Review – HP 650 Notebook

Overview

After a nightmare with my Dell Inspiron 5030, I didn’t have to wait too much before reality dawn on me that I had dumped my money in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. Instead of getting the desired performance and value for money, I got the infamous 7-beeps.

So I got this baby and everything has been just great. The HP 650 Notebook is a multi-purpose PC which found its way into store-shelves in 2012. It is wallet-friendly, so you don’t have to get scared about being ripped-off. The HP 650 is entirely made out of plastic, maybe that can explain why it doesn’t consume your wallet? The device is packed with a host of features which would likely fit your needs except if you are a gamer and require the most sophisticated gaming PC out there. Unlike many other gadgets which have glossy case that leaves annoying finger prints on it, the HP 650 comes with a painted surface and generally looks great. You won’t have to wipe finger-prints every time, especially as you are not being paid for the job, so its definitely a pain in the back-side. With the HP 650, you won’t need to bother about conspicuous stains on your case. Weighing 5.39 pounds, it is friendly to your bag or briefcase. Microsoft’s Windows 8 effectively powers the device.

Connectivity

The left side of HP 650 houses most of the ports needed for connection. The HDMI/VGA port which is used for external display is located there. Also available are; one USB 2.0 port, a card slot, and Ethernet port.

One the right side, 2-USB ports, and the Power jack are located there. There is no port available at the back. While this looks great, if you ever wish to use the PC with an external monitor, the connection might become clumsy since all the wires are going to come from the left side of the PC.

Display

It has a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768 ( HD ). No reflection and a low contrast of 118:1. Business users can find joy in this bit of information.  The 15.6-inch screen should suit your need almost perfectly. The display is a LED-backlit LCD.

Processor and RAM

Intel Pentium Mobile B970 Processor clocked at 2.4 GHz powers the HP 650. This is a normal specification for most average Notebooks. The HP 650 comes with 4GB of RAM, and operates at a speed of 1,333 MHz. This is fantastic and relatively faster than every average Notebook out there in the market.

Storage

It comes with 320 GB HDD. Although, this is moderately lower than what is obtainable from most average laptops, it shouldn’t cause much of debate considering the price which is at a relatively sweet spot. That said, the HDD runs at a speed of 5,400 RPM.

Sound

The HP< 650 has two stereo speakers located under the palm rest toward the front of the Notebook. The sounds emanating from the device is fair. No bass and no treble. Although, you don’t get distortion even at the highest volume, the “no-bass” and “no-treble” is a complete rip-off. However, HP included an audio jack which will allow you hook an external speaker(s). It’s more like; if you need bass, go get an external speaker. That’s pretty annoying.

Battery Life

It’s rare to find average laptops with good battery life. This isn’t the case with HP 650. The battery life seems okay. I do get up to 5-hours, but that’s because I turned off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and extremely reduced the display brightness. I don’t play music while surfing, that can also be a reason why I can achieve that feat. But if you push the Notebook to the extreme while on battery, it is unlikely you will get anywhere close to 3-hours.

Verdict

This is yet another great Notebook from the 6xx-series and Hewlett Packard has given so much at a very affordable price. The Notebook produces low heat emission and noise is reduced to the minimum. Depending on how you use the Notebook, the battery life shouldn’t be an issue. The keyboard is great and the entire design looks brilliant. If you need a Notebook that will give you value for your money, then HP 650 can be your best bet.

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