Reviews (1)

Good computer for that not so on the road person.
The Goods:
DVD/CD player
External volume buttons
default DVD player
Easy access Internet buttons
Programable buttons for personal shortcuts on keyboard
The Bads:
Battery (4 hours if you just have it running on standby)
Video card is part of the mother board

Overall this is a great laptop. My main use for this computer (gameplaying, DVD watching, CD player) is probably not the ideal use for a laptop. But I believe you should be able to customize your computer the way you want it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Enjoying life’s luxuries is a pleasure in itself. Enjoying them at a discount is even better. If you’re shopping for a portable computer that effortlessly runs power-hungry productivity applications, hit DVD movie titles, and your favorite 3-D games--but you refuse to pay top-dollar--the Hewlett-Packard Pavilion ze4145 notebook PC belongs on your short list.

The ze4145’s AMD Athlon XP 1800+ processor plows smoothly through any productivity application or entertainment title. At roughly 7 pounds and barely more than 1.5 inches thick, the ze4145 travels easily, and its 15-inch, active-matrix TFT display coupled with an ATI Mobility Radeon 4X AGP (including 3-D architecture for cutting-edge gaming) look good and, most importantly, make your software and movies look great. The ze4145’s DVD/CD-RW combination drive (24x/8x/8x, 8x DVD) lets you watch movies on DVD, listen to and make CDs, and rapidly back up data.

The ze4145 offers generous helpings of memory and storage. Its 40 GB hard drive sucks up large application and data files, and its 512 MB of DDR SDRAM--expandable to a maximum of 1,024 MB--lets you easily juggle several applications simultaneously. An integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45) connector makes networking easy. External ports include two USB inputs, a 25-pin parallel port, a serial connector, a PS/2 keyboard-mouse connector, and 15-pin VGA and S-video TV-out plugs. The notebook also includes a 56K integrated modem with an RJ-11 connector.

Bundled software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, InterVideo WinDVD, the HP RecordNow CD-RW recording utility, ArcSoft Funhouse and PhotoImpression editing tools, Corel WordPerfect and Quattro Pro productivity applications, Quicken Financial Center by Intuit, Encyclopedia Britannica Ready Reference, Wild Tangent 3-D games, Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0, and Norton AntiVirus 2002 with a three-month live update. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

deployment ready pc
As a member of the armed forces I'm set to leave home for an extended period of time and I couldn't imagine leaving my beloved desktop behind. As a member of the armed forces I also couldn't imagine being able to aford an acceptable replacement that I could take with me. I shopped around for over a week and the HP ZE4145 was the best value I could find anywhere. It was the combination of price and features of the ZE4145 that convinced me that it would be worth buying a laptop. I ordered it while away on training and it was recived by my wife who is a computer novice. She managed to get it registered and running DVDs on our home TV via the s-video tv-out port. She even set it up for easy one-touch operation.

For me it will be a great source of entertainment while spending countless days away from home. I have accumulated a nice collection of DVDs in a short time,I already have several computer games to play, and a collection of hundreds of MP3s. All of which the ZE4145 can handle with ease. The LAN port allows me to network with my shipmates who also have notebooks. The 40gig HD give me pleanty of room to streach. The 15" screen is the envy of many other notebook owners onboard. The video card can be set to use up to 64MB of RAM and with 512MB you can manage to lose it.

I haven't had a single problem yet. I love my new notebook.

A WELL-PACKAGED ALL-ROUNDER, BUT NOT A TOP-GUN
For sure, there is no questioning the fact that "HP Pavilion ze4145" is a good laptop PC; but I must add that at any price higher than the stated Amazon.com rebate price, it does not worth a second look. Yes, it came with an Athlon XP 1800, a 512MB DDR RAM, and a 40GB Hard Disk, but that is nothing extraordinary. Moreso, as we brace for 2003, both the 512MB DDR RAM and 40GB Hard Disk have become mainstream components for laptops. Some even parade 60GB Hard Disks!
In fact, anyone who is in touch with the component-versus-price fluctuations in the computer industry will not be impressed by this HP Notebook. Do not forget that its 'almighty' Athlon XP 1800 has a raw speed of 1.53GHz, which is nothing outstanding. And, before you scream that it is faster than a comparable Pentium 4; note that Pentium 4 CPUs come with built-in extended-instruction-sets, which enable them to run optimized software twice as fast as comparable Athlon CPUs would.
In conclusion, I would say that despite the fact that I regard this "HP Pavilion ze4145" as a good all-round PC, I still maintain that it is not by any means a top-gun: both in price and in build.

The power supply exploded
In addition to numerous other problems that this laptop has had over the past year, its power supply just EXPLODED.

So not only does this laptop have shoddy hardware, it's a fire hazard.

Still working after 3 montsh
I've been using this laptop regulary for 3 months now and wanted to give a report on how it's doing. The good: runs quiet and doesn't overheat, screen is still good, dvd playback is fantastic, relatively stable, burner still working (no coasters yet). The bad: hibernation doesn't work, the video card has a problem with direct x and is subpar for games (I have constant lock ups playing Half Life and video card isn't supported by newer games like America's Army), problems with the touchpad (it also feels flimsy). If you are a student like me, I'd definitely reccomend this laptop. It's got more than enough power to type a report,watch a dvd, or burn some music. Just don't count on being able to play games on it. If you get hp laptop, get one with an amd chip. It seems like the ones with pentiums have more problems and don't perform up to their specs from what I've read in the reviews here.

