Entered CNET Catalog: 06/18/2008
SKU: 884420154280
Manufacturer: HP
Manufacturer description
Wrapped up in the HP Imprint finish, the sleek and shiny HP Pavilion dv6900 series notebook PC will look good at home or on the road.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 07/31/2008
Editors' note: This review is part of our Back-to-School 2008 roundup, covering specific configurations of popular laptops that can be found in retail stores.
Its shape and feature set will be familiar to anyone who's seen other Pavilion dv6000 series laptops, but the Special Edition HP Pavilion dv6985se stands out for two reasons. First, its upscale design includes an eye-catching, copper-colored lid and silver interior, both bearing a faint imprint that looks like etching. The other special feature: a 12-cell battery that provided one of the longest battery lives we've seen in CNET Labs. Otherwise, the Pavilion dv6985se is a fairly typical mainstream laptop, with a decent feature set and strong performance.
Of course, the features that make the Pavilion dv6985se special are also its downside. That extra battery does add weight, and the flashy design certainly isn't for everyone (though we happen to love it). Users who want something more portable or more subdued should look to the Sony Vaio NR498, which offers similar performance and features (but lacks multimedia controls) for a slightly lower price. Or you could scrap the 15-inch size entirely and go for a 14-inch model like the Sony Vaio CR510.
| Price | $999 |
| Processor | 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 |
| Memory | 4GB at 667MHz |
| Hard drive | 250GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Intel 965 |
| Graphics | Intel GMA X3100 (integrated) |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit) |
| Dimensions (WDH) | 14.1 x 10.1 x 1.1 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 15.4 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 6.6 / 7.4 pounds (includes extended battery) |
| Category | Mainstream |
The Pavilion dv6815se's shape is essentially the same as the Pavilion dv6915nr we reviewed earlier this summer. The "Special Edition" designation, however, warrants a spiffy new color scheme; in the case of the Pavilion dv6985se, that means a shiny copper-colored lid and display bezel with a silver keyboard deck and keys. Both the lid and wrist-rest incorporate a subtle imprint design of narrow stripes that morph into organic shapes reminiscent of Art Nouveau; the pattern even extends across the touch pad. The overall effect is very appealing--certainly more expensive-looking than its actual price (more so when you factor in Best Buy currently offers it with a $100 discount)--but also seems destined to look slightly dated by the time you graduate.
The Pavilion dv6985se we reviewed differs from its siblings in one other significant way: the laptop includes a bulky 12-cell battery that raises the back of the system an inch and contributes to its hefty 6.6-pound weight. (With HP's standard Pavilion battery, the system would weigh closer to 6 pounds--but a smaller battery isn't an option on this fixed configuration.) The extra juice will come in handy when cranking out term papers, but you probably won't enjoy carrying the laptop to the library.
The 15.4-inch wide-screen display on the HP Pavilion dv6985se has a typical 1,280x800 native resolution, which is standard for a screen this size. The screen's glossy finish produces rich colors and contrast; we found it minimally distracting while surfing the Web and typing e-mail but quite enjoyable for watching movies. A 1.3-megapixel Webcam above the display lets users conduct video chats.
Typing was comfortable on the Pavilion dv6985se's nearly full-size keyboard. The wide touch pad includes a scroll zone, and we love the on/off button above the pad, which is handy when you want to use an external mouse or just type without worrying about misplacing the cursor. Above the keyboard sits a row of light-touch controls to launch HP's QuickPlay media player, control disc playback, and adjust volume. Perhaps to maintain the laptop's polished aesthetic, HP left off the handy port labels found on the keyboard deck of nearly every other Pavilion laptop.
| HP Pavilion dv6985se | Average for mainstream category | |
| Video | VGA-out, S-Video | VGA-out, S-Video |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, two headphone jacks, microphone jack | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 3 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, mulitformat memory card reader | 4 USB 2.0, SD card reader |
| Expansion | ||
| Networking | modem, Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi | modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN |
| Optical drive | DVD burner with LightScribe | DVD burner |
The HP Pavilion dv6985se includes most of the ports and connections we'd expect to see on a laptop of its size, though the Sony Vaio NR498 does manage to squeeze one more USB port into its similar footprint. (We have a feeling a USB port was jettisoned to make room for the HP Expansion Port, which lets you connect to an HP docking station.) The HP also lacks Bluetooth, which is surprising given its otherwise upscale bent. We do like the Pavilion's dual headphone jacks, which make it easy to share movies and music with friends. We're less impressed with the Altec Lansing stereo speakers, which are loud and clear but produce too-treble sound.
