HP's Pavilion dv6500t series of laptop computers is their new mainstream line of systems featuring their Radiance exterior. This polished black coating looks sharp and provides some protection during rough handling of the laptop.

Starting at under a grand, these laptop computers offer excellent power thanks to their Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 processor with two 1.66GHz cores operating on a single chip. This CPU gives these systems extra oomph when it comes to multitasking and running more intensive applications. HP pairs a gigabyte of DDR2 RAM with that processor and is currently offering an upgrade price of $25 to double the memory up to 2GB--a healthier amount to handle the bundled Windows Vista Home Premium operating system.

The relatively low price tag features fairly basic components beyond the power core, however. The default 120GB 5,400rpm hard drive is more than adequate storage for new laptop computers. The optical drive is even better: it's a Dual Layer DVD writer that burns traditional CDs and DVDs and can also handle the high capacity 8.5GB DL media. These laptops also feature HP's handy QuickPlay, which lets you play a music CD or a video DVD via an included remote control without having the boot up the entire system. The remote even fits snugly into the ExpressCard expansion slot when you're on the move.

HP is currently offering a free upgrade to their LightScribe drive that lets you imprint professional looking labels on the surface of your disks. This laptop line even supports a DVD writer that also plays High Definition DVDs, but this upgrade will run you more than a third of the price of the laptop itself.

The 15.4-inch widescreen display is great for watching movies and works well for opening tiered application windows. The baseline integrated graphics work well enough for word processing and Web browsing, but gamers or CAD users will want to think about upgrading to NVIDIA's GeForce 8400M GS graphics that add 64MB of dedicated video memory at a cost of around $40.

Other upgrades to consider include a built-in Webcam or fingerprint reader if you have the need for videoconferencing or data protection--each option adds only $25 to the price tag.

These laptops offer decent connectivity options including 802.11a/b/g wireless and a built-in modem and network interface. You can connect high-speed peripherals via the Firewire port or three USB 2.0 ports, and there's also a 5-in-1 media card reader that lets you transfer photos and files from a compatible digital camera or PDA without having to sync up.

The dv6500t line weighs in at just over six pounds - they're not thin and lights, but they're also not desktop replacement monstrosities either. If you're looking for a reasonably priced mainstream laptop that can be customized to fit a variety of needs, the HP Pavilion dv6500t laptop computers are worth checking out.


Pro: Sharp design, good price
Con: Many components rather basic

Warranty
1-year limited