kentuckygirl wrote:C'mon! I need a cheap laptop! Uh...preferably not a Compaq and not refurbished and WITH XP installed instead of Vista. Pretty please with sugar on top?

I bought an Acer laptop from Newegg.com a couple of months ago with XP on it. They probably still have them. Check it out

chemwolf wrote:This doesn't have enough power to use as a server.

How much power do you think a home server would need? The bottleneck would almost always be the network. My personal server, which works just fine...

dannyb@dryer:~$ cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 6
model : 8
model name : Pentium III (Coppermine)
stepping : 3
cpu MHz : 646.673
cache size : 256 KB
...

liammc wrote:Yea that's what I don't understand as it's pre-installed. The "Windows license" for vista. What if you happen upgrade the hardware then have to format ? Your SOL

true that is not, you call MS support, chat to the fellow in india and he gives you a new activation key. done that already.

GOD!
why is everyone bashing on this computer so much?
compaq may stink
vista may stink
but the specs are pretty good.
this thing will do WAY more than just internet browsing.
3 ghz is a lot of computing power. 160gb is not shabby. 1gb of ram is pretty sufficient.
slap on a good graphics card and you've got yourself a nice computer.

Alinab7 wrote:Compaq makes lousy computers.

Some are. They use ECS motherboards in many (all?) of them. This is my backup comp, 3.46GHz/512 (now 2GB) Vista Home, 160GB SATA HD, Lightscribe, added a 7900GS 256MB PCI-x card. Games better than average; EVE-Online from 25 to 70 FPS.

Mine was $199 at Best Buy, NEW, on clearance (online only). This is too darned much.

For $200 more than this woot, I got a Dell Vistro 1.6 Core 2 Duo laptop with 120GB HD, 8600M GT video (256MB) 15.4" WSXGA+ Tru-Bright screen, dual layer DVD-RW and Vista Home (512MB DDR2 667, will be 2GB soon), wireless, bluetooth, 2MP webcam, 1 year on site warranty. Theres great Dell deals online with coupon codes that get leaked quite often, often expire same-day, so ya gotta jump on them.

liammc wrote:Didn't HP buy Compaq ? Was under than impression that computers are no longer produced with the "Compaq" name.

That just shows you how old this crappy spaceheater is

IMO, some of comments about no dual core and monitor are a bit unfounded given the system's price, however, they're still excellent points. My contribution is ONLY 4 USB PORTS!? My Dell from 3 years ago has 8, and boy oh boy they sure come in handy!

BTW, has Woot ever sold a new PC before?

satzcasio wrote:Ugh. This thing is gross. I'd rather put my you-know-whats into a scalding cup of coffee. Make that scalding cup of ph 0.4 HCl.

I guess if that's what you are into

jamesbottomtooth wrote:true that is not, you call MS support, chat to the fellow in india and he gives you a new activation key. done that already.

My self also, But took 12 + calls.

liammc wrote:Again one of the most relevant questions. Is this CPU/ Processor unlocked for overclocking ?

Most OEM pc's ship with a simple bios with overclocking and other fun settings disabled. Even if it could, that motherboard likely couldn't handle much. So the answer is no, no overclocking here. As far as the cpu goes, I think the multiplier is locked anyways as it's a low end Pentium.

Besides, what would the point be of overclocking this machine even if you could?

oppositemind wrote:That just shows you how old this crappy spaceheater is

I use it under my desk to be eco friendly in the colder months.

liammc wrote:I use it under my desk to be eco friendly in the colder month.

Reminds me of the days I used to live in Ohio...

Phoenix... not such a good idea. Oh well, at least i get to check woot at 10pm now instead of 1AM :-D

oppositemind wrote:Reminds me of the days I used to live in Ohio...

Phoenix... not such a good idea. Oh well, at least i get to check woot at 10pm now instead of 1AM :-D

Temps out there as of lately, Surprised anyone is alive.

geraldnopp wrote:Most OEM pc's ship with a simple bios with overclocking and other fun settings disabled. Even if it could, that motherboard likely couldn't handle much. So the answer is no, no overclocking here. As far as the cpu goes, I think the multiplier is locked anyways as it's a low end Pentium.

