HP 8740w Review! - Full Metal Jacket!

sgogeta4 · 07-25-2010, 04:27 PM

Do you use the ODD? Any plans on swapping that for another HDD (or putting your current HDD there when you get a SSD)? Too bad HP doesn't offer 2 HDD bays natively, but then again it is lighter than the M6500 (which does have 2 HDD bays).

Aikimox · 07-25-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechAnimal

Another user tried the thinkpad tips on the Elitebooks and found that they fit and worked better than the original elitebook tips.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny T

Thanks for the excellent review!

About the pointstick, you can try purchasing pointstick "tips" (red eraser style in particular) from Thinkpads. You can find a pack them on ebay for a couple of bucks (genuine), I've found that it works better than the stock HP one on my 8510p.

Though of course I am not sure with the keyboard change the Thinkpad "tips" would still fit.

(Click to enlarge)

I tried using the tips from older TP laptops and they didn't fit perfectly.
Will try the one from my wife's W510 and if it fits - will order a few.

Regarding the AW M17x-R2 (RGB LED) vs 8740w screen comparison:
In a couple of days will get my hands on a very good camera.
Second post in this thread is reserved for that.

m8o · 07-25-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no92stallion

NICE SCREEN! Question for you though--what's the painting in the last few pictures?

That was from me, where I was trying to do a better job than I did in the 1st comparative angled photos used in the review with a photo I got from a link Aikimox provided, to demonstrate how frig'n fantastic this screen looks @ a 45'ish degree angle. ...and how well the image can match an original. The original is included in the thread for comparison:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-c...hp-laptop.html

Aikimox · 07-25-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgogeta4

Do you use the ODD? Any plans on swapping that for another HDD (or putting your current HDD there when you get a SSD)? Too bad HP doesn't offer 2 HDD bays natively, but then again it is lighter than the M6500 (which does have 2 HDD bays).

Not sure if the ODD (when equipped with another SSD) won't affect the transfer rates. I might just shove a bigger HDD in there for data storage.

freedom16 · 07-25-2010, 10:30 PM

Dude i have been configuring this machine my god this is so expensive!! 570 for this freaking IPS DC2!! I want to buy this refurbished the only way. Great awesome review very happy to see you waited so long for it.

Aikimox · 07-25-2010, 11:28 PM

You don't have to wait till refurbished ones appear. Just call a rep and ask for a 25-28% OFF

TechAnimal · 07-26-2010, 03:17 AM

Hmm...The WEI CPU score seems to be lower than others have received. Were you on battery power or on a power saving profile?

unreal25 · 07-26-2010, 06:04 AM

Who cares about stupid WEI.... its such a useless benchmark.

3DMark06 scores are pretty good - in line with Alienware systems. Is it the screen the main reason this laptop costs this much?

ivanox1972 · 07-26-2010, 07:27 AM

Are there 8540p/w models with that iPS panel or only 17inch?

TechAnimal · 07-26-2010, 07:48 AM

The 8540w also has the IPS screen as an option when you CTO.