HP laptops under $1,000

[ejazzkatt]

I'm thinking about buying a new HP laptop. I'd like to find one for less than $1,000. Anybody have any recommends based on their experience with one? What version of Mint are you seeing?

[vinnywright]

vinny@vinnys-HP-G62:~$ inxi -F
System:    Host: vinnys-HP-G62 Kernel: 3.13.0-34-generic x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: KDE 4.13.3 Distro: Ubuntu 14.04 trusty
Machine:   System: Hewlett-Packard (portable) product: HP G62 Notebook PC version: 0591130000202710010620100
           Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 1425 version: 54.57 Bios: Hewlett-Packard version: F.37 date: 04/07/2011
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i3 CPU M 370 (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 933.00 MHz 2: 933.00 MHz 3: 933.00 MHz 4: 2399.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller 
           X.Org: 1.15.1 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1366x768@59.6hz 
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ironlake Mobile GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 10.1.3
Audio:     Card: Intel 5 Series/3400 Series High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel Sound: ALSA ver: k3.13.0-34-generic
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller driver: r8169 
           IF: eth0 state: down 
           Card-2: Ralink RT5390 Wireless 802.11n 1T/1R PCIe driver: rt2800pci 
           IF: wlan0 state: up                                                                                                                                           
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 500.1GB (69.5% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD5000BEVT size: 500.1GB                                                                                             
Partition: ID: / size: 30G used: 21G (73%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 4.19GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap                                                                                          
RAID:      No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present                                                                                                        
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 39.0C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 273 Uptime: 4:57 Memory: 1061.8/3753.0MB Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 1.9.17

vinny@vinnys-HP-G62:~$ sudo parted -l
[sudo] password for vinny: 
Model: ATA WDC WD5000BEVT-6 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type      File system     Flags
 1      32.3kB  4195MB  4195MB  primary   linux-swap(v1)
 2      4195MB  26.0GB  21.8GB  primary   ext4            boot
 3      26.0GB  237GB   210GB   primary   ext4
 4      237GB   500GB   264GB   extended
 5      237GB   268GB   31.6GB  logical   ext3
 6      268GB   300GB   32.0GB  logical   ext4
 7      300GB   500GB   200GB   logical   ext4

sda2=Kubuntu-12.04LTS
sda5=Kubuntu-13-10
sda6=Kubuntu-14.04LTS
sda3=12.04's_~/
sda7=data

$500.00 3-4years ago ....... works great.

VINNY

[DoYouKubuntu]

I have a long history with HP laptops, and I've never bought their high-end varieties. I've stuck with HP Pavilion laptops and been very pleased. I'd suggest looking at the Pavilion line and seeing if anything strikes your fancy. My most recent one is the dv7 which has a 17.3" screen and full-sized keyboard [including a numeric pad on the right, just like a desktop's keyboard]. Do note that I just bought a System76 last month to replace the dv7, because some of the dv7's parts needed to be replaced and I got lazy. I spent more on the S76 than I would've spent on an HP, but whatever. You can get a nicely configured Pavilion for less than $1,000 and should have no issues at all wiping windows off its drive and installing Kubuntu.

What version of Mint are you seeing?

I'm assuming you meant Kubuntu! My dv7 is running 12.04; laziness explains why I never upgraded to a newer version.

[SteveRiley]

Experiences here will be varied. I won't ever buy an HP Pavillion again -- my family has had three, and they all cooked themselves to death. I disassembled them and saw the same problems in all: undersized heat sinks and poor ventillation.

IMHO, for best Linux compatibility and overall durability, get a ThinkPad.

[ejazzkatt]

Thank you all for your comments. I have used HPs, both laptops and desktops for years and I've been very happy with them. Right now I have a Compaq Presario laptop that's about 10 years old and it's running Mint Maia. I have a HP Pavillion Elite desktop that is running Kubuntu.

I actually posted this same message in the Mint Forum but I meant to change the word Mint to Kubuntu when I posted here.

[DoYouKubuntu]

It's funny how different people have such wildly different experiences with the same brand. I've heard complaints similar to Steve's over the years, yet I have had nothing but really good luck with HP. One of my HP desktops is 10+ years old and still cranking away, 24/7, with no end in sight.

[vinnywright]

well I have had a few thermal shutdowns with my HP-G62 ,,,,,,,,,but only wile watching flash vid's or netflix and plugin-contaner going crazy with 90-100+% CPU

But all is well ,,,,,,,it shuts down ,, I let it rest ,, reboot and it's good ...........................so far

VINNY

[jlittle]

... I've heard complaints similar to Steve's over the years...

Add mine to that. As well as the overheating issue, there were so many different parts of that laptop (HP Pavillion dv6) that failed and gave grief, I've vowed never to buy a HP laptop again. Of course, it was the Pavillion consumer line, their "business" lines were supposedly good. And, to be fair, Destructo-Man (teenage son) was involved. But, if corporates don't perceive overall brand damage from bad products then they'll just keep on dropping them on us.

[mr_raider]

All consumer grade laptops today are disposa-crap. Dell, HP, Acer, Lenovo, all the same. Buy whatever you want.

[SteveRiley]

All consumer grade laptops today are disposa-crap. Dell, HP, Acer, Lenovo, all the same.

That's a pretty strong statement; I'm not sure the evidence supports your assertion. Within these brands, there is some high quality stuff. Toshiba Tecra, for example. From Lenovo, the ThinkPads absolutely shine. Their cheaper lines, not so much.

[mr_raider]

None of them seem that good.


http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/l...-win-hp-fails/

[SteveRiley]

That chart is practically useless. It accompanies a four-year-old article, and includes data (which we don't see) from netbooks. Netbooks were notoriously poorly built (as the article claims) and -- these days -- aren't part of the laptop scene. The chart also doesn't differentiate between the various brands' consumer and professional product lines.

[67GTA]

Experiences here will be varied. I won't ever buy an HP Pavillion again -- my family has had three, and they all cooked themselves to death. I disassembled them and saw the same problems in all: undersized heat sinks and poor ventillation.

IMHO, for best Linux compatibility and overall durability, get a ThinkPad.

+1
The Pavillion line (unless they have improved) always had heat problems. I have three also in my parts pile. I personally use Dell.

[ejazzkatt]

Thanks for your information. I ordered an HP Envy 15t Quad Edition Notebook on Sunday from Amazon