HP Pavilion dm1 with AMD Vision: Review AND GIVEAWAY!

And the winner is.... Natasha! Congratulations!


As many of you know, I've been a Mac girl for a few years now. I bought a Macbook about four years ago and am now on my third one. I thought I would be a diehard Macbook fan FOREVER.

Well, it's time for me to think again.

HP just sent me this HP Pavilion dm1 with AMD Vision, which is a fancy way of saying "uber-portable, lightweight laptop with full-size computer capabilities." I was shocked to find that:

1. I was up and running on the Internet within about five minutes of taking the HP Pavilion out of its box.
2. It is WAY more lightweight and portable than my Macbook pro and therefore better for traveling.
3. OMG IT IS FASTER THAN MY MACBOOK PRO OMG.
4. OMG IT COSTS LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT I PAID FOR MY MACBOOK PRO OMG.

Let's just say I'm not firmly committed to the Macbook cause any longer.

Add to that the fact that when I talked to my friends on the phone the next day during a CheeseburgHer Party conference call, they both expressed major HP envy when I told them about my new HP Pavilion. "Oh, HPs are the best," Lena sighed. "I had one and it lasted FOREVER." Yvonne also attested to the greatness that is HP. I felt all kinds of smug. What's good for the girlfriends IS GOOD FOR ME.

In short, HP Pavilion dm1 with AMD Vision? In the immortal words of M.C. Hammer Sir Mix-a-Lot:

I'm hooked and I can't stop starin.'

Of course, there are some technical, computery things about the HP Pavilion dm1 with AMD Vision that you might be interested in knowing as well. Allow me to share them with you:

• VISION technology means AMD has packed a whole lot of power onto a tiny chip (as much as the computers that used to take up an entire rooms years ago), giving you the power of a supercomputer in a sleek and super portable notebook. It also means you get up to 9 hours of battery life from the dm1.
• It has an 11” display, weighs just over 3 lbs and is about an inch thin.
  
• dm1 has enough memory to hold your favorite photos, music and videos
  
• CoolSense technology knows if the notebook is on your lap or the countertop and adjusts its temperature accordingly
  
• It includes a built-in webcam for video chatting with loved ones
• The dm1 is available at HP Home & Home Office now at a starting price of $449.99

Do you compute?

I highly recommend this computer for those of you (Moms or... NotMoms) who need something portable for around the house or for traveling and don't have a thousand dollars to drop on a laptop. I also think it's great for college students. In fact, my 17-year-old doesn't know it yet, but this is the computer she will be taking to college in the fall--- IF I can stand to part with it!

And now? Get excited! I'm giving away an HP Pavilion dm1 with AMD Vision to one lucky Suburban Turmoil reader! To enter to win it, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post between now (April 20th) and Wednesday, May 4th at 11:59pm, CMT, telling me why you want to win this HP Pavilion computer so badly. I will choose a winner at random on May 5th. Be sure and leave your e-mail address in the comment so that I can contact you if you've won. U.S. residents only for this contest, please, and one comment per entrant!

Good luck!

Preview: Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse

I'm a big fan of mouthwash-- Breath mints don't really do the trick when it comes to making my mouth and breath feel really fresh, and I tend to over-brush my teeth in order to have a clean mouth, which isn't great for my gums.

So when Mom Central Consulting gave me the opportunity to test-drive Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse, I was all over it!

What makes Crest different from other mouthwashes? Well, according to the Crest website, it actually has six benefits in one bottle:

• Kills germs
• Helps prevent gingivitis
• Freshens breath
• Reduces plaque
• Keeps teeth cleaner longer (vs. brushing alone)
  
• Invigorating sensation

I always keep a bottle of mouthwash in my bathroom cabinet-- but I tend to forget about it and not use it as frequently as I should. I'm keeping my bottle of Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse out on top of the sink so that I'll remember to use it at least once a day.

I've been using it for a week now- Next week, I'll tell you my thoughts!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Crest and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central Consulting sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Tangled is Out on Blu-Ray/DVD!

Out now on Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack is Tangled!

What is Tangled, you ask?

IT IS ONLY THE BEST PRINCESS MOVIE DISNEY HAS EVER MADE.

Seriously, my daughter and I got to go to a screening of this movie and we both LOVED it. Absolutely LOVED it. Rapunzel is now our favorite Disney princess of all, and she features in all my daughter's imaginary games.

It's truly a movie both adults and kids can enjoy together, and even your boys will like it since Flynn, a Manly Man, is one of the main characters.

Here's a synopsis of the film from the studio:

Featuring unexpected heroes, magic, laughter and adventure, this animated feature is supported by an amazing cast of voice talents including Mandy Moore (“A Walk To Remember,” “The Princess Diaries”) as Rapunzel, Zachary Levi (TV’s “Chuck,” “Less Than Perfect”) as Flynn Rider, Brad Garrett (TV’s “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “’Til Death”) as Hook Hand Thug, Donna Murphy (“Spider-Man 2,” “The Fountain”) as Mother Gothel, and Ron Perlman (“Hellboy,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” “The City of Lost Children”) as the Stabbington Brothers. From directors Byron Howard (“BOLT”) and Nathan Greno and the award-winning songwriter of “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast,” Alan Menken, TANGLED’s hair-raising adventure keeps viewers entertained throughout with its exciting storyline and memorable melodies.

Even if you've already seen Tangled, the Blu-Ray/DVD of the movie is a must-have, not only because the movie is so good you'll definitely want to watch it again, but also because the disc is packed with special features. Check them out:

BONUS FEATURES

Blu-ray:

• Untangled: The Making of a Fairy Tale – Exactly how long is Rapunzel’s hair? How many lanterns were used? Where did Pascal’s name come from? Which Disney animated feature first utilized CG animation? These and more will be answered when Mandy Moore and Zach Levi take viewers on a kooky behind-the-scenes tour to learn how the filmmakers styled this film’s “Golden Tresses.”

• Deleted Scenes – Co-directors Byron Howard and Nathan Greno introduce three scenes and illuminate why they were ultimately cut.

1. The Jaunty Moose
2. Chemistry Develops
3. Vigor The Visionary
   

• Extended Songs – The complete versions of two great songs are shared in a unique feature that explains the co-directors decision to scale them down.

1. “When Will My Life Begin"
2. “Mother Knows Best”

• Two Original Storybook Openings – Two alternate versions of the film’s opening sequence described by co-directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard.

• 50th Animated Feature Countdown – A video montage celebrating Tangled as the 50th film to join The Walt Disney Studios’ prestigious lineup of classic animated features.

• 9 Tangled Teasers – A collection of the most unique and quirky commercials made for the theatrical release of “Tangled.” Some are spoofs based off of infomercials and/or breaking news, some are teasers and others are simply just funny filmstrips.
  

DVD & Movie Download:

• Two Original Storybook Openings - Versions 1 & 2

• 50th Animated Feature Countdown

Tangled is available on Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack from Amazon for $22.99.