Toshiba Satellite vs HP Pavillion

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Toshiba Satellite vs HP Pavillion

hamo

53 posts

Master Geek

#18951 30-Jan-2008 20:35

Hi y'all,

Harvey Norman's has the HP Pavillion DV2610TU and the Toshiba Satellite A210 5C0 both for $1298 at the mo, with an extra gig of RAM free in the HP so they're both 2Gb. They also have the finance deal I'd need. So my question is, out of these two laptops, which would you recommend, or warn me away from? I've had an HP that I liked okay, never had a Toshiba, but theToshiba has a bigger screen. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Simonm

181 posts

Master Geek

#107630 30-Jan-2008 21:01

Does the Toshiba have a rebate included in that price?

see here :
http://www.isd.toshiba.com.au/redemption/r_currentredemptionlist.html

corksta

2397 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#107631 30-Jan-2008 21:14

My very first laptop a few years ago was a Toshiba Satellite with a 15.4" screen, and I hated it! I didn't like its looks, the battery was crap, it had a bright green stuck pixel right in the middle of the screen, it was slow and clunky, I didn't like the layout of the buttons around the keyboard, and was just overall unimpressed.

I bought an HP laptop a bit after that and would never get another brand. I guess everyone has their own opinions and favourites, but I love HP laptops. I've never had a dead pixel (which could be that they have better screens or just luck of the draw), I love the look of them and the layout, and just think they're great. I've never had a single problem with them and will always buy HP from now - by the way I'm not a fanboy, just like them a lot!

I used that Harvey Norman deal to buy two new laptops today, the HP DV9612TX and the DV2753TX, and they're both awesome machines. The lady doesn't know I bought the smaller one so I don't know how I'm going to hide it from her......

Se7ensyns

133 posts

Master Geek

#107643 30-Jan-2008 22:08

I have the HP 9612TX as well and I love it. A bit big for probably what you are after. I have only every used Dell laptops priorto thisone (work provided laptops) and the HP has performed well so far. If only Dell had HP I would probbly look at them as they seem a lot cheaper. Toshiba have a good recognition but the general feeling I got when speaking to others about laptops before I bought this is that HP were pretty solid and have come a long way in the last few years. I say stick with what you know until proven otherwise.

hamo

53 posts

Master Geek

#107731 31-Jan-2008 10:58

Simonm: Does the Toshiba have a rebate included in that price?

see here :
http://www.isd.toshiba.com.au/redemption/r_currentredemptionlist.html

Yep, it's the rebate that makes them the same price.

Thanks for the help so far team, I am leaning toward the HP due to familiarity, but the Toshiba looks like it might be the slightly superior machine, although not being an expert I'm just not sure.

chiefie

I iz your trusted friend
5877 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#107745 31-Jan-2008 11:56

Toshiba used to make good laptops... but over the last few that I've seen... they're not that impressive anymore. Plus with their weird placement for Windows Key and Contextual Key tucked right up on the top-right of the keyboard, it is inaccessible to my hands/fingers!!

Anyway, their R500 does look impressive, such a small footprint and grunty little beast. However my preference is with HP, has always been and we have 3 HP/Compaq systems, 2 HP/Compaq iPaq PDA and will be getting more HP products too (multifunction printer etc). My only bad experience with "HP brand" was with Visual Group Christchurch's shocking warranty job. Took a whole month for Visual Group to fix a broken LCD glass on our PDA, and we've told them we'll pay for the repair. Yet they (Visual Group Christchurch) were saying they were waiting for us to reply, how will we reply if we never been called even after numerous call up from our end, and yet, we have told them we'll pay since the first day!!

Long story short, I called HP and complaint and they called up Visual Group HQ and sorted the issue among themselves, meanwhile, HP sent a replacement unit free of charge (due to overdue repairment).

So yeah, we have our reserve feeling on Visual Group Christchurch branch, but nothing of bad experience at all from HP. Highly recommend HP.

Internet is my backyard...

«Geekzone blog: Tech 'n Chips Takeaway» «Personal blog: And then...»

