Unboxing HP's Pavilion dv2, featuring the new AMD Athlon Neo CPU

One of only a handful of specific upcoming laptop models that readers have regularly asked about, Hewlett-Packard's 12-inch Pavilion dv2 has finally arrived.

Back at CES 2009, we noted that, "at first glance, another glossy HP laptop with an processor from Advanced Micro Devices may induce yawns, but when we learned this was the first system to use AMD's new Netbook-like Athlon Neo platform, our ears perked up."

The Neo is intended to be a kind of step-up from Netbook CPUs such as the Intel Atom and Via Nano, offering additional processing power for a little more money, and is targeted at slightly larger systems--12-inch laptops instead of 9-inch and 10-inch ones.

AMD sees room for systems with slightly bigger screens than Netbooks, which cost slightly more. AMD claims the 1.6GHz Neo handles multiple apps better than the Intel Atom, and it comes paired with ATI Radeon graphics (it's also restricted to Windows Vista--sorry, no XP option).

We'll be testing and reviewing the HP Pavilion dv2 this week. In the meantime, check out this hands-on video from CES 2009, plus specs and new photos after the break.

Unboxing HP's Pavilion dv2

Our just-arrived review unit sports the following specs:

HP Pavilion dv2 - $749
AMD Athlon Neo Processor MV-40 1.6 GHz
Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1
12.1-inch 1,280x800 LED
320GB HDD 5400 rpm SATA
4GB DDR2 SDRAM
ATI Radeon HD 3410 Graphics w/ 512MB DDR2
External DVD-RW Lightscribe
6-cell battery
802.11 a/g/n
HP Webcam
HP Imprint - Espresso Black

[Note: Ignore the incorrect screen grab on the video below -- it's our look at the HP dv2 from CES 2009.]

[MrMurder]

Thank you HP! I've be looking to get an ultra portable laptop, but they're just to expensive. Although this is probably the best solution for the price concious consumer!

[oassaf]

There are cheaper versions of it available, you get less ram, HD, video card, no Wirelss N, but it still gets the job done

[profdavidson]

I want to see this headline:

"Domino's pizza: Colen killer"

[Rod Roddy]

The headline link on the CNET homepage reads:

HP's Neo-powered dv2: Netbook killer?

Why does everything have to be a killer? Ipod killer, Kindle killer, Netbook killer...? Can't we all just get along?

[pithenumber]

maybe because it has a chance of killing netbooks?

[Dan_Ackerman]

You've clearly proved that putting "killer" in the headline makes people click on it! So, the next time we do that, just remember -- it's your fault, Rod...

[oassaf]

I hope this kills the netbook...kills it like a psychopathic serial killer, they are the Dane Cook of computers.

[fc528e]

@oassaf: "They are the Dane Cook of computers."

That made my morning, ha.

Sorry to disappoint though; this comment is coming from a Asus Eee 1000HA... I do, however, understand your hate for the turds of computers...

[Myshkin57]

I'm not sure why anyone would have animosity towards netbooks. They're useful little machines for people who need laptops that need to be very portable and particularly those of us who carry our laptops on our backs while biking. If you don't need a lot of computing power, they're nice little machines. When I need a lot of computing power I use my desktop, which I got for less than this HP but has tons more power.

This HP is not really netbook competition in my opinion. It costs 2-3 times what you can get most netbooks for now, and 4-5 times the cost of some of the really cheap ones.

[oassaf]

Fair enough, I think my haste towards what I feel should happen to netbooks may have been just a little overblown, and yes there are some decent ones like the HP's, its just really a hate for Acer and there mounds of cheap netbooks that have trained the 'average' customer to believe that a netbook should be $299 or less regardless of what is inside and how it is built.

[Kiwami]

Hahaha "The Dane Cook of computers" lol.. yep.. I just woke up who needs coffee? Thanks lol.. (Yea i'm typing from my hp Mini 1000 netbook..) so i feel the irritation love hate painfully annoying gotta like but just cant stand comparison..

[Starchild221]

Any word on the weight? I guess it's somewhere around 1.5 KG...

[MrMurder]

I wonder why HP won't put the configuration option already. They're probably deciding what configurations to take off or kepp on to price at a $699 starting price.

[hotmail123]

What we want is an inexpensive 10" to 12" netbook, slim & lightweight (ultra-portable) with longer battery life. Vista is a losser & will drag down the speed & battery life of the netbook. I don't know why HP still try to put Vista in their netbook...slowing it down & making it costs twice as much as other netbooks in the market.

[pithenumber]

dv2 is not a netbook
its a step above a netbook and a step below the normal ultraportables

[dinjin201]

Well, let me tell you something... Windows 7 is but a few months away...=) in time for christmas is my speculation.... and from running the various builds... i've found that it is more stable than XP =) so, if you really want this... just wait until windows 7 comes along its merry way... and well, there you go! =)

[Spiraling_Shape]

It's not HP's fault. Microsoft doesn't allow Vista on laptops with more than 1GB ram, among other restrictions. Once Windows 7 comes out, there will be a flurry of netbooks / notebooks in a continuum of price ranges and features.

[-Xalor-]

I'm still wondering about this 12 inch netbook thing. It seems to be too large to realyl be called a Netbook. You can get a 13 inch computer with much better specs that can handle all that for around the price of 500, but the newer netbooks are going over 600 at times, with a lower capability. Adamo vs. Dell XPS Studio 13? Same company both have a nice modern style, Adamo may be slightly thinner, but still that thinness is made up by the XPS Studio's ability. I think that they need to work on using the netbook technology of battery life in the larger laptops, desktop replacements like 14.4'' and up can't get more than 4 hours, unless you have a Macbook, but those are more heavyweight computers, as in speeds and usability. I like the HP Mini Notes the best, only cause they have a great price at a good level, for a netbook, but you need to stay at that level. They need to stay at the standard size instead of moving up to make it look like they have imrpoved.

[dinjin201]

read above =) its NOT a netbook (sorry to flame)... anyways... the point is something in between. you can have high end ultra portable like apple macbook/dell adamo... but waaayyy to expensive for today's market (i personally would wait for the macbook but whatever)

This is kinda something in between... cuz not everyone wants a cheap Eee PC ;) because it cant handle the load...

[Spiraling_Shape]

There isn't any new battery technology that makes netbooks last longer. it's just that their smaller screens and less powerful processors require less power, and thus drain the battery less quickly.

[chaleck]

I bought this computer a week ago. I got the DV2-1110us/2 Gig RAM.

Pro's: 1. Beautiful (white),

2, HP tech & set-up help in India were superb.

3. Low-price. Mine cost about $830 after tax, shipping & MS OFFICE.

4. Very lightweight & easy to tote around.

5. It has notebook power & netbook size.

CON's: 1. I don't like the HP Wi-Fi assistant program. It seems slow & un-necessary
compared to what I'm used to (DELL & Acer).

2, Keyboard is 92% the size of a normal notebook. That takes getting used to.

3. Only 1 RAM slot. And there is an empty slot (not for RAM) right next to it.
Nobody I've talked to can figure out what it is used for.

4. Since this is a new model, it's difficult to find the 4 Gig chip to upgrade RAM.

5. Like #4, I haven't been able to locate a longer life replacement battery.

BOTTOM LINE: I really like this computer. I am very happy with the purchase. I'd buy another
if it is durable in the long-run.