Product Description

Featuring Intel® CentrinoTM Mobile technology options, optimized Compaq Presario X1000 series notebooks are ready to provide you with the performance and mobile freedom you need to accomplish all your objectives. Loaded with features to let you discover, create, and enjoy a rich array of multimedia experiences. You get a 15.4" wide-viewing-angle widescreen display, ATI® MOBILITYTM RADEONTM series with up to 64MB dedicated graphics, and JBL® Pro integrated speakers.PROCESSOR Intel Centrino Pentium M Processor 1.4GHz MEMORY 256MB DDR SDRAM (1 x 256MB) at 266MHz HARD DRIVE 40GB enhanced-IDE hard disk drive MULTIMEDIA DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo DISPLAY 15.4 inches WXGA WVA TFT (1280 x 800) display VIDEO GRAPHICS ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9200 VIDEO MEMORY 32MB DDR SDRAM (discrete) FAX/MODEM Integrated v.90/v.92 56KB modem NETWORK CARD Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY Intel Pro-Wireless 2100 802.11b integrated wireless LAN SOUND Internal speakers JBL Pro Performance KEYBOARD 88-key POINTING DEVICE Touch Pad with On/Off button and dedicated vertical Scroll Up/Down pad PC CARD SLOTS One Type I/II PC card slot 32-bit card bus EXTERNAL PORTS Three Universal Serial Bus: USB 2.0 One Parallel SPP/ECP standard interface One port replicator/connector One headphone-out One microphone-in One VGA 15-pin One TV-Out (S-Video) One RJ-11 (modem) One RJ -45 (LAN) One IEEE 1394 (firewire) One FIR (Fast Infrared) DIMENSIONS (14 inches) L x (10 inches) W x (1.30 inches) H WEIGHT 6.5 lbs OPERATING SYSTEM Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SECURITY AND SUPPORT Symantec Norton Antivirus 2003 (complementary 60 days Live Update) MULTIMEDIA InterVideo WinDVD Microsoft Windows Media Player 9.0 Microsoft Windows MovieMaker 2.0 MusicMatch Jukebox Roxio Easy CD & DVD Creator ... Read more

Features

• Intel Centrino Pentium M Processor 1.4GHz, 256MB DDR SDRAM (1 x 256MB) at 266MH
• DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo, 40GB enhanced-IDE hard disk drive,
• 15.4 inches WXGA WVA TFT (1280 x 800) display,ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9200 32MB DDR SDRAM (discrete)
• Intel Pro-Wireless 2100 802.11b integrated wireless LAN,Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN
• Integrated v.90/v.92 56KB modem,Internal speakers JBL Pro Performance

Amazon.com Product Description

Get your motor running and ready for the road with the highly mobile Averatec AV3220H1-01 notebook PC. This tiny laptop weighs just over 4 pounds and runs on a mobile AMD Athlon XP-M 2000+ processor with battery-saving features. It also features a 12.1-inch screen, combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, 40 GB hard drive, 256 MB of installed RAM, and integrated 54g (802.11b) wireless connectivity. For a step up in price, the Averatec AV3225HS-01 features 512 MB of installed RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The AMD Athlon XP-M 2000+ processor is a moderately fast processor that delivers similar performance to a 2.0 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor. The "M" stands for mobile, and its PowerNow power-saving features will help extend battery life. It also offers a 266 MHz processor system bus and a 640 KB high-performance processor cache.
• Memory: This notebook has 256 MB of pre-installed memory (DDR SDRAM), which is calling out for more power right out of the gate. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 512 MB (2 x 256 MB), which is rather small in comparison to other notebooks.
• 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. The CD-RW drive has 24x write, 10x rewrite, and 24x read speeds. The DVD-ROM has an 8x playback speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook is outfitted with a standard keyboard (19mm pitch) and large Synaptics TouchPad with graphics tablet mode.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This AV3220H1-01 model has an integrated 802.11g (or 54g) wireless LAN, which is quickly becoming the most popular wireless standard and is compatible with 802.11b connections as well. The notebook is fitted with a dual 54g antenna, and it can achieve speeds 5 times faster than 802.11b and offers improved reach and added security. You get a standard range of external connections, including:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This AV3220H1-01 notebook comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It also is loaded with applications for playing DVDs, burning CDs, and protecting your system from viruses (titles are not noted by Averatec

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 1.2 x 10.9 x 9.6 inches (H x W x D) and weighing just 4.2 pounds, the AV3220H1-01 is an amazingly compact and lightweight notebook that road warriors will barely notice as they shuttle from plane to taxi to hotel.

Power
The included "smart" rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers over 3 hours of battery life (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Averatec AV3220H1-01 notebook PC, rechargeable li-ion battery, AC power adapter, and printed operating instructions. The notebook PC is backed by a 1-year limited warranty; the battery is backed by a 6-month warranty. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Good product marredby customer service issues!
In principle, and often in use, I love Averatecs.My first one had a 30 gigabyte hard drive with 256 megabytes of ram and had upgradable memory, of which I took full advantage.I purchased it from a store with a six month return policy.Shortly before the six months expired, the PCMIA port burned out, making it unusable for Sprint Merlin card usage.The store exchanged it with me for a HP-Compaq with which I have experienced no problems.Frankly, all things being equal, I like the Averatecs better because of the compact size.When a new and improved model (40 gigabytes, wireless) presented itself, I purchased that in April 2004.It carried a one year warranty.I purchased a Targus chill pad for use with the computer and that seemed to solve overheating problems.I advocate purchase and use of the Targus or equivalent product to be on the safe side).When the 80 gigabyte wireless hard drive became available with a DVD read write drive at that, I was ecstatic!I purchased that as well, and have also combined it religiously with cooling pad use.The product itself well deserves the PC Magazine award it received for 'Laptop Best Buy.'

THE PRODUCT, HOWEVER, IS UNFORTUNATELY MARRED BY SERVICE ISSUES!

