The HP Compaq nc6120 Notebook PCs combine mobility, affordability and connectivity, offering a smart mobile office notebook for cost-conscious professionals. This thin and light... more
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A review by abdrewawolfe on HP Compaq Business Notebook nc6120 - Pentium M 750 1.86 GHz - 15" TFT January 16th, 2006
Author's product rating:
Speed
Fast
Look & Feel
Good
Comfort & Portability
Excellent
Robustness & Durability
Satisfactory
Value For Money
Satisfactory
Advantages:
light, good battery life
Disadvantages:
poor docking solution
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
About the laptop -------------------- This is my work laptop - it's the machine I use all day: in the office, on site and when working at home. I've always been fussy about the design of laptop that I have although I have to fit in with company standards. I've finally dropped my requirement for a floppy disk drive but I stick with: light, good battery life, lots of USB ports, back slash key in the right place and proper corners on the trackpad. Compaq/HP released a range of laptops with rounded corners on the trackpad - maybe someone thought it looked good but really - how stupid. Fortunately for me, when my old laptop packed up, the company standard model had been discontinued as it didn't meet my personal spec. I was then able to help choose the new corporate standard - pretty much had to be HP and had to be cheap but that was about it.
Features ---------- The HP NC6120 fitted the company requirement well and seemed to match what I needed, although you can never really tell until you get your hands on it and start working. The things that this model has that were important to me are:
* Four USB ports, 2 on each side, the ones on the right are side by side so big devices don't block the other port - you can never have enough USB nowadays.
* Nice square touch pad with a vertical scroll area on the right. The mouse buttons are a strange soft rubber but easy to use. The touchpad is just slightly recessed and almost never gets pressed by accident whilst typing - a real problem with other laptops.
* Keyboard is spot on, separate arrow pad and all the buttons in the right place. Its nice and responsive, your hands rest nicely either side of the touchpad.
* The laptop is light, relatively small and easy to carry. The separate power supply is quite small and takes a figure 3/cloverleaf cable.
* There is an old style serial port - not much use to most people but great for connecting to Cisco routers and missing on almost all laptops now
* Several in one car reader at the front, again handily positioned.
* Able to take up to 2GB of RAM, now this is more than most machines really need but I run MS Virtual PC which can easily use this.
* dual layer DVD/CD rewriter which is more spec than I need in a drive. I've not tried actually burning with it but it reads disks and came with some software.
* The display will only go to 1024x768 resolution which actually is fine for me, and all I can read on a 15" LCD screen. Some people do seem to want more though. For my use the display is clear and bright with a good viewing angle. There is also a standard external VGA connector.
* Intel Centrino 1.8GHz processor. Now this is pretty fast - it can cope with Dungeon Siege 2, although I wouldn't be running games on my work machine. As a mobile processor the power consumption and heat given out is really low. The battery can last four good hours, especially if you turn the wireless off for some of it. The fan only occasionally come on and is nice and quiet. My old laptop had three fans, each noisier than the last.
* Wireless - standard 80211b and the faster g wireless build in but I've had to set it to the lower speed as I was getting some dropouts. These seem to be specific to my laptop, rather than the model in general though as other ones we have bought since seem OK.
*60GB 5400rpm hard disk. Laptop hard disks are generally much slower than desktop ones which spin at 7200 or even 1000rpm. Older laptops have generally had 4000rpm hard disks, with the NC6120 HP have finally introduced the slightly faster 5400rpm drive. Basically the faster the platter inside the hard disk can spin, the faster data can be read off of it. With increased speed tends to come increased power consumption and heat generation so laptop drives are generally slower.
512MB RAM, this was a single stick, with one spare slot. I shoved another 1GB in and am running at 1.5GB, to upgrade further would dump the supplied memory.
Docking Station -------------------- HPs docking solution seems to have gone a bit wrong though. You firstly have to buy a stand thing that angles the laptop and raises it so the screen is higher and then you have to buy a port replicator thing that's part of the solution. This is rather big, cumbersome and could do with HP having a good rethink.
Price ------ Looking on line, this model is available for around £790 including VAT, although there is a confusing plethora of similar specs and prices. So perhaps a bit more than your PCWorld cheapest but still not bad and its proper Windows XP, not XP Home for that money.
Overall ---------- This has to be about the best laptop that I've used since an Omnibook of about 7 years ago. It was immediately recognised an HP copying the IBM Thinkpad styling and if that's what it takes to get a good laptop out of HP then I've no problem with that. It does me every work day and some evenings (when not on Ciao).
More Reviews
A Workhorse of Laptops Review ofHP Compaq Business Notebook nc6120 - Pentium M 750 1.86 GHz - 15" TFTby
darziw
Advantages: Fantastic Battery life and lots of features Disadvantages: No Floppy Drive or PS/2 slot
...of a laptop.
The HP Compaq nc6120 is a business laptop with a no frills design but all the features you would come to expect for business use. The main areas I consider when purchasing a laptop are,
• Features
• Battery Life
• Cost!!
