There are a large number of high-end laptops in the market nowadays, and it is a fact that not everyone can afford an Alienware or a MacBook. These devices can definitely rival the best desktop computers around with their specs but their price makes them hard to reach. Moreover, everyone does not want to play games at the highest frame rates. A reasonably priced laptop can get the job done for a majority of the applications that we are using today. Here is a look at some of the cheapest laptops that HP has to offer. You might not be able to play the next Call of Duty game on high settings, but you can definitely watch your favorite BluRay movies and play some equally amusing games with these laptops.
HP Pavilion G4-1215DX
The HP pavilion G4 is powered by an AMD A4 processor (AMDs provide a great performance-price ratio in my opinion) that clocks at 2.5 GHz with a 2MB cache and 4GB of DDR3 RAM, which should be enough if you are going to use the 32 bit version of Windows 7. The 14-inch LED backlight widescreen screen has a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768 and the laptop comes with a 320 GB, which is common in laptops at this price range. The integrated ATI Radeon 6480G graphics card is enough to let you watch HD movies and edit your photos with Photoshop at the same time.
Other basic features like Ethernet, Bluetooth, USB, HDMI and VGA ports are all included along with a 802.11 n/b/g Wi-Fi adapter. The touchpad on the laptop is surprisingly sensitive enough without being irritating while the keyboard is not what you would expect from a budget laptop. That’s because it is very easy to use and very comfortable as well. The laptop is also very light, weighing just 4.4 pounds. It is highly recommended for business users who are constantly on the go.
The only bad feature about this laptop is the cheap speakers that will surely ruin your entire experience if you like music a lot. But for the price of around $400 (depending on your location), the laptop is definitely a good bargain. Some retailers may even give you an HP coupon to that will drop the price a little more.
HP Pavilion G6X
Another budget laptop from HP is the G6X. Almost similar to the G4, the main difference between the two is that the G6 is powered by a second-generation Intel Core i3 processor running at 2.2 GHz with on-board Intel HD 3000 graphics. This laptop is definitely for those who swear by Intel processors. There is a difference of about $50-70 between the G6 and the G4 and the price difference is justified because Intel processors generally tend to cost more than AMD. Also, the G6X has a slightly larger 15-inch display and 500 GB hard drive.
There are basically no other differences in the hardware apart from the two aforementioned facts. The G6 is slightly heavier than the G4 at 5.50 pounds, but it is definitely not a big problem since user preference on weight may vary from user to user.
The G6 has an attractive design and can be found in a variety of colors ranging from black to pink. The keyboard is also comfortable like the ones on the G4 while the touch pad is positioned in a slightly awkward position; so getting used to it might take some time. Another plus point of the HP Pavilion G6X is the speakers that sound better than its AMD counterpart.
Just to cite a few disadvantages, people who surf the Internet via Wi-Fi might be a little disappointed because the Wi-Fi adapter performs a little awkward at times. On random occasions, the data speeds will decrease at times especially when the laptop is close to a router. But we think this might be a problem that will occur only when certain routers as used. This is definitely another laptop to consider if you want a laptop under the $500 price tag.
Final Verdict
Both the HP Pavilion G4 and the HP Pavilion G6X are amazing laptops considering the low price. The G6 adds a few more features for a few more bucks. Both Intel and AMD have strong followers who swear by their respective brand of processors, so impressions of the device may depend on whether you are an Intel or an AMD fan. But if you are neither a fan of the two and are looking for a laptop that is good for everyday computing, then the HP Pavilion G6X is a good choice.
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