Bad Batteries / Bad Motherboards
I purchased my notebook computer in November of 2001. At the same time I purchased HP's [$$$] 'Support Pack' which extends the warranty to 3 years and guarantees a 3 day turn around time. Fed Ex picks it up and brings it back and HP picks up the shipping. I wasted my money
I have owned my computer for 12 months and it hasn't worked properly for 8 months. The battery will not fully charge. Sometimes it will charge to only 3%, sometimes to 70%. But it will not fully charge no matter how long you try to charge it.
I have performed numerous system calibrations and BIOS upgrades and I have sent it in for repair 3 times...This time they replaced the motherboard. The problem isn't fixed.
My computer still doesn't work...
Save yourself a huge headache. Buy a computer that works... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Extremely thin (10.6 by 9.6 by 1.2 inches) and very lightweight (a mere 4.3 pounds), Averatec's 3150 series of mobile computers are some of the smallest standard notebooks on the market. Though not exactly a power user's dream rig, this model, the Averatec 3150HW, is a smart option for those who require excellent portability and a fiscally sensible price point.

Powered by a trio of cost-effective components -- a 1.4 GHz AMD Athlon XP-M 1600+ processor (with PowerNow and QuantiSpeed technologies for improved battery life and faster data movement than previous AMD processors), 512 MB DDR SDRAM memory (double that of the marginally less expensive Averatec 3150P), and an integrated S3 ProSavage8 graphics controller with 32 MB of shared video memory, the Averatec 3150HW delivers midlevel computing prowess. Users can expect solid performance for standard 2-D tasks such as word processing, spreadsheets, Internet surfing, contact management, and basic drawing. However, sophisticated business applications and complex multitasking will likely tax the system's capabilities. Furthermore, the unit's graphics engine will not effectively handle mid- to high-end 3-D gaming or animation.

The Averatec 3150HW features an adequate 30 GB hard disk on which to store your important data, and a DVD/CD-RW drive through which you can play and burn audio CDs, archive data and play DVD movies. DVD burning is not supported. You'll monitor your activities on a 12.1-inch XGA TFT display capable of sharp 1024 by 7678 resolutions, and listen to your tunes via built-in stereo speakers.

For such a small and affordable notebook, the Averatec 3150HW is very well connected. Communication options include integrated 10/100 Mbit LAN for fast networking and Internet access, a 56K modem for slower dial-up environments and 802.11b wireless for those times when you can't plug in. Other important amenities include three fast USB 2.0 ports for data streaming with external devices such as scanners and digital cameras, a Type II PC Card CardBus slot, and an 85-key full-sized keyboard. An IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for swapping data with digital camcorders) is not included.

Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition heads up the preinstalled software bundle, which also features Microsoft's Works 7.0 productivity package and a DVD playback utility. Battery life is estimated at a commendable 3-plus hours with the enclosed Smart Li-ion cell. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Avoid Averatec
I bought an Averatec 3150H notebook in January. The first one had defective battery and I returned it. The replacement had problems with screen, I sent it in for repairs and it's now been in their repair shop for over two months waiting for parts. Averatec product quality is inferior and their service is non-existent. Don't waste your money on this brand.

small, light and works well
Had many features I wanted; however, wish it came with XP Professional and a little larger HD (40- 80 Gig). works well; runs a little hot.

Excellent value for money!
I wasn't familiar with the brandname, but took a chance after reading all the positive reviews on CNET. I bought this laptop because it was light (about two-thirds the size of most laptops) and affordable (almost half the price of laptops similar in size and functionality). Plus, on a frivolous note, it's sleek and stylish.

I should mention there are some drawbacks. The keyboard layout is a bit awkward; the space key is very short and the placement of the Ctrl, Fn and Del keys are not standard. The computer has a tendency to run hot and when the fan kicks it, it's quite noisy. There's no firewire port. The battery only lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours. (Incidentally, regardless of what kind of laptop you buy, it's important to look after the battery properly. Li-ion batteries will lose effectiveness if they are overcharged or left in full charge without use.)

Those are fairly minor complaints, though. Overall, I'm very pleased with this laptop. I've had it for a month now, and it's been a real joy to use. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Enjoying digital movies and music--especially personalized CDs--on a notebook PC can transform business travel into a civilized experience. Compaq is doing its part for road warriors by offering the Presario 910US, a notebook PC that delivers these goodies affordably.

The 910US’s 1.33 GHz AMD Athlon XP 1500+ processor provides solid performance across a wide range of productivity applications, games, and DVDs. A built-in combination DVD/CD-RW drive allows users to watch movies and listen to and create music CDs through the notebook’s integrated JBL Pro Performance Audio with Bass Reflex speakers.

The notebook’s 30 GB hard drive provides substantial storage for data and music downloads, while its 256 MB of memory--expandable to 1 GB--and 256 KB of on-chip L2 cache make it easy to run multiple applications smoothly. An ATI Radeon IGP integrated graphics card and 16 MB of shared video memory deliver resolution of up to 1,024 x 768 on the 910US’s integrated 14.1-inch TFT XGA display or up to 1,600 x 1,200 noninterlaced on an external monitor.

The 1.5-by-12.8-by-10.6-inch, 6.5-pound notebook includes an integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet port and 56K V.92 PCI modem. Expansion slots include one Type I/II PC Card slot with support for a 32-bit CardBus. The 910US also includes two USB 1.1 ports, a parallel SPP/ECP interface (DB25 connector), a PS2 mouse or keyboard port, an RJ-45 Ethernet jack and RJ-11 modem jack, an S-video TV-out port, and an external VGA monitor port.

Installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 6.0, Microsoft Money 2001, Microsoft Encarta Online Deluxe Encyclopedia (one-year subscription), InterVideo WinDVD, and Norton AntiVirus 2002 on CD. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Does it all for great price !
Got this notebook a couple weeks ago from HP's Refurbished products. Paid less than $800 including delivery. This notebook has everything I need including a CD Burner, DVD Player, 1394 port, large/fast 30GB HD, and built in ethernet. The keyboard is great, especially the scroll device below the touchpad. As far as the CTRL key being in the wrong place, it's easily adjusted to - can't understand why anyone would make a big stink about it.

