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Strengths: SOLID construction; display size clarity and color; keyboard; ability to add 2nd 12-cell battery; no bloatware; travels extremely well; no flex in display frame; quiet, runs cool.
Weaknesses: No parallel port, side mounted USB ports, no on screen volume or brightness control. Comes stock with smallish HDD, minimal RAM, no Lightscribe option.
Summary: I have to say this is the best laptop I have owned in 20-years of using portable and notebook computers.
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I value two things the most in a laptop. One is the display. The other is the keyboard has to have the feel of a nice desktop keyboard. The NX9420 meets my wishes and beyond.
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First the display on my system (model EV267AA) is one of only a handful of matte finish 17" displays to be had. I cannot use those high gloss trendy displays that the gamer crowd is enraptured by. I like a workable display that functions under pretty much any lighting. No problems with this display. I even can sit outside under a tree or in some shade and still work. Outside is good. :) Just know that different models have different specs. If you want a non-glossy matte finish display then learn what build/model numbers have the specs you want...otherwise you could end up with a display you might not be happy with.
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The keyboard is not all that different from an IBM keyboard. I still like the IBM a small bit more but this is really close. There is no flex to the keyboard. Seems HP did their homework on the keyboards and eliminating flex.
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Battery life is excellent. I can get near 3-hrs from the main battery using wifi, the display set to about 2-3 levels down from brightest. While running Visual Studio, Gmail, a few IE windows and whatever other desktop programs I need. Adding the 2nd battery to the system gives me a total battery life of between 7-9 hours without needing to recharge. That works fine for me!
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The ability to add that 2nd 12-cell battery at the same time the primary battery is in the system is nice. And because it will discharge first. You will see why that is a good thing in a moment. It also has it's own built in charging port and comes with it's own 65w power supply. That means when the battery runs out you can easily remove it from the bottom of the system and plug it in to re-charge while you work away running on the primary battery for the next few hours. If you do this you will get a total of over 11-15 HOURS of battery life. That should be enough for pretty much anyone.
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For those who whine about weight...EAT A STEAK...this system weighs in at about 7.5-lbs. My last Dell Inspiron 15.4" system weighed 9-lbs stock. A modern 15" system will be between 5.5-7.0lbs. That means at most it's 2-lbs. heavier and at the least 0.5 OUNCES heavier. Or on average abour 8-12 oz. heavier. My thinking is if you cannot carry around an extra couple pounds to have a full on computer with you maybe should never own a laptop or even leave the house without a walker. Just pointing out it's not that much heavier then smaller systems... the 2nd battery adds just a bit over one pound.
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Perhaps the best thing about this system is the solid feel you have holding it. It just feels so well made, and it must feel that way because, well, it is solidly built...no cheap plastics here like on consumer grade systems.
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Last and not the least is the noise and running temps at the keyboard and palmrest are pretty much neutral ambient room temps. It is not a hot running system. If it does and makes noise you need to return it or have it repaired. I say this because there are always lemons with problems and you should just return any system that is wrong from the start and get another one. It is also WHISPER quiet. When the display powers off if I don't use it for 10-mins, the only way I am aware it is even running is by looking at the indicator lights.
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I depend on my laptop to earn a living and have been really disappointed in other brands the past two systems. Finding this HP has renewed my enjoyment in my work and give me the freedom to work in the way best for me...you will not go wrong. I am completely satisfied with this system.
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