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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 72 customer reviews )
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33 of 35 found the following review helpful:
 Works great and is really fast. Aug 16, 2007
By Hector-C
"Hector"
I wanted to purchase a laptop that had everything without settling... I quoted it around $3800 from Dell...forget that !!
The tx1220us from HP is a very nice Tablet PC. The screen is 12-in and is actually much more comfortable to work with than I thought it would be.
The features this unit has are the ones I wanted and I only settled on three (3) things:
1- Processor is AMD instead of Intel. I did my research and the Intel is substantially faster (10-30%), but this AMD is GREAT ... VERY fast. It doesn't feel like I settled at all.
2- Hard Disk is 5400rpm, but fast enough to watch videos. I don't do anything fancy...except LOTS of e-mail for work and recently watch DVD's.
3- Price. $3800 vs $1300 (I was willing to settle just fine on this point)
All the features I wanted that DO come with this machine...
1- Tablet PC (12-in screen)
2- Light, very light (compared to my clunky 9-lb 15.4in Inspiron 8200)
3- 2GB RAM
4- 200GB HDD
5- Bluetooth 2.0 (unbelievable how many modern machines come without it!)
6- WiFi 802.11 n/g/b/a (n is draft, but it's still n !)
7- Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000TX)
8- Fingerprint reader
9- DVD Quickplay (not as fast as I thought since computer needs to boot, but it works)
10- Remote control (not intuitive, but it works)
11- Built-in Webcam 1.3megapixels
12- Built-in Microphone
13- DVD Writer with Lightscribe (after you burn your DVD you can PRINT text and/or images on the DVD with the same drive built into the machine)
14- SD/MMC/XD/MS-Pro Card reader
15- PCI Express card slot
16- 3xUSB ports, 1x 56kbps Modem, 1xVGA port, 1xExpressPort34, Front Speaker/Line/Headphone jacks
17- 2-speakers
18- Nvidia Video/Graphics Card does NOT have built-in memory... it is shared. Haven't tried 2 screens yet, but moves very well sharing 128MB (max can be shared) with 1 screen.
Only enjoyed it for a couple of days (Aug-14-2007) but it has been a fun-filled couple of days.
The screen is not as BRIGHT as others, but it has something to do with the fact that it is a 'touchscreen' because it's a Tablet PC.
If you are concerned about the AMD processor speed or the screen size (12in) like I was... you can take the leap - so far I'm very glad I did. If I run into problems I will POST right away.
16 of 18 found the following review helpful:
 HP Pavilion tx1220us Notebook rocks! Jul 23, 2007
By walljoy
"walljoy"
Pros: digitalizes handwritten notes, onboard recording, webcam, wireless, easy connection to anything, touch screen, fun
Cons: arrow keys a bit off-center (mistake it for shift key often), optical drive a bit flimsy
Bells and whistles galore! Super-duper notebook! The pros are far more than what I listed and the cons are so minor it's barely worth even mentioning. I'm careful about lifting it from underneath on the left side because the optical drive is kind of weak...you can feel it press in. Also, when you open and close it, it feels a bit vulnerable.
The Vista OS is superb! Lots of newness and stimulating. Love the 'gadgets' column! The computer itself is awesome! Handwriting recognition is fantastic (regardless of the mixed reviews I read online about that...I had no problem with it at all). This was the main reason I bought this tablet PC, I wanted to cut down hours and hours of evaluation note taking. I used to have to retype my handwritten notes into the computer...now, those days are over! I do not find you have to apply much pressure on the screen at all when using the stylus or even your fingernail. The receptivity level is great! The note taker is cool...you jot down a note and record as well if you wish.
The additional side buttons on the monitor are great alternates for the regular function buttons. Has onboard recording features, built-in webcam, super easy internet hookup (I have home networking...not a problem going from XP to Vista). The keyboard is fine. My current laptop from Averatec has the same keyboard, sort of a tad wider, flatter key pads than normal. It's easy to get used to. The scroll arrow keys are positioned so that the up arrow is right next to the shift key...a bit close, which results in hitting the up arrow instead of the shift key...just check your typing to be certain the cursor remains in the right place.