Please read the Geekzone's FUG

hamo

53 posts

Master Geek

#107771 31-Jan-2008 13:46

HP seems to be coming out on top. It's the extra gig of RAM that makes it most appealing, especially as both of them have Vista Home Prem on them. The HP is an Intel Pentium Dual Core, while the Toshiba is an AMD Turion 64 X2 2.1 GHz Dual Core. I don't have a clue when it comes to processors anymore about what's best. The Toshiba also has ATI Mobility Radeon X12000 Graphics, which is what makes it look more impressive in the advertisement.

gregg

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#108623 5-Feb-2008 10:24

These are both sharply priced with similar specs. I chose the Toshiba for the larger screen, it's not going to be used travelling very often so the weight and shorter battery life don't make a critical issue.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

gregg

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#110808 15-Feb-2008 13:31

Harvey Norman are still offering this Toshiba ( Toshiba Satellite A210 5C0) in the latest catalogue; but 2 weeks after ordering it they have been unable to deliver any in the lower North Island at least. I would say AVOID unless they can put it in your hands on the spot, they say 'coming in the next couple of days' for 2 weeks! They are also waiting on other Toshibas for this length of time, and couldn't show a HP Pavillion DV2610TU, as it wasn't yet in stock at the time of the promotion.
Possibly it would pay to find a more organised supply chain.

hamo

53 posts

Master Geek

#110840 15-Feb-2008 18:26

gregg: Harvey Norman are still offering this Toshiba ( Toshiba Satellite A210 5C0) in the latest catalogue; but 2 weeks after ordering it they have been unable to deliver any in the lower North Island at least. I would say AVOID unless they can put it in your hands on the spot, they say 'coming in the next couple of days' for 2 weeks! They are also waiting on other Toshibas for this length of time, and couldn't show a HP Pavillion DV2610TU, as it wasn't yet in stock at the time of the promotion.
Possibly it would pay to find a more organised supply chain.

Thanks for the heads up, although Harveys must remain the vendor of choice due to our finance arrangements.

Simonm

181 posts

Master Geek

#110869 15-Feb-2008 21:36

For the last few months toshiba have been mega ultra sucky with supply and eta's so im not suprised HN have been wrong on their etas

s.joseph

590 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#110893 15-Feb-2008 22:58

yea i workd in the holz for hn and rainchecked a few of those models which is something we usually dont do. Toshiba have lead us around the block for that particular model

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#110955 16-Feb-2008 13:33

I try to stick away from HP and Compaq, a few years ago or so we had a HP laptop (NX9010 from memory) and a Comaq (Presario 6000 from memory) Both failed in the same week, and we ended up losing everything that was on them, also wasnt helped by the people that we brought them off, and considering that we payed $5000 for the laptop at the time, it was a shocking computer.

Since then I have stayed away from HP and Compaq, saying that we do have 2 compaq desktops in the house, and one hp laptop now as well, and they seem to be running very smoothly, but my preferece is Toshiba, although I hav had only 2 toshiba laptops (really old one, and a tecra a2, both of which have never failed me.) anyway now my new favorites are Toshiba, Sony, Dell, for laptops. and HP and Dell for desktops.
Anyway, that can be my 2cents for this :D

-- Divett Enterprises -- The Power Of Tomorrow --

barf

643 posts

Ultimate Geek

#110975 16-Feb-2008 15:55

I'm putting my vote in for toshiba, but HP can't be sneezed at either

my experience with HP/compaq has been bad, bad and ok. early compaqs had charging circuit problems that wouldn't condition batteries properly, toshiba seem to be ahead in terms of power management and battery life. toshiba built a supercomputer cluster out of headless satellites that holds record for most teras/watt. most ppl don't condition their batteries properly and alot can be said to treating your battery like a tank of petrol, only fill up when the light comes on.

Sniffing the glue holding the Internet together

gregg

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#111359 18-Feb-2008 12:24

Well they were able to supply on Friday evening that Toshiba.
Had to take it in Saturday morning, as it had half the advertised RAM. They added the extra pretty quick and said sorry; don't know if they'd have volunteered to if I hadn't complained though. Apparently they all came with 1G instead 2G RAM. It didn't have the Harmon Kardon speakers as the salesman said and were illustrated in the brochure, sound is close to dreadful.
Seems a pretty nice computer so far, battery life is limited - the HP would be better there with smaller screen, slower clock speed helping.