While we like the Presario V3000's new light-touch multimedia controls, which offer audible feedback similar to the iPod's clickwheel, we prefer the Inspiron E1405's more complete set of controls, which, again, are conveniently placed along the front edge for closed-lid access. The Inpsiron E1405, whose speakers sit along its front edge, delivers superior audio whether its lid is open or closed. The Altec Lansing stereo speakers, located above the keyboard, deliver audio that's moderately loud and of decent quality, though lacking on the low end unfortunately, the sound becomes hopelessly muffled when you close the laptop lid. That said, we appreciate the touch pad's vertical and horizontal scrolling functionality, and we approve of the Presario V3000's touch pad on/off button, which eliminates rogue cursor movement when working with an external mouse.
The Presario V3000's touch pad and mouse buttons are sizable, but the glossy touch pad felt a bit slippery for our taste.
The Presario V3000's keyboard has relatively large keys that are comfortable enough to type on for extended periods, though the ThinkPad Z60t's keyboard, which is a bit less jammed together, remains our favorite in this class. Competitive models with 14.1-inch wide-screen displays, such as the Inspiron E1405, the ThinkPad z60t, and the VAIO FJ, are roughly the same size and weight.
Measuring slightly more than 13 inches wide, 9.5 inches deep, and just shy of 1.5 inches thick, and weighing in at 5.5 pounds (6.3 pounds with its compact AC adapter), the thin-and-light Presario V3000 is portable enough for regular travel and is one of the more compact models in HP's portfolio.