Positives: HP Pavilion dm1 offers almost the same performance as other mainstream laptops, graphics are good enough, and price is also affordable based on the features it has to offer.
Negatives: The look of the Pavilion dm1 is hampered by the use of plastic and also the feel when you touch the product, looks thick and bulky because of its battery compared with other 11 inch laptops.
The Bottom Line: Pavilion dm1 is the first laptop which has incorporated AMD’s power efficient Fusion platform, this helps in offering you amazing battery life and also you get more than average graphics for less than $500.
Review:
Over the past few years, if we notice the trend which has been setting in, it would be hard to ignore the role that Netbooks have played. Out of nowhere, these 10 to 11 inch laptops came out and caught the attention of most users as they offered portability and affordability which are the two most important factors users consider.
However, nowadays systems which offer a little bit better performance and are also a bit expensive are replacing the netbooks, first in the form of dual core premium. HP Pavilion dm1 is a prime example of such changes which are setting into the market. The reason for this is that netbooks are only used for basic usage such as web surfing and multimedia purposes. However, products like Pavilion dm1 offers features which are very close to being a proper laptop and also are nominally priced under $299.
AMD since years had promised for hybrid platforms which would be a mix of CPU and much better graphics than that of a netbook. These hybrid systems could in other words be also called as all in one system.
However, the price for Pavilion dm1 is set at $450. The reason for the higher price is the fusion that AMD has created. It’s an 11 inch laptop which has a decent design. If we compare this to other new systems which are making their way in the market then this product is somewhat $100 expensive.
One factor which netbooks don’t offer is high quality graphics. However, the graphics AMD offer are not for hardcore gamers. Despite not having a proper graphic card, it’s competitive enough with Nvidia’s graphic cards. When the testing procedure was held, Pavilion dm1 showed great results in terms of graphics when a few simple games and full screen HD videos were played. This is one thing which typical netbooks can’t perform. Below are the specifications listed for Pavilion dm1:
| Price as reviewed | $450 |
| Processor | 1.6GHz AMD Fusion E-350 |
| Memory | 3GB, 667MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 320GB 7,200rpm |
| Chipset | AMD ID1510 + SB800 |
| Graphics | ATI Radeon HD 6310 |
| Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) |
| Dimensions (WD) | 11.4 x 8.4 inches |
| Height | 0.8 – 1.2 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 11.6 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 3.4/4.2 pounds |
| Category | Ultraportable |
In terms of design, the whole body is made of plastic and the looks and feel of the laptop is nothing very special. The current design of the laptop is in sync with the designing HP has been following since the past few years now with the nice curves and patterned lid. Another factor which might be a concern is the large battery bump which makes the laptop look thick and heavy. However, if we compare this with other laptops in the same price range such as Lenovo and Dell then this product does not seem ugly at all.