The dv4-2145dx doesn't have the help of a subwoofer, but its two Altec Lansing speakers surprised us with their booming sound (relatively speaking). Most laptop speakers sound tinny and weak, with the occasional 17- or 18-inch desktop replacement providing acceptable audio output with the aid of a small, integrated subwoofer. More impressively, movies sound rich and lively. Movies still look good on the Pavilion dv4-2145dx, showing deep blacks, vivid colors, and smooth movement. The screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio, giving it more vertical space than a cinematic 16:9 display. Text and desktop icons remain large and legible, and the desktop space doesn't feel cramped. The 14.1-inch display features a standard 1,280x800-pixel native resolution. A small button above the touch pad disables it, should the skips and jumps lead you to abandon it for a mouse. We experienced a high volume of misplaced cursors and accidental scrolling. The result is that the palm of your right hand will graze the touch pad more than it would if it was positioned a little to the left. Also, the touch pad is centered below the display instead of below the spacebar. Your finger drags across it instead of gliding smooth along the surface as you would on a touch pad with a matte finish. It features a chrome finish, which has a glossy feel to it. The touch pad, though, will require an adjustment period. Above the keyboard is a strip of lighted, touch-sensitive controls for adjusting/muting the volume and turning the Wi-Fi on and off. The only aspect of the keyboard that took getting used to was the right Shift key, which is shortened so that the four arrow keys would be full-width. The keyboard is comfortable, with full-size keys that offer a soft feel. The HP does feel very solid, though, with impressively little flex in the keyboard deck. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 1470-3282CRD is a 14-inch laptop and it weighs only 4.6 pounds the Asus UL50VT has a 15.6-inch display that tips the scales at 5.1 pounds. That added bulk is accompanied by extra weight the laptop alone weighs 5.4 pounds. It measures 1.6 inches thick when most models are less than 1.5 inches thick. The Pavilion dv4-2145dx is a tad portly for a 14-inch laptop. The screen bezel is a glossy black, the keys are white, and the edges of the laptop, the touch pad, and the mouse buttons feature a chrome finish. It almost looks like someone took a pencil and doodled on the lid and keyboard tray. Here, the primary color is a pearl white with a design of thin, wavy gray lines running across it. You'll also find Core i3 processing in the $729 HP Pavilion dv4-2165dx and the $749 HP Pavilion dv4-2155dx.ДЄs with any Pavilion in recent memory, HP splashes its Imprint Finish across the Pavilion dv4-2145dx, which adds graphic elements to the glossy, plastic chassis. Slightly larger, slightly cheaper Intel-based budget laptops provide comparable performance, including the Asus K60I-RBBBR05 and the Dell Inspiron i1545-4266IBU the 17-inch Gateway NV7915u serves up the next-generation Core i3 processor and much better performance for the same price. Plus, its battery life is middling at best. Given its relative heft and bulk, surprisingly robust audio output, HDMI port, and tiny remote control, the Pavilion dv4-2145dx is best as a small but mighty entertainment laptop. The HP Pavilion dv4-2145dx features a 14.1-inch screen, but we don't recommend it as a jack-of-all-trades laptop. Whereas ultraportables are better for constant travelers and larger 15- and 16-inch laptops are better for general home use, we find that 14-inch models are a good size for your do-it-all, workhorse laptop: compact and light enough for daily commutes yet with a large enough display for multitasking and with a comfortable keyboard. We tend to view 14-inch laptops as sitting in the sweet spot between portability and productivity.

Hp pavilion dv4-2145dx hpq004