HP dm1z Ultraportable Laptop Review

HP’s Pavilion dm1z is nothing less than a netbook on steroids. Donning an 11.6-inch screen, it features a resolution up to 1366 x 768. Say good bye to small screen problems, thanks to its AMD Radeon HD 6310 GPU it can support anything up to full HD without page truncation or those lovely cropped video problems Atom-based netbook users are all so used to. Stunning graphics in a small package: check.

Portability with Longevity
As a 11-incher, the awesome ultraportable HP dm1z comes with a beautiful screen and battery life that won’t require you to be tied down to power cords just to watch a movie. I know I want to run wild and free as I play World of Warcraft or Minecraft, while watching a random movie in 1080p, as I check my e-mails and download random funnies off of the web, all while on a single battery charge that lasts forever. Well the dm1z’s battery won’t last forever, and I cannot say that running all that will not slow it up, but AMD has developed a processor to increase your maximum battery life. The specifications rate iit at having nine and half hours of battery life, though I have heard claims of anywhere up to ten and a half (at the end, results vary depending on your usage scenario). This gives you all the time in the world to run around showing this beauty off to your friends, without fret of when it is going to die. A battery to last a lifetime: check.
Performance Beyond an Intel Atom
A computer can theoretically handle anything, but what it can actually handle is what we’re all interested in. With a processor backed by a GPU, not only has AMD been able to extend battery life, but also performance. Standard with 3 GB of RAM; it comes with a Dual-Core AMD Fusion Processor running at 1.6Ghz. A definite step up from most single core notebooks, it holds its own against its four core older brothers. With the ability to upgrade RAM, and a processor that rivals anything in its field, as well as that out of its field, I got to say, I do not know what this thing cannot handle. Maybe my dream of playing WoW, watching Batman, checking my e-mails, and downloading funnies for hours without a power cord is not too far away from reality. A processing mini-powerhouse: check.
Well Rounded Features
HP has also thrown in some cool features. Included is the same keyboard and “clickpad” as the dm4 and ENVY series. Mouse movements are a breeze with this baby, and typing is elegant. No cramped spaces here. Like any computer this day worth its weight in gold, it comes standard with a Wireless-N Card. The dm1z also features a 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader which is nice for anybody who enjoys using a broad range of portable storage. A webcam comes standard as well as a microphone, so no worries about chatting; the dm1z has got you covered. For sound it comes equipped with Altec Lansing speakers, and as I have heard it, are great delivers of the harmonic kind. Also a very nice feature that HP put into the dm1z, is the ease of taking the back off. Just take out the battery, and then pop it off, no screwdriver is required. Also 3 x USB, 1 x VGA, and 1 x HDMI are all standard, so no worries on connectors, you’ll be dual-screening it up in no time. Features for any kind of enthusiast: check.
A Netbook That’s… Well, Not a Netbook
What do you get with the dm1z? A small laptop that stays cool in your lap (thank you HP’s cool design of ventilation, let us hope no dirt particles messes that up) for hour after hour until you forget it is there. More processing power per square inch then most any laptop on the market, matched with a beautiful HD screen. The ease to upgrade or customize as you see fit. So if you want a portable or ultraportable computer, the dm1z is definitely a good choice. It can handle whatever you throw at it and then some, and that is saying a lot since it is a smaller laptop. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop, this probably is not the best choice for you, though it can handle that as well. So a computer that can fit most of your needs, is nicely priced, and can go wherever you go: check.
Photo courtesy of hp.com

Posted in: HP