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Rating: 
Summary: Shoddy Workmanship
Review: Despite the usual experience one can get from an HP product (HP owns Compaq.) there was a lot to like about this model. However, too many frustrations with this unit make me unable to recommend it to anyone else. I'm sticking with it simply because the money's spent and the return is past. Most of what I'll discuss is about the internal design, but, the few surface elements I will touch upon are disappointing. Like with most HP computers, HP can't seem to get this one to work right out of the box. Something installed at the factory causes Windows Explorer to want to bug out a lot. Either crash on start of Windows, or simply freeze over the course of use, causing it to stop responding. Plus, you can't seem to add the Paste Internet Explorer button to the WE Toolbars. You CAN, but, it's useless to do since pressing it will cause WE to freeze. Windows Explorer locking up or freezing has plagued HP PC's since at least 2000, when I first encountered it. So, since it doesn't work right out of the box, how can I really recommend it, since they just installed things on it without even testing to make sure they all work okay? Inside the machine... man, I really wanted to recommend this model internally... It's got a lot of great hardware in it, but, HP is famous for doing this. They're good on hardware, but lousy on bundling the software necessary to use it. In terms of design, the interior is well done. The drives are held in not with screws against a plate but with a railing system so they can slide in and out. The IDE data cables that connect to the mother board have loops on them so you can hook your finger in them and easily remove them from their sockets. The upper drive bays are designed in such a way that you can easily connect their back cables by merely sliding the opposite drive forward a bit to make the space. However, HP shoots themselves in the foot by being "cute" with other design aspects. They included several screws attached to a plate inside the case for future upgrades. While that is unusual and a nice gift, they're not standard. They're the funny kind of screws that have Philips heads, but, must be used with flathead screw drivers. The bezel is poorly designed, so, certain drives, like the Sony DRU-500a cannot be placed in the top drive bay. Otherwise, the drive simply will not open at all. The floppy drive slot is placed so the drive itself is recessed in relation to the slot, which means you must press pretty firmly on Eject button so the floppy has enough propulsion to eject it out enough for you to grab. So, you'd better have your hand near the slot, or the floppy will fly to the floor. The PCI slot is protected by a cover, which is a nice idea in thought, but they failed again in execution. The instructions say to replace the screw when you have removed the slot cover, which is NECESSARY to insert a new card, but, the cards COVER the hole! Plus, the instructions say to use a Philips when it is quite clear that a flathead is all that will work! One final comment on two of the installed hardware components. On the first day after I could return the unit, the hard drive just died! Up and died! HP wants you to send in the ENTIRE PC to see IF you're right before they will replace it! IBM, IOMega, and others will just take your credit card number and send you a replacement drive. IF you don't send back the old drive, they charge you for a new one! There is absolutely NO need to deprive people of their PC's with something that could easily be solved within a week's time of shipping new and old drives back and forth! Shame on HP! The other one, the modem: it's listed as a v92 56k Cheetah modem. Well, the Cheetah aspect is in name only: this modem would only connect, in general, at 28.8, so, I swapped it out. Speaking of swapping out things, as you can guess, I was FORCED to swap parts out: the modem and the dead HD. For someone who isn't experienced with doing that, this makes this model NOT a good first choice system. I also swapped out the optical drives to replace them with better ones. I've paid for it, I can't return it, so, I must live with it. But, that doesn't mean YOU have to. DON'T buy this! In fact, skip ALL HP products you don't need! I need HP ink cartridges because that's all I have, and HP doesn't give you much of a choice. But, other HP products (The Pavilion PC in 2000, a returned Pavilion in 20003, the DVD 100i and 200i rip off DVD+ burner models.) have been nothing but frustrations and empty promises.
Rating:
Summary: Such a frustrating experience...
