HP Pavilion DV4-2160US 14.1-Inch Laptop (Digital Plaid)
- Intel Core i5-430M processor (2.26GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.53 GHz)
- 4GB DDR3 System Reminiscence (2 DIMM) (expandable to 8 GB)
- 320GB (7200RPM) Hard Drive (SATA), LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
- Real Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, * Up to 4.25 Hours of Battery Life
- 14.1″ Diagonal WXGA HD HP BrightView Widescreen Show (1280 x 800), Intel HD Graphics with up to 1696MB Whole Available Graphics Reminiscence
For those who want an all-in-one performance notebook with rich multimedia features, the HP Pavilion dv4 Entertainment series delivers mobile performance that looks as fantastic as it runs. Powered by the latest processor and graphics technologies, it delivers optimal mobile performance to support your lifestyle.
Rating: 
(out of 12 reviews)
hp notebook review
Review by jsday12 for HP Pavilion DV4-2160US 14.1-Inch Laptop (Digital Plaid)
Rating:
I looked for like a month before I bought this laptop (not sure what the difference is from the laptop on this page other than the color machinate).
Pros:
14″ screen.
It has an impressive amount of features, including the intel i5-430 processor. I’ve had it less than a week, so we’ll see how it holds up.
Quick
No problems with stuck-on pixels.
Nice keyboard. The DV4 has a full sized keyboard with full sized arrow keys. It really has LEDs next to the Caps Lock and Num Lock keys. The num lock feature nearly made me re-install the OS because I didn’t realize it was on, and I couldn’t log in. I had just used the windows simple transfer, and rebooted, and I was unable to log in. Lessons learned here: make sure you make a password reset disk, and make sure you make a second account just in case your first one gets locked out for some reason. Also burn your DVDs for system restore.
LED backlight for battery conservation.
Looks cool. The volume control and WiFi on/off switch above the keyboard are more of a proximity sensor, and are cool.
Comes with windows 7 home premium.
Wireless works well.
Cons:
The far right corner is dim, about a check centimeter area right in the corner. If I go my head to look directly at it, it’s not very dim. You force not even notice unless you go the task bar like I do.
The screen is glossy. All laptops have glossy screens except for a few Dell business laptops. HP force have one too that you can special order.
The hard drive is a small noisy (but I judge any noise is too much), and a small warm. The fan spins constantly, but you can turn it off in the BIOS (it still cycles when it needs to).
Other:
The touchpad seems like it has a lot of friction at first, but it got better, and if I use the tip of my finger with light pressure it glides just fine. The touchpad screen scroll feature works well. Has a button to turn off the touchpad if you don’t want to use it.
Review by Pleased Consumer for HP Pavilion DV4-2160US 14.1-Inch Laptop (Digital Plaid)
Rating:
I have had this laptop for 1 week and have had no problems. I don’t find it to be any hotter than my Toshiba Satellite. The Toshiba fan vents on the side, but the battery compartment was hot from the start. The Hp vents on the bottom left rear corner, but the battery area stays relatively cool – so all in all it is about the same as the Toshiba for heat levels. My CPU treatment stays in the 3% to 19% for all of the activities I have done so far (I use the “gadget” that came with the Desktop features to monitor the CPU treatment). The keyboard has a nice firm touch to it and the touchpad is fine, just different – it is a charming metal surface. The one thing that I have learned (which is why I only gave it 4 stars) is that the internal wireless adapter – Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter – caps out at a speed of 150 Mbps. I went online to the Atheros website and read the specs, because I thought something was incorrect with it initially – I was expecting a higher speed than that. I had bought an inexpensive wireless N adapter from Amazon, for the Toshiba, that caps @ 270 Mbps and runs perfectly. I am thinking of by it with this HP, even even if it is bulky, because I can see a download speed difference with large graphics. The speakers sound fine, far better than my Toshiba that stuttered everytime the fan turned on. I wish it had come with a longer life battery and a USB port in the rear. I am plotting on replacing the battery with a 12 cell. I use a vendor on Ebay and have had excellent luck with their batteries – prices are fantastic. The DVD drive is a small noisy so that’s a minus. I really like the dedicated scroll “bar” on the side of the touchpad. I did not realize when I was first configuring the Hp that there is a button to turn on the touchpad. Mine arrived with the touchpad turned off as the defaulting and it took me several minutes to map out why I may possibly not manipulate the touchpad. Operator error clearly. So far, so excellent. I got this laptop for $649 after the $50 rebate that is not eligible through Amazon, unfortunately. So for $649, I am very pleased.
Review by Jure for HP Pavilion DV4-2160US 14.1-Inch Laptop (Digital Plaid)
Rating:
The LAN card went terrible after a few months. Downloads are as slow as 56k modem downloads, uploads are lightning quick. That isn’t the problem really, but the problem is how HP Consumer Service is handling this issue. The online reps told me to install the “HP Care Advisor” and said that should help analyze the issue. He offered no other help or explanation.
I took my laptop to 2 different HP service centers and at both centers they’re telling me that my LAN card is OK but that this is a problem with the operating system. I re-installed Windows 7 two times, with all updates. I fresh-installed Outlook back onto the computer + updates and STILL the problem remains. Downloads are super slow, while my uploads are super quick (normal speed).
I took my computer to ANOTHER, private service shop, and the tech told me the LAN card was terrible. The HP guy says otherwise, even if I don’t know why he’s lying.
Excellent luck with this laptop, and HP consumer service, even if I hope you don’t have to deal with them.
Review by N. Tremblay for HP Pavilion DV4-2160US 14.1-Inch Laptop (Digital Plaid)
Rating:
This laptop looks excellent, is powerfull and does meet my requirements for a Win 7 performance. It is the only laptop that I have found, at that price level, that offers Intel I5 processor with 4 GB. Everyone knows that Win 7 requires power and reminiscence. Win 7 performance on this machine is very respectable. I own a powerfull desktop and can hardly see the difference in performance. Overall I am pleased with this laptop.
I did a lot of searching for a laptop and this is what I chose. For price, features and performance, this is a excellent deal. I found this at a local office store on sale for $650 after a $50 mail in rebate.
Pro’s:
*”N” wireless -awesome speed! I am registering 150 mbps vs. 50mbps on my ancient “G”
*14″ screen
*i5 processor
*4 gb reminiscence
*320 hdd
*hd productivity
*built in, removable remote control for the dvd player.
windows 7 – it is amazingly stable. Not a single crash since I bought this laptop 6 weeks ago!
*volume control uses a cool touch sensitive slide
*mute and antenna buttons are also cool and touch sensitive
*fantastic plaid dark brown, nearly black look
*removable cd/dvd drive reduces the weight of the computer. Also, may allow for simple blue ray upgrade?
Con’s:
*battery life is honest at best. Possibly 2 hours with a full charge.
*unit is a small thicker than some of the more cooler looking thin laptops.
*Cooling vent is on the bottom. This deserves some explanation. First, I looked at this feature before buying and in my opinion, the new laptops with the newer “i” processors seem to run cooler than older models. Also, there is a vent on the top of the computer directly above the bottom vent, to the left where the base and screen are hinged. You can only see the top vent when the unit is open. It seems that when the laptop is on a pillow for example and blocking the bottom vent, the top vent takes over releasing the heat but not reasonably as well as the bottom when not blocked. At least it seems that way to me.
*the unit does run a bit warm when by on a pillow and I am precise to monitor the temperature since my last computer dies this way.
*hp should have place the vents on the side!
Mt brother bought a Dell just 2 months before I bought this and he got a pre-i5 processor and g wireless. In comparison, the hp is much better in performance and price.
Highly recommended.