The manufacturing and design department gets A's.The "customer care" department has been in my experience, to put it kindly -- lacking!The power supply suddenly went bad on the 40 megabyte 3200 series model.I called, miraculously located my receipt and an RMA was issued.The service technician repeated it to me twice and I read it back to him, and recorded it in my permanent journal.The package was duly taken to the Post Office, insured and tracked.The USPS website indicated they delivered to Averatec offices in Fremont, California on February 10th, Year of Our Lord 2004, at 1:22 p.m.

Initially, I could not track the RMA on screen.It turns out I was given one too many digits by the initial number provider.However, the company acknowledged both to me and twice to my secretary (who made followup calls when I found it too frustrating an exercise) that they had located the package and either the repaired unit or a replacement would be shortly enroute to me.Several times we were asked to give them "a few days to get to the bottom of it."Every time, we get charming people bereft of answers.

Now, I am reasonably certain they are not out 'repairing' the defective power supply.They still offer that power supply.For nearly six weeks, I have been deprived of the effective use of a computer ,while the warranty period on anything else that might go wrong is perhaps conveniently running for Averatec!

The company has a product that almost sells itself.Its various 3200 models run efficiently and well (with the proviso that the cooling pad is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED).Had the service department been in the least effective/responsive, I would unhesitatingly give the product 5 stars.But, without a power supply, the laptop is nothing more than a potential doorstop.

The quality of the product is obvious.Let's hope that soon the quality of their customer care matches!

Great value - "Fussy" DVD/CD Burner
I love this computer but the CD burner did not work from day one. Both my techie friend and I spent hours with settings and even a different CD burning program than provided as well as calling Avaratec support. We found the resolution posted on an internet discussion group. This notebook is extremely fussy about the brand of writable CDs. I purchased TDK--which was recommended by the person having the same difficulty online. From the time I put a TDK CD in the drive, I have had NO problems. I had been using Memorex. So please help spread the word and save yourself tons of aggravation. Before going through hours of troubleshooting, try TDK discs. I am very happy I can enjoy ALL of my new computer. I absolutely love the size. Great value!

Great little machine
I bought this laptop a month ago. I looked for a small but no so expensive solution for mobility and performance. Wow! I am impressed how light and good it is. I was a little worried about the brand, but if you buy a Sony it would cost almost double. It's fast enough for my needs, good hard disk drive, three USB ports, wireless integrated and battery lasts long enough for me. Yes, it gets pretty hot (why ventilation in the bottom???), but after reading the reviews (yes i read them BEFORE, that's what they are for) i also bought a Targus PA248U Tornado Notebook Chill Pad, also from amazon. It works GREAT!!!!!!! After doing some surfing, viewing a dvd, working on a Office document or editing some family photos, the laptop stays almost as cool as if I just started it! I certainly recomend buying both at once, specialy if you will use it on your lap and even if you are using it on a desk as I am.
I would also recomend getting 256MB more of RAM, you can never have too much and it will probably make the laptop faster and cooler.

For the price, don't expect too much
This laptop gets real hot, though that is a testament to AMD Athlon chips which notoriously consume more power than Pentium chips.Since the CPU is always running so hot, it always sets off the fan, which seems to go off every 2-3 minutes with light web browsing, and is almost constantly on when doing anything more intensive.The schizophrenic nature of the fan is noticeable and somewhat loud compared to sound level of any Pentium notebook I have ever heard.

Also, the hinge design is very poor.I have had laptops in the past with similar hinge covers that broke off after about 12 months of use- why can't these guys just make metal hinge covers like IBM???

For more information, do a google on the "unofficial Averatec support forums" on the web, and read for yourself...

Pros:Dirt cheapCons:Gets real hot, fan makes more noise than most notebooks, shared video memory, poor hinge design.

Cheap and as light as a feather
I bought this for my father, who is a realtor and travels almost once every other week. I was looking for a light and durable laptop with an affordable price.

Actually, I liked to buy a 700m from Dell, but I'm tired of wating for a good deal. I mean a really good deal, which is less than $1000. And I found this Averatec. First, I didn't like the name Averatec. It sounded like an average machine. But I found that the mother company of Averatec was TG, which is a quality desktop computer manufacturer for a long time.

Both my father and I are not tech-savvy type of guys. So please consider that for reading the review. We don't have any problem so far, so here are only the pros I found.

1. Price: $400 cheaper than Dell 700m, which is the cheapest among rival big guys such as Sony and Toshiba.

2. Weight: very light. (like nothing for a man)

3. Noise: Not bad. (I found it has less noise with 512ram)

4. Battery hour: 3 hours (word, powerpoint, etc) 2.5 hours (DVD)

5. Accessories: also very cheap

6. Durability: Feels very durable (you will see what I mean)

7. Design: Simple and smart (Kind of mixture of Dell and Sony)


... Read more

Product Description

HP/Compaq nc4010 Business Notebook PC The HP Compaq Business Notebook nc4010 ultraportable weighing less than 4 pounds offers corporate customers the latest in ultraportable mobility and is a travel friendly business notebook providing users with a powerful, feature-rich tool. Hard Drive protection, Security, wireless and common accessories make it easy to integrate into IT environments.Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional provides plug-and-play compatibility Travel Friendly: The HP Compaq Business Notebook nc4010 ultraportable is a highly mobile business notebook, weighing less than 4 pounds, about 1-inch thin and providing up to 3 ½ hours of battery life. On-the-go professionals will appreciate this powerful, feature-rich tool with its wireless options, full-sized keyboard, dual pointing devices, and common docking, which helps keep the focus on productivity, whether on the road or at a desk. Security: HP Protect Tools Security Manager provides security capabilities designed to help protect against unauthorized access to networks and business critical data. Easily configure security levels never before possible with an array of optional hardware, such as an integrated or add-on Smart Card, embedded security chip designed to Trusted Computing Group (TCG) standards, fingerprint sensor and a host of firmware features-the broadest list available in the industry. ... Read more

Features

• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Processor: Intel Pentium M Processor 725 1.6GHz
• Memory: 512MB DDR
• Hard Drive: 40GB HDD
• Viewable Screen Size: 12.1-inch XGA

Reviews (1)

Great performance, small but robust, no-nonsense notebook
At 3.5 pounds, this is a sweet, small business notebook that performs well, has excellent battery life, and feels solid.