The retail-only Pavilion dv6985se comes in a single fixed configuration that includes a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor--part of Intel's previous-generation Centrino platform and the standard for mainstream systems--plus a generous 4GB of RAM. Paired with 64-bit Windows Vista, that 4GB of RAM gave the Pavilion dv6985se a notable boost on our Photoshop CS3 benchmark, where the first three spots among Back-to-School systems went to 64-bit-equipped laptops. Otherwise, the Pavilion dv6985se performed admirably on CNET Labs' benchmarks, showing enough multitasking and processing oomph for all your scholarly pursuits (and diversions).
As mentioned above, the HP Pavilion dv6985se includes a massive 12-cell battery that adds significant weight to the system. But it just might be worth schlepping around: it ran for 5 hours and 17 minutes on CNET Labs' video playback drain test. That's one of the lengthiest battery scores we've seen, and bests all our other mainstream Back-to-School systems, which featured six-cell batteries, by nearly 2 hours. Our video playback battery drain test is especially grueling, so you can expect even longer life from casual Web surfing and office use.
HP backs the Pavilion dv6985se with an industry-standard one-year warranty. Toll-free telephone support is available 24-7 during your warranty period, and the HP support Web site includes real-time chat with a tech representative. If you want to troubleshoot problems yourself, you can search through the site's thorough FAQ database.
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System configurations:
HP Pavilion dv6985 Special Edition
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5750; 4098MB DDR SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel 965GM Express; 250GB Toshiba 5,400rpm
HP Pavilion dv2945se
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.0GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile TL-60; 4098MB DDR SDRAM 667MHz; 64MB Nvidia MCP67M; 320GB Fujitsu 5,400rpm
HP Pavilion dv9925nr
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.0GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile TL-60; 4098MB DDR SDRAM 667MHz; 64MB Nvidia MCP67M; 250GB Western Digital 5,400rpm
Sony VAIO VGN-CR150E
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5750; 3072MB DDR SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel 965GM Express; 250GB Fujitsu 5,400rpm
Sony VAIO VGN-NR498 E/W
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5750; 3072MB DDR SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel 965GM Express; 250GB Seagate 5,400rpm
Toshiba Satellite A305-S6858
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5750; 4098MB DDR SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel 965GM Express; 300GB Toshiba 5,400rpm
Toshiba Satellite U405D-S2852
Windows Vista Ultimate SP1; 2.0GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile RM-70; 3072MB DDR SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB ATI Radeon 3100; 250GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
User Rating: 
10/10
Once you work out the bugs it runs great!!
Pros: Large battery, Great price.
Cons: You will have to do some updating with the quickplay drivers and other stuff for it to work it's best.
User Rating: 
2/10
died after 14 months
Pros: We liked it until is suddenly died without warning. HP very unhelpful.
Cons: Was nice while it lasted
User Rating: 10/10
This is laptop is awesome!!!
Pros: Everything, the screen the everything its rocks!!
Cons: Their are no cons. But it just sucks to see people make bad reviews about this amazing product because they did something wrong and blame the laptop for it.......
User Rating: 2/10
Terrible Customer Service
Pros: There is nothing good about HP.
Cons: Terrible Customer Service
Conclusion: Clueless tech support which will waste your time for nothing. I will NEVER NEVER buy an HP product again. Shame on HP.
User Rating: 10/10
I love this laptop it is beautiful and easy to use
Pros: The pros are thet this laptop is easy to use
The screen is really big and easy to see
it has plenty of ram and hard drive space
the built in web cam take beaitful pictures
comes with a remote so you can turn it off and on with that
it is so fast
Cons: the battery is so big but it does not hurt the proformase of the laptop. It just holds more powe. That is good for everyone.
