HP Pavilion DM3-1040US 13.3-Inch Silver Laptop

Product Description

For those who want full PC performance optimized for mobility, the HP Pavilion dm3 Entertainment series delivers in a surprisingly affordable, minimalist design. Its top and palm rest covers are made of brushed aluminum in Modern Argento gray, while its bottom casing is a magnesium alloy. The metal casing helps ensure maximum durability at minimal weight. The clean design is accentuated by an iconic keyboard. Powered by the latest ultra-low-voltage processor and mobile graphics technologies, it delivers optimal mobile performance to support your on-the-go lifestyle. Get up to 10 hours of life for extended use with the standard battery. Break free with the performance you need in a design you’ll love (without the designer price tag). Set yourself apart with an ultra-thin design in colorized brushed aluminum. Get greater durability with lightweight aluminum-magnesium casing. Experience full-screen views of HD TV and movies with the 16:9 13.3-Inch diagonal display. Enjoy your photos and videos on HD TVs with the HDMI port (cable sold separately). Chat face to face with the HP Webcam and add fun special effects. Relax with extra protection from file loss due to drops with HP ProtectSmart. Enjoy easy access to your favorite entertainment with HP MediaSmart.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #338 in Personal Computers
• Brand: Hewlett-Packard
• Model: VM207UA#ABA
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, 4.21 pounds
• CPU: Pentium 1.3 GHz
• Memory: 4GB SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 320GB
• Processors: 1
• Display size: 13.3

Features

• 1.3GHz Intel Pentium SU4100 Processor (2 MB L2 Cache, 800 MHz FSB)
• 4 GB DDR3 RAM (2 Dimm), Max supported 8 GB
• 320GB (7200RPM) SATA Hard Drive
• 13.3-Inch Diagonal High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1366 x 768)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD (shared) with up to 1.6 GB total available graphics memory
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, *Up to 10 Hours of Battery Life

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Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer

IDEAL FOR Ultra portability. Count on a thin, lightweight notebook PC that's also affordable and durable. Work and play longer without plugging in using a battery designed for extensive computing.

SPECIFICATIONS

Processor 1.30GHz Intel® Pentium™ Processor SU4100 Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit Memory (RAM) 4GB DDR3 Display 13.3" Diagonal High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1366 x 768) Hard Drive 320GB (7200RPM) SATA Wireless Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN Graphics Card Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD (shared) with up to 1695MB total available graphics memory Battery 6-cell Lithium-Ion Battery; Up to 8 hours battery life* Weight & Dimensions (w x d x h) 4.21lbs; 12.83" x 9.06" x 0.96"/1.23"

FEATURES

Built-in HP Webcam Video chat live 5-in-1 Digital Media Reader Transfer photos from digital cameras without using cables INCLUDED

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Customer Reviews

Battery life is more like 4hr; buggy touch pad. Five stars for the rest
I don't know if you've noticed, but dunking a product on Amazon usually gets you more "No" votes. That said, I am compelled to write this review as I believe that HP did an "evil thing" when they rolled out this product.

Before I start bitching, here are the GOOD:
***Killer looks (five stars are not enough)
***Great screen (never feels like I am looking at a 13.3" screen)
***one of the best keyboards I had used in a long time
***Powerful processor with plenty of RAM (doesn't struggle even when I keep 10 applications simultaneously open)
***Silent
***Four USB's and an HDMI out (on such a small body)
***Solid build.

Then there are the BAD:
***Buggy touch pad. Some quick fix solutions are being discussed on the forums. The issue seem to be a software bug. If so, it's just a matter of time before HP would fix it (I wonder why HP hadn't done it already; I'll grit my teeth and wait).
***Mirror surface touchpad is "sticky" (I'm not a "touch pad" guy anyway).
***A laptop bag supplied by HP screams "aesthetic murder" (I'll budget may be another $100 for a new bag)
***Having to hold function key to access F2 is real pain when working on spreadsheet (but I think I'll get used to it; I'm already warming up to using FN+Arrow to access HOME and END)

Here is the unforgivable UGLY:
***The battery life is typically 4 hours and not the advertised 10 hours (no gaming or video; only standard office work with WiFi on)!!!

This is absolutely unforgivable because
***This is not a software bug and won't get fixed in the future
***The difference between the claimed battery life and actual one is so large that it can't be explained away with fine prints (I can swallow if I get 80% of advertised battery life; not when I get only 40%)
***When the Asian manufacturers (Acer, ASUS and now Sony) claim 10hr, user actually get 10hr or more.

I think HP is having trouble catching up with the "low battery consumption" technologies. Instead of working their butt off, HP took a short cut and made a false "10hr battery" claim. After all, the world is full of suckers like "yours truly". In my part of the world, such practice is called "cheating". If you are from Google Land, you may want to call it "doing Evil".

