The HP Pavilion dv6-6033cl ($849.99 list, at Costco) uses Intel's Sandy Bridge processor technology to deliver impressive productivity and multimedia performance, and it comes with a relatively big hard drive and a sturdy aluminum finish. While not overly expensive, this desktop replacement laptop is a bit pricy considering its mediocre feature set and the fact that there are less expensive models out there that offer similar performance and longer hp latop battery life.
Design
The dv6-6033cl's lid is wrapped in a brushed black aluminum shell and is decorated with the requisite backlit HP logo. Rounded edges and a tight, sturdy hinge mechanism provide a measure of durability not found in laptops with plastic finishes. A band of silver trim around the base compliments the black finish, which has a slight sheen that will expose smudges but not nearly as much as what you get with a high gloss finish. The dv6-6033cl weighs 5.5 pounds, making it heavier than the Acer Aspire AS5742-6811 (4.9 pounds), Samsung RV511-A01 ($599.99 list, 4 stars) (5.2 pounds), and Gateway NV50A02u ($449.99 list, 4 stars) (5 pounds).
The dv6-6033cl's lid is wrapped in a brushed black aluminum shell and is decorated with the requisite backlit HP logo. Rounded edges and a tight, sturdy hinge mechanism provide a measure of durability not found in laptops with plastic finishes. A band of silver trim around the base compliments the black finish, which has a slight sheen that will expose smudges but not nearly as much as what you get with a high gloss finish. The dv6-6033cl weighs 5.5 pounds, making it heavier than the Acer Aspire AS5742-6811 (4.9 pounds), Samsung RV511-A01 ($599.99 list, 4 stars) (5.2 pounds), and Gateway NV50A02u ($449.99 list, 4 stars) (5 pounds).
The 15.6-inch display maxes out at 1,366 by 768, a common resolution for laptops of this size. The screen is bright, and image quality is crisp at 720p, but you'll have to stream your HD content as this model does not come with a Blu-ray drive. The keyboard deck has the same metallic finish as the lid and holds a full size chiclet-style keyboard (also black) with a dedicated number pad. The keyboard has just enough flex to keep it from being too stiff and is comfortable to type on. As with the dv6-6013cl ($649.99 list, 4.5 stars), this model uses a multi-touch trackpad rather than the finicky clickpad used on other Pavilion models such as the HP dm4-1265dx ($649.99 list, 4 stars), and that's an improvement; the touchpad is wide and is very responsive, as are the two mouse buttons. A thin backlit strip bordering the touchpad makes it easy to use in the dark. There isn't any media player or volume controls on the deck but there is a fingerprint reader on the lower right side and a Web browser hot key and power switch on top.
A silver speaker bar positioned between the two lid hinges is mounted at an angle to help direct sound to the user rather than straight up. It is joined by two additional speakers in the lower chassis and is part of the Beats Audio solution, a combination of hardware and software that delivers an enhanced listening experience. Audio quality was significantly more robust than what you get on a two-speaker laptop such as the Sony VAIO VPC-EA46FM/V ($799.99 list, 3.5 stars), but it doesn't give you the much needed bass response that you get with a built-in subwoofer.
Features
Port selection is fairly typical. VGA, HDMI, and Ethernet ports share space on the left side of the laptop with two USB 3.0 ports, two headphone jacks, and a microphone jack. The dual headphone jacks come in handy if you want to share a movie or music with a friend. On the right are two USB 2.0 ports and a DVD burner with LightScribe label etching capabilities. Wireless capabilities include 802.11n and Bluetooth networking but you don't get WiMAX broadband or WiDi (wireless display) like you do with the Dell Inspiron 15R-2728MRB ($749.99 list, 3.5 stars). A 2-in-1 media card reader (SD and MMC) is embedded in the front edge of the chassis, and an HP TruVision HD webcam is built-in to the screen's upper bezel.
Port selection is fairly typical. VGA, HDMI, and Ethernet ports share space on the left side of the laptop with two USB 3.0 ports, two headphone jacks, and a microphone jack. The dual headphone jacks come in handy if you want to share a movie or music with a friend. On the right are two USB 2.0 ports and a DVD burner with LightScribe label etching capabilities. Wireless capabilities include 802.11n and Bluetooth networking but you don't get WiMAX broadband or WiDi (wireless display) like you do with the Dell Inspiron 15R-2728MRB ($749.99 list, 3.5 stars). A 2-in-1 media card reader (SD and MMC) is embedded in the front edge of the chassis, and an HP TruVision HD webcam is built-in to the screen's upper bezel.
