CNET Asia Review

The HP Compaq Business Notebook nx7000, with its unusual wide screen and wealth of multimedia capabilities, sells in two configurations. The US$1,699 (S$2,930) model comes well equipped for ordinary use but doesn't offer much advantage over a notebook with a standard 1,280x1,024 resolution and Intel Centrino technology. In contrast, the US$1,999 (S$3,447) model that we tested offers a high 1,680x1,050 native resolution and should appeal to creative videographers and spreadsheet fanatics alike. Long battery life, fast performance, great speakers, and a big screen make the nx7000 almost irresistible to anyone who needs to view large spreadsheets, edit digital video, or do graphics-intensive work

Design
Although the HP Compaq nx7000 measures only 34.5mm wide and 254mm deep, its 356mm width makes the notebook feel much bigger. Its slightly odd dimensions, however, accommodate a wide-aspect, 15.4-inch screen with a 1,280x800 or 1,680x1,050 native resolution. Both resolutions feature an 8:5 aspect ratio, which means that they can display almost twice as many pixels across the screen as down. (By comparison, a standard resolution of 1,280x1,024 features a 5:4 aspect ratio.) In practical terms, this means that you can work on large spreadsheets side by side and view Web sites without scrolling. The screen itself has a white, even background, saturated colors, and smooth textures and shading, and it displays sharp, crisp text. We did, however, find the 1,680x1,050 resolution on our test unit to be a little too dense, causing us to squint or sit close.

The nx7000 weighs a reasonable 2.95kg (3.4kg pounds with the AC adapter) and features a charcoal-gray, alloy lid and a black-plastic base. The lid opens easily with one thumb, and its hinges let it yawn to 180 degrees. Seven rubber pads on the bottom keep the notebook flat and stable for typing, though the oversize lid wiggles a bit. The spacious, firm keyboard feels sharp, but the keys rattle somewhat. Below the keyboard lies a wide, comfortable touchpad that features an embedded scroll bar and a button that turns off the touchpad. Next to the keyboard sit two very big, loud, fine-sounding JBL speakers.

Features
The HP Compaq nx7000 comes in only two configurations, without the ability to upgrade any of the specs. The US$1,699 (S$2,930) model comes with a 1.4GHz Pentium M processor, 512MB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, a fixed DVD-ROM drive, and a 32MB Radeon 9200 graphics controller. For US$300 (S$517)more, you can get a system with a 1.6GHz Pentium M processor, a 60GB hard drive, a fixed DVD/CD-RW combo drive, and 64MB for the graphics controller. Both units feature integrated 802.11b wireless LAN and a 15.4-inch wide-aspect display, although the higher-end system offers a 1,680x1,050 native resolution compared to the 1,280x800 native resolution of the cheaper system. (Note: The prices quoted are based on the configurations available in the US. Advertised models here may vary. Please check with your local distributor for more information.)

HP packs in the usual assortment of ports and slots, plus a few extra for digital-video enthusiasts. On the front edge, there's a Secure Digital (SD) flash media slot and audio jacks, as well as a handy wireless On/Off switch. For ordinary communications, the notebook features a single Type II PC Card slot, an IrDA port, a 56Kbps modem, and an Ethernet jack. The back of the notebook sports the following ports: one for S-Video, another for four-pin FireWire, and three for USB 2.0. HP also offers an external floppy drive that connects via USB for US$89 (S$153).

The nx7000 ships with Microsoft Windows XP Professional as its operating system. You also get HP's proprietary management, diagnostic, and troubleshooting software. The lack of productivity apps won't faze business users who already have software licenses in place.

Performance

Mobile application performance
The HP Compaq nx7000 placed second in this small roundup of desktop replacements. Its mobile score made it one of the fastest 1.6GHz Pentium M notebooks we've tested yet. It beat the Gateway 450, which throttles its CPU and has a relatively low 256MB of memory, by a substantial amount. The nx7000 came in just four points behind the Dell Inspiron 600M, an insignificant difference in real-world use.

Maximum application performance
The nx7000 came in a distant second to the Inspiron 600M, which uses a faster 5,400rpm hard drive. It did, however, beat the Gateway 450, with its relatively low 256MB of memory. The nx7000 offers great maximum performance when running office and content-creation apps, especially for a system with a 4,200rpm hard drive.

3D graphics performance
The nx7000 easily captures first place in 3D performance, thanks to its 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9200, a more advanced version of the graphics adapter used by the Inspiron 600m. But although the nx7000 offers good 3D performance, we thought it could have been a bit better. Only the hardest of the hard-core gamers will be disappointed with the nx7000.

Battery Life
With its 14.8V, 4,400mAh (65WHr) battery, the HP Compaq nx7000 lasted more than four hours. The system beat the Dell Inspiron 600m, with its less powerful 11.1V, 4,320mAh (48WHr), by more than an hour. The Gateway 450, on the other hand, cranked for more than five hours to take first place in our roundup. Its 14.8V, 4,200mAh (62WHr) battery closely matches the nx7000's battery; however, the Gateway 450 achieves its longer battery life by throttling its CPU more than its competitors do.

Service And Support
We expected a better service-and-support plan for this business notebook. HP backs the nx7000 with a short one-year warranty and tech support. You can extend the warranty to three years for a reasonable fee. HP loads the nx7000 with its proprietary software for managing the system and diagnosing problems. The 100-page manual provides adequate general information on setting up and using HP notebooks, but it lacks information specific to the nx7000. A documentation CD provides similar generic information but in greater depth. The company's Web site offers extensive technical information and e-mail access to tech support.

To find out more about how this product's warranty really stacks up and what you should look for in terms of service and support, take a look at CNET's hardware warranty explainer.

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HP Compaq Business Notebook nx7000 (Pentium M 1.3GHz, 256MB RAM)

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Excellent business tool

Oct 18, 2005

Rating: 8 out of 10 (Excellent)
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I've used it for a year now. Crashes rarely, fast, reliable, all features work well. Battery life could be better.

 

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