Besides, what would the point be of overclocking this machine even if you could?

Squeeze every lil' bit of power one could to attempt to run vista on the low end cpu.

WHat's with all the Compaq hate? I bought a laptop Presario 4 years ago to bring with me to Korea. I have used it for at least a couple hours a day on all kinds of stuff and it never lets me down.

SuperJew4711 wrote:Compaq? Do they still have the same reputation for lousy quality thay used to? Or did they get better when they got bought by HP?

Dont confuse Compaq with Packard Bell (Or was it Packard Hell?)

Compaq is okay company especially after they merged with HP

A refurb (rox0rz!) piece of junk spacheater made in China. The lead paint alone makes this thing enough of a death trap to avoid like the plague. If you dog or kid licks this thing or touches the keyboard the lead will stunt their growth, and drop their I.Q. by 50 - 60 points.

Then they won't even know what a computer is.

Interesting. I did a demonstration speech for a class on Tuesday about how to buy parts to build an affordable computer, and the price and specs are almost identical to this computer. I think I ought to sue woot... :p

Cant you get core duo for like $100 more... maybe even a monitor too.

metanoia29 wrote:Interesting. I did a demonstration speech for a class on Tuesday about how to buy parts to build an affordable computer, and the price and specs are almost identical to this computer. I think I ought to sue woot... :p

Did your speech include the mention of used/refurb (rox0rz!) parts ? Just curious.

quatermane wrote
"A refurb (rox0rz!) (rox0rz!) piece of junk spacheater made in China. The lead paint alone makes this thing enough of a death trap to avoid like the plague. If you dog or kid licks this thing or touches the keyboard the lead will stunt their growth, and drop their I.Q. by 50 - 60 points.

Then they won't even know what a computer is."


quatertmane,hate to burst your bubble but everything is made in china. 99% of all computer parts comes from china. even if it is an american company, you can bet china makes it for them. and cars are made in japan. 100% american made is hard to come by. it might be put together in america, but shiped from japan or china.

liammc wrote:Again one of the most relevant questions. Is this CPU/ Processor unlocked for overclocking ?

Yes a very good uestion, and one that needs scearhing to get answer. http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00864922&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=3340210&lang=en go there to look? maybe. You know about properties in sound cards?

what do you really expect for 300 bucks?

whats funny is that there would be an equal amount of complains if it was a uber gamer rig for $3000... bla bla bla i don't have that much money, what kind of crap is this, i can build a better system myself, will this work with Mac?

I think you can get a new dell with dual core and for about $50 bucks more, if you wait for their weekly sales. Get the new stuff.

Poor Woot! They can't please anyone. I already have one. I could build one myself. I'd really rather have a new Porsche for $300. I don't like Microsoft. I was so anxious to enter a message, I didn't have time to read the specs., could you explain it to me?

Woot!, have a good time hauling your money to the bank (you must be pleasing someone). I look every day, and some days, I buy.

krhamit wrote:Yes a very good uestion, and one that needs scearhing to get answer. http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00864922&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=3340210&lang=en go there to look? maybe. You know about properties in sound cards?

Rarely can follow you fine line in between huh and duh. But thank you for the specs m8.

Yeah, but once Midnight Eastern Time hit, the price reverted back to $479.99, so posting this sale after midnight E.S.D.T. made the sale worthless. :' (

Remember, WOOTs new stuff posts at 1AM EST (12Midnight Central).

It costs about $300/400 for a basic (REALLY basic) Dual Core machine anyways, brand new (check PriceWatch. Easy enough to find the deals). Besides, i'm afraid of working with ANY retail (IOW: Compaq, HP, etc) because the cases are so flimsy. A dear friend of the family bought an HP once, and the case was so badly made that as we were screwing in a new HD the threads were undoing themselves with each turn of the screw. NOT A GOOD SIGN. :' (

If you're going to leave it AS-IS, not touch or try to expand it (IOW: make it a family PC, to keep in the family room or for the kids' room), it'll bs PERFECT!

If you intend to expand the puppy with a larger drive/added drive, etc, it might be a safer bet to go with a custom-made or DIY system.

