Amazon.com Product Description

Although Compaq generally markets its Presario lineup of notebookcomputers to the home and home business user, some models will handle far moredemanding tasks and applications just as easily. Powered by a potent 1.13 GHzIntel Pentium III CPU and an enormous 512 MB (expandable to 1 GB) of RAM, thePresario 2715US notebook is one such machine.

Weighing in at a substantial 7.9 pounds and sporting an 11.02-by-13-by-1.65-inchprofile, the Presario 2715US is markedly larger than several of its competitors.Compaq does, however, put that extra size to good use. The unit is literallyloaded with drives, including a large 30 GB hard drive to handle permanentstorage needs, an 8x DVD-ROM drive to play movies, and even a 3.5-inch floppydisk drive for older or smaller programs. The 2715US also takes advantage ofCompaq's new FutureBay II technology, which allows users to install and swapadditional optical devices such as CD-RW and DVD drives or CD-RW/DVD combos intoa spare bay. In the case of the 2715US, that bay is already loaded with an 8x(write) CD-RW drive for reading and burning data and audio CDs.

There's one other reason for the 2715US being as big as it is. At a full 15inches, its TFT active-matrix XGA viewing screen is nearly a full inch largerthan the norm. That's good news for anyone who wants to get a better look attheir programs, but in particular for multimedia enthusiasts. Certainly anyoneinto movies or music will also enjoy the benefits of the unit's capable ATIMobility Radeon M6 graphics card and Dolby-certified JBL Pro Audio bass reflexspeaker system.

The 2715US sports enough ports to accommodate virtually any form of expansionand exterior connection. The unit features two USB ports for plug-and-playperipherals such as joysticks, an S-video TV-out port for television output, aPS2-style port for an external mouse or keyboard, a single parallel port fordevices such as printers, a VGA port for external monitors, an internal 56Kmodem and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network connection, a speaker-out andmicrophone-in port, a multipurpose PC Card slot, and a QuickDock connector forultrafast hookups of additional accessories.

The 2715US keyboard section offers 88 full-size keys, an array of one-touche-mail, Internet, and multimedia controls, a four-way Internet scrolling tool,and a touch pad. Power is supplied by a high-capacity, lithium-ion battery andregulated by Intel's SpeedStep technology, which lowers processor speed toreduce battery drain whenever the unit is not plugged into an AC outlet.

To help get you started, Compaq has installed the Home Edition of the Windows XPoperating system and an assortment of useful software applications, such asMicrosoft Internet Explorer 6.0, Microsoft Works 6.0, Microsoft Money 2001,Norton AntiVirus, Roxio Easy CD Creator 5.01, InterVideo WinDVD 3.0, and aone-year subscription to Microsoft Encarta Online Deluxe Encyclopedia. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Replacing My Desktop Is Fun
We were forced to eliminate the office at home to accommodate our expanding family. This laptop has made me excited about the whole endeavor. If you can look past the fact that I am getting about the same hardware that is in my 1 year old desktop, for twice the price, then it's all good.

I really couldn't ask for more from a laptop. The screen is big, and beautiful. The dual optical drives (DVD & CDRW) are an awesome configuration for a laptop. I currently have the CDRW swapped with the extra battery that came with the computer. The included extra battery was a total surprise, and great considering it's often a [pricey]option on most laptops. I also bought a D-link wireless router and wireless LAN adapter; now I'm surfing from all over the house. How sweet it is!!

If you want to part with your desktop, and not compromise you capabilities, this is a great choice. But beware, this baby is heavy. No problem going from one room to another, but I wouldn't want to lug this thing around on the road.

Watch the screen resolution!
I bought the 2700 thinking that the only differences between it and the 2701 were memory and hard disk, but the 2700 only goes to 1024x768 resolution. (The 2701 goes to 1400x1050.) Nothing on the net (here or at Compaq.com) says anything about this. Other than that, it's a nice but heavy laptop, as others have said. Having a separate DVD and CD-R is a bit waistful, but doesn't annoy me too much. The mouse pad is nice to use, the display is great, and the thing looks beautiful. It doesn't have a serial port, which seems to be a trend in new laptops. This was a problem with a GPS box I got at the same time. I've had no problems with the machine so far.

Great Computer.
I know this review is late and this computer is already out of date, but I have had this 2715US for 2 years and it has worked flawlessly. No problems at at. If you are looking for a good used computer this is the one to have. The dual optical drives are great. The CDRW works great. I have probably burnt 50 or more CD's. The DVD is great with very good screen resolution. We use the computer as a in car DVD player on road trips. It keeps the kids entertained. Games work great. Tomb Raider AOD has worked great, without any problems, as well as Medal of Honor. I have it networked with 2 other computers with out any problems. So far I have experienced no PIXEL BURN OUT as previously mentioned in other reviews. I have 2 other computers, a desktop P3 1.13 and a XXXX noterbook with a Athlon 1.0 GH cpu and the 2715US is a lot faster and more reliable than the other 2. My wifes prefers this computer to her XXXX laptop. The mouse works great. The speakers sound excellent comparabel with some portable boom boxes. I could go on an on. I highly recommend this computer to anyone.

Poor reliability
I bought a new Compaq Presario 2715US from Ubid. I like all features of the laptop, specially its video and sound quality, seperated DVD and CD-RW drivers, an spare battery. But I quickly found I could not write CD-RW or CD-R disk using its CD-RW driver. After many tries and lost four CD-R disks, I wrote Compaq support and Got their response after one hour (much better than HP). They suggested me to download upgrade software from Roxio. I installed downloaded upgraded firmware and new application. I still could not write CD-RW. Finally I returned the laptop and bought a HP pavilion zt1185.
The hard disk of the 2715us also make load click noise even when the machine is idle. The removeable CD-RW driver is difficulty to remove. It is also heavy.

Great laptop!
This is a great laptop. I found it on Amazon, but didn't order it here. Anyway, I don't know THAT much about laptops, or computers in general, but I know a good computer when I see one. And this is one! In fact, I am writing this review on this laptop right now.

This laptop has a very big hard drive - 30 gb, which is quite large for a laptop. The screen is a good size, the keyboard is pretty good, although nowhere near as good as a regular keyboard. (However, that is true of all laptops.) The computer also has a CD-RW which I haven't used yet, but it will be helpful when I'm away at school. The CD-RW can be swapped for a floppy drive or spare battery.

The computer also has great battery life. With the spare battery, it lasts 5 1/2 hours. I haven't tried it without the spare, but I'm sure it can't be less than 1 1/2 or 2 hours.

The only minor thing wrong with it is that it is a bit on the heavy side. It's not difficult to pick up or anything, but it does weigh as much as a light bowling ball. I wouldn't reccommend jogging with it for this reason! However, it is not so heavy as to cause me to not want to move it from its current location on my desk. Please remember this is only a very small drawback, and isn't enough to bring it down to four stars.

