Crazy HP offers $400 off on tx2500z tablet, throws in printer, will not be undersold

Are you looking for a full-featured tablet but, thanks to current economic conditions, find yourself stuck with a netbook budget? Check out HP's tx2500z 12.1-inch portable, available now through the company's online store for just $599.99 shipped -- if you can wade through the mildly convoluted customization process that's detailed at the read link. Select all the right options and free upgrades (including 3GB of RAM and a 250GB HDD) and you'll get yourself a 2GHz touch-screen device plus a D1560 inkjet printer for under $600 after a $400-off coupon and $70 mail-in rebate -- just a little bit of hassle to get a stellar deal on a sweet tablet.

Update: Too slow, folks. We're hearing the coupon code is now dead.

[ChaosFactory @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:27AM]

This shows $200 off already at HP's site ($800), does this mean that with the coupon code you could have it for $400??? Now that would be amazing, but I doubt it.

[jay.viz @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:11PM]

Usually, one coupon replaces the other on HP's site. I've tried this before. :)

[JH @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:38PM]

I don't see any mention of the $400 off "coupon" on their site, or in the article above. I configured a system on HP's site, and see the $200 off instantly and $70 mail-in rebate, but nothing on the $400 coupon. I configured one to see if the coupon would appear, but it came to $938 plus tax after the rebate and instant savings.

[OneLove @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:33PM]

They keep selling the same shite, in the same cases, but with more glossy.

[decoy @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:39PM]

@ JH

Click on the read link and read very carefully. However, I tried all the steps they mentioned and it didn't work for me.

[OneLove @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:39PM]

This is the official HP coupon site: ( I saved $500 last year, but I wont buy HP ever again)

http://www.hpoffers.com/

[Rhino @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:53PM]

HP's Coupon will only be applied at the very end just before you click a confirm the order button. The coupon is a real another $400 off.
BUT!!!! This one really SUCKS!!
It's building quality is VERY POOR!!! Stay away from it!!!
Neither the plastic box, the so-called tablet screen nor the cpu and HP softwares works good.
a good tablet is still something will cost you >$1500

[andy @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:52PM]

Engadget, the affiliate marketing site?

[Brandon @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:10PM]

i got on a similar deal a few months back and got it for $700.
dont use the tablet much, but its a good laptop for the price!

[lpppppl @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:12PM]

This is either a amazing deal, or a loophole hp forgot to fix... too good to be true.

I'll take a beowulf cluster of these.

[aj_robins @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:09PM]

It's more likely that they're clearing out stock for a new model. It's has been out for a long time, by laptop standards.

However, I'd strongly recommend that people check out the various sites with HP laptop forums. This isn't a laptop that I'd generally recommend to people (I'm typing this post on one). It's OK for web browsing, email, and DVD watching, but I wouldn't use it for anything that requires a lot of CPU, like games. It's not unusual for the CPU temps to hit 90C+ with high CPU usage (yes, ninety degrees Celsius). My current CPU temps are 74C (40-50% CPU, with a dual-core AMD Turion(tm) X2 Ultra ZM-82, so 40-50% is around 80-100% of one core). For a scary time, run something like wprime and watch the CPU temps.

The pen-based input is pretty nice, though. You need a copy of OneNote or Evernote to take full advantage of it, however, as windows journal is pretty awful, in my opinion.

[iofthestorm @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:02PM]

The successor is already out, the tx2. By the way, my tx2000 came with Onenote, so I would think the 2500s would too.

[BobFromVegas @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:12PM]

Wow. If lowering prices and going for bargains makes me crazy, damn I don't care. Give me more deals!

[engadget.mlc @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:14PM]

They must be clearing these out because of the tx2.

New multi-touch hotness cheapens old single-touch lameness...

[Ray @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:18PM]

Iduno about that. Atleast wait till a multitouch OS is released before casting judgment.

[114 @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:21PM]

Ehhhhh....
Battery life concerns me here.

[Levi @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:32PM]

anybody know if these are Wacom Penabled?

[Mark @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:34PM]

They are.

[klusta @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:35PM]

A member of my family bought the tx1000 a little less than a year ago and has started having problems with it. Beware, you'll get what you pay for. Apparently the DV and TX series have had a host of motherboard issues. Google "tx1000 wireless problems". Heck, you may want to google "tx2500 problems" before you buy just to see how widespread the issue is with this model too.

[Jon @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:42PM]

You can Google ANYTHING and find a bunch of people with issues

[John @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:46PM]

The percentage of people with bad experience who are vocal about it is always far greater than the percentage of people with GOOD experiences who are vocal about it. This means that even if the number of bad people is a couple order of magnitudes smaller, you will still normally hear more bad things than good if you search online.

[klusta @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:51PM]

Normally Jo(h)ns, I'd agree, but I was surprised at this one. The wireless had stopped working and I did EVERYTHING possible to fix it. Even got a replacement wireless card from HP that shorted out a few days later. On your average dumb problem, you can find a site or two with people complaining about it. On this problem, there were numerous forums where everyone had the exact same issue, differing only in timeline. HP has acknowledge the hardware design problems on the DV series, but has been reluctant to do the same for the TX. Just offering up a word of caution...

[chefgon_ign @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:53PM]

"The percentage of people with bad experience who are vocal about it is always far greater than the percentage of people with GOOD experiences who are vocal about it."


Unless it's an Apple product, then those people never effing shut up about it.

[Mr. Ford @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:08PM]

I purchased 3 of these over the last year. 2 in an office environment, 1 for personal use. One of these rides around in a farm truck all day, open on a ram mount, and I have had no problems. They do get a little hot though. I guess that's due to the small form factor. Otherwise, they were a good deal at ~$900, $600 is even better.