The performance seems to be very fast including digital picture editing. I haven't done any video editing yet so I can't comment on that. The display is more than adequate and seems very bright to me.

My only beef with it is all of the software Compaq preloads on it. Can't say that I wanted or use any of it.

For the $$$, I'd buy another in a heartbeat !

Good Combination
The 910 US combination by Compaq gives you almost all the power you need for most users. Ergonomic and sleek design, almost 6.5 lb. weight with one battery makes it a good elegant choice which will look good on your desk as well feels lighter on your pocket.

910US - Great value notebook with a bad keyboard design
This is a really solid low-end value notebook. Everything is perfect... EXCEPT the amazing fact that Compaq decided to place the rarely used "Fn" function key in the lower left-hand corner of the keyboard. This key is located exactly where the Ctrl key belongs. I absolutely guarantee that any experienced user will accidentally press this "Fn" key every single time that they attempt to press the Ctrl key. This is beyond frustrating. This design defect alone is sufficient reason to pay few hundred dollars more for some other brand.

The annoying "Fn" key is supplemented by an extra large Caps Lock key. Wow. yOU WILL BE TORMENTED BY ACCIDENTALLY PRESSING THIS CAPS LOCK KEY ON A REGULAR BASIS.

Other than these issues with the keyboard, this is probably the best notebook available for [the money]. Most people focus on the CPU speed when comparison shopping for notebooks. In reality, extra memory and hard disk space is the more beneficial element to be looking for. 256MB and 30 GB make this Presario superior to most competitors.

Tough call... A great notebook with a bad keyboard design.

The 905, avec CD burner.
To begin with, it looks great. It's black & silver, sleek & reasonably svelte at 6.5 lbs. The HP genes are apparent in its design and the result is pleasing. The CPU is an adequate 1.33 Athalon XP; it's quite capable of most daily, non-graphics intense tasks, but not as good as an Intel P4. System memory also just adequate at 256 megs, though this can be doubled easily enough. The hard drive is a generous 30 gigs. A DVD/CD-R/W combination drive in included. All the Compaq's connections are in the right place, though missing is any USB 2.0 port. The video card is in line with the other components, with a 16 meg ATI card onboard driving a very sharp 14.1" active matrix display. (I am a fan of ATI graphics cards because they have been quite reliable over the long haul and because upgrading them from ATI's nice website is a snap) Overall, this is a good, basic machine made by a company that looks like it's here to stay. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Compaq Presario S6900NX is powerful and fast enough to cover a wide range of demanding computing tasks--from multimedia creativity to intense PC gaming (thanks to the GeForce FX 5200 graphics card)--and is a great choice as a family digital hub or home office center. It features a fast CD burner and a separate DVD+RW writer, fast 64-bit 2.0 GHz AMD Athlon 3200+ processor, extra-large 160 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and loads of connectivity options. Athlon 64 3200+ (at 2.0 GHz) is correct

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The massive 160 GB Ultra DMA hard drive (7200 RPM) offers more than enough storage for all your documents, digital photos, and MP3 collection.
• Processor: The S6900NX is powered by AMD's Athlon 64 3200+ processor (comparable to Intel's 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 processor), which is suited for such high-performance tasks as 3-D PC games and professional-quality image and video editing. Its 64-bit architecture will become more important as software applications begin to take advantage of this processor's increased scalability and performance. It also has an 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and 1 MB L2 cache.
• Memory: The S6900NX comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (2 x 256 MB PC-3200 DDR SDRAM, 333 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 4 GB (4 x 1 GB).
• CD/DVD Drive: This desktop PC comes with two optical drives: a CD-RW and a DVD+RW (for writing data and video files from your camcorder to discs). The speedy CD-RW drive has 48x write, 24x re-write, 48x read speeds, while the DVD+RW drive has 4x write, 2.4x rewrite, and 8x playback speeds (DVD movie discs require 8x). It's compatible with the DVD+RW format, one of two formats for rewriteable DVDs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: The S6900NX comes with a Compaq Productivity keyboard and scroller mouse (both with PS/2 connections).

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
For expansion, the S6900NX has two 5.25-inch external bays (one available), three 3.5-inch bays (one available), three PCI slots (two available), and one AGP2 slot (available). It comes with a built-in floppy drive and the following external connectors:

• 8 USB 2.0 ports (2 in front, 6 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals (1 in front, 1 in rear)
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 serial port for older peripherals such as early PDAs
• 1 microphone and 1 headphone jack in the front

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.92) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Preloaded System and Software
The S6900NX comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Microsoft Money 2004, Quicken New User Edition 2004, Norton Antivirus 2004 and Personal Firewall 2003, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Encarta Encyclopedia 2004 Standard Edition, Adobe Photoshop album (starter edition), RecordNow 6.5 (for burning CDs), WinDVD SE 4.0 (for DVD playback), and MusicMatch Jukebox.

Dimensions and Weight
This mini-tower measures 14.6 x 6.9 x 16.6 inches (H x W x D) and weighs 35 pounds (packaged).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Compaq Presario S6900NX desktop PC, power cable, keyboard, and mouse. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

HP has designed its Pavilion ze4560us Notebook PC for users who require satisfactory performance and wireless connectivity at a seriously budget-conscious price point. It may not break any speed records or smoothly display cutting-edge 3-D games, but the Pavilion ze4560us should suffice quite nicely for most typical mobile business and leisure applications.

At 12.96 by 10.72 by 1.62 inches and 7.25 pounds, the unit is of average size. Inside, HP has installed a mid-level yet cost-effective 1.87 GHz AMD Athlon XP-M 2500+ processor with battery-conserving PowerNow Technology, a generous 512 MB of DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to 1024 MB), and an ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chipset with 64 MB of shared (not dedicated) memory.

