HP Pavilion dv7-6143cl Laptop Review
The aluminum chassis of the dv7-6143cl forgoes the laser-etched design of past models like the HP Pavilion dv7-4283cl ($999.99 list, 4 stars) in favor of a brushed texture. Normally, when manufacturers configure a laptop with an oversized battery, it juts out horizontally; HP decided to utilize the battery as a mini-stand, elevating the back of the laptop slightly, angling it. The dv7-6143 weighs 7.04 pounds, which compared with the 8.1-pound Dell XPS 17 ($1,670 direct, 3.5 stars), seems like a lightweight. It's likely that the dv7-6143cl will stay house-bound, but the option to bring it on the road is always comforting. The17.3-inch widescreen has a 1,600-by-900 resolution, which doesn't translate to true 1080p HD but 720p. Other 17-inch laptops, like the Acer Aspire AS8950G-9839 ($1,499.99 street, 4 stars) displays in "true HD," but it's only the video enthusiasts that will notice the difference. Above the screen is an HD webcam for video conferencing and chatting with your friends. The full-size keyboard is chiclet-style, with each key to its own little square island.