Overall, if you are looking for a great computer that is built like a tank and runs like a top, this is the one for you. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Delivering virtually all the features of a high-end desktop, the Compaq Presario 1505US notebook efficiently and quickly handles even the most demanding tasks and applications. At 7 pounds and 1.5 by 12.9 by 10.5 inches, it may not be the smallest or lightest portable, but the Presario 1505US is perfect for gamers, multimedia buffs, and anyone who demands the most from a notebook PC.

Running at 1.6 GHz, a Pentium 4 CPU with 512 KB of Level 2 cache is the heart of this powerful system. Also included are 256 MB of zippy 266 MHz DDR RAM (upgradable to 1 full GB) for fast data transfer in complex computing situations, and a 32 MB ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics processor for smooth rendering of the latest 3-D games and programs. The Presario 1505US features a 30 GB hard disk on which to store your programs and files, a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive for smaller applications and archiving, and a combination DVD/CD-RW to play and record audio CDs, burn data discs, and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

No matter what you're doing, the 1505US will convey it brilliantly through the generous 15-inch TFT viewing screen (1,600 x 1,200 maximum resolution with 16 million colors) and powerful JBL Pro Audio Bass Reflex speaker system. The system's control center features numerous amenities geared to help make your computing easier, including a full-size 88-key keyboard, a touch pad pointing device, Internet scroll function, and a variety of one-touch media and e-mail control buttons.

With an impressive assortment of connectivity options, the 1505US is ready to adapt to virtually any situation and setup. Compaq has equipped the unit with two USB ports for plug-and-play peripherals, an IEEE 1394 port for high-speed transfer of digital video files from a camcorder, a set of headphone- and speaker-out ports, a microphone-in port, an S-video TV-out, an external VGA monitor port, a single Type I/II PC Card slot with support for 32-bit CardBus, an RJ-11 modem jack, and an RJ-45 Ethernet jack for high-speed network and Internet connections. Pre-installed software includes Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 6.0, and Microsoft Money 2001. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

overheating problems
I am having the same problems with my Presario 1500. After owning it for 1 year, it began to mysteriously shut down whenever it feels like it (usually when I am playing a game). I also have to keep extra air flowing on it at all times, and it has went from being a laptop to a desktop machine. The battery life is terrible (1 hour max), and the case now has a small crack in it from the extreme heat it builds up. I would STRONGLY recommend NOT BUYING one of these machines. To bad, because it was a great portable gaming machine while it lasted.

Worst Laptop Ever!!!!
I have an Aunt and an Uncle that work for Compaq, so I got this computer relatively cheap. I was very excited when I got it because at the time it was one of the fastest on the market. About three months after I got it, it started shutting off whenever it wanted, more and more frequently, and the fan WILL NOT STOP, even when the CPU usage is below 3%!!! I sent it back, not once, but twice! Same problem over and over again. Now my warranty is up, same problem... Do you think that Compaq's customer service would help me or my family members that worked for them?? NO. Not only does it still shut off all the time, but the cd-drive is burnt to hell... cant even read a cd-rom. Guess what else? The floppy drive wont work either. All I can do is type in MS Word for about an hour, thats it. I would never reccomend this computer to even my worst enemies. GET A DELL. SERIOUSLY.

Not funny
4 months after I bought my presario it started shutting down suddenly and the fan went crazy! I can't play any gamez or use the modem for a longer period of time because the computer crashes....Overheating problems with any application...It's just standing on my desk and the fan works all the time...why do I have 2 buy a cooling pad when I spent such an amount of cash on this thing...I owned a presario before, but i have never had such problems....Oldies but goldies......They should print a warning for hot surfaces while working with this notebook...Use it only as a typewriter because buying a home cinema is more effective and cheaper in order to watch a DVD!

Works for me!
I've been satisfied thus far with my Compaq Presario 1500. (No, it's not a 1505, but the specs seem virtually identical.) I'm not its first owner, but it was in excellent shape when I bought it, and still is. It's a few months out of warranty now. It's not noisy, but I agree that it can run hot, especially if not given room to breathe (don't place it on a cushion or a tablecloth). Watching DVDs often causes it to get hot enough to shut down the DVD player. However, providing more airflow (or a cool surface) underneath can alleviate that problem. I just purchased a slim, fan-cooled pad for the purpose. Works great and it's USB-powered.

I've burned many a CD-R with my 1500, with no problems. Burning CD-RWs works fine, too. However, I've had little success erasing CD-RWs, thus having to rely on my desktop for that process. I could wish that I had a larger hard drive, but a friend of mine put together a 40-GB mini external HD (made from a laptop HD and a mail-order external case) that works great right through one of the 1500's USB 2.0 ports (without the need for any external power!). And of course, this allows one to simply place info on the mini-external drive then hot connect it to another computer via its USB. A fast way to transfer data when not networked.

When at home, my 1500 is also networked to my desktop and can print and share data easily with no problems. I run Windows XP Pro and have occasional crashes, but I'm running more software simultaneously on this unit than I've ever run on any other computer. Yet, I would say that this computer doesn't crash more than the others I've used, including those in a work environment. And in general, I attribute crashes to the software (especially the OS) rather than the 'puter.

I did have one scare with this unit. One night I was working solely on battery power and had the warnings set very low (only a few minutes). After working thusly for over 2-1/2 hours (I think it was closer to three), the screen suddenly went blank and I thought I heard a very small 'pop'. The unit seemed totally dead. Not a good feeling I assure you. It wasn't until I removed the battery and then reinserted it that the computer booted back up. But I didn't try this trick until a full day after it had gone dead. I was told that in such a situation, it's a good idea to try to run the unit without the battery in place. And before that, you should hold the power button down for about a minute to discharge any residual (static) charge. Because the computer started working again before I could try that advice, I can't comment on its effectiveness.

By the way, I bought a carrying case with an APC adapter/charger that's really designed for smaller (60W) units. However, as long as I'm not using every bit of the computer's 90 Watts, this adapter works just great (as the APC directions say it should). I bought this case because it was on sale, and got a nice backup adapter to boot.

Completely unreliable
It's noisy, it's unreliable, and on a brand new battery you can get maybe 45 minutes of life. Oh yeah, and there are absolutely zero accessories for it, from Compaq or anyone else. Want an airline adapter for cross country flights? Too bad.

So far my machine is 11 months old and I've replaced the power brick, combo drive, floppy drive, and multiport wireless. The case is mysteriously cracked and the keys stick. By contrast the 5 other laptops I've used over the years all work perfectly still, so I really doubt it's me.