Review: Despite the usual experience one can get from an HP product (HP owns Compaq.) there was a lot to like about this model. However, too many frustrations with this unit make me unable to recommend it to anyone else. I'm sticking with it simply because the money's spent and the return is past. Most of what I'll discuss is about the internal design, but, the few surface elements I will touch upon are disappointing. Like with most HP computers, HP can't seem to get this one to work right out of the box. Something installed at the factory causes Windows Explorer to want to bug out a lot. Either crash on start of Windows, or simply freeze over the course of use, causing it to stop responding. Plus, you can't seem to add the Paste Internet Explorer button to the WE Toolbars. You CAN, but, it's useless to do since pressing it will cause WE to freeze. Windows Explorer locking up or freezing has plagued HP PC's since at least 2000, when I first encountered it. So, since it doesn't work right out of the box, how can I really recommend it, since they just installed things on it without even testing to make sure they all work okay? Inside the machine... man, I really wanted to recommend this model internally... It's got a lot of great hardware in it, but, HP is famous for doing this. They're good on hardware, but lousy on bundling the software necessary to use it. In terms of design, the interior is well done. The drives are held in not with screws against a plate but with a railing system so they can slide in and out. The IDE data cables that connect to the mother board have loops on them so you can hook your finger in them and easily remove them from their sockets. The upper drive bays are designed in such a way that you can easily connect their back cables by merely sliding the opposite drive forward a bit to make the space. However, HP shoots themselves in the foot by being "cute" with other design aspects. They included several screws attached to a plate inside the case for future upgrades. While that is unusual and a nice gift, they're not standard. They're the funny kind of screws that have Philips heads, but, must be used with flathead screw drivers. The bezel is poorly designed, so, certain drives, like the Sony DRU-500a cannot be placed in the top drive bay. Otherwise, the drive simply will not open at all. The floppy drive slot is placed so the drive itself is recessed in relation to the slot, which means you must press pretty firmly on Eject button so the floppy has enough propulsion to eject it out enough for you to grab. So, you'd better have your hand near the slot, or the floppy will fly to the floor. The PCI slot is protected by a cover, which is a nice idea in thought, but they failed again in execution. The instructions say to replace the screw when you have removed the slot cover, which is NECESSARY to insert a new card, but, the cards COVER the hole! Plus, the instructions say to use a Philips when it is quite clear that a flathead is all that will work! One final comment on two of the installed hardware components. On the first day after I could return the unit, the hard drive just died! Up and died! HP wants you to send in the ENTIRE PC to see IF you're right before they will replace it! IBM, IOMega, and others will just take your credit card number and send you a replacement drive. IF you don't send back the old drive, they charge you for a new one! There is absolutely NO need to deprive people of their PC's with something that could easily be solved within a week's time of shipping new and old drives back and forth! Shame on HP! The other one, the modem: it's listed as a v92 56k Cheetah modem. Well, the Cheetah aspect is in name only: this modem would only connect, in general, at 28.8, so, I swapped it out. Speaking of swapping out things, as you can guess, I was FORCED to swap parts out: the modem and the dead HD. For someone who isn't experienced with doing that, this makes this model NOT a good first choice system. I also swapped out the optical drives to replace them with better ones. I've paid for it, I can't return it, so, I must live with it. But, that doesn't mean YOU have to. DON'T buy this! In fact, skip ALL HP products you don't need! I need HP ink cartridges because that's all I have, and HP doesn't give you much of a choice. But, other HP products (The Pavilion PC in 2000, a returned Pavilion in 20003, the DVD 100i and 200i rip off DVD+ burner models.) have been nothing but frustrations and empty promises.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor workmanship, but a good budget box
Review: I needed a new development box and webserver in a pinch, and this machine's specs and price perfectly fit the bill. However, when it arrived, the CD-RW drive was improperly installed, loose and recessed inside the case instead of being flush with the front of the bay. I cannot comment on the bundled software, as I wiped everything and installed Linux on the first boot. The performance from this machine has been wonderful over the year it's served me, despite the physical defects.
Rating: 
Summary: The fast and cheap PC!!!
Review: I've been looking for a P4 and 512 MB RAM desktop for our house and I've found it! It's got more than I expected! It has a CD-RW, (which my dad said he had to have, I did too,) a DVD player, a 120 GB hard drive (WOWWEE!!!!) and WIndows XP! All a Desktop needs for school and college needs. If you're worried about having to copy your info onto a CD, and you fear that in the future there won't be any floppy drives, I would suggest this PC. I believe it has two bays and RealOne Player, (and a CD-RW), which is all you need to burn CDs! With RealOne Player, you are enabled to burn CDs, or, copy the CD onto the PC, then write onto a CD-R! That's da bomb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Frustrating Experience Part II
Review: The previous reviewer gave you a pretty good thumbnail sketch of the flaws with this product, so I won't belabor the point. Apt to say, though, mine found itself in the repair shop within days after I purchased it from Amazon. Why? Because the floppy drive did not work, right out of the box: Could not snap a disk in the drive. I've been buying electronics for longer than I care to recall, and I don't think I've ever seen such ineptness so soon after a product's purchase. I needed the drive to install a few programs I wanted, so I couldn't put the repair off. Further, I noticed around the same time that a cd I burned had a few glitches in the recording (not in the original, of course.) The drive looks perfectly normal and all was clean, but you can bet that the next time I hear something like that, this machine will be back in the shop again. As the previous reviewer lamented, the money's already spent--so I guess I'm stuck with it--but I cannot in good conscience recommend a product laden with such problems right out of the package. This thing looks real nice, both outside and inside, is very fast and strong in processing and memory, and the price is nice, but if you don't enjoy headaches and hemeroids, stay clear of it.
Rating:
Summary: Shoddy Workmanship
Review: This is a quick follow-up to my previous review of this item. Sure enough, when I got the CPU back from the shop after having had the floppy drive replaced, the first cd I burned was marred with glitches, just as was the last one I burned right before the machine went for repair. Guess I'll have to have the DVD and CDR drives replaced now! Folks, whatever you do, stay away from this particular model: I couldn't even consider recommending an electronic product which I'd had to take for repair twice within the first two months of ownership (and yes, it was purchased brand new.) HP/Compaq really ought to be embarrassed. It may not look like a duck, but it sure quacks and desecrates like one!
Rating: 
Summary: VERY Good Desktop Computer
Review: Versatile and powerful for most users. Recommended for Small Office & Home Office.
Rating:
Summary: VERY Good Desktop Computer
Review: Versatile and powerful for most users. Recommended for Small Office & Home Office.
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