A desktop replacement from HP, the Compaq Presario 1500 series is one of the latest entries in a growing niche of notebooks that use desktop components--specifically, Pentium 4 processors with faster clock speeds than their mobile counterparts currently provide. Each of these burly notebooks aims to provide the best bang for the buck, but what sets the Presario 1500 series apart is its relatively portable design, at least by desktop-replacement standards. And indeed, on paper, the Presario 1500 retail configuration we tested looks powerful, with its 2.2GHz Pentium 4 processor, 512MB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, a 15-inch display, and a combination CD-RW/DVD drive. But in action, the Presario 1500 delivered only mixed performance results when compared to other notebooks with the same desktop chip. The system excelled when running on AC power but fell to the back of the pack when unplugged--a pity, considering its nearly US$2,200 (S$4,000) price tag. Put the Presario 1500 on your shortlist only if your idea of travel is going from room to room.

Design
Though it is by no means a thin-and-light notebook, the Presario 1500 is relatively compact and light by desktop-replacement standards. The entire system weighs 3.2 kg with its floppy and combo DVD/CD-RW drives. The oversize, 500g AC adapter boosts the system's total travel weight to 3.5 kg, putting it on a par with desktop-replacement systems such as the Dell Inspiron 8200 and IBM ThinkPad A series. (The system's three-prong plug is also a drawback for travelers who stray off the beaten track.)

Most of the Presario 1500's plastics have an inviting feel--particularly the soft, rubbery hand rest. Unfortunately, though the system sports a standard-sized keyboard with 19.3mm keys, the keys themselves depress only a shallow 2.2mm and have a mechanical, clicky feel while typing. Compaq doesn't add a pointing stick, either, but the Presario 1500's oval touchpad includes the expected pair of actuation buttons as well as unique four-way navigation button that scrolls up, down, left, and right. This nifty button is a nice idea, but it's a little too hard to get used to--you'll likely end up hitting it by mistake.

To keep the Presario 1500 slim, Compaq includes only one Type II PC Card slot; most desktop replacements have two or the equivalent of a single Type III slot. This is a smart trade-off, since you'll probably never miss the second expansion slot, what with the 1500 series' optional 802.11b and Bluetooth modules, as well as a combo DVD/CD-RW drive onboard. Instead of mini-PCI and integrated antennas, the Presario 1500 use Compaq's MultiPort technology, a module that includes both the radio transceiver and the antennas (for US$149) and snaps onto the back of the display. The MultiPort modules also work with many Compaq Evo business notebooks.

As with most notebooks, most of the Presario 1500's ports are located out of the way, on the back or side panels. Our only real complaint about the design of the ports is that RJ-45 (Ethernet) port is so recessed that it's difficult to get cables with rubber boots to make a consistent connection.

Features
The Presario 1500 comes in two basic flavors: the 1500T, which is fully configurable--with up to a 2.2GHz Pentium 4, 1GB of RAM, and a 60GB hard drive--and available only online, and the Presario 1500, which is available only preconfigured and in stores. (HP is in the process of adding new, lower-priced retail models as well.) All models use Intel desktop processors (Celeron or Pentium 4), DDR memory, and the middle-of-the-road ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics accelerator with 32MB of DDR video memory.

We tested a high-end configuration of the Presario 1500 that includes a 2.2GHz Pentium 4 processor, 512MB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, and a 15-inch SXGA+ screen. Less expensive models come with 14.1- or 15-inch displays at XGA (1,024x768) resolution. The Presario 1500 we looked at includes a floppy drive and a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which has a built-in infrared window for interfacing with peripherals--an interesting location for a common feature. Unfortunately, neither of these drives bays is swappable, so you'll have to live with the drives you order; this is a drawback, since you might want to ditch the floppy drive for a more useful supplemental battery, especially considering the 1500's subpar battery life.

The ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics accelerator and high-resolution SXGA+ display combine to produce sharp and rich images in games and smooth motion on DVDs. Plus, the 1500's pair of JBL Pro speakers (located just below the keyboard) complement these high-quality graphics with rich and vibrant sound, although it's not especially loud. However, many desktop-replacement systems offer more advanced graphics accelerators and more video memory, so if hard-core 3D gaming is your thing, you'll be better off with a different notebook, such as the Toshiba Satellite 5105-S607.

The Presario 1500's pair of USG ports make it among the first notebooks we've tested to support the faster USB 2.0 standard. The notebook includes FireWire, audio, S-Video, external monitor, PS/2, and parallel ports, as well as modem and Ethernet connectors. As we mentioned elsewhere, we were a little disappointed with the recessed design of the Ethernet (RJ-45) port.

Performance
Mobile application performance. Right out of the box, the Presario 1500 looks like a strong performer. It runs off the same fast processor as competing desktop-replacement systems--and even many actual desktops--and includes a healthy dose of DDR memory. Yet in CNET Labs' tests of mobile application performance--performance while the notebook is running on batteries--it came in last in its class. Both the Micron TransPort V1000 and the Toshiba Satellite 1955-S801, which also use desktop processors, scored better than the Presario 1500 by a significant margin. We should note that while the Presario 1500 and TransPort V1000 were set to Windows XP's standard Portable/Laptop power scheme for our tests, the Satellite 1955-S801 uses its own Toshiba Power Saver application to adjust CPU speed. Since it is optimized for Toshiba notebooks, this application may help to boost the Satellite 1955-S801's performance.

Battery life. The Presario 1500's 14.8volt, 4000mAh lithium-ion battery lasted a barely adequate two hours on our MobileMark test. That score placed it between the TransPort V1000 (11.1volt, 6,000mAh lithium-ion battery) and the Satellite 1955-S801 (14.8volt, 5,850mAh lithium battery). Since it is a desktop replacement, you may not find the Presario 1500's mediocre battery life an issue, but if you do plan to take it on the road, you should invest in an extra 4,000-milliamp-hour power-pack, which costs US$99.

Desktop application performance. When we plugged in the Presario 1500 to test its maximum performance using SysMark 2002, the picture changed completely--from worst to first. On office productivity applications, the Presario scored 14 points higher than the TransPort V1000 and 20 points higher than the Satellite 1955-S801. (This test is hard-drive intensive, suggesting that the Presario 1500 may have a better-performing drive than the competition.) Similarly, in Internet-content-creation applications, the Presario 1500 beat the Satellite 1955-S801 by 9 points and zipped past the TransPort V1000 by an even wider margin.

3D graphics performance. Not surprisingly, the Satellite 1955-S801 comes out way ahead of the Presario 1500 in 3D graphics performance. It houses the fastest mobile graphics processor of the bunch, the Nvidia GeForce4 440 (32MB version) compared to the Presario 1500's slightly lower performing ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 (32MB version). The TransPort V1000, on the other hand, uses a shared memory architecture--the integrated graphics chip borrows some of the main system memory--that typically decreases performance. This model, however, pairs a new desktop chipset, the SiS 650, with its desktop P4 processor, producing better performance than we've previously seen from a system with an SiS chipset. Still, the TransPort was no match for Presario 1500's ATI or the Satellite 1955-S801's Nvidia chipsets.

Service and support
The Presario 1500 comes with a standard one-year warranty on parts and labor, which can be extended to three years of coverage for US$119. Compaq's Web site provides no shortage of downloads, drivers, and forums as well as an interactive Q&A. The library of manuals and list of available parts help as well.