I bought this laptop because I was tired of carrying my earlier "kitchen sink of a machine" (HP dv9000; beautifully designed). I had this fancy notion that I would carry the notebook to the office, sans the wires, bag and baggage (I've seen my friends do this with Acer and Asus). That's never going to happen till I upgrade some two years down the line.

When I am in the market the next time around, I should remember not to take HP on its face value.

Great laptop at a great price
At $649 after rebate I think this laptop hits a real sweet spot in the 13" market! I've had it for a week now and am really enjoying it. I also purchased a Samsung slim DVD writer since this mahcine doesn't include an optical drive.

Pros:

- Runs very cool with the Intel processor - have never had the fan kick on
- No problem streaming video, and has an HDMI for for your HDTV
- Best looking notebook for the price
- Very fast and quiet hdd
- I have to admit I really am enjoying Windows 7 - I skipped the whole Vista thing
- The back lit LED screen is beautiful
- With 4GB RAM the system multi-taks very well
- Battery Life - I get 5 to 6 hrs with my custom settings, cross country trips on a plane are now a reality
- The keyboard is great to type on, although the use of a fn key to use f1-f12 isn't for me

Cons:

- Quite a bit of crapware and bloatware to get rid of
- The track pad leaves something to be desired - buggy in that it sometimes locks up from resume or comes back as a magnifying glass. You can find out how to fix this in the forurms...
- The mouse buttons on the track pad are too small and require too much pressure to click.

I used to travel with a back breaking 15.4 Dell M65, this will be a joy to travel with, and I will use it more at home because of how beautiful the screen is, and it is completely quiet. In my option you can't go wrong here.HP Pavilion DM3-1040US 13.3-Inch Silver Laptop - Up to 10 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium)

Great fully functional laptop in a netbook size
I understand most of the people taking this unit out of the box have a certain level of expectation, but not all computers have up to date drivers and bios updates installed from the factory. Most if not all of the issues addressed within the reviews for this product are non existent in a fully updated unit with all the current offerings from HPs site. My unit received early 2010 has the very first bios while the update offered is 12 revisions later.

I use this machine as an always on solution that uses low power to keep the power bill down. I use it as a media center, magicjack always on phone system ( throughout my house) and for file transfers. When im lazy I take it to bed to surf before sleep.

Pros
- Appearance. Lid and palm rest is brushed aluminum and looks top notch. I have not seen a laptop that looks this good, friends and family LOVE the look of the computer.

-Noise. Near silent. I read reviews with people complaining about the fan. Its nearly undetectable and I consider it a real plus. I got this just for this reason to replace a HTPC that was too loud for my bedroom. Im thrilled with the cooling so far with the majority of the heat being in the thinnest sections of the palmrest area. Heat exhaust is out the back right and does not blow on you in any way.

- Weight. Doesnt compare to most full size laptops. This thing can be played with in hand in bed more like a netbook. Freedom of usage is closer to a netbook

-Performance. While lacking dedicated video I can testify to what this little powerhouse can do. Play video files up to 14gb+ mkv format BlueRay files (Star Trek 1008p) with perfect playback. The ONLY place this unit is lacking is HD flash video playback (Hulu HD) Still works fine in non full screen or standard definitions. 720p works but above that starts to see framerate loss that affects experience. This will improve with flash updates and future drivers. This unit will likely never be flawless with 1080 streaming. All 720 streaming seems to be fluid enough to be comfortable. This computer can multitask but its obviously for running one primary application at a time. Background processes and minor apps aside, this isnt a computer for watching streaming videos and doing processor intensive apps. Its just a little light on CPU to really hammer it. If your not clicking like a madman you will have no issues.

-Size. You cant find a full function laptop in a size this small. This is small and light and easy to carry yet it has the power to do full size laptop tasks. Its very thin, impressively so

-Hardware/Software included for price. DDR3 Ram, 7200rpm HDD, Windows 7 Premium. This is the smallest computer I could find that runs a full real version of Windows 7. Win7 basic in netbooks was not an option for me.

-Stereo Microphone. The microphone array in the lid of this unit is the best ive ever heard. Ive interacted with hundreds of computers and laptops and this is as good as they get. PERFECT clarity

-Keyboard. Middle of the road here. Not the best but not bad. Im typing fairly clean with it so no complaints so far. VERY minor flex.

-Soundbar. Altec lansing soundbar built into the lower front. Sounds slightly above average and as long as your expectations arent too high on bass its very good. Some comparable computers sound like an AM radio. This is up there with full size premium notebooks.

-Price. This computer is much lower cost than anything comparable in finish or function.