Since my last HP product was a LaserJet 3100, probably their worst product ever, I think this will be the last I buy from either HP or Compaq...I'd avoid them at all costs. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Get all the power you expect out of a desktop PC with the Compaq Presario R3190US laptop. Road warriors will appreciate its 60 GB hard drive for storing important documents and productivity applications, as well as its built-in 54g wireless connectivity. The R3190US also features a fast, 64-bit 2.2 GHz Mobile Athlon 3000+ processor, a DVD+RW/CD-RW combo drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a huge 80 GB hard drive, and a 15.4-inch widescreen display that's powered by Nvidia's GeForce4 440 Go video/graphics card with 64 MB of dedicated memory.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The spacious 80 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is at the very top of the range for notebook storage, and it offers more than enough capacity for both your work and home files as well as a good-sized multimedia library.
• Processor: The 2.2 GHz AMD Athlon 64 3400+ processor offers a high level of performance offers similar performance to a 3.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor--speedy enough for PC gaming, graphic design software, and multimedia creation. And with its 64-bit architecture, the R3190US is built for the increased demands of future software applications that take advantage of this architecture. It also features a 1 MB L2 cache.
• Memory: The R3190US comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (2 x 256 MB modules, DDR SDRAM, 333 MHz)--a good start for power users. However, only one slot is accessible for upgrading; it has a maximum RAM capacity of 1280 MB (1 x 256 MB, 1 x 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It is equipped with a combo drive that is capable of reading and writing of both DVDs and CDs. It uses the DVD+RW format, one of two formats for rewriteable DVDs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook PC has a 101-key keyboard and touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad.

The audio card is integrated into the notebook's circuitry, which helps save on cost. The R3190US features two built-in JBL Pro Performance stereo speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The R3190US has an integrated 802.11g wireless LAN (which is compatible with the more widespread 802.11b and offers faster data transmission rates). It offers a decent variety of external connections:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out (for connecting to a TV)
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II compatible and 32-bit card bus)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• Multi-format memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Multi Media (MMC), Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro, and Smaredia cards

Preloaded System and Software
The R3190US 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 Norton Antivirus 2003 (with 60 days of complimentary live updates), Quicken, Microsoft Money, Microsoft Encarta Online Deluxe, Adobe Acrobat Reader, InterVideo WinDVD SE (for playing DVD movies) and WinDVD Creator, and MusicMatch Jukebox.

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 11.18 x 14.25 x 1.8 inches (L x W x H), it's not the thinnest notebook available. It weighs a moderate 7.8 pounds.

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery has 8 cells (which refers to the number of charge-storing components within the battery) and offers a standard amount of power for a notebook PC (around 2 hours of typical use).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Compaq Presario R3190US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, phone cord, and operating instructions. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great laptop!
I've bought this laptop a few days ago; and I've put it through it's paces. The first thing I did was install various games on it, and took it to a lanparty. (A lanparty is when a whole bunch of gamers come together, create a network, and play videogames with each other). At the lanparty I played Unreal Tournament 2004 for almost 10 hours straight, and did not experiance a single crash. The cooling system on the laptop is very impressive; even after a day of gaming, the laptop was just 'warm.' The CPU was kept cool.

Pros: AMD 64 bit 3400! A very good chip for gamers and developers. Tons of ram; 1024mb to be exact. Great for photoshop and movie editing. A good videocard (for a laptop); Geforce go 440 64mb. The laptop is also very sturdy; once you close the lid it doesn't become 'soft' like some toshiba's; but feels solid when your moving it around. Wide Screen! With very good contrast.

Cons: Only one pcmcia expansion slot; though with all the built in hardware there isn't a huge demand for two slots (as many laptops have), but it would have been nice to see two in a larger model like this. Battery life; it's a big laptop, so it needs a big battery. Don't expect the battery to last through a LOTR movie. ;-)

Currently I have removed Windows, and have installed Linux. I see no reason to run XP (that doesn't support 64-bit), when you can get the most out of your CPU with Linux.

4 out 5; Great machine! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Known throughout the industry for delivering high-end power at an affordable price, AMD's Athlon CPU forms the basis for Compaq's Presario 2140US Notebook PC, a mobile computer that shares the same likeable traits of its processor. This is an affordably priced yet punchy portable that looks good in its graphite case and performs as well as some midrange desktops.

At the heart of the Presario 2140US is a 1.8 GHz AMD Athlon XP Processor 2200+ with PowerNow! Technology. Compaq has complemented this CPU with a generous allotment of 512 MB DDR SDRAM (expandable to 1024 MB) and an ATI Mobility Radeon 4X AGP graphics chipset with 64 MB shared (not dedicated) memory. As such, the unit will efficiently run most common notebook applications but may have problems with complex 3-D games and animation or drawing packages. Sharing the data storage duties is an adequate 40 GB Hard disk and a DVD/CD-RW combo drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive data and watch your favorite movies. In its stock setup, the system will not allow you to record to DVD media.

At 12.96 by 10.72 by 1.57 inches and 7.25 pounds, the Presario 2140US is slightly below average size and therefore is comfortably portable. The unit is equipped with a large 15-inch display screen capable of crystal clear 1024 by 768 resolutions. Other features include two USB 1.1 ports for plug and play peripheral connections, an 88-key keyboard, a Touch Pad with on/off and dedicated up/down scroll surface, and a pair of internal stereo speakers. Communication connectivity options include a 56K modem for low-speed Internet and email access and a high-speed RJ-45 LAN connector. Wireless communication is not offered, nor is a FireWire port for fast data interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders.

Pre-installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 6.0, and a variety of multimedia applications. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A great buy
I just picked this notebook up last week and I am pretty impressed so far. It's not the best notebook you can buy (hence the 4 out of 5 stars I gave), but you can't beat it for the price right now.

I did notice the off-balance noise problem with the CD-ROM drive, but it only came up once when I was reading from a CD-R. Perhaps the specific media or speed involved made it rattle, but it doesn't appear to come up very often.

I ran a few benchmarks on the machine and here's a summary of my results along with other comments:

CPU: The CPU is roughly comparable to the desktop version of the Athlon 2200+ and Intel P4 2.4 GHz. However, Intel solidly outperforms AMD at cache operations. For those of you concerned about buying an AMD laptop instead of an Intel, there isn't much to worry about because the CPU will not likely be the cause of bottlenecks anyway(see below).

Memory: The memory performance compares to some of the slower PC2100 controllers in desktop machines. It is only about 20-30% faster than most desktop PC133 controllers. Don't expect extremely fast memory performance.

Video: I didn't run any benchmarks on the video system, but I did load up a 3D game and see how it did. You shouldn't expect to outfrag your friends on this baby, but the performance is pretty good. The video performance will be limited by the speed of the RAM which, as mentioned above, is not very good for DDR.

Hard Drive: Hard drive performance is a bit weak. The hdd and controller compare to an ATA66 controller or a USB 2.0 hdd hooked up to a desktop. I suppose you should expect this kind of performance in a notebook hdd where so much disk space has to be crammed into a tiny volume.

Other: The display is great -- it even looks a little better than the one on my Dell that cost twice as much when I bought it a few years ago. You've got lots of handy buttons and cool looking lights. My favorite feature is the volume control and mute button on the left side of the computer. The keyboard feels great and looks nice and sturdy.