The screen is really big and easy to see
it has plenty of ram and hard drive space
the built in web cam take beaitful pictures
comes with a remote so you can turn it off and on with that
it is so fast
the battery is so big but it does not hurt the proformase of the laptop. It just holds more powe. That is good for everyone.
Thsi is a really good laptop
User Rating: 10/10
AMAZING!!!
Pros: the pros is just about everything, it works great!!!
Cons: nothing, its a great cumputer
User Rating: 
1/10
HP Customer Service
Pros: I'm sure the computer looksnice
Cons: HP has no Customer Service
Updated on Dec 15, 2008Also, HP provides OEM OS's, which means that if you swap out or replace your harddrive, you will have to obtain a copy of your OS from somewhere other than HP.
User Rating: 
5/10
the dv2945se is better
Pros: big battery lookz nice
Cons: everything else
User Rating: 
9/10
Great laptop one small problem
Pros: Battery life,clear screen,screen size.
Cons: Volume control,I reinstalled audio program,solved problem
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent computer.
Pros: Appearance, display, battery life, HDD, Memory, $$.
Cons: Only thing that comes close is only having 3 USB ports.
User Rating: 10/10
I love the labtop, it was/ is a great investment!
Pros: The color is awesome. The keypad is very stylish and it glides very smooth. The battery is a little bulky, but it is the largest battery and has the longest battery life. Most labtops come with a six cell battery and can't be upgraded to this one.
Cons: The monitor is nice. I really like the blue colors on the screen when you turn it on. I don't have any things bad to say about this product for the money it is an investment. A friend of mine has a 2gig dell and it is of no comparison to this.
User Rating: 
4/10
Operating system needed restoration first week of use
Pros: The long life of the battery is about the only thing this dud in wolf's cloting has to offer.
Cons: Where should I start? Vista 64 bit prevents use of CiscoVPN. The wireless network adapter is incompatible with my workplace network. It took hours to get my home DSL line functioning on this computer. Mouse skips all over the place, multiple GPFs. ..
Video codecs are missing, and have to be reinstalled everytime I restart the computer if I am trying to view a downloaded video. Install drivers are missing, so half the time, programs I want to install fail to install at all. The troubleshooting screens are the worst I have ever seen from Microsoft. Windows 3.1 had better functionality!
While half the problem lies with Microsoft Vista, the other half lies with HP. The adapters have poor functionality, the speakers are very "tinny" as someone else noted, the machine just stops working periodically- the screen goes black, it shuts down and then restarts, with the subseqent message that "Windows is recovering from an unexpected shutdown," no doubt from a short in the motherboard!
I am disappointed the CNET would rate this laptop so highly as that is what prompted me to make the purchase in the first place. It is a lemon- Don't make the same mistake!
Updated on Oct 20, 2008Update: 6 weeks post purchase- crash of hard drive, unable to recover. Finally had to reformat the hard drive. Useless $800 piece of junk. Will never buy HP again (and will never take advice from CNET re technology purchases)!
User Rating: 
3/10
I wish I would have bought a different laptop
Pros: inexpensive for what you get
Cons: No doubt about it...HP released a machine that is defective. The most basic feature doesn't work. The touch volume control does not work. That's like buying a new TV and having to find an alternate way to change the channel.
User Rating: 5/10
Great computer, when it work...
Pros: Great compputers, when they work.
However they have a lot of issues, ranging from mechanical failre (hinges) to total motherboard failure
Cons: Unreliable and probably not tested out before released to the market.
The fact of my case is that HP laptops in the serie range of DV 6000 to DV 9000 with AMD motherboards have extended warranty due to motherboard failure, however despite the fact that a lot of users having the same issues with Intel based motherboards have similar problems HP have no intention of extending the warranty on these laptops.
My Laptop is a HP DV 9023 with Intel Centrino Dual Core processor.
