HP Pavilion g4-1215dx

The HP Pavilion g4-1215dx has a great price, an attractive-for-the-price design, and better-than-average speakers, as well as enough graphics performance to play basic games.

The new HP Pavilion g4 is an evolution of the design we saw on the Pavilion g6 when we reviewed it earlier this year, but in a more glossy variant. Very shiny plastic is the order of the day on the back of the lid and the keyboard tray. The standard color is charcoal gray, but HP offers pink, blue, or red versions for $25 extra. The glossy coat seems like it would be a fingerprint magnet, but the finish hides prints well. This Pavilion g4 isn't svelte, but the 4.5-pound chassis is about the same weight as most other midrange 14-inchers.
The Pavilion g4's interior looks a little generic, but at this price it's really hard to quibble. The good news is that the whole interior has a clean-cut look that's attractive, especially for the price. It reminds us of previous-generation Dell Inspirons.

The flat keyboard has semiraised keys, meaning the raised surfaces feel a little like Chiclet keys. Last-gen Dell Inspirons and the recent Toshiba Satellite L745D have similar keys. We found the experience surprisingly comfortable, because the keys weren't as mushy as those on other similar flat keyboards. Volume control and other settings mapped to the top row of function keys work without the Fn button being pressed at the same time. We appreciate that. hp pavilion g4