The tough thing about buying a laptop is you have to get one that doesn't only meet your needs now, but also will meet your needs in 3 years because you can't simply upgrade parts that get old. Though this PC is not completely top of the line, it is priced at about $500 less than other laptops that are just a little bit better. Even though this laptop will probably be obsolete a year sooner than a more expensive PC, at least I'll have $500 in the bank ready to buy that new laptop when I need to.

Hard to beat for the price
I was looking at buying a Dell, but every time I'd configure the options I wanted, the price jacked up to 1800+. So, I figured I'd wait till the newer Centrinos settled in a bit and picked up this puppy instead for about a grand.

The display is great, and can be viewed at all angles. I've had no problem playing DVD's using the included DVD player. I noticed no blurring during fast motion sequences while playing DVD movies. I haven't tried many 3d games, but Ragnarok plays as well as it does on my Desktop. As far as the sound goes, it's a laptop, and without headphones it still sounds very clear and loud; without much bass though (like most laptops).

It's as heavy as most power notebooks. With 40 gig hard disk, 512 meg memory, DVD/CD RW, 15" TFT screen, 1.8Mhz Athlon, 64meg ATI Radeon 4xAGP 3d graphics, built in 10/100 Ethernet, 7.5 pounds isn't too bad.

No Firewire port or 802.11b wireless built in. Both of those would be nice features to have. But, for the price, it's a damn nice laptop.

Not Overly Pleased -
I have had the 2140us notebook for about 1 month. This is my first notebook to own and can only compare it to a Dell on loan to my wife. The only postive comment I have at this time is that the 15" screen looks great and in a side by side comparison beats the Dell hands down.

Negatives- first, the DVD CDR/RW would not write at speeds above 4X and the drive would vibrate the entire notebook. Sent the notebook to Compaq for repair and the drive was replaced. I not sure the new drive is working optimal because it will only write/rewrite on newer DVD/CDR blank media. The older CDR/CDRW blank cds I own will not work with the drive. Secondly, the case also appears cheap in quality when comparing it with the Dell. Third, the speakers/audio have no bass sound whatsoever(tinny). Lastly, I have not yet been able to play a movie on the DVD without the computer freezing up. The info provided by Microsoft indicates the ATI video driver is causing the problem so now I am trying find new drivers/solutions. The update provided by Compaq on line has not resolved the situation. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Though its raw processor speed may initially seem average, Compaq's Presario X1390US Notebook PC will easily handle most typical leisure or professional mobile tasks and even some 3-D computer games and 3-D graphic design programs. In fact, the unit is not only more powerful than many bigger, bulkier portable computers, but also more efficient and nicely equipped too. For a compact, capable and well-connected notebook, you can't do much better than the innovative Presario X1390US.

The secret behind the Presario X1390US is Intel's Centrino technology. Centrino refers to a trio of interconnected elements -- an Intel Pentium M CPU, an Intel 855 chipset, and an Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 network connection -- all of which work together to make your notebook fast, lightweight, battery-friendly and wireless capable.

At the heart of the unit is one of Intel's fastest Centrino-based CPUs, the 1.6 GHz Pentium M. Being a Centrino processor, it sports one full MB of Level 2 cache to greatly improve speed in frequently accessed applications. Compaq has added 512 MB of main memory (expandable to two full GB) and an ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 graphics card with a solid 64 MB of dedicated (not shared) video memory. As such, the system has no serious data bottlenecks anywhere in the pipeline and is therefore a very respectable all-around performer.

Eminently portable at just 14 by 10 by 1.3 inches and 6.5 pounds, the Presario X1390US nevertheless features a variety of desirable amenities, including a surprisingly spacious 15.4-inch widescreen WXGA display capable of clean 1280 by 800 resolutions, a pair of JBL-designed speakers, an exceedingly roomy 80 GB hard disk for your files and multimedia libraries, and a DVD-R/RW/CD-RW optical drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive files, enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters and copy video and home movies to long-lasting DVD discs.

Communication options include all three modern standards -- a 56K dial-up modem for low-speed Internet and email access, a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN for substantially faster connectivity, and integrated Intel Pro/Wireless 2100 802.11b wireless LAN for those times when you can't or don't want to plug in. The unit also features an IEEE 1394 FireWire port for quick data streaming with external peripherals such as digital camcorders, a trio of high-speed USB 2.0 ports for other plug and play devices, an S-Video TV-Out, and an infrared port to wirelessly exchange data with infrared-equipped gadgets such as PDAs, pagers and printers. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you haven't upgraded your portable computer for some time, Compaq's Presario 2570us Notebook PC is ample proof of just how much the price vs. performance ratio has changed in the last few years. Though not a top-of-the-line thoroughbred when compared to today's costlier upscale offerings, the Presario 2570us is nevertheless far more powerful than comparably priced notebooks of just a year or two ago and quite ready to handle many of today's most demanding applications.

Measuring 12.9 by 10.72 by 1.79 inches and weighing 7.5 pounds, the Presario 2570us is comfortably portable yet equipped with enough firepower to drive most anything you might normally reserve for your desktop. Compaq has loaded the unit with a 2.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB of DDR SDRAM memory (upgradeable to 1024 MB) and an ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chipset with 64 MB of shared (not dedicated) video memory. As such, the system should suffice for all 2-D and many 3-D applications, though it may have frame rate troubles when rendering ultra-complex 3-D games and animation/drawing packages.

The Presario 2570us features several welcome amenities, including a handy 3.5-inch diskette drive, an oversized 15-inch XGA TFT display screen (maximum resolution 1024x768), an 88-key keyboard, a TouchPad with scroll bar and on/off switch and a pair of JBL Pro speakers. At 40 GB, the enclosed hard disk is adequate for most purposes but may not offer enough room for today's true power users. The system's optical drive permits CD and DVD playing and CD recording but does facilitate the burning of DVDs.

With the Presario 2570us, your communication options are virtually limitless. In environments with wired connections, you may select form a low-speed 56K modem or high-speed 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN. When hardwiring is a problem, you can stay in touch with the unit's integrated 54g wireless LAN. Other key components include a trio of fast USB 2.0 ports, a single IEEE 1394 port for interaction with devices such as digital camcorders, a single PC Card slot, and a standard array of connections. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not for Windows2000
I bought one of these 2500 series laptops and tried to install windows 2000 on them, and it was a nightmare. The ATI Radeon drivers are nowhere to be found. The default drivers crash Windows 2000. The supplied Broadcom Wifi drivers work, but the Wifi config utility is unstable under Windows 2000.

I've never had this much trouble setting up any other laptops under Windows 2000 as I've had with this baby.

Compaq is cheap, no doubt, but next time, I'm going with a Dell or Sony.

Presario 2570us
It's a decent notebook. The processor is adequate as is the hard drive. I had a little trouble setting up the wireless network, but I got it working. Love XP pro and the built in firewire. Terrible, terrible battery life. I got about 1hr and 40min w/wifi on and about 2hr without. The speakers were pretty weak, but not inaudible.