You must accept lack of built-in CD drive. I haven't missed it because it saves the weight, battery life, and it's quieter. I've got an external drive for when I need it and I've gotten used to creating MP3s of my CDs.

I am a road warrior and I use the computer to its max for desktop publishing. I tend to have 20 windows open and at least 8 primary applications and 50 processes. I have to track tens of GBs of data and find search strings quickly. I like to sync a PalmOS device without carrying a cable (using an IR port) and I plan on getting a BlueTooth device.

It performs much better than my 2GHz P4 desktop. With the extra travel battery (clips onto the bottom) it gets about 6 hours of battery life. The battery increases the size and weight, of course, but you can be the judge of whether you need to take it with you.

Everything has been easy to configure. Adding a monitor and spreading my desktop is a matter of about 5 clicks.

One surprise was that the System Properties shows 480 MB RAM. So what's up with that? The advertised 32 MB of Video RAM is, uh, subtracted from the 512MB total. Sort of fuzzy math, but it performs to my satisfaction.

Another nice feature is the SD card slot. Kind of like a floppy drive, but tiny and a card can hold up to 512MB. That's great if your MP3 player or camera that accepts SD cards.

I am occasionally annoyed by the fan cycling when the processor is working hard, but it IS very quiet. I also occasionally notice a momentary slight flicker on the LCD monitor as the computer is thinking hard. It's slight and is not constant, and I don't consider it a defect.

This system has been stable for over six months now and I've found no conflicts with all the peripherals that I've added. ... Read more

Product Description

IBM ThinkPad R50e Express Model Notebook PC IBM ThinkPad R Series notebooks offer mainstream performance and features for frequently mobile users who want easy, ready-to-run computing. These affordable notebooks offer lightweight designs with great performance, outstanding battery life on select models and large, bright displays. ... Read more

Features

• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Processor: Intel Pentium M Processor 715A / Intel Centrino 1.5GHz
• Memory: 256MB DDR
• Optical Drive: CD-RW/DVD Combo
• Viewable Screen Size: 15-inch XGA

Product Description

IBM ThinkPad G40 Notebook PC ThinkPad G40 combines the affordability of a desktop PC with the design and portability of a ThinkPad notebook. Designed for the user who requires a full-featured machine with occasional mobility, the ThinkPad G40 is ideally suited for small- to medium-sized businesses, schools and universities, and government agencies. The ThinkPad G40 addresses notebook users who rely more on AC power than battery power, often migrating from one AC outlet to the next. Some analysts estimate this usage pattern at up to 25 percent of notebooks in the enterprise.Until now, customers have had to choose between power and portability. The ThinkPad G series offers the option of being portable without sacrificing the features desktop users require. It's perfect, for example, for teachers who need to move their PC from classroom to home now and then, or for an accountant or insurance adjuster who occasionally travels for on-site audits. ... Read more

Features

• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home
• Processor: Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz
• Memory: 512MB DDR
• Optical Drive: CD-RW/DVD Combo
• Viewable Screen Size: 15-inch XGA

Amazon.com Product Description

The Compaq Presario 2210US notbook offers equal parts mobility and productivity, with a price tag that won't break the bank. Road warriors will appreciate the power-saving benefits of the 1.4 GHz Celeron M processor, while digital media enthusiasts will go for the bright, 15-inch display and 24x combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive. It also features a 40 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and 54g Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The younger sibling to Intel's Centrino processor, the Celeron M processor is also closely related to its desktop and Mobile Celeron predecessors. The 1.4 GHz speed measurement is similar to the 2.0 GHz Mobile Celeron processor, which puts it in the middle of the speed spectrum for this processor class. It will aby execute tasks from productivity and multimedia applications, but it's not recommended for high-end video needs. Its M classification denotes its built-in power-saving technologies, so you'll get good battery performance while on the road.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, 266 MHz, DDR SDRAM) is becoming standard on notebooks and it's a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can write and read CDs at 24x and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 16x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 101-key keyboard and two-button touchpad with on/off button and dedictated vertical scroll up/down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This 2210US model has an integrated 802.11g wireless LAN (which is compatible with the more widespread 802.11b and offers faster data transmission rates). You get a basic offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast USB 2.0:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This system 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, Quicken New User Edition, Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 60-day LiveUpdate subscription), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Encarta Plus, HP Image Zone Plus, InterVideo WinDVD Creator,Sonic RecordNow, and Apple iTunes.

Dimensions and Weight
At 12.96 x 10.72 x 1.69 inches and 6.7 pounds, the 2210US is average in size compared to other notebooks in its class.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which provides an average of battery life of around 2 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Compaq Presario 2210 US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty. ... Read more

Product Description

IBM Think Express Program ThinkPad T42 Notebook PC Windows XP Pro, 256MB DDR, 40GB HDD, Combo Drive, Integrated Fingerprint Reader Designed for highly mobile users, IBM ThinkPad T Series notebooks are the perfect balance of performance and portability. ThinkPad T Series notebooks deliver outstanding performance, full functionality and long battery life in an easily portable, thin-and-light design. The most secure notebooks available---now even better: one integrated solution out of the box. And the convenience of Your Passwords at the tip of your finger (select models).Performance features abound in highly portable ThinkPad T Series notebooks, which start at about 1" thin with a travel weight starting at 4.5 lb. Select new ThinkPad T42 models are offer larger 15"; TFT displays that are ideal for viewing spreadsheets and presentations, and are still only 1.2" thinSelect models also offer all-day computing (up to 9.5 hours with the optional ThinkPad T40 Series High Capacity Li-Ion Battery plus the optional ThinkPad Ultrabay Slim Li Polymer Battery). — It's like a single tank of gas for the entire day's journey.The IBM Active Protection System, available on select models, helps safeguard your valuable data with airbag-like technology. ... Read more

