20. Notebook + QuickPlay = Convergence Device

HP's product manager presented the Pavilion dv8000z notebook to us as a "classic convergence device." What does that mean? Actually, a convergence device should have the look and feel and functionality of a standard notebook as well as a stand-alone audio/video (AV) playback device. Whether or not users actually put such added AV functions to work depends largely on how easy it is to understand and use them. Two different avenues for AV are available to users of the dv8000z notebook: they can either use the AV control buttons directly on the device itself and run the HP QuickPlay software; or they can use the small IR remote control device that resides in the PC Card slot, which has a range of over 30 ft. (10 m).

QuickPlay is based on a Linux kernel. When the Player software is selected, the system boots from a 200 MB Linux partition on the hard disk. The uninformed user won't even notice something different going on-though perhaps he or she may wonder why it takes longer for the Player to become ready to use compared to a standard DVD AV player.

The small remote makes it easy and comfortable to drive AV functions from your sofa.

QuickPlay runs from a 200 MB Linux partition on the hard disk.

The QuickPlay startup screen.

The graphical user interface (GUI) for HP's QuickPlay is noticeably more intuitive and user-friendly than those built around Cyberlink's Power Cinema used on other convergence devices we've reviewed. The control menu is divided into one section for video playback and another for audio playback.