Useful
Generally, the most of my computer use comes from downloading music, movies, and burning them onto cd's. this computer does everything well EXCEPT that. The Roxio Easy CD package that comes included in this notebook is poor, at best. I have been able to burn 1 cd in 11 tries. The error messages come up no matter what file type. i Transferred files from a pc, where i used NERO to burn a cd of those files, and attempted to use ROXIO to burn the same files onto a cd, and found error messages kept popping up.

Speakers are pretty good, processor and hard drive are adequate, along with the monitor.

other weakness: doesnt include windows xp cd. however, you can retrieve it from company if necessary.

4 out of 5

Wait 2 weeks before you buy it
This is my first laptop. I bought if from CompUSA because I needed it to backup my desktop. Two weeks later I find that CompUSA gave a $50 mail in rebate, with a free printer, Circuit City sells it $100 cheaper with another $100 mail-in rebate and so forth. Gripe, gripe, gripe. Lesson learned, if it's brand new on the market, wait til the price goes down, even if you really need it.

The laptop itself is pretty nice. Large screen, comes with Windows XP professional, allows multiple users and has a decent CD-R/DVD drive. It's a little bit heavy at 7 lbs. but it's powerful enough to do whatever tasks needed. Battery life is about 2 1/2 hours and the speakers are decent. It's not top of the line but it is very reliable.

Hibernation locked up the system
The hibernation locked the system. Power recycle didn't help in most cases. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you haven't upgraded your portable computer for some time, Compaq's Presario 2575us Notebook PC is ample proof of just how much the price vs. performance ratio has changed in the last couple of years. Sporting such desirable features as wireless communications and a massive hard disk, the Presario 2575 is also far more powerful than comparably priced notebooks of just a year or two ago and quite ready to handle many of today's most demanding applications.

Measuring 12.9 by 10.72 by 1.79 inches and weighing 7.5 pounds, the Presario 2575us is comfortably portable. Compaq has loaded the unit with a fast 2.66 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB of DDR SDRAM memory (upgradeable to 1024 MB) and an ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chipset with 64 MB of shared (not dedicated) video memory. As such, the system should suffice for all 2-D and many 3-D applications, though it may have frame rate troubles when rendering ultra-complex 3-D games and animation/drawing packages.

The Presario 2575us features several welcome amenities, including a handy 3.5-inch diskette drive, an oversized 15-inch XGA TFT display screen (maximum resolution 1024x768), an 88-key keyboard, a TouchPad with scroll bar and on/off switch and a pair of JBL Pro speakers. The 80 GB integrated hard disk delivers exceptionally spacious portable storage, and the system's optical drive permits CD and DVD playing and CD recording but does not facilitate the burning of DVDs.

With the Presario 2575us, your communication options are virtually limitless. In environments with wired connections, you may select from a low-speed 56K modem or high-speed 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN. When hardwiring is a problem, you can stay in touch via integrated 54g wireless LAN. Other key components include three fast USB 2.0 ports, a single IEEE 1394 port for interaction with devices such as digital camcorders, a single PC Card slot, and a standard array of interfaces. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Powerful machine but a bit heavy
This is a power-packed machine with P4 2.6GHz processor and 512MB DDR RAM. The performance of the machine is just awesome. There are however, a few negative aspects about this machine. It is a bit too bulky. Also the processor fans make more noise than many other laptops. If you like to play games on your laptop then this machine is really good for you. But with power comes the bulk. The display is good. The CD writing is a bit slow though. Most of the times I'm able to get only 4x write speeds on my CD-Rs. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Stay productive wherever you go with the Compaq V2220US notebook PC, featuring a battery sipping 1.5 GHz Intel Centrino Pentium M processor for up to three hours of battery life. Weighing only 5.2 pounds, it's perfect for home office professionals and students on the go. It features a widescreen 14-inch Brightview LCD that's easily viewable even in direct sunlight and built-in 54g wireless connectivity with 125 HSM/SpeedBooster support. This notebook also offers an 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, Firewire port for connecting an iPod and video camcorders, dual-layer DVD-/+RW drive (which also burns CDs)--wlhich can burn up to 8.5 GB of data to compatible DVDs--and a multi-format memory card reader.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 80 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is a bit above average in size for notebook PCs, providing more than enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software.
• Processor: The 1.5 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) Processor 715A is at the lower end of the speed spectrum for this processor class (March, 2005). It is well equipped for office productivity software tasks, from complex spreadsheets to databases. The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. It also has a large 2 MB L2 cache--which will help speed up your system's performance--and a 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, DDR SDRAM, 266 MHz) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the V2220US multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer DVD+R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The V2220US has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. The 125 HSM/SpeedBooster support will enable it to be ready for tomorrow's 125 Mbps wireless LANs. You get a decent offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast USB 2.0 and Firewire:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video port for connecting to a TV
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 notebook expansion port
• 6-in-1 Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Sticks, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia, and XD Picture Cards

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), Norton AntiVirus 2005 (with 60 days of complimentary updates), Microsoft Money 2005, MSN Encarta Plus, Sonic RecordNow, Apple iTunes, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Intervideo WinDVD, and MuVee Autoproducer.

Dimensions and Weight
This highly portable notebook measures 13.5 x 9.1 x 1.29 inches and weighs 5.2 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 3 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Compaq V2220US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty, 1-year technical phone support, and 30-day free software support. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Featuring Intel's mobile Centrino processor, integrated wireless connectivity, and bright 15.4-inch TFT display, the lightweight Compaq Presario x1220us notebook PC offers road warriors a powerful arsenal of the latest computing tools. In addition to the 1.5 GHz Pentium M processor, the x1220us boasts a 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a combo DVD player/CD writer, and a Secure Digital memory card slot. For a step down in price, the Compaq Presario x1210us offers a smaller hard drive (60 GB) and a DVD player/CD writer combo drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 80 GB enhanced IDE hard drive (4200 RPM) is one of the largest hard drives available in a notebook PC.
• Processor: The 1.5 GHz Pentium M processor is near the top of the speed range compared with other Centrino notebooks (with current speed topping out at 1.7 GHz). Because of its design, the Intel Pentium M gets more done per clock tick than a Mobile Intel Pentium 4, thus providing the discrepancy in GHz measurement (i.e., 1.7 versus 3.2). The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max.
• Memory: The x1220us comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (DDR SDRAM, 333 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 2.05 GB (2 x 1024 MB). It also has a 1024KB L2 cache.
• CD/DVD Drive: It is equipped with a combo drive that is capable of reading and writing of both DVDs and CDs (4x DVD+R, 2.4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-ROM, 16x CD-R, 10x CD-RW, 40x CD-ROM). It uses the DVD+RW format, one of two formats for rewriteable DVDs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: The x1220us has a 101-key keyboard and touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The x1220us offers a good variety of external connections, including both USB 2.0 and FireWire.