Product Description

Price Drop! Dell Latitude 100L Notebook Deal! Loaded! 2.4GHz, Wireless, 14-Inch TFT, More! The Latitude L100 was designed and built for small to mid-sized businesses, but thanks to a special arrangement with Dell, it's now available to everyone---at an exceptionally low price. This is the "Notebook Deal of The Year," with powerful 2.4GHz processor, CD-RW and DVD-ROM combo drive, built-in 802.11g wireless. The 100L features the Intel Celeron processor, the Intel 852GMV chipset and embedded graphics utilizing the Intel Extreme Graphics solution. You can look, but you won't find these features in a notebook anywhere near this groundbreaking price. Every Dell Latitude 100L notebook features a 56K1 V.92 capable modem and 10/100 wired network card---plus Dell Wireless 1450 802.11a/b/g wireless MiniPCI card. The Right Technology at the Right Price The new Dell Latitude 100L provides the perfect blend of relevant technology, manageability and expandability that small to mid-sized business users demand, all at a price that won't bust the budget. This is a corporate-class mobile computer for an unheard of price. ... Read more

Features

• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home
• Processor: Intel Celeron 2.4GHz
• Memory: 128MB DDR
• Optical Drive: CD-RW/DVD Combo
• Viewable Screen Size: 14.1-inch XGA

Reviews (2)

I wish I had an Inspiron 6000
I purchased a similiar refurbed 100L from Dell Home.Mine has XP Pro (XP2), 256 MB, and a 30 GB disk, 2.1 GB of which is taken for Dell's setup / install partition, which seems to be a mirror of the XP install CDROM with some Dell diagnostics.

Good points:
The built-in wireless works with all the networks I use.I'm composing this review with the Dell sitting in a friend's house using his 802.11 network.Wireless, especially free Internet, has caused me to do a major re-think on how I work.I can sit in Boulder Brewing Mkt or Penny Lane & connect to my employeer's internal network using VPN (Juniper's Instant Virtual net + Funk Software's Odyssey client).This allows me to do about 70% of my job, but (unfortunately) I still need to show up occasionally.Darn.

Battery life seems OK.I'd estimate it at 3+ hours.

Performance is "ok".Since it's a "slugeron" (i.e. "celeron") processor, the claimed clock speed (2.4 Ghz) means it feels like a 1 Ghz Pentium.

DVD playback with WinDVD 4 (included) seems to average about 20% of the CPU bandwidth.

The screen has a limited vertical viewing angle.I'm watching "Leaving Las Vegas" and there are some night scenes where I need to tilt the LCD panel around to get a decent contrast/brightness feel.

I haven't needed a floppy.These days, I just use the network to move files around.


Bad points:
256 MB is not enough RAM!I need to run some apps that can gobble over 2 GB of virtual memory quickly, which means the poor little Hitachi P.O.S. disk is thrashing it's brains out.I just ordered 1GB of SODIMM RAM from a local shop (Axess), which I hope will aleviate this somewhat.The 100L can take 1GB max.I may also trade up to a Seagate 7200 RPM drive.

The fan runs too frequently for my wife.She's *extremely* sensitive.This was supposed to be her machine, but it won't work because of the noise.I'm trying the I8KfanGui program (http://www.diefer.de/i8kfan/), but the Dell just runs warmer than an older Dell laptop (1 Ghz P3) I've borrowed from work, so the fan just needs to run more often.Most people won't hear the fan or be bothered by it.

The "front porch" is too wide.I'm talking about the wrist rest area, which is about 6" from the "front" of the laptop to the keyboard.The net effect is that the front edge digs into my forearms when the laptop is on a typical tabletop.

The "return" period for refurbs is only 15 days, compared to (I think) 30 days for new.I wished I had been more ruthless about evaluating it.Now I'm stuck with it.I was hoping to buy an Inspiron 6000 for myself.

DELL'S CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE WORST
I purchased a dell computer on August 5th and it came in on August 11th. It did not work. I contacted Dell and they told me I needed more memory, even though this computer should have had enough memory. They refused to send it to me and I was forced to purchase more memory on my own. The computer still did not work correctly I was hit by Hurricane Charley and was without power for a week, followed in six weeks' time by Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. These hurricanes left me without power and internet connection for a total of almost four weeks. When I finally got to the point where I could deal with this computer again, I contacted Dell to return it. They refused to allow me to return it because I hadn't returned it within their 15-day time period. I explained what happened with the hurricanes and they still refused to grant an exception. I am now stuck with a computer that does not work. Please do not purchase a Dell computer. You will have nothing but headaches. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The HP Pavilion zd7280us notebook isn't just a PC, it's a portable audio player, DVD player, digital media center, and TV all in one. With a super fast 3.20 GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology, an 80 GB hard drive, and 1024 MB RAM, it can handle nearly everything you throw its way. It features HP TV/Personal Video Recorder and comes with an HP USB TV Tuner (and a TV antenna input) to watch and record live television, and a combo CD-RW/DVD+RW drive so you can record to your favorite media. Plus, the expansive 17.0 inch SXGA+ high definition widescreen integrated display will let you watch DVDs, video, TV, and view photos in bright, crisp, realistic color.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: An 80 GB hard drive has ample room to store your digital photos, audio, and video files, and handle all your day-to-day applications.
• Processor: The 3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor features Hyper-Threading technology, and it has a 512 KB L2 cache. Hyper-Threading 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: 1024 MB DDR SDRAM (in two slots) speeds up the processing of applications--even games, digital audio, and digital video software.
• CD/DVD Drive: The CD-RW/DVD+RW combo drive can record to DVD and CD-RW media, and can write CD-RW at 16x and rewrite at 10x speeds.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It has a notebook keyboard with scroll bar, integrated numeric keypad, and touch pad.
• Display: The 17.0-inch SXGA+ high definition widescreen display with HP BrightView technology is ideal for watching TV (with the integrated TV tuner) and DVDs.

