap notebook computers.

Update Feb. 8, 2010

Comments for this article have now been closed. This was done because people were using as a means of getting HP support. This article is not an official HP support channel for problems that may occur with the DV6000 product. If you would like to contact HP for support, please visit HP Customer Care at support.hp.com, thank you.

Like what you read?

If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like...

Post A Comment Using Facebook

kiran
I bought this hp pavilion dv6000 laptop for 1100$ like less than 2 years ago. And now i have already replaced the power adapter twice and now its not working again. I have to buy one more now, it has no damage but doesn’t supply power to the laptop. I called hp and they are saying that we offer only one year support. And they don’t have any record of my last adapter. Laptop works fine but the adapter is a piece of CRAP!!
Brittney
HP Pavilion 6000 is a piece! The wireless internet is messed up but its not the wireless card like said before its the mother board. I just called today about getting it fixed but because of my warranty being run out they ill not fix it and telling me that i have to pay 260 plus tax to get it fixed. i feel that seeing how this is a faulty with the computer (something that a consumer can not mess up) that there should not be a limited amount of time that you have to realize that your computer is a piece of crap to be able to get it fixed. I would advise NO ONE TO GET THIS COMPUTER. Also… I myself would never deal with hp after talking with them today because of their poor business ship. I currently already have a MAC and absolutely love it and would never change back to hp!

kyle
i agree COMPLETLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tiana
I got this computer in the summer of 2007 and honestly… I love it. I haven’t had any problems (knock on wood) besides some minor technical difficulties, which after they’ve been resolved I counted as operator errors on my own behalf. I didn’t like Vista at first but since I use it mostly for school and nothing major now that I’m accustomed to it it’s not a nuisance. I do hate the QuickPlay button as if I press it accidentally it takes a couple of minutes for that to load and it’s a pain, but I love the volume buttons being easily accessible.
I’m experiencing battery issues now, holding no charge, but it’s been two and a half years so I think it’s about time for a new one anyways. I hope I don’t encounter any of the other problems on here!
Mr Focus
Iuse a universal ac adapter with no problems,yes the laptop was configured with Intel and AMD chips,would have prefer a AMD Athlon than a Turion.Or an Intel dual core.The quick Play Direct is sure a pain,,especially when you want to use the dvd player and then want to open windows.The wireless it’s the pits.
Josh
I got mine July 2007. That next December I started having trouble with the wireless card. Around June 2008 I sent it to HP and the problem wasn’t resolved. A couple months ago I found out it was a driver problem. Just needed to install the latest drivers.
Matt
I am surprised to see how many people have issues with this model. I have had my for at least four years no and have NEVER had a problem with it. This includes never having a battery problem or any “minor” technical problems. Maybe I got lucky, I dont know, but I love this model due to how durable it has been over the years for me.
M0L0TOV
I had the wireless connectivity issues and HP replaced the motherboard even though it was out of warranty. The power supply went kaput (it would only work if the wire was bent a certain way). I replaced it with one I got off Evil Bay for $8.00. My only gripe is the battery is very weak now. It barely holds a charge. This computer has been with me around the world and dropped several times. My next goal is to install a bigger/faster HD and buy a 12 cell li-ion battery for it.
Otung, Glory Essien
HP Pavilion dv6000 is a complete world. I’m so thrilled.
kyle
this notebook is a TOTAL piece of shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i definitly dont recomemed it.

true
it’s about lucky for having a good unit. my laptop is working good… pls select the intel processor not the other.

Nicole
I have the dv9000 model and it is a piece of crap! I’ve only had it for a little over a year and have more bad days than good. It also doesn’t help that HP has horrible customer service. I have had to replace the hard drive already and am now being told that my newest issues are due to a bad media chip and/or motherboard. I paid $1500 for it and it was not at all worth it. I refuse to spend any more money on it or any other HP product (I have had 2 HP printers that were both horrible too). I hate HP! My next machine will be a Toshiba and that’s from the recommendation of a PC expert.
Bob
Have this piece of junk for a little over two years now. It has crashed so many times I have lost track. Last week, Dec. 17, 2009, my laptop died for good. The screen went all squiggly lines then went black. All the blue lights are lit, and the power light is on, but nothing from the hard drive. I will be going to Best Buy where I bought it, but don’t have much hope for revival. Worse computer I have ever owned.
chris
my hp dv6000 is giving me major problems. when i turn it on all the lights come on then the light for the hard drive goes off then the screen stays black. after a minute or so it seems to try and retart. it continues to do that. tried hiting the F8 button to try and start in safe mode but can get know where anyone have any suggestions before i throw it into the wall?