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 TV-out (S-Video)
• 1 PS/2 port for connecting keyboard or mouse
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II compatible and 32-bit card bus)
• 1 FIR (fast infrared) port
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• Secure Digital (SD)/MultiMedia (MMC) memory card reader

Preloaded System and Software
The x1220us 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 Norton Antivirus 2003 (with 60 days of complimentary live updates), Quicken, Microsoft Money, Microsoft Encarta Online Deluxe, Adobe Acrobat Reader, InterVideo WinDVD SE (for playing DVD movies) and WinDVD Creator, MusicMatch Jukebox, Muvee AutoProducer, and Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator (Basic).

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 10 x 14 x 1.24 inches (L x W x H), its slim profile will fit easily in any briefcase. It weighs a nicely light 6.5 pounds.

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery has 8 cells (which refers to the number of charge-storing components within the battery) and offers a standard amount of power for a notebook PC (around 2 hours of typical use).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Compaq Presario x1220us notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, phone cord, and operating instructions. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Just as powerful as most models in Compaq’s upscale 3000US series of notebook computers but featuring a marginally smaller viewing screen and slightly reduced weight, the Compaq Presario 2545US Notebook is a great trade-off for those who require speed, portability and wireless connectivity but wish to avoid a case of sticker shock.

Considering today’s rapidly evolving standards of micro-miniaturization, the Presario 2545US is average sized at 12.96 by 10.72 by 1.79 inches and 7.5 lbs. It is, however, speedier than the notebook norm. Incorporating a powerful 2.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 512 KB of Level 2 cache, 512 MB RAM (expandable to 1024 MB), and an ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chipset with 64 MB shared memory, the system will outperform many desktops. It should suffice for most 3-D applications too, although ultra-complex 3-D games and animation/drawing packages may exhibit frame rate slowdowns.

With the Presario 2545US, you’ll have little trouble storing and handling your data. Included in the unit is a large and accommodating 60 GB hard disk, a 3.5-inch diskette drive for older or smaller programs and quick backups, and a combination DVD/CD-RW drive for burning audio or data CDs or watching the latest Hollywood blockbusters. In its stock configuration, the system will not allow you to burn DVDs.

Compaq has equipped the Presario 2545US with several top-notch amenities, including a comfortable 15-inch XGA TFT display screen capable of 1024 by 768 resolution, a full-size 88-key keyboard with embedded numeric keypad and Touch Pad, and a high-speed IEEE 1394 port for fast data transfer to and from external peripherals such as digital camcorders. USB support comes in the form of a trio of fast USB 2.0 ports. Communication options include a 10/100 Base-T Ethernet LAN connection, an RJ-11 modem and a high-speed RJ-45 LAN networking port. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Noisiest laptop I have ever heard
It was very disappointing when I first got the Compaq Presario from Frys Electronics. It was extremely noisy. And this noise from the fans never turns off. Each time when I turn on the computer, I cannot wait to finish my work and turn it off to gain my peace back. However, my husband liked the fast processor and the multifuntion capabilities. Therefore, I did not return it back to the store right away. Unfortunately, when I try to burn a CD for the first time with the preinstall software, the CD writer broke. Now, it is too late to return to the store. I really regret buying it.

Multimedia powerhouse, slow hard drive, SXGA is too much
I'll give the bad news first:

BAD
1)one thing they don't tell you in the general specs is that the hard drive operates at only 4200 rpm -- which is noticeably slower than my previous laptop for copying files.

2)SXGA: it sounds great to have such "HIGH RESOLUTION." However, I find this resolution to be *too high*; I'm only in my early 20's and I consider my vision to be pretty good. The text and icons are way too small for me at such high resolution. And, when you set the resolution to 1024x768, it looks quite bad. This is because the monitor is designed with the optimal resolution in mind (mine looks best at 1400x1050). However, Windows XP Pro does allow you to change some advanced settings to make things appear bigger by increasing the dpi of the screen. So, if you're comfortable playing with those settings, it's generally not so bad.

GOOD

Fast processor, plenty of USB ports, firewire is a plus. Everything seems to work, for now. Luckily I have a firewire drive with all of my multimedia content on it, which makes a big difference in the speed since the hard drive is so slow. It's definitely tolerable for the average user.

All in all, a pretty sweet machine for a reasonable price compared to other brands with similar specs. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Featuring Intel's mobile Centrino processor, integrated wireless connectivity, and bright 15.4-inch TFT display, the lightweight Compaq Presario x1210us notebook PC offers road warriors a powerful arsenal of the latest computing tools. In addition to the 1.5 GHz Pentium M processor, the x1210us boasts a 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a combo DVD player/CD writer, and a Secure Digital memory card slot. For a step up in price, the Compaq Presario x1220us offers a larger hard drive (80 GB) and a DVD writer.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though not world-beating in size, the 60 GB enhanced IDE hard drive (4200 RPM) offers more than enough storage capacity for road warriors.
• Processor: The 1.5 GHz Pentium M processor is near the top of the speed range compared with other Centrino notebooks (with current speed topping out at 1.7 GHz). Because of its design, the Intel Pentium M gets more done per clock tick than a Mobile Intel Pentium 4, thus providing the discrepancy in GHz measurement (i.e., 1.7 versus 3.2). The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max.
• Memory: The x1210us comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (DDR SDRAM, 333 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 2.05 GB (2 x 1024 MB). It also has a 1024KB L2 cache.
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: The x1210us has a 101-key keyboard and touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The x1210us offers a good variety of external connections, including both USB 2.0 and FireWire.

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 TV-out (S-Video)
• 1 PS/2 port for connecting keyboard or mouse
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II compatible and 32-bit card bus)
• 1 FIR (fast infrared) port
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• Secure Digital (SD)/MultiMedia (MMC) memory card reader

Preloaded System and Software
The x1210us 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 Norton Antivirus 2003 (with 60 days of complimentary live updates), Quicken, Microsoft Money, Microsoft Encarta Online Deluxe, Adobe Acrobat Reader, InterVideo WinDVD SE (for playing DVD movies), MusicMatch Jukebox, Muvee AutoProducer, and Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator (Basic).

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 10 x 14 x 1.24 inches (L x W x H), its slim profile will fit easily in any briefcase. It weighs a nicely light 6.5 pounds.