The system features an adequate 40 GB hard disk for file and program storage and a convenient DVD/CD-RW combo drive for listening to and burning music CDs, archiving data and playing the latest movies. DVD writing is not offered in this stock configuration. The system's crisp 15-inch XGA TFT display supports images of 1024x768 resolution, and its 16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio chipset and integrated Altec Lansing-designed speakers deliver accurate, full-bodied sound.

Controlling the Pavilion ze4560us is a snap. The unit features a full-size 88-key keyboard with Touch Pad dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad. Other amenities include two traditional USB 1.1 ports for plug and play peripherals (high-speed USB 2.0 ports are not included), an IEEE 1394 FireWire port for fast interaction with external devices such as digital camcorders, and an S-Video TV-out. Communication facilities are very solid, ranging from an integrated 802.11b wireless LAN interface to an RJ-45 Ethernet connection and 56K modem.

Bundled software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Corel Productivity Pack including WordPerfect 10 and Quattro Pro 10, Quicken New User Edition, and a bevy of media and Internet-based utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Good specs, bad Design
This notebook has great specs and features but the packaged shell is cheap and poorly designed. The keypad is not as smooth as Dell or Toshiba. One has to apply more force per keystroke that reminds me of old manual typewriters. The result is A LOT more typos - some keystrokes register, some don't.

This goes for all keys, touchpad, and switches.
The choices and placement of characters on keypad could be better. The placement of the non-alphabet keys are not intuitive. These Home, Page Up, Page Down, End, delete, Pause, Print Screen keys seem crammed into the upper right hand corner, very closely packed next to each other such that accidental mis-strikes are also common.
The screen is big, but that means loss of resolution. The XGA screen on my other notebook is smaller, but sharper than this HP Pavilion's XGA screen.
The wireless G card on this notebook seems to be weak because it keeps dropping connections. The wireless B on my other notebook seems to perform better - connections do not drop.
Finally, despite the width of the notebook, ports most often used are crammed next to each other. The power adapter plug is VERY snug against the USB ports. And for some strange reason, the USB ports are horizontally stacked so this makes for a tightly fitted trio of wires.
While the HP Pavilion has some desirable internal qualities, it's physical qualities are irksome. I would not recommend this notebook because it's poor design will always be a source of irritation. If I didn't own another notebook as a comparison, I'd never know the difference, but being the owner of a Toshiba and past user of Dell I have to say that HP's can use some improvement.

Best for the money
4 friends bought notebooks at the same time Dell, Sony, (2)Toshibas all of theirs had P4 chips, and this HP simply outclasses them- 3 my friends admitit! And they paid $500-$900 more! Their notebooks weigh a full pound more, they are thicker, and the P4's are much louder requiring a loud cooling fan.

The S video, Firewire, serial ports are awesome features. Made several videos already with the firewire. Screen resolution is beautiful! Graphics card is good- handles computer games well.
Best feature- touch pad w/scroll wheel. I'll never buy a notebook again without one.
Cons- Sound is average for notebooks (not like the new Mac power books). If it had USB 2 it would be my dream come true. Good Job HP- fantastic machine

Very useful & economical notebook
This computer works terrific even with demanding applications like the music production tools I use. Altough it is not designed for that kind of work, the processor works pretty good and has enough RAM for almost any application.

I am happy with my purchase, no problems at all: silent, powerful & fast (not the best PC of course), not heavy, well made, clean screen, nice touchpad and keyboard, great connectivity (WiFi, VGA, Ethernet, USB, FireWire, you name it!) and super value. Bad points: a weird noise sometimes when reads CD's, and the speakers... well as a music professional I wasn't expecting much anyway from those tiny things; I use a PCMCIA pro audio card instead and works terrific.

Adequate
I purchased this computer in November of 2003 from Amazon.com. I am not particularly hard on my computers. Since I've bought this computer, I've been extremely busy, and haven't had the free time to do much more than check my email. As a resuly, the computer has essentially been sitting on a desk since I've gotten it.

This Saturday, I had to send it in for a repair. The screen completely died. I've only had this computer for five months, and it isn't as though I've been hauling it around, abusing it, or even using it a whole lot. While I'm not saying this is a bad computer--after all, I've only tried this one--I feel obligated to post this problem. The computer has to be sent out to Texas; I'm in Illinois. I'm going to be without a computer for over a month. I like this computer--I really do. Aside from this, it's been a great little notebook. This incident, however, doesn't bode well for its reliability.

First Laptop
This laptop is absolute dream. Previous reviews list this laptop to have a video card with "shared memory." What they mean is that it's an integrated video card. This is NOT true. The video card is not integrated. I am very satisfied with this laptop, installing the drivers from the windows update site actually took away from my display capabilities (use the drivers at hp.com). I have had no problems with the touchpad or the keyboard. Convenient and best of all: MOBILE ATHLON- It is a step-by-step processor and only allocates as much speed as required to perform tasks (conserves battery power). Played Unreal Tournament on this while my friend was on his HP Intel 4 laptop, mine lasted 25 more minutes on a full charge than his while running a very demanding game. Great computer, a must have. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With features such as CD burning, DVD playing, a comparatively large hard drive, and surprisingly gutsy processing, the Presario S3100NX is a great choice for those who need solid computing at an entry-level price.

Powered by a cost-effective yet punchy 1.8 GHz AMD Athlon XP processor 2200+ with QuantiSpeed architecture, 256 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM, and a integrated ProSaveageDDR KM266 graphics card with 32 MB of shared (not dedicated) memory, the system is clearly not intended for extreme multitasking or heavy-duty 3-D games. It is, however, all you need for most typical home and home office tasks, Internet surfing, and 2-D gaming. HP has included a large 80 GB hard disk for permanent storage of your programs and files, a 3.5-inch diskette drive for older or smaller applications and backups, and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive through which you can burn and listen to audio CDs, archive your data and enjoy the latest movies.