Sound and Graphics
The Pavilion zd7280us notebook features an nVidia GeForce FX Go 5700 graphics processor with 128 MB video RAM for intensely realistic 3-D games and high performance graphics. It also comes with internal Harman Kardon speakers for clear, bright, sound without headphones.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
Get online fast with the integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN, 54g 802.11b/g WLAN with 125HSM/SpeedBooster support, or built-in 56Kbps modem. It also includes the following external ports:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting to a wide range of peripherals, from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 PC Card slot for adding a variety of upgrades, including memory, modems, portable disk drives, and more
• 1 IEEE 1394 FireWire slot to connect to digital video cameras or other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting to printers or cameras based on older technologies
• 1 infrared port for syncing your notebook with other laptops equipped with infrared ports or with your PDA
• 1 S-video out port to connect your laptop to your television
• 1 VGA video out port to connect to a monitor
• 1 TV antenna in
• 1 RCA video in
• 1 RCA audio in
• 1 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Sticks, Memory Stick Pro, and Smart Media cards

Preloaded System and Software
The HP Pavilion zd7280us notebook is powered by Windows XP Home Edition, which makes it easy for you to get up and running as quickly as possible. It's 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. The HP TV/Personal Video Recorder works with the TV tuner to let you capture live TV and later edit, view it later, or burn to a CD or DVD with the touch of a button.

It also comes with the following software installed: Roxio Easy CD Creator Basic, InterVideo WinDVD, InterVideo WinDVD SE Player, HP Image Zone Plus photo and imaging software, Apple iTunes and Apple iTunes Music Store, Symantec Norton Antivirus, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Money, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Encarta Plus, Quicken New Users Edition, AOL Dial-up, MSN Dial-up, Earthlink Dial-up, and SBC Yahoo!.

Dimensions and Weight
It weighs 9.3 pounds

What's in the Box
HP Pavilion zd7280us notebook and power cord. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Seller Bad for Business
Paid for laptop, seller never shipped laptop out, never recieved merchandis from sellar. FJA

Save yourself... Don't get any of HP/Compaq laptops
Really pathetic product quality... combined with pathetic service... Save yourself, Don't buy this or any of the HP product... ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The Basics
An awesome roster of portable computers designed for those who won't accept anything less than the finest mobile performance, Toshiba's P25 series of Satellite notebooks will handle virtually any duty you might normally reserve for high-end desktop PCs. As powerful "desktop replacement" notebooks, they are somewhat bulkier and less battery efficient than today's new breed of ultra-lightweight notebooks. However, true power users will find the extra size a small price to pay for amenities such as high-end Pentium 4 processing, solid 3D graphic capabilities and massive 17-inch widescreen displays. This model, the Satellite P25-S526 Notebook PC, features all of the above plus DVD recording and a spacious 80 GB hard disk.

Processor
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The Satellite P25-S526 lies firmly in the latter category, equipped with a blazing 3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading. Hyper-Threading, a new Intel technology, allows a single CPU system (which most are) to behave at times as a dual CPU system, thus adding substantially more speed to some high-end tasks. Running at 3.2 GHz, this particular processor would be one of the fastest in any notebook, but it is nothing less than spectacular with its Hyper-Threading support.

Memory
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Satellite P25-S526 incorporates 512 MB of RAM, more than enough for most situations. Ultra-demanding users may want to expand their RAM, and with the Satellite P25-S526 they can, to a boggling maximum of 2048 MB.

Video
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). This system's graphics controller is an nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB of dedicated video RAM. While a graphics card with 128 MB or more of video RAM is considered ideal for a completely smooth frame rate in state-of-the-art 3D games and 3D animation apps, this card is nevertheless comparatively powerful and more than enough for all but the most demanding gamers and 3D artisans.

Display
You'll love the way your DVD movies and 3D games look on the system's roomy 17-inch TFT WXGA display. Substantially larger than most notebook viewing screens, this display is especially notable for its widescreen format, the same panoramic configuration favored by movie-makers and some high-end game producers. And with a maximum resolution of 1440 by 900, you can expect super-sharp images no matter what application you're using.

Hard Disk
The Satellite P25-S526 features a massive 80 GB of hard disk space. This amount of data storage is a welcome perk indeed for those who want to operate a broad range of applications and also keep a large library of space-gobbling music and/or multimedia files.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Some drives allow you to do a combination of all of these tasks. This system features a DVD-Super-Multi drive that supports all of the above in each of today's most common CD and DVD formats.

Audio
The system features an integrated audio processor that mimics the spatial awareness of surround sound, and two harman-kardon speakers for powerful mobile stereo output.

Keyboard and Controls
You'll control your notebook via an 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys, dedicated Windows keys support, and a TouchPad pointing device with scroll. CD controls include Play/Pause, Stop/Eject, Previous, and Skip/Next.

Connectivity and Expansion
The Satellite P25-S526 offers a wide variety of ways to keep in touch, including a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, an RJ-45 Ethernet port for high-speed wired network and Internet, and integrated wireless LAN for cordless e-communication at home, at the office or on the road via a local public hotspot. Other key amenities include four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an infrared port for interacting with wireless peripherals, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), and a digital (S-Video) TV-out port.

Operating System and Software
Toshiba has fitted the system with today's most widely accepted operating system, Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition.

Dimensions and Weight
Notebook computers are manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and weights. Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and therefore too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two lbs and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The Satellite P25-S526 is definitely larger than average, yet more compact than many other "desktop replacements" at 16.4 by 11.5 by 1.8 inches and 9.9 lbs.

Power
The system is equipped with a 12-cell Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that delivers 1.5 hours between charges. This is not particularly efficient when compared with less capable ultra-portables using Intel's Centrino technology and Pentium M processor, but is in keeping with standard desktop replacement battery longevity. ... Read more

Product Description

eMachines is currently one of today's top three PC companies and one of the most successful new computer brands in the industry. With great products, exceptional customer service, a solid financial foundation, and a growing network of leading resellers, eMachines is out in front and committed to staying there. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Phenomenal Bend Over Backwards Customer Service
I actually have the M5310. It's worked beautifully -- I have NO complaints with the product. After 13 months of use (and abuse -- It's on about 18 hours a day, 7 days a week as my primary computer -- I work from home and have small kids -- so I'm on and off it all day) the absolute only problem I've had is the CPU fan wearing out -- three times in 13 months. So I subtracted a star.

