HP's revamped Pavilion HDX monster now on sale

You've read about it, you've heard about it and you've even seen its ghost sneaking out from your closet at night, but now you can finally buy this beast of a machine with its all new hardware. The Pavilion HDX -- which stretches the very definition of a laptop -- is available right now at HP's website, complete with an optional (but really required, you know?) 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme processor, 20.1-inch WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) display, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS and optional HD DVD / Blu-ray drives. Sure, you can claim one as your own for "just" $1,999.99, but HP's "recommended configuration" puts you at $3,645.97. You gotta pay to play, right?

[Thanks Vance and Andrew]

[Flashpoint @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:33PM]

And how the hell does this model not have the built in webcamera.

[Rainier @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:42PM]

Uh, it does.

[Tony C @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:52PM]

Hah! Who cares about "recommended" configuration when you can crank it up with every option available? Rings in at a tidy $9,136.88 thag oo bery buch! $5,640.92 on the first page alone! =)

[Tony C @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:56PM]

Oh excuse me! Seems I missed a checkbox and the max is now a much more palatable $9,286.86. Tax, shipping, arm and leg not included.

[Itchy Pajamas @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:52PM]

That's either a palmtop PC, or the biggest freakin' belt-clip I've ever seen!

[Tony C @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:58PM]

LOL!!! :D

That huge silver bit is an LCD stand -- lets you adjust the viewing angle of your gimundus panel.

http://hpshopping.speedera.net/www.shopping.hp.com/shopping/images/overview/nb_tilt_hdx_7-27.jpg

[Trent @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:03PM]

It's not a "stand" it's the hinge (singular, there is only one hinge). It's huge and strong, something more notebooks should have as hinges break way to often. It also allows you to adjust the tilt of the screen without changing the angle of the hinge, as you said.

[Tony C @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:27PM]

I count two hinges... One at the back of the notebook and one at the back of the LCD panel, and they both move independently. Would "arm" suit better for what to call this contraption?

[Reader @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:58PM]

I feel so behind these days. That laptop is more powerful than my 'gaming' computer.

[Garst @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:00PM]

I find it funny that on the custimize screen, it shows you what the 6-cell and 12-cell batteries look like on a laptop, but only offers the 9-cell battery for this model. What does it look like on the thing?

I also hate how you can't ever order the highest version of Office from ANY laptop maker. Not HP; not Dell; not even Alienware. That really ticks me off that I wouldn't be able to order the version of Office I want if I were to buy a new laptop and desired also to buy the new Office.

[kjb434 @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:02PM]

for $9000 i might as well get an alienware top of the line system and mount it to a shopping cart. I would be just as portable and plenty fast.

[Onetruebill @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:02PM]

Or you could just buy a NICE laptop and a HYUNDIA to ride it around in.
Then with the change you could get free WiFi while you drink your coffee at starbucks

[tony @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:07PM]

I wish that someday Apple will get over their infatuation with making everything so damn thin and pretty and make something like this. I do a lot of location photography (like set up someplace for days) and a MaxBook Colossus would just be the tits for me.

[Markus @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:12PM]

I shall torment this swine-sized notebook with taunts of "fatty fatty fat fat".

[Will @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:16PM]

Sweet, I just bought one of these piggies this morning. I got the welfare version though, $2400 CAD.

[Adam @ Feb 8th 2008 2:07PM]

Did you configure your's with a penryn chip? If so, have you received it yet? They delayed mine 'til the 11th...

[Will @ Feb 8th 2008 8:02PM]

Adam,

No, I bought mine off the shelf, without the Penryn chip. BestBuy Canada had the older 2.2's with 2gb ram and hd dvd for $2500 CAD. The Dragon is very impressive to look at but I find it awkward to use for anything more than a desktop pc, as you may have already surmised. The hinge mechanism on mine is somewhat difficult to open and close...it feels like I am going to break it. My biggest problem is finding a case. I bought it to do mobile presentations for clients but I can't find anything to haul it around in.

Will

[Richard @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:52PM]

I have a budget of $5000 for my laptop and was tempted by this, but an 8800m gs? Why not GTX? I'll stick to waiting for the Alienware m17x and get SLi.

[Perry @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:03PM]

or just get the Gateway P-Series. $1350 at Best Buy, add a faster CPU (T9300 should be $400 tops) and the specs are the same as the HDX.

[Ry @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:40PM]

Same specs as the HDX... Almost.

To get the same specs as the HDX you will still end up spending around $3000 to get nearly all the benefits of a $3000 modified HDX. But it appears that you will be sacrificing the 20.1" display with a resolution of 1900x1200, the Blu-ray drive for the soon to be dead HD DVD Drive (which is slotted to come on the Gateway), the TV Tuner with High-def capabilities, and detachable remote.

http://www.gateway.com/programs/pseries/index.php

On the other hand, it appears you'll be getting a better hard drive(s), possessor and it should be slightly more portable. I like the HDX though.

[Benjesuit @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:04PM]

I hope they continue this model through Montevina's debut. I also hope that HP changes tack and installs a Nvidia 8800M GTX 512. Why does HP always use the 2nd tier of any Nvidia series?

In any event, looking forward to purchasing this later this summer.

[celeritas @ Jan 23rd 2008 8:37PM]

I agree with you about the Nvidia GPU. HP has an aversion to high end components for some reason. That changed a bit with the Blackbird 002 but apparently its not carrying over to their other products. If Alienware can fit a 8800M GTX in a 15.4in notebook, there's no reason this 20.1in beast can't have one, especially with its $2000 base price.

[JadedFuck @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:22PM]

Dear HP,

Backlit keyboard, please.

Sincerely,
JF

[dj-kenpo @ Jan 23rd 2008 7:37PM]

1999 for the base isn't bad. the base config has raid drives etc. a dell xps 1530 at similar specs isn't much cheaper. as usual it's easy to bump it up. $300 for 4gb instead of the base 2gb is BS as we all know 4gb is $80 or less, then you could sell the 2gb for $20 or something...

I like it. but 20" is way to big to be mobile.

[kureshii @ Jan 23rd 2008 8:24PM]

I think HP would have much more success marketing this as a PC... seeing that it has a larger screen, better processor and better video card than most desktops, heh. And it even has a screen stand to boot! Throw in a remote control and you're set for a really pricey media centre PC.

[APasserBy @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:31PM]

It already comes with a remote ;)

[wii.guru @ Jan 24th 2008 1:40PM]

read the fukin article

[Vatche K. @ Jan 24th 2008 4:37PM]

Hey everyone. Believe me or not, but my cousin just received her HDX about a week ago. She has a built in Blu Ray drive, 300+ GB HDD, and Core 2 Duo, thats all I know about it. It's a good laptop, but it's basically a fatty laptop. The thing weighs a ton and is not travel friendly, can't even find a bag that fits... I personally would rather spend much less for a more practical laptop