The Presario S3100NX features a variety of amenities to enhance everyday computing, including six high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals, a convenient Presario Internet keyboard with hotkeys, a PS/2-style scrolling mouse, serial and parallel "printer" ports, an integrated 56K modem for basic Internet and email access, and a 10/100 Base-Y Fast Ethernet port for speedy network interaction and e-communication. The system is not equipped with a monitor or external stereo speakers, thus allowing users to custom select these components.

To help get you started, Compaq has pre-installed a variety of software applications, including Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Microsoft Money 2003, Microsoft Works 7.0, and Quicken Financial Center. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great PC
Ive had this pc since april and it has worked great- good value for the money- but of course you have to buy many other things to go with it. But its great value , its fast performance and ive had no complaints with it since purchase. It has dvd/cd rom -256 mb, 80 cb, and has a great look to it. This one shown is blue but mine came in Black/Silver color. Very nice/highly recomended. Worth Money.

Old news
This system cost as much as much faster systems. Why pay the money for a 1.8GHz CPU when you can have a 2.4GHz CPU? Maybe this was a good deal last year but it's out of date now.

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK
I looked at several computers in this price range and this system for the money was the best. The fast speed of the AMD 1.8Ghz processor is great and with all of the software and expandibility this system simply can't be beat.Plays DVD'sand burns CD's flawlessly.My friend paid twice as much for another system and this Compaq(HP)package not only outperforms his but comes with more features. Highly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great Mobile Option for Home PC User
The Sony VAIO PCG-FXA47 offers a great combination of features, rubber-to-the-road performance and affordability for the home user who wants the freedom of a laptop. The DVD/CD-RW drive drew me in, and the fast processor and generous memory sold me. The 20GB hard drive should be plenty for almost everyone (documents/photos/Quicken), although a user editing digital movies might have to think twice. This laptop comes with 10/100 NIC, so DSL connectivity is a snap. The software shipped with mine was also very useful. Note that it comes with serial & parallel ports as well as 2 USB ports, so connection to your peripherals is also convenient. The price is very good considering all you get. All in all, a good deal!

It's not very good
I bought it thinking that Sony was a good brand, but they clearly have no clue when it comes to making computers.

The first problem is the battery life. At first, it could last 20 minutes of websurfing, but now it doesn't last five minutes of sitting still with nothing going on. It immediately powers down without shutting down of hibernating.

The second problem is the default hard drive configuration. Basically, they split it up which causes more problems since so many programs install to the C: drive by default anyway, plus Windows XP is bloated and takes up the majority of the space anyway, then PC-Cillin tries to take up a lot of space too and you've almost lost all of your C: drive space from these two programs alone.

The third problem is the graphics card. It's integrated with the normal memory and has horrible performance. While I don't expect to be playing the latest games on this machine, it's not even capable of playing games that are ten years old with a decent speed.

The fourth problem that I have is the LCD itself. It's not very bright, and with any sunlight at all it's unreadable.

Other than those, it's a pretty standard machine. I managed to avoid some of the software problems others have by uninstalling one of the hotfixes of XP and upgrading the mouse drivers.

Worst computer ever
If your are looking for a good used laptop..........look elsehwere. The FXA47 is loaded with software and problems and VERY POOR customer support. In the 2 years we have had it, it has stayed in the case most of the time because of lockups. I have restored it several times to original configurations with no help. Sony is clueless and wants to charge for phone supoport and has only responded to 1 of my e-mails. It seems that everytime we install software the computer wants to lock up. My Compaq 2715US works great with out any problems. I will never by another Sony product.

It's ok most of the time
I've been mostly ok with this laptop until recently, but there are a few problems that I must mention:

1) The battery life is horrible. When you unplug it, it may tell you that it's going to last two hours, but even new, the battery only lasts about 20 minutes of just websurfing (if you are watching a DVD or anything like that, you'll be lucky to get much more than 5 minutes from the battery.)

2) It gets too hot. I've found that different programs cause it to heat differently. I tried running Seti@Home on this laptop, but that caused my lap to almost get burned. You have to be very careful with that. Also, the rubber feet on the bottom of the laptop have come off because the heat of the CPU melts the glue on the bottom. This has made a mess of the various tables I've put it on, as well as some pants when I've used it on my lap.

3) The sleep functions don't work right. Every other laptop I've used has had a function to make the laptop shut down or go to sleep automatically when the battery gets too low. This laptop doesn't appear to have this. When it feels like it, it will just shut down with no warning. This has happened at random times when I don't have it plugged into the power.

4) The drivers stink. There are various problems related to Windows hotfixes and some of the specific hardware drivers. I forget which one but there was a hotfix for XP that conflicted with the mousepad driver and caused the laptop to freeze up. As far as I know, Sony never fixed the driver so I've left the patch off.

I doubt I'll ever buy a Sony laptop again, but it's not the worst I've used. I'll probably buy an IBM Thinkpad next time, because they are the best laptops you can buy.

Defective hard drive, horrific customer services
My hard drive for this machine crashed 2 months after my warranty expired; I lost an immense amount of data, and had to send it to Sony's repair center to get the drive replaced.

Sony's repair center took one month to perform the 20-minute task of switching out the hard drive, and held the computer hostage after incorrectly submitting my credit card authorization for payment, twice, and after I called to check on the status of the repair twice. As I write this, I have submitted a THIRD charge authorization, because Sony will not send the laptop back without payment, even though I have been trying to make payment for a month -- I initially authorized this payment the day I called in to set up the repair.

I strongly caution against buying a Sony computer. Before I bought from Sony, I had read another review mentioning the horrible customer services; I wish I had listened. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

As the most powerful notebook in Compaq’s midlevel 2100 line of mobile computers, the Presario 2110US blends reliability with a hint of high-end performance. It’s quite portable too, at 12.96 by 10.72 by 1.57 inches and a mere 7.24 pounds. If state-of-the-art speed isn’t a necessity but smooth and dependable operation is, the cost-effective Presario 2110US is a wise choice.