KINJIRU

jsaya wrote:Frys.com offers the factory-refurbished HP Pavilion a1730n Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4GHz Desktop PC for $399.99. With $12.72 for shipping, it's the lowest total price we could find for this configuration by $75. Features include the Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4GHz processor, 2GB RAM, 320GB Serial ATA hard drive, dual layer DVD burner with LightScribe, USB infrared remote and receiver, memory card reader, and Windows Vista Home Premium. Deal ends August 24.
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5340988
Only $100 more... twice as good!(jk)

I don't have any problems with Vista. I hated it at first until I got to learn it. But at the same time I hated it when I was running it on a crappy PC. This computer is not capable of handling Vista. Sure it'll run it but you'll just get frustrated with it. Anyway, it's a crap PC no matter what OS you put on it. I wouldn't have bought this for $299 a year ago... let alone today. No thanks.

For anyone who won't buy this because it's loaded with Vista, you can install XP over Vista using the Vista serial number, and Microsoft will authenticate it for you with a phone call. Of course it's still a Compaq, I don't have a fix for that, but should be good for browsing, accounting, and writing letters. Could even be a serviceable media machine. No for Photoshop and Adobe apps... no for serious gamers... no for 3D animation

Will this PC allow me to surf the net faster?

i95rr wrote:Will this PC allow me to surf the net faster?

Only if you get a faster connection.

Just a question that will probably get a lot of response. I see a lot of you hate Vista. I have no experience with Vista so I have no idea what is wrong with it. Anyone care to fill me in?

This pc isn't worth buying for any of its components... those who've said it is don't watch computer prices...


and hp now is as bad as compaq was.


as to the one asking about vista

if you like bloat and having an OS that'll babysit you, you'll like vista. My personal beef with vista is they took a perfectly working file browser that needed almost no changes and tried to make it "better"... yeah that didn't work - obviously.

Defraggler wrote:I can custom build something much faster then this for less.
I'll pass.

plz qoute your price/source.

(incluidng price of windows vista. ;)
legitimate copy that is.)

liammc wrote:Again one of the most relevant questions. Is this CPU/ Processor unlocked for overclocking ?

hmm....if it's 1995 you are running Pentium 75.... I can see a reason for overclock

but at 3000 Mhz ? what are you trying to do. make faster hardcore extreme bass fishing?

epic lulz!....I have always said.....if the parent really want their kids learn.....

they should either
1. skip the computer all together (there is something called library)
or
2. buy a computer running windows 3.11 with Office 4.2 on a "dual core" 80486
or
3. Buy a computer running Linux with Open office.
anything else? it's just for fun....not study....

I know it cause I was a college drop out after I played too much with computer.
(good thing: I have mastered it,
also good thing when MCSE certified people come to me when they have questions.
bad thing when you find out the other guy makes more $ even thought you know more than they do)

brasda91 wrote:Why is everybody bashing Vista? I had my reservations about it at first, but after I've had it for awhile, I like it. Just like any new program, you have to learn the in's and out's.

it is POS....I am sorry....but windows XP was working fine.....

IF IT AIN'T BROKEN, DON'T TRY TO FIX IT UP.

That's the rule # 1 in trouble shooting guide.

Did anyone else call and listen to the woot message at 10:53 central time after getting a text message? I thought I heard a slightly different podcast message.

I purchased a Presario with an AMD processor almost 2 years ago when my business computer crashed and it has performed well with no problems. As far as this being a refurb (rox0rz!), no concerns there either. I got it from a store that sells refurbs as I didn't want to pay a lot. No problems. I'm in for one since we needed an extra computer anyway. Thanks, woot!

I'm not sure why so many people are ragging on this PC. Stats are fairly decent and the price is excellent. You could part it out and easy get more than what you paid. One caveat: Vista is probably locked to this PC and you won't be able to sell it separately.

It's no gaming demon, but for virtually every other application, it should do admirably. The computer I'm typing this on is a Pentium 4 3.2 GHz rig and I have no complaints on it whatsoever for my daily tasks.

Of course, when you buy retail computers like this, you gotta spend an hour stripping away all sorts of crap they pre-load on it.