Source: Tom's Guide | Keywords: HP,, Tablet,, tx2000z | Themes: Laptops and Notebooks, Business Notebooks
2. The HP tx2000z In Real Life
The tx2000z’s battery life is a mixed bag. We report on MobileMark 2007 battery life results later in this article, but while carrying the notebook around and using it for normal workaday tasks, we usually got around 2–2.5 hours from the four-cell battery (which is no longer available from HP), and 3.5-4.0 hours from its bigger eight-cell replacement. When using the notebook exclusively in tablet mode, we noticed a slight improvement in battery life over using it exclusively as a conventional notebook with the keyboard, touch pad and other components active.
The machine works best when you calibrate it for finger touch and pen. If you use your right index finger to calibrate the touch screen, you’d better keep using it to operate the machine thereafter — it’s sensitive to even slight variations in touch. The same thing is true for the pen.
Applications that don’t recognize pen input remain accessible for tablet use with HP’s pop-out virtual keyboard (it lurks at the edge of the display, where a slight touch pops it up for you to use) for input when the tx2000z operates in tablet mode. Though the display is bright and offers plenty of detail, it works best when viewed at less than 30° of angle. Touch-screen or pen input works best, in fact, when you view the screen straight on.
Because the tx2000z is a little smaller than many notebooks, the keyboard is smaller, too. But HP has done a great job with key spacing and placement (though the delete, insert, end and home keys are squeezed into a small area on the top row of keys, along with the rest of the function keys, making these pretty darn small indeed), and the keyboard offers a solid feel, easy touch and key travel. The arrow keys at the lower right also take a little getting used to, but they work nicely.
When working in "normal notebook mode" we found our typing speed didn’t suffer too much when doing normal office work tasks. The touchpad was usable as well, though we quickly opted to use a cordless laser mouse instead. A quick peek at the keyboard layout in the next photo illustrates its strengths and weaknesses effectively.
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this post seems seriously outdated... hp has updated the tx2000 series to the tx2500 with the AMD puma platform... the GPU is now an integrated hd3200 no longer the 6150.
I agree. This model isn't even listed on the HP site anymore. I did notice that Office Depot is having drastic reductions in all the older HP notebooks in preparation for the puma models. But they are selling the tx2500z.
Would like to see a review on the differences between the standard Turion and the optional Turion Ultra processors-all available on the tx2500 line (RM vs. ZM-I think). It would be interesting to see now the differences between the Nvidia vs. AMD chipsets though.
Although the Griffin chip has some attributes from Phenom, I don't think the improvements will be readily apparent to us mere mortals. If you're interested, this article: talks about the integrated performance with the 3200 IGP and also has links to reviews of the 2 HP notebooks with the Puma platform (that includes the tx2500z).
oops - inserting the link didn't work. try it here: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4478
Wonderful - a review of something that's obsolete!
Perhaps you guys should have reviewed the new HP dv5z series notebook instead. The 15" is already out, with a 14" and 17" model to follow shortly.
Can you get your act together?
^I agree but was trying to be nice. The guys over at notebookreview.com did a short review of the dv5c but it doesn't have the 3450 so no crossfire - just the 3200 IGP. Here's the link: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4482. I'm waiting to see the first Fujitsu with a PCIe 2.0 interface and the XGP box.
I'm working on lining up the newer units for review. I cheerfully but abashedly concede this review should have posted in March or April, but I got hung up with some horrible family stuff (you don't want to know). All that said, this unit remains a good buy for those buying on the trailing edge, or for those who--as the other poster pointed out--are looking for bargains.
I have spoken with HP PR about lining up reviews of the models with the newer graphics chipsets and more advanced CPUs, and will do my best to get them out in the next 30-45 days.
My apologies to one and all for the delay in delivery.
--Ed--