Driven by a 1.67 GHz Mobile AMD Athlon XP 2000 CPU, 512 MB of DDR SDRAM, and a 64 MB (shared) ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chipset, the Presario 2110US will efficiently run most common notebook applications. Its roomy 60 GB hard disk is spacious enough for a full complement of business and leisure software, and its DVD/CD-RW drive is ready to help you burn and play audio CDS, archive data, and watch your favorite movies. The system will not, however, allow you to record to DVD media.

Compaq has equipped the Presario 2110US with several multimedia-related perks, including an oversized 15-inch XGA TFT display capable of detailed 1,024 x 768 screen resolutions, a 16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio chip, and a set of internal stereo speakers. The system also features a full-size 88-key keyboard with embedded numeric keypad, a touchpad with on/off button, and a dedicated vertical scroll-up/-down pad.

Other amenities include two USB 1.1 ports for plug-and-play peripherals, S-Video and VGA outs for external displays and television links, an RJ-45 Ethernet jack for fast network and Internet interaction, and a built-in 56K modem for low-speed e-communication. Camcorder owners and anyone else who desires fast data transfer with external peripherals should note the system does not sport high-speed USB 2.0 or IEEE 1394 ports.

Pre-installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 6.0, Intuit’s Quicken Financial Center, and Microsoft Money 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Overall it's a good product
The Acer USB port disconnects when copying images from some camera. This is one of the main things I wanted to use it for.
Tech support stepped me through a few updates, but was unsuccessful in helping me.

I wasn't sure at first, but WOW....
I had a Presario 710 notebook and I decided I would like to upgrade as the 710 was beginning to be to slow for my work (programming). I spent a few weeks looking around to find the best deal on a good notebook without spending $2000. The 2110 is a NICE machine. I finally choose that one after debating 3 notebooks. This machine will play Warcraft 3 with all the graphics/video cranked all the way up!!! I did some tweaks to WinXP Pro and the machine now boots in 30 seconds from power to start bar and shuts down in 15 or less. The 710 would get so hot you could cook eggs on it, this machine stays pretty decently cool.

With a 60 GB HD, 512 megs of ram and 64 megs (shared) for video and a DVD/CD-RW you can't go wrong. So far I am very happy with my purchase and I would recoment anyone else in the market to consider this machine on their list.

Nice HP, but a few issues.
Well the system is a good as other HP models. The system has enough power and memory to complete any task a mobile user can through at it. The bigest problem is Firmware, it has been updated twice since my purchase in early january. So much for right the first time. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Dandy Little Computer
I ran into many initial problems with this computer. It would freeze sporadically as well as consistently under certain circumstances. For instance, I could not use the sound card while dialing into the Internet. When I say freeze, I mean it totally freezes. No errors, but the display won't update, neither the keyboard or mouse functions, sound ceases, etc. Have to turn it off and back on. The initial reaction I have is the motherboard is bad. After all, I had bought it open-box at a local retain store, and so it must have been returned for the same reason, right?

So I go to return it, describe the problems, and wouldn't you know it, it works fine, even through the modem-sound conflict. I was told the problems I was encountering are because "Office 97 and Windows XP Home aren't compatible." I've been computing for 14 years, programming for 6, and know that's not the problem. I'm told to run System Restore (heard that before, heh) and that of course doesn't improve things any. Therefore, matters were taken into my own hands.

XP is taken off. Windows 2000 [Pro] is the OS for people like me. Buy it before MS removes it from the market place ($... on Amazon, provided you have a relatively recent version of Windows), it's the best version of Windows Microsoft has ever made, as far as I'm concerned. I won't go into details of other software, as it's irrelevant. As I could afford it, other changes followed. The onboard video [is weak], so an AGP Radeon 7000 (64MB) (Sixty-four bucks here on Amazon, you can't go wrong) found its way into the system. Next, another 256 MB of PC133 RAM for forty-bucks came in. There were other upgrades, but these two brought performance up to par with a similarly configured P4-1.8 GHz system. The Athlon wins at some things, the P4 at others.

I wouldn't recommend a system like this to just anybody. Most of these upgrades (not my choices particularly, but _something_) are really necessary for this system to perform. Moreover, most users wouldn't be comfortable performing them.

The other big limitation is the lack of expandability. It has 3 PCI slots and 1 AGP. There's only 1 free drive bay. I maxed out all the internal expansion opportunities to a point where I had to remove the modem and rely on Internet access shared by another computer. The system also has a limit of 512 MB RAM.

As for my problem with the system freezing, it declined significantly in moving from Windows XP to Windows 2000, and further when I began using the "Hibernate" feature in Windows. I won't go into details of how Hibernate works, but if I can boot my system faster and it's more reliable, well, where's the down side?

If you get one that works it would be a good deal
I had my reservations about buying an eMachine, they have a terrible reputation for both quality and customer service. Unfortunately, I went against my better judgement and decided to buy the T1400. It seems like a good PC for the money and it is as long as there are no problems. Within a month ours started to randomly reset without warning, it didn't matter what you were doinf it would just reset. I called eMachines and they sent out a new power supply (apparently a bad power supply is a common problem with eMachines...). After the new power supply was installed the same problems started again, the resetting has become worse and we have progressed to the point where it will turn off and won't restart for at least 30 minutes. Emachines will repair it under their warranty but I have been told it would take anywhere between 5 weeks (the eMachine estimate) to at least 10 weeks (employees at both Circuit City and CompUSA told me to expect a long wait of at least ten weeks...). Now I will not have a PC for at least five weeks... I think I'll send it in for repairs and sell it when it comes back. I'll never again buy an eMachine, don't trust anyone who tells you they're better than their past reputation. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sporting fewer amenities than Sony's high-end mobile computers, yet easily robust enough to run most professional and entertainment software, the Vaio FXA53 notebook strikes a good balance between price and performance. Its convenient all-in-one design also makes it a great choice for those who appreciate true portability.