The touch screen is way cool! It is so easy to get spoiled by this. And the touch sensor pad...it makes maneuvering almost effortless! Typically, I hate touch sensor pads because I strain my hands on them as they don't always allow for the necessary fluency/dexterity of the hands/fingers when moving around...I prefer using a scroll mouse. However, in this system, the sensor touch pad is a vented metal plate that is so much more sensitive to movement than the typical pad (I still have a back up mouse just in case I want to default to my old ways...it's still the easiest method). The finger swipe function is also a nice feature...it kind of makes it feel special. It's like a 'personalized' security system.
The open/close tab is in the front middle position of the lid and although you have to press in a bit more than you would think to open it, it's no problem. The overall look and design is classy yet not overly done. And the slight grainy appearance on the screen is not disruptive at all...the clarity/resolution is still great. And the little handheld remote...how clever is that?! Very!
This system comes with tons of memory, 2GB!! Probably because it has so many games and such on it already...it goes really fast while using it, which is what I like (until I start congesting it with software applications, that is!!). I also find that the computer does not run any hotter than my previous laptop (and that gets pretty dang hot). I think it's more related to where you are resting the thing while it's on...if you block the vents underneath, then it will run hot on any laptop (this happens a lot when I use it in bed and rest it on a pillow). I haven't used the battery yet and am usually conservative when I do (I seek out wall plug outlets, primarily) so I've not much to say yet about the battery life. My bet is it isn't optimal, like all the rest of them, but it's nice to know there is that, albeit brief, backup time that is allowed just in case there is no power outlet. I did insert the battery and it doesn't stick out very far at all as was mentioned in another review I read. It protrudes within a range of about an inch or so...no biggie at all! And it's lightweight...even with the battery in...so convenient.
There are many more features to explore on this computer and since I only bought this last week, I still have yet to discover them. I do find myself, however, continually excited about using it or playing with it! I was so reluctant at first to purchase this and did extensive research on it before doing so. I would up buying it with a $[...] rebate along with a free Canon printer (I've yet to use that but it will be more of a backup since I use the all-in-one's as my default printing system). I bought this unit last week and am still getting to know it. So, perhaps a review would be more fair a bit later on down the line, but for now this will do. Maybe I'll come back and edit. I am so glad I invested in this (so far, anyway)! For just over a thousand dollars, you get a lot of 'bang' for those bucks!! Love it!
15 of 17 found the following review helpful:
Overall a solid machine for the price Jul 23, 2007
By dawumyster
This laptop does a great job as an "entertainment laptop" - which is what HP is marketing is as.
The specs are fairly good for this price point, and the design is very modern and appealing. The unique mouse pad is, for me, better than those on other laptops, the speakers are wonderful, and the display smartly transitions from a laptop to a slate, with the screen automatically changing from landscape to portrait (though you can change this in the settings).
However, I bought this notebook for college, and, from an engineering student's perspective, this device does have some flaws. First of all, this laptop (with the 6 cell battery attached) is actually a little bit heavier than some of my friends' 15.4" HP/Compaq laptops with their (larger) batteries.
Second, the screen: If you're considering using a notebook to take notes, consider investing in a laptop with an active stylus (such as those using the WACOM digitalizer) and not a passive touch screen such as this one, as I find it very difficult to press hard and maintain even pressure while noting as fast as some professors talk for extend periods (anything more than 15 min and my wrist starts complaining). Therefore, I'll usually use the keyboard for lectures, though having the ability to quickly convert and input diagrams and charts have been very helpful. The extra pressure-sensing layer on top of the screen also noticeably reduces the brightness of the screen (I would say ~15% dimmer then comparable laptops without the touch screen) The screen also has a protective layer to prevent scratches that is *extremely* reflective and glossy - to the point where it is completely impractical to do any work outside on a sunny day or even sit near a window or under a strong source of light. Also, a 12" screen can really limit the amount of screen acreage, which is a negative if one likes to multi-task and have several windows opened and displayed at once. Again, HP is marketing this as an entertainment machine, and so wasn't designing this with the intention of long note-taking sessions or multitasking in a bright area.