But each and every time I called they set up arrangements to collect the computer by sending me a fedex box -- I'd pack the computer away according to their directions -- send it off -- and have it back in less than a week. No cost to me. I didn't even have to leave the house. They were always, always super fast and courteous. No huge wait times, no charge for help when I had installation issues with other programs I was using -- when I messed up my home networking, they gave me directions for that, too.

I bought an underlaptop cooling pad for the laptop. Give me another year and I'll gladly buy another emachine. It's a lot of value for the money. ... Read more

Product Description

MacAlly (PS-AC4) POWERBOOK/IBOOK AC ADAPTER ... Read more

Reviews (5)

nice deal

- while lacking the green/amber light on the end of the plug, it *does* have a bright blue LED on the brick itself. the LED doesn't change color according to what the powerbook is doing, it just indicates if the brick itself has power.

- it produces 2 amps, rather than the 2.65 put out by apple's. this means that while it's ok for older ibooks and tibooks, for the new albooks it's slower to charge the battery if the machine is on, and for some machines like the newer 17", may not be able to charge the battery unless the laptop's asleep.
(this can be annoying at times, but for less than half the cost of apple's adapter and cheaper than most other 3rd party adapters, I think it's a fair deal)

- the wire on the powerbook side twist-locks into the brick, so you can't yank it out accidentally.

- no, the plug isn't grounded... but then again neither is apple's flip-out plug.

overall, I think this is a pretty good deal, and might pick up another.

Excellent Alternative PowerBook Power
Accidents will happen. $500 dollars later, with my 12" powerbook 1 GhZ (purchased October 2003)repaired and with the internal pin shorn from inside the power connector, I started to explore alternative adapters, given that the Apple unit is around $80.

I bought this unit--which I needed quickly-- with one day shipping and my total was still signifigantly less than purchasing another adapter from Apple, some $51.

Sure, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the Apple unit and it is a slight bit slower to charge the laptop, but the price makes it well worth it.

If you are concerned about the plug fitting your computer, I've tested this unit out in my 12" PowerBook, a 14" Ibook, and even an older 15" TI Book--it fit them all and charged them, though I don't know how quickly it charged the 15" TiBook.

The plug is also more reliable and sturdy. The cord is longer and less obtrusive than the mac power adapter--if I'd had this unit before, I don't think I would have even had the aforementioned accident! The Macally unit bundles nicely and fits most laptop bags well.

Overall, I'm very pleased.

Good alternative to the OEM charger.
The power cords for Powerbooks and IBooks, though aesthetically lovely, are prone to damage. This is a good replacement unit, although it lacks the amber/green LED charging indicator ring around the connector. Makes up for it in durability and value (less than half the cost of Apple's - yikes!). I'm using this charger with my 12" 867Mhz G4 with fine results.

What it lacks in design it makes up for in durability
At less than half the price of an Apple charger, Macally is a nice alternative.When my ibook charger's cord broke, I wanted to find something more durable.I miss the little feet to wrap the cord around, but the part that connects to the ibook/powerbook is thicker than Apple's and thus doesn't need quite as much care.Macally's charger is also white, which is a pleasant bonus, and comes with a blue light on the brick to let you know it's charging.Here's the basic breakdown.

Macally:
lighter
cheaper
more durable
same 120/240 voltage
same length (when compared to Apple's w/ the extension plug)
no feet
no charging light around rim of plug
no plastic cover for plug tip (though the Apple one fits on it perfectly)
the connection to the brick is not as sturdy because Apple's is built in and Macally's is plugged in, though it's never come out unexpectedly because the brick is so light.
doesn't get as hot as Apple's charger
the wall plug is not grounded

If you need an extra or replacement charger and don't mind the difference in design then this is a great purchase. ... Read more

Product Description

For The Power-User Who Has Everything... Acer's Magnificent Ferrari 3400LMi Notebook PC: A New Winning TraditionThe stylish Acer Ferrari 3400LMi Notebook computer has more in common with the legendary automobile than merely sharing a name and the famous Rosso Corsa paint job. Both are luxurious machines boasting world-class engines that generate blazing speed, prolific power and incomparable performance. Both inspire looks of envy and admiration from anyone who sees them. Both symbolize incomparable class, elegance and unsurpassed quality. So, it is indeed fitting that the manufacturers of these two unique machines formed a winning partnership embodied in the Acer Ferrari 3400LMi Notebook PC. This exclusive edition is a striking symbol of the proud heritages Acer and Ferrari share - heritages built on passion, innovation, power and success.Classic Styling and Incredible Speed Without the Wheels! Acer has flawlessly designed the Ferrari 3400LMi, infusing it with exceptional performance, brilliant graphics, lightning-fast connectivity and remarkable wireless capability. This mobile powerhouse runs on a furiously fast AMD Athlon 64 3000+ processor (2.0GHz) with AMD HyperTransport technology, a half gig of sizzling DDR memory that can be upgraded to 2GB, a huge 80GB hard drive and the award-winning Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 operating system. From bumper to bumper, the Ferrari 3400LMi is loaded with the finest components in the industry, including the astonish ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Stay Away from Acer
I bought a laptop from Acer, repeatedly had problems with the DVD drive.They told me to mail it back to them for repair.Then, they mailed it back to me untouched.Then, when I called them on it, they told me to mail it back again and be without it for yet another week.This is ridiculous.I'm filing charges in small claims court for the cost of the laptop. ... Read more

Product Description

Designed for highly mobile users, IBM ThinkPad T Series notebooks are the perfect balance of performance and portability. ThinkPad T Series notebooks deliver outstanding performance, full functionality and long battery life in an easily portable, thin-and-light design. ThinkPad T42p mobile workstations also offer high-performance graphics for displaying detailed designs, dramatic demos and high-powered presentations in the office, on the road and everywhere in between.The ThinkPad family also features exclusive IBM ThinkVantage Technologies and ThinkVantage Design. Together, they deliver business advantage by helping to save time and money and enabling you to focus on your business - not your technology. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A terrific laptop - but go with a custom configuration
My T42 is the third ThinkPad I've owned. ThinkPads are a bit more expensive than most other brands (except Sony), but well worth it. They have excellent build quality, the most comfortable keyboards of any laptop, and excellent customer support (the few times I've needed support, it was easy to get through to a real human on the phone who could help me, and the one time a part wasn't working perfectly, they overnighted a replacement to me).