Cons
-TouchPad. The touchpad is a chrome smooth finish which makes your finger almost stick to it as your moving it around. Buttons are much too hard to press and click. Fingerprints are a constant on the touchpad area. The multi-touch features are a gimmick at best and should be disabled. I have to agree that this is one of the worst touchpads ive ever come across. It seems to be standard for netbooks and small laptops. This should improve with time. Noones happy with the touchpads in most if not all the 10-13" laptops I researched before buying. There is a bright white indicator for the touchpad that is an outrage. It reflects back onto the screen causing an artifact in what your trying to watch. Fixable but unexcusable. Red is off and bright white is on. Are you kidding me?

-Screen. The Screen on this is like most smaller netbooks. Very poor viewing angle. When you hit the sweet spot it looks good. Its not anything spectacular and all the manufacturers have all kinds of names and distinctions for their screens all of which mean nothing. Most leave something to be desired. This is no mac book pro screen. FAR from it.

-Battery Life. The advertised battery life is an absolute lie. To get anywhere in the realm of what they are claiming it would have to be in sleep mode untouched and even then its a reach. Under normal usage, video playback, web surfing etc, the battery life is just like a full frame laptop. 2 - 2.5 hours tops.

-Plastic Trim. While the unit looks stellar theres a fake crome plastic trim that has poor fitting corner joints and takes away from the total build quality (Minor)

Conclusion: I would buy this laptop again and would recommend it to a friend. Its only real drawback, the touchpad, is a mute issue for those of us that frequent a mouse. The touchpad is not enough of a drawback to not buy this fantastic computer. I did not test the webcam.

3 More Common E-Mail Problems And What To Do About Them

As we continue to evolve into the world of e-mail that is part of our everyday life, sometimes little problems arise that bother the user. Previously we talked about returned messages and lost connections, both which can be aggravating, and supplied solutions. But there are a few more problems that can affect an e-mail user causing frustration and we will address these here, and again provide reasonable solutions to over come them.

Problem 1 – You Cannot Send a Message

Even when there is not a connection problem, you may attempt to send email, but find that it continues to remain in your outbox.

Solution

Typically this is a software problem, the result of otherwise unapparent damage or corruption to one or more e-mail messages. To address this problem, first copy any unsent messages as text. Then save them on the computer's hard drive or a back-up storage medium. After all messages have been saved, highlight all the messages in your outbox and click on “delete” or “clear”. When clearing your outbox, start over. Just copy unsent messages from the text files, pass them into new e-mail messages and resend.

Problem 2 – The E-mail is Missing an Attachment or the Attachment Won't Open

An especially handy feature of e-mail is the ability to send and receive attachments. Transmitting documents, photos or other such information can save time and money compared to the U.S. Mail or express delivery services. At the same time, attachments can be real headaches. A common frustration is to receive an e-mail message that refers to an attachment, but then find nothing is there.

Solutions

Often the best solution is to request that the sender try once again, since it is not unusual for the writer to refer to an attachment, but then forget to attach it. Even if this is not the case, your request might prompt the sender to re-think the attachment's format before transmitting again. If the problem continues, consider asking the sender to paste the contents inside an e-mail message and try again. This may disrupt formatting, but can be an effective way to circumvent attachment problems.

If you see a message that the attachment has been deleted, it may be that your anti-virus software has detected a virus, and you're better off without it anyway. But if you find that all attachments are indiscriminately being deleted, check your mail properties. If a box is checked that blocks all attachments, remove the check mark so that you can receive attachments. If you then receive a message from an unknown person, or if the message or attachment seems suspicious, delete the message without opening the attachment.

A related problem is to see that an attachment has been transmitted, but find that you are unable to open it. The causes (and thus the solutions) vary. In some cases, the problem is that the software used by the sender does not match that of the recipient. As with a missing attachment, a simple fix is to ask the sender to copy and paste the contents of the attachment within a follow up mail message. Even if formatting is disrupted, you can still get the gist of the information. You can also use your own copying and pasting process to reformat the contents, if that is important.

Another strategy is to save the document to your hard drive, and then open the software program that was used initially to create it. Once this program is in use, your computer may be able to recognize what had been the attachment, and open it. If you do not have the appropriate software loaded on your computer, you may be able to download it from the Internet; just follow the on screen prompts to proceed.

Problem 3 – You Have too Much Incoming Mail or Cannot Download What You Have

If you are receiving large volumes of e-mail, you may be vulnerable to several difficulties.

Solutions

Many Internet service providers place limits on the amount of storage provided to each user (although some have recently increased storage limits). If a pre-set limit is reached (perhaps because you've gone too long without downloading your e-mail, or have been inundated by SPAM or virus induced flood of messages), additional messages will be bounced back to those who sent them.