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery has 8 cells (which refers to the number of charge-storing components within the battery) and offers a standard amount of power for a notebook PC (around 2 hours of typical use).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Compaq Presario x1210us notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, phone cord, and operating instructions. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

A true powerhouse in a portable package, the Compaq Presario R3290US notebook is powered by a 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology, and has all the amenities you need to take everything with you on the road, including Bluetooth connectivity. An 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB RAM help you store files and run multiple applications efficiently, and the DVD+RW/CD-RW combo drive means you can perform a variety of application like backing up files on CD media, burning your own DVDs, making audio mix CDs, accessing CD- or DVD-ROMs, or watching DVD movies on the 15.4-inch widescreen LCD. It also features a built-in ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600 graphics card, integrated JBL Pro Performance speakers, and a 5-in-1 Memory Reader to take care of your multimedia needs.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 80 GB enhanced IDE hard drive has ample room to store all your files, including digital audio, video, and photos.
• Processor: The 3.20 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor can handle the toughest applications and has a 1 MB L2 cache and features Hyper-Threading (HT) technology. HT helps a PC run multiple applications at the same time, which enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.
• Memory: It has 512 MB DDR SDRAM to help you multitask with ease and is upgradable to 1.25 GB.
• CD/DVD Drive: The DVD+RW/CD-RW combo drive reads at 40x, writes at 16x, and rewrites CDs at 10x. It can also read DVD-ROMs at 16x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It has a 101-key compatible keyboard and touch pad.
• Display: The 15.4-inch WXGA high definition LCD has resolutions up to 1280 x 800, making it ideal for watching DVDs.

Sound and Graphics
A built-in ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600 graphics card with 128 MB dedicated video memory turns this notebook into a gaming machine. The integrated JBL Pro Performance speakers mean you can listen to crystal clear and bright audio right out of the box, whether you're listening to CDs or watching DVDs.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
An integrated 10/100 Base-T ethernet allows for convenient networking, and 54g 802.11b/g wireless LAN with Bluetooth connectivity means you can get online quickly, easily, and without wires. Additionally, there is a 5-in-1 integrated Memory Reader that reads SD MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, and SmartMedia cards so you can share media with other people and devices. It also has the following external ports:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting to a wide range of peripherals, from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 parallel port for connecting to printers or cameras based on older technologies
• 1 IEEE 1394 FireWire port to connect to digital video cameras or other peripherals
• 1 notebook expansion port (Type I/Type II) for adding a variety of upgrades, including memory, modems, portable disk drives, and more
• 1 VGA video out port to connect to an external monitor
• 1 S-video out to connect your laptop to a television
• 1 audio-out for headphones or speakers
• 1 microphone-in jack

Preloaded System and Software
The Compaq Presario R3290US notebook is powered by Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition, making it a good choice for business and power users. Windows XP Professional helps you connect easily with an existing network, and includes Microsoft's IIS Web server, backup and recovery utilities, along with a Remote Desktop capability that allows you to access a Windows XP computer from another system, as if you were sitting at the remote computer.

It also comes bundled with Windows Media Player, Symantec Norton Antivirus (with a complementary 60 days Live Update subscription), Adobe Acrobat Reader, RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD, Apple iTunes and Apple iTunes Music Store, Adobe PhotoShop Album Suite, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Money, Microsoft Encarta Plus, and Intuit Quicken New User Edition.

Dimensions and Weight
It weighs 7.8 pounds and measures 14.25 x 11.18 x 1.8 inches (W x D x H).

What's in the Box
Presario R3290US notebook, 120 watt AC adapter, 8-cell Lithium-Ion battery, phone cord, user's manual, and warranty information. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Targeting the demanding home and home office computer user who can'tquite afford the absolute latest and greatest in state-of-the-art portablecomputing, the Compaq Presario 722US notebook is a good tradeoff between priceand performance.

At 10.6 by 12.4 by 1.64 inches and 6.39 pounds, the 722US is a bit larger thantoday's most recent examples of micro-miniaturization, yet substantially morecompact than many other comparably priced units. Outfitted with a cost-effective1 GHz AMD Duron processor (64 KB of Level 2 cache), 256 MB of SDRAM (expandableto 384 MB), and a Via ProSavage KN133 video card with 32 MB of video memory, itwill efficiently run most common notebook applications and even some 3-D games.Hard-core gamers and anyone who plans to work extensively with complex 3-Dgraphics may wish to look beyond this model to the Presario 725US notebook orPresario 6024US desktop.

Sporting a sleek design and a futuristic two-tone, black-on-silver color scheme,the Presario 722US is as stylish as it is functional. To handle your valuablefiles and programs, Compaq has equipped the unit with a 20 GB hard drive and a3.5-inch floppy disk drive. A combination DVD/CD-RW drive allows you to back uplarge amounts of data, burn and play music CDs, and watch DVD movies. A14.1-inch, active-matrix viewing screen capable of 1,024 x 768 resolution and athree-way JBL speaker system with enhanced bass response help bring all yourmultimedia applications to life.

The 722US keyboard is equipped with numerous one-touch multimedia, Internet, ande-mail buttons, and a scroll wheel and touch pad for convenient navigation. Theunit features numerous ports and connections, including two USB jacks forplug-and-play peripherals such as joysticks and digital cameras, a singleparallel port for printers, a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network connection, anall-purpose PC Card slot, a PS2 jack for an external mouse or keyboard, a VGAvideo out for external monitors, an S-video TV-out, and speaker and microphoneports. A 56K modem delivers low-speed Internet and e-mail connectivity. To helpget you started, Compaq has preinstalled a number of useful software products,including Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows XP, Microsoft Works 6.0,and Microsoft Money 2001. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Don't be fooled!
Just wanted to point out that while this is supposed to be a description of the Compaq 720US, the editorial review above is for the 722US model--obviously, not the same computer! The 3-star rating was only because I couldn't post this without rating it; I don't actually know how it performs.

Low Cost Laptop, reasonable performance
I have had my 720us laptop for about 15 months and have had very little trouble with it. The battery is somewhat limited to about 2 hours max, and it does get warm on the bottom, but not nearly warm enough to melt the case, etc. as I saw on anothers post.

I have had no maintenance problems with it, no overheating, no shutting down (unless the battery is weak)and I have had it running on AC for days at a time over the weekend, and I use the battery almost daily through the week, in the car.

All in all, I am satisfied with this computer that only cost me about $900 after rebates, and would buy it again.

I am disappointed with compaq
I obtained a compaq presario 720us and have had no rest since buying it. It constantly shuts off(i think there is a fundamental hardware problem), the battery lifespan is very short, it overheats(should not be called a laptop but burntop)and to make matters worse, it has crashed and i cant get a reasonable restore advice except to re-install. Unfortunately, i am far away from where i bought it in the US and can't return it!!!