Before purchasing this T42, I purchased an S- series Sony VAIO comparably configured, which cost $300 more than the T42. The VAIO had a brighter display than the ThinkPad, and was even smaller and lighter. It was also more stylish. But the VAIO's display had a narrower viewing angle, meaning if you tilt the screen or turn the laptop even just a little bit, the display gets much harder to read. The VAIO's keyboard was not as comfortable as the ThinkPad's. And the VAIO's fan was noisy and always on, whereas the ThinkPad's fan is whisper quiet. So I returned the VAIO.

If you want to buy a T42, I suggest you not limit yourself to this particular configuration, which is about the most expensive one I've seen. Instead, decide what you want the T42 to have, and then look for the configuration that comes closest to what you want.

The first thing you'll need to decide is whether to get a T42 with a 14" or 15" display. The tradeoff is that the 15" is nicer, but makes the laptop about 1 pound heavier (though still lighter than similarly equipped laptops from Dell, Gateway, etc).

Most people understand the role of processor speed, RAM, and size of hard drive. But you may not know that the speed of the hard drive is an important variable that should factor into your decision.

Most desktop hard drives spin at 7200 RPM. In contrast, most laptop hard drives spin at 4300 RPM. This is one reason why laptops feel more sluggish than desktop computers. You can get laptops with hard drives that spin at 5400 RPM, and this makes a noticeable difference. The T42 can be purchased with a 60gb drive that spins at 7200 RPM - same as a desktop computer. I *URGE* you to get a hard drive that's rated AT LEAST at 5400 RPM. Of course, this costs a bit more, but on a limited budget, you can make up for this by choosing a slightly slower processor. Even the slower processors are faster than most of us need for most of the things we use computers for, so you're not likely to notice having a slightly slower processor, but you will definitely appreciate having a faster hard drive.

Another thing you should get on your T42 (or whatever laptop you end up choosing) is built-in WiFi. Even if you don't have a wireless network in your home, chances are you're a short drive from half a dozen coffee shops or libraries that have wireless internet access, and this will only increase in the future. Getting WiFi on a notebook adds about $100 to the cost, and it's DEFINITELY worth it. Once you use it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it, and you'll want to get a wireless network in your home (and they are not very expensive or hard to install - I did it, and I don't know much about networking at all!)

After you come up with your dream configuration for the T42, visit thinkpad.com to find the specific model number of the T42 that comes closest to your configuration, then come back to Amazon and search on that model number to see Amazon's competitive price.

Also, you can call IBM. Whatever price they quote for that specific model, tell them you found a comparably equipped Dell for $300 less and is there any way they can lower their price. In my experience, they will offer you a lower price.

You should also consider the new T43, which will have a faster bus speed and other small incremental improvements over the T42 (but of course it's more expensive).

Good luck with your purchase decision, and enjoy whatever laptop you end up choosing! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

As part of Compaq's ultra-affordable Presario 2100US series of mobile computers, the Presario 2145US is short of high-tech amenities such as wireless communication, DVD burning and world-class speed. It is, however, no slouch when it comes to commonplace tasks such as light to medium duty personal or business applications, general schoolwork, Internet browsing, and e-mail.

At the heart of the Presario 2145US is a 2.0 GHz AMD Athlon XP-M 2400+ processor. Compaq has complemented this cost effective CPU with a generous 512 MB DDR SDRAM system memory (expandable to 1024 MB) and an ATI Mobility Radeon 4X AGP graphics chipset with 64 MB shared (not dedicated) memory. As such, the unit is not the best choice for 3-D games, animation or drawing packages and high-complexity business apps. Sharing the data storage duties is a sizeable 60 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 2145US is slightly below average size and therefore comfortably portable. The unit is equipped with a large 15-inch display screen capable of crystal clear 1024x768 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. The computer doesn't come with a wireless communication option, or FireWire and USB 2.0 ports for fast data interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders.

Pre-installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Money 2003, Microsoft Works 6.0, and a variety of multimedia applications. ... Read more

Product Description

IBM Think Express Model ThinkPad G41 Notebook PC The IBM ThinkPad G Series offers desktop-alternative functionality in a ThinkPad notebook for occasionally mobile users who need the flexibility to take work with them. ThinkPad G Series notebooks systems offer high performance and unique comfort features -- all at an affordable price. ... Read more

Product Description

Systemax's Powerful Wireless Notebook 2.0GHz Intel Centrino CPU 80GB HDD - 1GB DDR Go wireless now! We've taken away every reason to delay, with this top-flight mobile powerhouse and its incredibly low price tag. Here's what you get with the Systemax 4110 notebook. The world's most advanced mobile technology. Blistering power. Sizzling speed. Phenomenal performance in a lightweight, portable design. At an astonishing 4.1 pounds, this mobile marvel travels light but packs a mighty punch! If you cannot afford to sacrifice productivity no matter where you travel, the Systemax 4110 is just what you need. Check out these amazing features. A blazing 2.0GHz Intel Centrino Mobile Technology processor. 1GB of DDR RAM Maxed Memory. Huge 80GB hard drive. Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics. Nothing but world-class components from bumper to bumper! The Systemax 4110 boasts the muscle and agility to tackle today's most complex applications. And its spectacular Intel Centrino Mobile Technology gives you unprecedented wireless connectivity. That means Internet access from any hot spot on earth. The Intel Centrino processor also provides breakthrough mobile performance and extended battery life - a great asset for the frequent traveler. This Systemax 4110 notebook computer comes loaded with the award-winning Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 operating system to ensure efficient, reliable computing. Plus we've loaded on the versatile Microsoft® Works 7.0 software. Best ne ... Read more

Features

• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
• Processor: Intel Centrino 2.0GHz
• Memory: 1GB DDR
• Optical Drive: DVD±RW
• Viewable Screen Size: 12.1-inch WXGA