Heat dissipation and battery life is average in my opinion, with a full charge and simple word-processing/editing yielding close to two and a half hours using HP's "recommended power plan", which further dims the display to 70% brightness.
I've also personally had an annoyance with AMD's speed step technology (which slows down the processor in order to save power) while using Firefox and iTunes (or any other audio player) simultaneously, in which the wide dynamic processor load Firefox can put on the processor outpaces the processor's ability to manage the clock speed, resulting in a very occasional slight stuttering of audio in iTunes (at least this is what I think is happening). HP support was rather scripted eventually instructed me to completely erase my hard drive and restore the laptop to its original settings, which still didn't seem to fix the problem.
There are some design flaws as well. My laptop arrived with one of the rubber footpads that it sits on shorter than the other three, making the laptop rest on only three foot pads and was thus wobbly when typing. This was resolved after waiting for more than a week for HP to overnight me a replacement footpad kit, essentially a bag filled with various assorted rubber sticky pads. The screen hinge does seem flimsy although it has held up very well for me and the glossy "impact finish" is a fingerprint magnet, although the included cotton cloth helps mitigate this issue. Finally, although the full sized keyboard on a 12" laptop is very appealing, the function buttons on the top have been fairly reduced and the right shift key was shorted in order to make room for the arrow keys, which can be an annoyance while typing multi-lined works, as instead of capitalizing a letter, one can hit the up arrow key and jump to the previous line.
Apart from the several problems that I personally see in this device, I view this notebook as a grand entertainment machine for the price and I am very satisfied with it. The touch screen, although more of a cool, used sparingly feature, is extremely handy at navigating the included windows media center and DVD menus when the nifty included remote is not in use.
12 of 14 found the following review helpful:
Absolutely Awesome Jul 28, 2007
By Christine L. Nguyen
"Chrissy N"
I've read a lot of bad reviews and I honestly do not know what people are complaining about. The tablet pc feature works fantastic, at least for me. I naturally write hard and don't have chicken scratch, so perhaps this factors into the whole experience. If you do write lightly though, this probably is not the tablet pc for you.
This computer is amazing. I have not been disappointed by it yet. It is fast, the screen is beautiful, and it is very portable. I can not praise it enough.
9 of 10 found the following review helpful:
An Impressive Computer Sep 15, 2007
By Mr. Shawn A. Bozarth
"Imperator"
I've read the reviews on this computer and thought them a bit unfair. This is a great machine for the price.
The AMD processor is very speedy. I have an Dell M1710 of 2.0ghz, and the tx1220 is faster or as fast. So also with the graphics card, which surprised me. I can run all the games I want. the 1220 is a touchscreen machine and can do all the things a WACOM touchpad can do. HP has done this by requiring a bit more pressure, your fingernail, if you want something to work. The handwriting recognition is much better than Tablet 2005, but you have to invest the minimal time (29 minutes) in the handwriting recognition software that comes with it. You don't have to spend the 20+ minutes all at once. The wireless card is an "N" card and is alot more sensitive than any other card for picking up wireless. The screen is great. Never had the fuzziness other people complain of. The Altec Lansing speakers are very good also.
Now, the cons. Any computer with high performance trades off battery life. Buy a second battery or wait for an afermarket 12 cell battery to give you 6+ hours of battery life. You'll get three or so, with the battery given you. Windows Vista is an ambiguous advantage. It's not like the Apple commercial, but it's quite different than previous Windows versions. It's better, but it's different and requires getting used to. I heard somebody talk about bloatware. Yes there's about 10 gb worth, but you can figure it out yourself, what you want and dont.
Look for a convertible tablet with a 64 bit processer, 2 gb of RAM (upgradable), a 200 gb hard drive, that had a lightscribe DVD, all in 4.5 lbs., for under 1300 dollars, you woon't do better.
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