Great Notebook!
Don't know why people complain, I have been using thie notebook for 2 months now.
I have not seen any problems.
super price , DVD playback is great.
I would buy it again

A Real Headache!
There is a real hardware problem on all 720US notebooks, This computer turns off at any moment, compaq service changed motherboard, memory, and battery, and still dont' tell me whats wrong, it's been 3 months and still I haven't received my computer back.- ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

A true powerhouse in a portable package, the Compaq Presario R3275US notebook is powered by a 3.00 GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology, and has all the amenities you need to take everything with you on the road, including Bluetooth connectivity. An 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB RAM help you store files and run multiple applications efficiently, and the DVD+RW/CD-RW combo drive means you can perform a variety of application like backing up files on CD media, burning your own DVDs, making audio mix CDs, accessing CD- or DVD-ROMs, or watching DVD movies on the 15.4-inch widescreen LCD. It also features a built-in ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9200 graphics card, integrated JBL Pro Performance speakers, and a 5-in-1 Memory Reader to take care of your multimedia needs.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 80 GB enhanced IDE hard drive has ample room to store all your files, including digital audio, video, and photos.
• Processor: The 3.00 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor can handle the toughest applications and has a 1 MB L2 cache and features Hyper-Threading (HT) technology. HT helps a PC run multiple applications at the same time, which enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.
• Memory: It has 512 MB DDR SDRAM to help you multitask with ease and is upgradable to 1.25 GB.
• CD/DVD Drive: The DVD+RW/CD-RW combo drive reads at 40x, writes at 16x, and rewrites CDs at 10x. It can also read DVD-ROMs at 16x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It has a 101-key compatible keyboard and touch pad.
• Display: The 15.4-inch WXGA high definition LCD has resolutions up to 1280 x 800, making it ideal for watching DVDs.

Sound and Graphics
A built-in ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9200 graphics card with 64 MB dedicated video memory turns this notebook into a gaming machine. The integrated JBL Pro Performance speakers mean you can listen to crystal clear and bright audio right out of the box, whether you're listening to CDs or watching DVDs.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
An integrated 10/100 Base-T ethernet allows for convenient networking, and 54g 802.11b/g wireless LAN with Bluetooth connectivity means you can get online quickly, easily, and without wires. Additionally, there is a 5-in-1 integrated Memory Reader that reads SD MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, and SmartMedia cards so you can share media with other people and devices. It also has the following external ports:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting to a wide range of peripherals, from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 parallel port for connecting to printers or cameras based on older technologies
• 1 IEEE 1394 FireWire port to connect to digital video cameras or other peripherals
• 1 notebook expansion port (Type I/Type II) for adding a variety of upgrades, including memory, modems, portable disk drives, and more
• 1 VGA video out port to connect to an external monitor
• 1 S-video out to connect your laptop to a television
• 1 audio-out for headphones or speakers
• 1 microphone-in jack

Preloaded System and Software
The Compaq Presario R3275US notebook is powered by Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. Windows XP Home Edition is packed with multimedia features to help you get your creative juices flowing. Windows Media Player lets you burn and play CDs, in addition to playing and organizing digital audio files. Windows MovieMaker is a basic video editing tool that helps you capture and edit digital video to save your memories and share them with others.

It also comes bundled with Symantec Norton Antivirus (with a complementary 60 days Live Update subscription), Adobe Acrobat Reader, RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD, Apple iTunes and Apple iTunes Music Store, Adobe PhotoShop Album Suite, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Money, Microsoft Encarta Plus, and Intuit Quicken New User Edition.

Dimensions and Weight
It weighs 7.8 pounds and measures 14.25 x 11.18 x 1.8 inches (W x D x H).

What's in the Box
Presario R3275US notebook, 120 watt AC adapter, 8-cell Lithium-Ion battery, phone cord, user's manual, and warranty information. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

As the least powerful model in Compaq's midlevel 2100 line of mobile computers, the Presario 2100US notebook PC is designed to appeal to budget-conscious consumers who don't need the power and versatility of a high-end portable.

Measuring 12.96 by 10.72 by 1.57 inches and weighing a mere 6.75 pounds, the Presario 2100US is just as much at home in the den as in the boardroom or on a plane. Compaq has fitted the unit with a 1.6 GHz Intel Celeron processor, 256 MB of DDR SDRAM, and a 32 MB ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chipset. As such, it will suffice for standard notebook duties such as spreadsheets, contact management, and e-communications, but shouldn't be considered for complex multitasking or intensive 3-D applications.

The Presario 2100US features an adequate 30 GB hard disk on which to store your programs and files, and a convenient DVD/CD-RW combo drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive data, and play your favorite movies. You'll monitor your activities on a 14.1-inch XGA TFT display screen and listen to audio on an integrated set of stereo speakers. The system does not allow you to record to DVD media.

Compaq has equipped the unit with several other perks, including a full-size 88-key keyboard with embedded numeric keypad, an RJ-45 Ethernet jack for fast network and Internet interaction, and a built-in 56K modem for low-speed e-communication. Other standard amenities include two USB 1.1 ports for plug-and-play peripherals, an S-Video and VGA-out for external displays and television links, a headphone-out, and a microphone-in. Camcorder owners and anyone else who requires fast data transfer with external peripherals should note the system does not support high-speed USB 2.0 or IEEE 1394 formats.

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 (9)

For a couple of hundred dollars more, get something else
I agree with the others who complain that this laptop has more cons than pros. It comes loaded with too many software programs that you'll never use. The floppy drive and cd drive are very flimsy. (The cd drive makes an uncomfortable grinding sound.)The touchpad is extremely difficult to use. And, sadly, I must join the list of owners who had one just die--completely die--on them soon after the warranty expired. I was livid. For a couple of hundred dollars more, I could easily have purchased a more durable and reliable laptop.

Extremely Unreliable and undurable product
Although on paper, this computer seems to be a powerful computer with a great deal of features, in practice, the gains of these features are destroyed when you consider the computer's unreliability. In the first 4 months that I owned this machine, the sound card speaker outlet became loose internally and ceased to function. The CD-RW drive refuses to fixate any CDs, despite the fact that I have used multiple pieces of software. I have attempted to update the firmwire on this drive, but it does not solve the problem. The battery also failed, and ran for only 20 minutes. I brought my computer in for repairs, but after waiting 3 days, I was told that the sound card problem could not be fixed, and I would have to pay to replace the entire motherboard. They insunuated that I had caused the breakage, alluding to an abstract concept they invented called "physical damage". The only physical damage that occured was due to the poor and unacceptable design of the sound card outlet. Regarding my CDRW drive, they told me it was working perfectly. At the time, I assumed that meant they fixed it for me, however, it still refuses to write. I'm very upset that they lied to me regarding the CDRW drive. The did however, replace the battery. In the end, I ended up spending 60 dollars on a USB sound card that is also unreliable. Instead of having a convinent and easy to use laptop, I've ended up with a laptop that requires 3 wires at all time to keep it running, and is useless at burning CDs. I'm very dissapointed at the Customer Service Centre. It has been of almost no use to me, and has not taken responsibility for the shortcomings of this computer.

I urge anyone considering this product to look to another brand that does not use cheap low-quality parts and cuts corners with its customer service department. I will never buy another compaq.

BEWARE: This notebook has power problems
I was VERY happy with this computer for the first 7 months until it crashed. Come to find out that out of 300 students at my law school, 7-8 have had power failures on their Compaq laptops (and very few students have Compaqs in the first place). Please ask around before you purchase this computer because unbeknownst to me Compaq (now HP) has apparently tried to reduce costs on notebooks and it shows!
I will give it 2 stars because luckily it crashed within its warranty (unluckily 2 weeks before exams!) and the tech support people were helpful and I can send it for repairs for free. However, many of my classmates have not been so