Amazon.com Product Description

Hit the road with the powerful, affordable Compaq Presario 2199US notebook PC and be confident that you have all the tools and documents you need to stay productive. The 2199US offers a 15-inch display, a battery-saving 2.13 GHz Mobile AMD Athlon XP-M processor, a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive for playing DVD movies and burning your own music CDs, 40 GB hard drive, and 512 MB of installed RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB (4200 RPM) hard drive will be serviceable, providing ample storage for your documents and productivity applications, but it is on the low end of storage capacity when compared with other notebooks.
• Processor: The 2.13 GHz Mobile AMD Athlon XP-M processor is designed to extend system battery life using AMD's proprietary PowerNow! technology, as well as support a wide range of wireless LAN standards--including 802.11g (54g)--and Bluetooth connectivity.
• Memory: The 2199US comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (2 x 256 MB modules, DDR SDRAM, 266 MHz)--a good start for power users. It has two slots for upgrading memory to a maximum of 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
• 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 2199US 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 2199US features two built-in stereo speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The 2199US features a basic supply of external connections:

• 2 USB 1.1 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (note that this is not the faster USB 2.0 standard)
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 1 serial port for older peripherals such as early PDAs
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out (for connecting to a TV)
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II/III compatible and 32-bit card bus)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
The 2199US 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), Roxio EasyCD Creator, and MusicMatch Jukebox.

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 12.96 x 10.72 x 1.62 inches (L x W x H), it's a relatively compact laptop. It weighs a moderate 7.3 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 2199US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, phone cord, and operating instructions. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good everyday laptop
I got this laptop recently and I am very happy with it.

pros:

1) 15 inch display. It is very clear.Brightness is easily adjustable.
2) XP 2800.AMD Barton core.This is one fast processor.I would say that this processor is faster than any 1MB Centrino processors.(I have not used any 2MB Centrino processor machines to judge)
3) 512 MB RAM.You can really notice the difference over 256 MB ones.
4) Low price.Other notebook offering CD-RW/DVD combo, 40 GB, 512 MB RAM and fast processor are all generally $200 - $300 more expensive.
5) Relatively good battery life.I have gotten 2.5 - 3.75 hours of battery life.It really depends on what you do.If you play games, it will probably only last 1 hour.I have gotten 3+ hours of batter life watching movies on lower power setting.I use crystal CPUID to set the power setting instead of PowerNOW.It gives me more options, but also give you a chance to fry you CPU if you mess up.

cons:

1) USB 1.1 port and no firewire port.Basically means you cannot have fast access to external data.If you plan to do video editing, you will have to buy a firewire PCMCIA card.USB 1.1 is much slower compared to USB 2.0.Still, you should be able to get by to use with a digital camera.
2) High power consumption processor.This XP-M 2800 processor has a peak power consumption of 72W (compare to around 25W in Centrino).This puppy gets hot when running processor demanding applications.Mine CPU temperature have reached 82 degress celsius.
3) Integrated graphics card.Amazon mis-printed the graphics card for this unit, unless amazon.com gets different configurations from what I got.My unit has a RADEON IGP 320 integrated display card.It is not very fast, but still able to play some games depending how picky you are on video card.If you are getting a laptop to play the latest games, this laptop is not it.
4) The touchpad espically the scroll area is terrible.Whenever I try to type, my palm is on top of the scrollbar region of the touchpad causing my window to scroll up and down randomly.My only remedy is to disable the touchpad scrolling feature.All HP/Compaq had to do it to move the touchpad to the left 0.3 inches to solve this problem.I do not know what were they thinkging.
5) No integrated wireless card.Not a big deal.You can buy a PCMCIA with all the money you saved.
6) No docking station port.Probably not a big deal for most people.

amazing laptop for the price u pay
the best laptop u can get for the price u pay. i cant understand why everybody is complaining about the tochpad. compaq didnot enable the tapping option for the touchpad. so u have to just got t0 control panel--otherhardware---mouse----device settings---settings--enable the tapping option and u will be on the go like any other notebooks. the processor is also as fast as pentium.on the other side this notebook didnot have the wireless card. but no complaints as u can buy it for not more than 30 bucks.hope this helps... ... Read more

Reviews (2)

my little righthand!
My actually S360 is giving me a lot of fun everyday,anywhere.As I am not working hours non stop I gave my Acer 804(large screen) to my daughter and take my s360 anywhere, on vacation,business everywhere.
Sony also gives a number of battery saving possibilities so you can run endlessly, well allmost.
mine does not have a DVD writer,only a CD writer.Is enough for all normal back up tasks such as My Documents.
As it is a Sony with all built in quality and garantee I do not think the S is overpriced!(if you can afford it of course)
Leen

A Great Little Laptop
I would first like to state that I actually own the VGN-S150 - the S260 is a slightly (and I do mean SLIGHTLY) modified version of it.(The S150 has a 1.6 GHz Pentium M processor, while the S260 has a 1.7 GHz Pentium M processor - that is the only difference).
Size: It's TINY, and very portable, weighing only about 4 pounds. It is not, however, so small that looking at the screen becomes a chore, as is the case with some other Sony notebooks.
Speed: It runs like a racecar. I have Norton Internet Security, which severely slows down ANY system, and the S150 is still fantastically fast (once you get it booted, that is).
Screen: The screen isn't very large, due to the small size of the laptop, but it's VERY bright, and has little to no glare. I live in a dorm and do not own a TV, and always use my computer to watch DVD's without a problem.
Speakers: The biggest downside to this computer. The speakers sound tinny, and don't go very loud. I would recommend either getting a pair of external speakers, or doing what I did, which is getting a mini-stereo-to-RCA-dual cable, which allows you to hook your computer (or anything with a standard headphone jack, such as an mp3 player) to most home stereos.
Design: On a shallow note - this this is PRETTY. It has a dark grey/black/silver color scheme that's classy and elegant - and, when you're paying for something that's essentially a piece of (tiny) furniture, attractiveness is an issue.
Price: To be honest, it's a bit overpriced. I would recommend finding a store that offers some sort of mail-in rebate, or waiting until Amazon.com gives you a better discount.
Overall - a great piece of equipment. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a new PC. ... Read more