At 1.9 by 12.8 by 10.5 inches and 6.7 pounds (with battery) or 7.1 pounds (with battery and removable 3.5-inch floppy disk drive), the FXA53 is not an overly large notebook. Yet unlike some Sony portables, it is completely self-contained. A combination CD-RW/DVD drive (24x/8x/8x, 8x DVD) is built right into the unit, as is a spacious 30 GB hard drive. Furthermore, the floppy disk drive may be swapped at any time for an optional second battery.

The system is powered by a 1.3 GHz AMD Athlon XP 1500+ processor, a fast yet cost-effective chip featuring AMD's new QuantiSpeed architecture for improved performance and PowerNow technology for extended battery life. Sony has paired this processor with 256 MB of SDRAM memory (expandable to 512 MB) and an 8 MB ATI Rage Mobility graphics chip. While its graphics processing speed isn't fast enough for the latest 3-D games, the FXA35 will capably handle anything from standard business applications to DVD movies, transmitting video signals to its large 1,024 x 768 14.1-inch XGA TFT display and audio to its integrated stereo speakers.

The FXA53 is outfitted with more external connections than most notebook users will ever need, including an i.Link IEEE 1394 jack for fast data uploads from devices such as digital camcorders, two USB ports for plug-and-play peripherals, NTSC video-out and external monitor-out, parallel and serial "printer" ports, a microphone-in, and headphone jack. An internal V.90 modem delivers low-speed Web and e-mail access, and a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet interface supportshigh-speed surfing and LAN connectivity.

The system's keyboard section features a standard 86-key layout and an electrostatic touch pad. Sony has not included the handy Jog Dial control or Memory Stick media slot found on other models. Pre-installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Quicken 2002 New User Edition, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and a broad range of audio, video, and still-image tools and utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

worst laptop I've owned
I've had this notebook computer for just under 2 years and in that time it has been nothing but problems. It constantly locks up and runs much hotter than any other laptop I've ever had. It has crappy speakers,it's sound is intermittent and the restore function does not always work. I've had to reformat the hard drive 9 times since owning it and now the monitor no longer works. Sony charges insane prices for it's repair as well as it's accesories. I've always used it as more of a desktop so hooking it up to an external monitor is an acceptable although irritating solution for the monitor problem. It won't however change the fact that this is a lousy piece of machinery.

good all around laptop, great for digital video capture
I have had this laptop for about 10 months now. It's very heavy when you add the second battery. I have gone to a rolling laptop case for travel as my shoulder couldn't take the weight.

I added third party memory to bring it up to 512MB, I'm on my third module. I think the heat killed the others. Luckily I bought the lifetime warrenty, so it's all been free replacements. I recommend a laptop cooler as it gets very hot.

I have been using it to capture minidv from my dvcamcorder. I scan tape and capture unattended. It works flawlessly. For this use I highly recommend this laptop.

Overall, I like the computer, only draw backs are weight, and slow performance compared to other laptops I have used in the same class.

Keep looking, over priced and out of date
This notebook is out of date and is way out classed by rivals in the same price range.

What I don't like:
SDRAM? Most notebooks in this price range offer DDR-SDRAM. DDR transmits twice the data with each clock, making it much faster. SDRAM has been abandoned.

1.3 GHz Athlons: They run hot and lack SSE-2. SSE-2 is a feature built into current Intel and future AMD CPUs. If you don't have it, software that uses it will run slower. This includes major products like Windows, Adobe, and many games.

ATI RAGE MOILITY graphics chipset? Very old news with almost no 3D features. Notebooks that cost 30% less are at least offering the ATI Radeon M6-P or even ATI 7500 chipsets.

If this notebook was half the price I could endorse it. At this price it is highway robbery. Either look at Toshiba, HP, Gateway or Dell, or move up the Sony price range into one of their newer P4 based notebooks. I'm sure this left over is about to be discontinued.

Great laptop, but poor battery life
After doing some research on laptops for a few weeks I had decided to purchase a Dell Inspiron 2600. However, I decided to do a little more searching and came across the FXA53 for a very good price. ($1380 before $100 rebate) This laptop only takes about 40 seconds to boot up which is pretty good in my opinion. It runs amazingly quiet and is very cool unlike some laptops that can get very hot, thus making it uncomfortable to have on your lap. I mainly have two gripes with the laptop. I wish it had came with a better video card. Watching dvd's is ok, but in some parts in can become grainy. This laptop would be perfect if it came with an nvidia card. My second gripe is the horrible battery life. I can only watch a dvd for about 1hour and 20 minutes before I get a warning that the battery is very low. Sony charges $250 for an additional battery which I think is outrageous for a battery that can't even last two hours. If you decide to buy this laptop, buy an additional battery off of ebay for around $100. I like this laptop, but I wish Sony would learn how to make better batteries. My next laptop will probably be a Dell, because their batteries last nearly 3 hours and are much cheaper. If you plan to have your laptop plugged in the majority of the time, then this is a good buy, but if you're like me and want to be able to use your laptop on the road then look elsewhere. I don't know how the other review managed to get his battery to last over 2 hours. Well, that's all, hope this review was helpful.