[aj_robins @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:15PM]

I have a tx2500 (I'm typing this on one), and the wireless has been great. Any problems, that I have had, have been software-related (rebooting windows fixes it).

[Iff @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:32PM]

I've got a tx1000 running Windows XP Tablet, it works fairly well. However, my wireless card does sometimes quit working randomly - the shiny blue light is on, XP insists that it's on, but it refuses to find any networks. It only happens about once or twice per month, and a restart immediately fixes it, so it's not a huge deal.

And yes, it runs rather hot, to the point that you may have to dangle the corner off your lap to keep your leg from getting burnt. After my warranty expired, I opened mine up to clean the dust out of the heatsink and replace the thermal pads with Arctic Silver - instead of 80C, it now runs at 40 under heavy load - much better, not to mention quieter.

It has served me well for about 2 years, but I'm looking for a replacement - something that doesn't use a horribly outdated AMD chip (even the brand new tx2 still has a Turion, what the hell HP?!) and can give me more than 2 pitiful hours of battery life.

[kawa shwaish @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:35PM]

This totally works. That is awesome. Just got one for my fiance.

[Game_playa @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:36PM]

PLease HELP!!
How do I use the coupon?? I'm on checkout page

[inteller @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:46PM]

no bluetooth, no vista x64....not really that great of a deal.

[DiRT @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:58PM]

What part of "Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit (FREE)" means "no vista x64"?

[Brett @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:47PM]

If you read the print on this page, the $400 includes:

Save up to $399 instantly (on customizable models).

Offer includes:
- $200 instant rebate
- Free upgrade to 3GB of memory from 1GB ($100 value)
- Free upgrade to 250GB hard drive upgrade from 160GB ($50 value)
- Free shipping ($49 value)

There's your $400 savings, it includes the "FREE" upgrades. Not so hot.

[Jon @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:51PM]

Nope .. use code NB4398 it takes off $400

[Jon @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:52PM]

Oh maybe your right ..

[DreamKiller @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:53PM]

Man HP makes some very nice solid and price friendly products.

[huh @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:04PM]

Their TX series is anything but "solid."

[Nihility @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:00PM]

More like flimsy. The "cheap" part is spot on though.

[Mark @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:07PM]

What a rip off if you read before the configuration:

Save up to $399 instantly (on customizable models). Offer includes:
- $200 instant rebate
- Free upgrade to 3GB of memory from 1GB ($100 value)
- Free upgrade to 250GB hard drive upgrade from 160GB ($50 value)
- Free shipping ($49 value)

[Tom @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:09PM]

If you just want a laptop, there's an even better deal as part of the same promotion:
HP Pavilion dv5t for $429
http://www.techdealdigger.com/deals/hp-pavilion-dv5t-429-at-hp-home--home-office/5845

[Pretol @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:48PM]

This is LAME. Engadget - you damn douchebags, CHECK THE DEAL BEFORE YOU POST IT. Do you guys have any credibility in there? Do you know what journalism is? What's next - UFO sightings?

You end up PAYING for the FREE UPGRADES. Do you see the irony and the conflict within that sentence. Or in other words, it takes off 400 bucks from the original retail price with all the awesome "free" upgrades.

It would only take you a couple of seconds to go through and try it, before posting this "extravaganza" garbage.

[TimStevens @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:51PM]

We did... got to the end and were presented with an "order" button with a total around ~$720 because of NY sales tax. Subtract the tax and the rebate for the printer and there you go.

[DiRT @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:56PM]

It's OK. No one expects you to read it either, just post flaming random wrongness.

[Moklonus @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:47PM]

Products subtotal +$999.99 *
Rebates -$0.00
Coupons (remove) -$400.00

Order subtotal +$599.99
Updating
Shipping & Handling +$0.00
Estimated tax +$42.00

Balance due $641.99
--
Mail-in Rebates -$0.00
you saved 40%


There you go...

[Moklonus @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:54PM]

Dang Pretol! Why don't you go someplace else and find a better deal if you think you are a better journalist, instead of bashing a "source".

[F33 @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:00PM]

my total is $727 with the instructions for the deal. im from s. cali.

[Todd @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:06PM]

Guys, it's $400 Coupon NOT $400 in upgrades!

Products subtotal +$999.99 *
Rebates -$0.00
Coupons (remove) -$400.00

Order subtotal +$599.99
Updating
Shipping & Handling +$0.00
Estimated tax +$42.00

Balance due $641.99

[Wes A @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:10PM]

I bought a tx2500z tablet in september. There was some sort of problem with the wifi card (broadcom) and vista - led to the computer crashing every few hours. Returned it and got an hp 6830s instead.. never looked back.

[thedesolate1 @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:53PM]

I think the heat might of been the issue more than the wlan card. Those temps in such a compact device are no good. It causes bad and unnecessary stress on the inner components. I remember I had to sell my last core 2 duo laptop because the gpu made it so hot I could fry an egg on it and as a result the computer kept shutting down. I know intels have a safety feature that the bios auto shuts down after reaching certain temps to prevent meltdowns. Not sure if Turions have this feature.

[DaveMaster @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:10PM]

I have been waiting for a deal on this! Just scored one for $600 shipped fellaws! This is HOT! Totally works! Just followed those instructions on the source page, piece of cake! Thanks for the TIP!

[brian @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:40PM]

I just bought one, thanks for the info. $649 shipped

[Haji Hill @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:19PM]

FYI - These are gone.

There were only 1000 and they went. I called customer support to verify. What really burns is that I had the deal on my screen and just had to go back and mess with the options, in the meantime losing the deal... Oh well, easy come, easy go...