HP’s Pavilion dv2 is one of the coolest looking netbooks on the market, but it’s also a little bigger and more expensive thanks to the 12.1-inch display and AMD Athlon Neo processor. This obviously raises questions as to whether the machine should be treated as a netbook at all, or rather an ultraportable PC. Taking the Pavilion dv2 as a netbook or budget ultraportable, it’s a very good machine that’s fast enough (it’s quicker than Atom-based netbooks) to run Windows Vista, HD video and less demanding games. The problem is that ultimately it delivers netbook-style single-core performance at mainstream prices. Another kick in the crotch is that the battery is only good for around 2.5 hours, so you’ll be tied to the hefty 90W AC adapter. Treat the Pavilion dv2 as a large netbook for light duties and you’ll love it. Purchase it as a mobile workhorse and you’ll be disappointed.



Link: IT Reviewed