In my email exchange and phone conversations with HP I have recieved a variety of explanations and suggestions, I actually even had one "Case Manager" telling me my laptop was coverd under the extended warranty, but it is impossible to get an intelligent conversation when you are assigned a new "Case Manager" in each conversation or email (even when each of the casemanagers promise that they will handle my case until solved).
I am done with HP, unless they get the issue solved fast, I find it intolerable that a laptop costing close to $2000 should fail totally after 18 months.
It is also kinda funny that my daughters laptop, brand name Ewerex (a WalMart brand) and that costed a fraction is more reliable, run smoother and have a more efficient and personal support than a "quality" brand as HP
User Rating: 10/10
Tremendous computer
Pros: 4GB Ram, 250 GB Hard Drive, 2GHZ Dual Processor, Battery lasts for ever and only cost $749 on sale at Best Buy. Keys are good size, no fat finger problems.
Cons: I hesitate to even mention this but the only con is what others have reported as well and that's the volume slide. It does hesitate on occasion but believe me, it's very very minor
User Rating: 5/10
I'm not impressed
Pros: The design is sleek. The keyboard is big and easy to use. Awesome wide screen.
Cons: It's slower than I expected. The hard disk is very loud and cranky. The battery is big and bulky. Freezes up frequently.
The hard drive sounds like it needs oil when starting up. It sounds clunkier than any drive I've ever heard, to the point that I get worried every time I turn it on. \
I expected the battery to be big, but it's beyond bulky.
I couldn't install certain software because it needed a file from my Vista disk, yet the Vista disks didn't come with the machine.
My old computer was 5 years old and still faster than this one. Using this machine makes me wonder if I actually needed to buy a new computer. Maybe my expectations were too high.
Updated on Sep 4, 2008This is an update from the original poster. Don't be fooled by these reviews saying the volume control has "issues". There are no issues....it's a non-functional feature. It's defective. Another testimony of saving your files frequently. You will lose everything if you haven't saved your files once you hit that volume button.
User Rating: 
8/10
Pretty Good
Pros: Battery life, look, keyboard
Cons: Graphics (?)
User Rating: 4/10
Great Product Worst support ever
Pros: Great product, Nice price, Fast
Cons: Worst support in the world, lots of crapware.
User Rating: 9/10
GREAT BUY, GREAT PRICE
Pros: Super Fast, cool features, you want it-its go it
Cons: maybe a smidge heavy for some
Lightening fast, great color and design, and keyboard makes everything so super quick to get to that you can get spoiled very quickly. There is a switch on the lower left side so you can turn the internet on and off. Be careful not to rub against that switch and push it to the side when its on your lap or you'll get disco'd from the net. I've never had that happen though, but I read about it before purchasing, so it may help someone out there reading this.
It may be JUST A SMIDGE heavy for, but then again, I don't carry it around much, but when I do, I don't think its any heavier than my standard pocketbook, so I don't notice it.
I know you will enjoy!
User Rating: 9/10
HP Pavillion dv6985se
Pros: Sleek, fast, fun to use, user freindly.
Cons: DVD slot, additional and unneeded applications, booted off internet for no reason (my fault?)
First looks were impressive. This laptop stood out in the crowd at Best Buy and I had to take a closer look at all it's features, and features it had. Being loyal to Sony for a long time, change was inevidable.
I want go into detail on what the HP had, you'll have to look here at CNET. But I can say whether in the hotel, or at home the system started up every time perfectly. Not much noise wiht the fan running, in fact a lot less then the Sony 747 I once had.
The DVD slot opening when I never pushed the side button is enough to send me to the moon. I will take it in for this issue since it's covered.
I think the screen is good, and reading some of the reviews thought it would be as good as my LCD/Plasma in the house, again, it is good.
The finger scoll on the laptop takes some getting use to. I'm sure that'll come with time. It's a bit more sensitive then the Sony.
For some reason I get booted off theinternet for no apparent reason, this may have to do with my settings, we'll see.
Overall, I'm very satisfied with my purchase and if you're someone who travels or someone that needs a desktop replacement, go ahead and check this baby out!