Great Laptop
So far I really love this machine. It has a beautiful display. The software bundle is very good. I would have liked to have MS Word instead of the Word Perfect suite though. I had to send it in for warranty work for the keyboard and got it back in a week. Sony made it easy to keep track of the progress of the repair online. Their support was great. As a long time Apple user I almost bought an iBook but the Sony gave more for the amount of money I could spend such as legacy ports (so I could use my printer) and a floppy drive. Apple's recent ads promote the switch of PC users to Apple. After alot of thought I did the opposite. I just couldn't go with Apple again. I would recommend this machine to anyone. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Compaq's 700 series of Presario notebook computers may target the homeand home office user rather than the more demanding business professional, butthat doesn't necessarily mean it sacrifices performance. A perfect case in pointis the new flagship of the 700 series, the stunningly powerful Presario725US.

If speed is what you crave, the 725US delivers. Rated at 1.4 GHz, its AMD mobileAthlon 4 1600+ processor is one of the fastest you'll find inside any portablecomputer. This robust chip is equipped with AMD's QuantiSpeed architecture tofurther aid in the collection and distribution of data, and a generous 512 KB ofultrahigh-speed Level 2 cache to enhance performance during complex computingsituations. Factor in the system's 256 MB of 133 MHz SyncDRAM (upgradeable to384 MB) and 32 MB ProSavage KN133 video card, and you have a power plant capableof running just about anything thrown its way.

Sporting a sleek design and a futuristic two-tone, black-on-silver color scheme,the Presario 725US looks substantially more stylish than many of its notebookpeers. It tips the scales at a comfortable 6.4 pounds and measures in with aslightly larger than average 10.6-by-12.4-by-1.64-inch profile. Compaq has putthese dimensions to good use by installing several desirable perks, such as alarge 20 GB hard disk, a 3.5-inch disk drive, a 56K ITU V.92 PCI modem, and acombination CD-RW/DVD drive. The latter offers solid but not spectacularperformance, playing compact discs at 24x, recording and re-recording them at4x, and playing DVDs at 6x.

You'll watch your movies and other applications on a crisp 14-inch LCD displaycapable of 1,024 x 768 resolution and 16 million colors, and listen to your CDsand multimedia through a high-end bass reflex JBL speaker system that deliverssurprising bottom-end punch. And you won't have to press a bunch of keys to doit. The 725US keyboard is equipped with numerous one-touch multimedia, Internet,and e-mail buttons, plus a scroll wheel and touchpad for convenientnavigation.

The unit's roster of ports includes two USB jacks for plug-and-play peripheralssuch as joysticks and digital cameras, a single parallel port for printers, a10/100 Mbps Ethernet network connection, an all-purpose PC Card slot, a PS2 jackfor a mouse or keyboard, a VGA video-out for external monitors, S-video TV-out,and speaker and microphone ports. Microsoft's latest operating system, WindowsXP, and an assortment of Internet, multimedia, and information applicationsround out this impressive package. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

'Over heats,locks-up,and shuts down?'
Ya,I've had the same problem with my 'Compaq Presario 700',what I do is 'remove and reinsert the battery',and it boots up like new. I've played 'Shogun: Total War' and it either locks-up and over heats,or shuts down. So if your 'Compaq' shuts down and starts to run that little fan and starts to over heat,and your up til 2:00 am wondering what to do,save your self a heart ache by 'removing and reinserting the battery' located on the bottom. By removing and then reinserting the battery shuts down the 'Compaq',your laptop will and should go back to normal. I know,it's scary when you don't know what to do,and it puts you in a situation where your panicking,my god its overheating and I've pulled the plug on my Laptop,but its still on and running,and overheating. Don't panick,'remove and reinsert the battery' located in the bottom, there's a switch that pops out the battery,be cool,very cool. I hope this was helpful.

ABSOULTE JUNK!!
No sense in repeating everything that has already been stated what is wrong with this POS. Just do a Google search for Presario 700 notebook. IT'S A TOTAL LEMON! WHEN DO WE SUE ...? Overheats Constantly - it's a design problem. Slower than a 386! JUNK! AVOID! I WASTED (money) HARD EARNED DOLLARS DOWN THE DRAIN!

TOTALLY USELESS! DAMN IT!

Another extremely disappointed Compaq user
With a little searching, I'm finding that I'm not alone with having a COMPLETE LEMON of a computer! DO NOT BUY! DO SOME RESEARCH FIRST, it's VERY easy! ;)
In summary: I bought this in june 03 from compusa.com as 'refurbished' (NOTE: NEVER BUY REFURBISHED COMPUTERS!) thus it has no warranty... too bad, cause 6 months later, turns out i have the same overheating/shut off problem as others have detailed. I discovered this last wk, early Feb '04. Since then, I've spent about 6hrs talking to HP support...with nothing to show for it. ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS!!! FINALLY, I called HP HQ in CA... and they were VERY unsympathetic! Needless to say, they say "tough sh*t" and won't drop a dime for it. I wouldn't be so pissed off if this weren't obviously a DEFECTIVE MODEL!!! (This was told to me by SeattleLaptop, who've repaired "over a dozen in the last 7 months". I'm currently collecting other similar experiences. If you have any, please share: lclaroche at hotmail dot com

RUN AWAY FAST
Don't waste your time! I purchased this computer a year and
a half ago. Since then I've had nothing but problems.
Continuous overheating and shutdowns, the cd/dvd rom stopped
working, the screen broke, the battery never works for more
than ten minutes even if it's fully charged. I have taken it
in to be serviced 4 times at best buy. Every time something
new is fixed but the same problems still remain. It is incredibly slow, and too much hassle, not a good buy at all.
1500 of my dollars down the drain. Don't let it happen to you.

We're 0 for 2 with Compaq
Heed the advice of the others reporting problems related to system hangs etc. Just had the main board replaced due to a problem in power management and continuous shut down.(at my cost since it was 3 mos out of warranty). The laptop with the "new" board now hangs at random times during normal use.
HP has clearly taken the "low road" with their products, basically producing junk. We have another high end presarion in our small software business. It is also very problematic.
Unless they pay you to take this computer, you're paying to much! ... Read more