Noush
Hey, I think your motherboard is fried. I have the exact same laptop and I would turn it on the laptop was working except the screen was black.
I was lucky that I extended my warranty and got hp to repair it. Not only that but my memory card also died on me as well as my charger.
On a generally note, I haven’t had any problems with wireless, but my fan has been causing problems.
My laptop gets very hot, so I had to take in to hp as well.
And finally my click pad (not sure what its called) the right hand click bit wouldn’t work.
So consequently my next laptop is a Macbook Pro

http://tatsangng@gmail.com Tom
I have the DV9207 and it IS the biggest piece of garbage. This laptop will not boot. there’s no opening bios screen. It is like the bios got deleted.
Truly a piece of junk.
Never buy HP.
Oguemedom Georgewill
I’m about to get this HP DV6000. Can anyone help me with the disadvantages and advantages
of this notebook pls
sarah
I have the DV6000 and it sucks! I have had it for about 2 years now.. my battery never held the charge well, began with having to keep it plugged into the wall in order for it to work, and then ended up shutting down constantly!! Same problem as other guy with the AC adaptor and cord having to be a certain way, if touched in a wrong way it would shut down. Called HP, my warranty expired not to long ago, they didnt have much to say, horrible customer service, and then tried to sell me on more warranty between 60 to 90 dollars. I WILL NEVER BUY THIS PRODUCT EVER AGAIN!
Rob
I had this problem with the speaker, power button. I’ll try another brand next time.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=225809
Lorraine Maynard
my screen is black, every thing eles is working
RandomGuy
I bought this model from Wal-Mart and about 3 months later it started crashing frequently. A month later it crashed in the middle of Norbit. From then on it wouldnt boot like most of you. I called tech support and they told me that they had a recall out for this model. its a motherboard problem. have any of you tried calling? even if you dont have warranty if it qualifies for the recall they will fix it for free.
Keep in mind tjis was a while ago.
Cindy
I got one for Christmas last year and the mother drive blew out. of course, the warranty expired.
aNDREY
IT IS SOOO SLOWW!!!!!!! It takes forever to open anything, and,internet.. i think my grandmother can go to library and find the info faster than i google it. i dont know, my desktop is not the best, but it has 4 processors, and im so muchused to my desktop so when i use my GF HP dv6000 i get annoyed with it, IT IS SOOO FN SLOW!!!!!
truly is piece of garbage, whenever i i surf the net i feel like throwing it against the wall, TAKES FOREVER TO FN LOAD!!!! its like im on 14k dial up(its going to load for 10 minsafter i press the ‘leave comment’ button
Lennart & Matthijs
Hi everyone who wanna buy this horrible notebook.
It’s the worst notebook EVER!
HP IS SO BADDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have 2 of these laptops, and had to replace the adapter 3 times!
We have a defect power, sound and mousepad button.
Also the battery is completely defect, and won’t charge anymore.
One of the notebooks is terribly S. L. O. W. !!!!!!
The buttons on top of the notebook are very easy to hit, so when you press F5 you also run Quicktime Player! :S :S
People, listen. This notebook is not worth it!
Afaz
I got a HP pavilion dv6000 more than 1 year ago. Its all drivers functioning correctly except Finger print, MIC. Please give me solution what can I do for this.
JohnnyDeIllinois
Looks like I was lucky. My HP dv6000 with Intel Centrino is almost 3 yrs old. I use it constantly, at least 4-5 hours every day. It crashed about 15 times so far, no problem getting it back on. Except once when it crashed after my little nephew played online games on it. I thought that was it. But after a too long time for comfort it got back from this KO. And that’s about it. And yes, those quick access buttons above keyboard are a pain. Also,I think if you don’t want it to be crashing, take it easy and don’t open hundred windows while playing 50 games at once. If you think it’s slow you might have bugs on it. Get a good antivirus like Kaspersky. After I installed it on my HP it got way faster. I keep it plugged in all the time so battery life doesn’t concern me too much. But I tried it and seems like it’s enough for one flight. Wireless connection works ok, screen is bright and nice, true that in sun light you can’t see sh***. Fingerprints? No biggie. I forgot about them after a week.
Crystal
I too bought a Pavillian dv600. after only 8 months (Aug 2009) of use, the mother board blew out. HP replaced it and it worked fine. Now after only 3 month (Dec 2008), I am having the same problem and HP is saying they can’t help me because it’s no longer under the warrenty and I would have to pay almost $400 to get if fixed. Iam not happy about this and plan on sending letters everywhere to complain.
Marcos
I too have had my DV6646us for almost 3 years now. It works just fine, but now I’ve had to replace the power (DC) for a second time. Just today the power stopped working and the box part of the dc started beeping. I’ve figured out a way to get a replacement without paying for it…LOL