The 640GB 5,400rpm hard drive may not be the fastest drive around but it has plenty of room for file storage. Windows 7 Home Premium is preinstalled, as is a smattering of bloatware such as eBay and LoJack adware, HP Games, and trial versions of MS Office and Norton Internet Security. Also installed are a webcam utility, Cyberlink's PowerDVD9, and HP's Cloud Drive software. Dell latitude d630 battery with a one-year warranty, but since this is a Costco exclusive you get an extra year at no additional charge. Costco members also enjoy the benefit of Costco's Concierge service, which provides toll-free technical support and a 90-day return policy.
Performance
Equipped with a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M (Sandy Bridge) processor, 6GB of RAM, and Intel's integrated HD Graphics 3000 GPU, the dv6-6033cl turned in an impressive PCMark Vantage score of 6,217, edging out the Samsung RF510-S01US ($939.99 list, 3.5 stars) (6,094) and Sony VAIO VPC-EB47GM/BJ ($799.99 list, 3.5 stars) (5,949). It also beat the Dell 15R-2728MRB (6,121) and Acer AS5742-6811 (6,161), but just barely. Predictably, scores from the Core i7-powered MacBook Pro 15-inch (Thunderbolt) ($2,199 direct, 4 stars) (8,315) and Dell XPS 15 (Sandy Bridge) ($1,785 direct, 4 stars) (8,089) were significantly higher. Results were similar on the Handbrake, CineBench R11.5, and PhotoShop CS5 multimedia tests; the dv6-6033cl outscored the Dell 15R-2728MRB and Acer AS5742-6811, but not by much, while the Dell XPS 15 and Apple MacBook Pro dominated.
Equipped with a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M (Sandy Bridge) processor, 6GB of RAM, and Intel's integrated HD Graphics 3000 GPU, the dv6-6033cl turned in an impressive PCMark Vantage score of 6,217, edging out the Samsung RF510-S01US ($939.99 list, 3.5 stars) (6,094) and Sony VAIO VPC-EB47GM/BJ ($799.99 list, 3.5 stars) (5,949). It also beat the Dell 15R-2728MRB (6,121) and Acer AS5742-6811 (6,161), but just barely. Predictably, scores from the Core i7-powered MacBook Pro 15-inch (Thunderbolt) ($2,199 direct, 4 stars) (8,315) and Dell XPS 15 (Sandy Bridge) ($1,785 direct, 4 stars) (8,089) were significantly higher. Results were similar on the Handbrake, CineBench R11.5, and PhotoShop CS5 multimedia tests; the dv6-6033cl outscored the Dell 15R-2728MRB and Acer AS5742-6811, but not by much, while the Dell XPS 15 and Apple MacBook Pro dominated. While the new Intel HD Graphics 3000 GPU is certainly an improvement over the earlier GMA HD (Core i5), it is not adequate as a gaming solution. It does, however, handle video with aplomb. The dv6-6033cl's 3DMark06 score of 1,878 (at 1,366 by 768) was pretty much in line with that of the and Acer AS5742-6811 (1,855) and Dell 15R-2728MRB (1,816), but it did much better on the low resolution Crysis test. Still, 17.6 frames per second (fps) at low resolution is hardly what you'd call a playable frame rate. The MacBook Pro, on the other hand, scored 74.8 fps, thanks to its AMD Radeon HD 6750 graphics engine.
The dv6-6033cl's 55WH battery ( Dell inspiron 1545 ac adapter ) lasted 3 hours 57 minutes on MobileMark 2007, which is not terrible but nothing to write home about either. That score is more than an hour shy of the Acer AS5742-6811 (5:07) and MacBook Pro (4:40) and four hours shorter than the Dell XPS 15 (6:58).
If you're looking for a desktop replacement dell laptop battery that uses the latest Intel technology to deliver strong productivity performance, the Sony vaio k series battery will fit the bill. Its durable finish and ample storage are nice features, as are the speedy USB 3.0 ports and two-year warranty. Still, its graphics engine has limited potential, and it comes up short in terms of features and battery life. And while the dv6-6033cl is a good performer, the FUJITSU siemens amilo pro v2010 battery offers similar productivity performance and more features for less money (the dv6-6033cl gives you slightly better multimedia and graphics performance, though). The Acer Aspire AS5742-6811 also offers competitive performance and much better battery life for around $150 less. For the best all around performance and feature set in a 15-inch desktop replacement laptop, the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Thunderbolt) is still our reigning Editors' Choice.
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