HP Pavilion dm4 Review: Beats Audio Not Just a Marketing Ploy Discussion

[Amber Riippa]

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition is a multimedia notebook with a slim form factor. HP is marketing the dm4 with a Beats Audio theme and with an emphasis on its affordability and ability to offer decent performance.

Read the full content of this Article: HP Pavilion dm4 Review: Beats Audio Not Just a Marketing Ploy

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[Rykoshet]

With the 1GB DDR5 GPU, it seems like it could give the M14x a run for it's money.

If only it was built better and didn't have a terrible advertisement on the front...

[booboo12]

Please tell me it's available without the tacky beats audio logo. I don't even mind like...a very small sticker on the palm rest (easily removable of course) but that's too mcuh.

[Jerry Jackson]

This is a review of the "Beats Audio Edition" of the dm4. Yes, you can get the standard dm4 ... but the "tacky beats audio logo" is part of the reason someone buys the Beats Edition instead of the regular dm4.

[BertM]

The audio review is based on listening to music with earbuds....what about the speakers ?
There are some very good audio systems on laptops lately, like the Asus/Bang&Olufsen or Dell XPS/JBL systems, that might be worth a comparison with this HP. Would be terrible to carry that humongous Beats logo around if the speakers aren't good.

[Mr.Mischief]

Does anyone know if this uses the same 900P screen as the EliteBook 8460P? The 8460P's screen is pretty horrible.

With the 1GB DDR5 GPU, it seems like it could give the M14x a run for it's money.

If only it was built better and didn't have a terrible advertisement on the front...

While it has 1GB of DDR5, the 7470M itself is only 1/2 as fast as the GT 555M.

3DMark06:

7470M: 5569
555M: 11147

[ekstor]

Am I missing something? How can HP choose to give a 14" laptop a 92% sized keyboard? I can understand that choice with a netbook, but even in HP's very own 11" dm1, they have a full sized keyboard. Was that a mistake in the article?

[MSGaldenzi]

^ thats a good point

[line98]

so has this site really sunk to bragging up beats audio because it outperforms an old dell business laptop..... with so many laptops featuring audio from reputable audio companies (harmon kardon, etc.) and onboard hd audio improving to a point wehre even in desktops there is little demand for dedicated sound, do we really need to brag up a brand like beats? the company's claim to fame is poorly constructed 200 dollar headphones wiht 30 dollar sound quality and far too much bass. This just seems much more a case of comparing a multimedia laptop with relatively large powerful speakers, perhaps a more modern built in audio, etc. compared to an older business laptop with limited media functionality.

Edit: 30 dollar sound quality refers to what the average consumer gets for 30 dollars (random sony, etc.) they get blown out of the water completely by cheaper headphones that outperform their price like the ksc 75s

[Mr.Mischief]

so has this site really sunk to bragging up beats audio because it outperforms an old dell business laptop.....

You should re-read the review, the Beats audio was one small section of the review. I consider NBR reviews some of the best, this one included.

with so many laptops featuring audio from reputable audio companies (harmon kardon, etc.) and onboard hd audio improving to a point wehre even in desktops there is little demand for dedicated sound, do we really need to brag up a brand like beats?

This is incorrect. Far to many laptops these days have pretty horrible sound quality. Whatever you want to say about Beats, they do have higher than average sound quality. There is plenty of room for improvement in laptop speakers.