Of course the direct approach is to download your mail and then weed it out, but a smarter move may be to access your e-mail account via Web mail. That way you can see a listing of all messages and quickly delete any that do not appear to be of interest. The end result is the same, but this step can save a great deal of downloading time if you're using a dial up modem. It also adds an extra measure of virus protection even if you have a broadband connection. Since you're deleting messages from your ISP's server before they ever have a chance to infect your computer, it's like killing mosquitoes before they bite you – instead of afterwards.

If you do not have a Web mail account, it's easy to get one. Simply go to a provider such as Yahoo (www.yahoo.com) or Lycos (www.lycos.com) and register. You can also use a site such as mail2web (www.mail2web.com) or webmail4free.com without even registering. Go to the site and enter you e-mail address and password. You will see a listing of all incoming mail, which you can read and then retain for downloading, or delete, as you choose.

A similar challenge may be caused by unusually large message. Again, this problem is more common with dial-up modems, where hefty messages may take an annoyingly long time to download. In the worst cases, you may find yourself unable to receive other messages, because the connection with the server where your messages are stored is severed when a time limit has been reached.

Use of Web mail can also do the trick here. Just log on to the third-party site, peruse the list of messages in your inbox, and choose the one that is the largest (most Web mail programs automatically list the size of each message). If the message seems of potential interest, open and read it, and then delete it. Or if it is obviously spam or something in which you have no interest, you can delete the message without even bothering to read it. Once you have removed the offending message, your other incoming mail will no longer be blocked.

If you do not have Web mail, an option is to contact your Internet Service Provider and ask for help. Once a customer service representative deletes the offending message from the ISP's server, you can then download all remaining messages.

Also keep in mind that retaining too much e-mail can be an organizational problem, if not a technical one. Take time to delete e-mail that does not need to be saved for future reference. Allowing too many messages to accumulate wastes storage space and makes it more difficult to find important messages when you need to refer to them. For messages that merit retention, create a series of folders so that they can be readily located, and so that your inbox will not become too full.

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3 Different Types Of Camera’s: Box, Folding-Roll, And Viewfinder

This article will outline 3 different types of camera’s: Box, Folding-Roll, and Viewfinder. This information will help you decide which camera suits your photography needs the best.

For over several decades the box camera was the gadget of choice for the typical amateur photographer. This is because it was cheap and simple, yet still capable of excellent results under most conditions. Box cameras were usually fitted with a single-element lens, a limited range opening control, and a single-speed shutter.

Next up is the Folding-Roll Film Camera, which was also very popular but not quite as much so as the box camera. The folding camera came in several types of formats, but basically, it was a box camera whose lens was included into a movable disk that could slide back and forth on a rail, allowing the lens to change focus from close to long range.

There were more complicated models available, but they were more expensive and considered very high quality. But, the most important benefit that they had over the box camera, was their compact design when folded, which made them easier to pack and transport. There has been something of a minor renaissance in folding-roll film cameras in recent years, with appearance of several new professional instruments. They are appreciated for their large negative size and compact design.

Next is a Viewfinder type camera which does not use a lens to view the subject but instead relies on a separate viewing system in the camera for aiming and for focus. The range finder camera allows for accurate focus, however, by using two views of the same subject to adjust focus. In this camera there are two images in the viewfinder. One is usually only a portion of the viewer area and is usually slightly yellowish in color. The photographer adjusts the focus ring on the lens and as they do the two images move. When both on directly on top of each other they blend together and almost disappear which signifies that the camera is in focus. The rangefinder is accurate and very quiet as well as being light weight. It is also useful for taking pictures in low light conditions or for candid photographs. These cameras can easily be spotted because of their double view windows in the front.

Enjoy your photography hobby and remember – keep experimenting with different angles and new lighting. Don’t be afraid to get creative!

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What Paper or Computer Files Should You Keep

Does this shock you? It did me at first, but now I subscribe to this motto and let go of all paper and information that doesn't serve me. It's my new mantra. If the information is important I make sure it gets filed--either in paper files or on my computer. More and more I don't use paper files and have learned how to make new folders of important people or specific information I need to keep track of.

If you are a stacker, slinger, or stuffer, you can now expand your power by keeping only what is important to you.

How to File these Important Pieces

If in a paper file organize them alphabetically and vertically and put a complete name at the top of the manila file folder. Categorize the kinds of files too: one for household information, another for the teleclasses and speaking engagements, another for coaching clients, and another for promotion Online and off.

In a computer word folder organize information alphabetically too. "My documents" includes these and many more, but with this technique you will always know where to find the important information because it's organized and categorized in folders Examples include: articles to submit, contacts influential, ClickBank, promotion campaigns by month and of course folders for books in word and PDF. These folders are the lifeblood of any business.

Make sure you keep only information that supports your best life. With that 20% make sure you file it so you can find it in less than two minutes!