Central processor unit in HP dv9008nr is Turion64 X2 1.6GHz and in Gateway MP6954 is Core Duo T2050 1.6GHz.
Screen size on HP dv9008nr is larger, 17 comparing to 15.4 on Gateway MP6954.
You should expirience less swapping on Gateway MP6954 than on HP dv9008nr when you run many programs, since Gateway MP6954 has 2GB of RAM, comparing to 1GB on other model.
If you plan to move your laptop around frequently, Gateway MP6954 have weight only 2.95kg, but HP dv9008nr is quite heavier - 3.54kg.
Video card in use in HP dv9008nr is Nvidia Go 6150 and in Gateway MP6954 is Intel 950.
Both products uses maximum 128MB of RAM as shared for their graphic cards.
More hard disk space were available at Gateway MP6954 (120GB is contast to 100GB).
HP dv9008nr doesn't have infrared device.
Both laptops have firewire which some camcorders use.
Both laptops have PCMCIA which allows to connect some TV cards for laptops.
Internal modem is available in both models and you will need it at some location without proper Internet connection.
Both laptops have cardreader. At HP dv9008nr it reads 5 different card types and cardreader in Gateway MP6954 supports 4 different card types.
None has DVI output so you cannot connect them to some new monitors.
HP dv9008nr only has TV output.
Advantage of Gateway MP6954 is TV input.
Each has 4 USB ports.
These laptops aren't very good for Internet telephony because they haven't web camera.
Both came with XP Media Center on them.
The same is software pack with these laptops : Works 8.5, Money 2006.
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