IF GOOD things do come in big packages, then the HP Pavilion HDX Dragon notebook is one of them.
With its 20.1-inch screen, top- notch multimedia features and array of powerful hardware, this Dragon lives up to the image of the mythical fire-breathing beast in size...though not in mobility. The machine weighs a hefty 7kg, ruling out its possibility as a travel workmate.
HP unleashed this beast to showcase the firm's cutting-edge digital entertainment dexterity, and this is where it shone.
For starters, the Dragon has a built-in digital TV tuner allowing you to hook it up to your home TV antenna and watch free-to-air programmes. And you can pop in a HD-DVD movie to enjoy high definition video images.
The test machine came with a huge 500GB hard disk - enough to store thousands of digital photos, music and videos. And there are not just two but four high-fidelity Altec Lansing speakers and a HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer.
In the graphics department, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT with dedicated 256MB video memory sends images to the LCD screen.
Unlike most notebooks with fixed hinges, the Dragon has a dual hinge that allows you to adjust, move or tilt the screen to suit your viewing comfort.
For the record, the test machine with its Intel Centrino Duo 2.2 GHz processor and 2GB DDR SDRAM scored a decent 4,323 points on the 3D Mark 06 benchtest. This means you can run graphics-intensive games like Ghost Recon 2 Advanced Warfighter.
On the flipside, with its energy draining hardware, battery life suffers. The Dragon puffed out after only 70 minutes - not enough to finish playing the movie, Bourne Ultimatum on DVD.
For zipping data to and from the machine, there is every imaginable connectivity option onboard. Highlights include four USB 2.0 ports, FireWire and high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) for high definition content.
FINAL SAY: An ultimate entertainment computer that could very well burn a hole in your pocket.
