Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I've been on the lookout for an inexpensive notebook for my niece and I took a good look at the Compaq CQ60. While this one didn't turn out to be the right choice for me it would be a good fit for someone looking for a low cost notebook for web browsing or light use around the home but doesn't like the small screens and keyboards found on netbooks. Because the build quality suffers somewhat to keep the material cost down this is not a good choice for anyone who would be taking it outside the home a lot (students, business travelers) where it's more likely to be dropped, bumped, or scratched. It's also not a good choice for anyone who might need to multi-task (say burn a CD while web browsing).
Let's take a quick look at the specs:
CPU - The 2.2GHz Intel Celeron 900 is based off the same basic core as the Core2 Duo, except there is just one core and some features are not enabled (such as "SpeedStep" which is a power saving feature that slows your clock speed down when you unplug). The Celeron sits just below the "Pentium" line in terms of performance in most but not all instances. The dual-core Pentium typically has two slower cores so anytime you multi-task your real world experience is better (i.e. your web browser doesn't slow down when the anti-virus scan kicks in), however if you are just doing one thing (like playing a game) the higher clock speed of the 2.2GHz Celeron 900 will help. Because it doesn't have SpeedStep it will drain your battery faster when not plugged in. Home users who will have it plugged in most of the time probably won't care about this. I should note it is much more powerful than the "Atom" processor found in smaller netbooks (easily twice the performance) but much more power hungry.
Display - This 15.6" display has the same resolution as more expensive notebooks (1366x768) but it's not quite as bright. Unless you need to use it outdoors the difference isn't a big deal. It's a good display for this price.
RAM - 2GB is enough for light home use. Don't expect to do heavy gaming but light gaming will be fine.
HDD - 160GB seems small now days but most home users use less 50GB. As long as you are not a heavy gamer or expect to edit a lot of video this is plenty.
Graphics - The Intel 4500M graphics CPU is the newest from Intel and is a big improvement over their previous graphics parts. This is the same graphics chip you will find in most $1000 notebooks. Once again it's not for the heavy gamer but it perfect for most home users and better than most entry level notebooks.
Wireless - This supports the most common standards "B" and "G" but doesn't support the newest "N". You can still connect to "N" wireless networks but you will run at the slower "G" speed. Most users won't notice the difference.
Battery - The six cell Lithium Ion is a decent battery for this price (and the same battery you find in more expensive notebooks). You will get about 2 hours of battery life - 3 if you turn off the wireless. This is much better than the 4 cell that is still offered in some entry level notebooks.
Build quality - As mentioned earlier in order to hit a low price point the material quality is lower than more expensive notebooks. The hinges on these low cost notebooks are notorious failure points. Don't pick this up by the screen or your notebook will break within a year or two. However Compaqs overall are well designed and are generally better entry level computers than Gateways or Dells.
So if you are planning on using this mostly around the house and expect you will be plugged in most of the time this laptop will do everything you need and won't break the bank. As long as you aren't too rough with it you shouldn't have any problems. If your twin thirteen year old boys are going to use it, you might be in trouble. If you need to multitask (or just hate it when your computer slows down for a virus scan) look for a dual core CPU notebook.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Compaq Presario CQ60-410US 15.6-Inch Laptop
CLASSIC STYLE:The Compaq Presario CQ60 series Notebook PC redefines simplicity with thin lines, an iconic touchpad design and sleek touch control panel. Glossy black Imprint finish encases the form and is more durable than traditional painted surfaces. A silver panel covers the palm rest and touch pad area for clean contrast. HPs Notebook Design Group has been recognized by distinguished design institutions: International CES Innovations Design and EngineeringAwards; iF International Forum Design Award; Industrial Design Excellence Awards; ID Magazine Annual Review; Good Design Awards.SIMPLY SECURE: Compaq Presario notebook PCs are designed with the features and power you need to get the most from Windows Vista. The result is intuitive system controls,powerful search and organization tools and more security when you go online. What's in the box: cq60-410us laptop, 65W AC Adapter, 6-Cell Lithium-Ion battery, Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 with 60 days complimentary live update, HP DVD Play,Microsoft Works, Muvee Reveal,Cyberlink DVD Suite, Adobe Acrobat Reader and HP Games Powered by Wild Tangent.
Click here for more information about Compaq Presario CQ60-410US 15.6-Inch Laptop
0 comments:
Post a Comment