The nc6120 comes in a number of derivatives and prices vary from around £700 to £1,100 depending on what you go for. It is a sensible no frills laptop that is dark grey in colour with no garish add-ons ... ...been very impressed with the HP Compaq nc6120 so much so that I have actually replaced all my business laptops with the HP Compaq nc6120's. The laptop isn't going to look the best or be the smallest and lightest out there but the features and durability and no nonsense design make it a very effective tool and good replacement for a desktop computer for those of you who are mobile users. ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Built-in Devices: Stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial, Bluetooth aerial, Stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial, Wireless LAN aerial
Width: 32.9 cm
Depth: 26.7 cm
Height: 3 cm, 3.7 cm
Weight: 2.8 kg, 2.7 kg, 2.6 kg
Localisation: Portuguese / Portugal, English / United Kingdom, German / Germany, Norwegian / Norway, French / France, Italian / Italy, Slovak / Slovakia, Danish / Denmark, English / Europe, English, Dutch / Netherlands, German, French, Italian / Switzerland, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, French / Switzerland, English / Saudi Arabia
Recommended Use: Small business, corporate business
Processor
Processor: Intel Pentium M 750 / 1.86 GHz
Data Bus Speed: 533 MHz
Features: Enhanced SpeedStep technology, power-optimized processor system bus, Execute Disable Bit capability, Enhanced SpeedStep technology, power-optimized processor system bus
Protocols & Specifications: ITU V.21, Bell 212A, ITU V.22, ITU V.22bis, ITU V.29, ITU V.32, ITU V.32bis, ITU V.34, ITU V.17, ITU V.23, ITU V.27ter, ITU V.8bis, Bell 103J, ITU T.30, ITU T.4, ITU V.250, ITU V.251, ITU V.80
Fax Compatibility: G3
Networking
Networking: Network adapter, Network adapter - mini PCI
Wireless LAN Supported: Yes
Wireless NIC: Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG
Data Link Protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
The HP Compaq nc6120 Notebook PCs combine mobility, affordability and connectivity, offering a smart mobile office notebook for cost-conscious professionals. This thin and light notebook provides the right balance of key features to help handle your versatile business needs, combining proven technology and long battery life so you can achieve maximum productivity without compromising your budget.
Expansion / connectivity
Expansion Slots Total (Free):
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type III (2 x type I / II)
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SmartMedia Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card
2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin, 2 memory
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type III (2 x type I / II)
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SmartMedia Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card, 2 ( 1 ) x memory
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type III (2 x type I / II)
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SmartMedia Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card, 2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type III (2 x type I / II), 2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x SmartMedia Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type III (2 x type I / II), 2 ( 1 ) x memory
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type III (2 x type I / II)
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card
1 ( 1 ) x SmartMedia Card, 2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type III (2 x type I / II)
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card
1 ( 1 ) x SmartMedia Card, 2 ( 0 ) x memory
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type III (2 x type I / II)
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card
1 ( 1 ) x SmartMedia Card, 2 ( 1 ) x memory
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type III (2 x type I / II)
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x SmartMedia Card, 1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type III (2 x type I / II)
2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
Interfaces:
1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
1 x microphone - input - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x audio - line-out/headphones - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11
1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45
1 x docking / port replicator, 1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
1 x microphone - input - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x audio - line-out/headphones - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x infrared - IrDA
1 x serial - 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9)
1 x display / video - S-video output
1 x parallel - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25)
4 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A
1 x docking / port replicator
1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45
Miscellaneous
Features: Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), system password, power-on password, DriveLock, Smart Card security, wake on LAN, ownership tag, memory change alert, HP ProtectTools Embedded Security, Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), administrator password, power-on password, DriveLock, ownership tag, memory change alert, Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), system password, power-on password, DriveLock, wake on LAN, ownership tag, memory change alert, Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), system password, power-on password, DriveLock, wake on LAN, ownership tag, memory change alert, HP ProtectTools Embedded Security, Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), system password, power-on password, DriveLock, wake on LAN, memory change alert
Compliant Standards: ACPI, APM 1.2, CE, UL, BSMI, GOST, EPA Energy Star, SABS, SASO, CCC, MIC, ACPI, CE, CSA, UL, BSMI, GOST, EPA Energy Star, SABS, SASO, CCC, MIC, ACPI, CE, CSA, UL, BSMI, GOST, EPA Energy Star, SABS, SASO, CCC, MIC, AES, ACPI, APM 1.2, CE, CSA, UL, BSMI, GOST, EPA Energy Star, SABS, SASO, CCC, MIC, ACPI, CE, CSA, UL, TUV GS, BSMI, CTR 21, GOST, CCIB, EPA Energy Star, NEMKO, SABS, SASO, CISPR 22, ICES-003 Class B, FCC Part 15 B, FCC Part 68, CCC, MIC
Power
Power Device: External
Voltage Required: AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Battery
Technology: Lithium Ion, 6-cell Lithium Ion
Installed Qty: 1 / 2 (max), 1
Capacity: 4800 mAh
Run Time (Up To): 4.25 hour(s), 4 hour(s), 4.5 hour(s), 5 hour(s)
Run Time with included additional battery (Up To): 10 hours
Operating system / software
OS Provided: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Software: Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, Norton AntiVirus (Trial), HP Mobile Printing for Notebooks, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Norton AntiVirus (60 days of live updates), HP Help and Support, HP One-Touch Button, HP Mobile Print Driver, HP Wireless Assistant, HP Local Recovery provided by Altiris, Synaptics Touchpad Driver, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Norton AntiVirus (60 days of live updates), HP Client Manager Software (free download), HP Help and Support, HP One-Touch Button, HP Mobile Print Driver, HP Wireless Assistant, HP Local Recovery provided by Altiris, Synaptics Touchpad Driver, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Norton AntiVirus (60 days of live updates), Smart Card Security for HP ProtectTools (free download), HP Client Manager Software (free download), HP Help and Support, HP One-Touch Button, HP Mobile Print Driver, HP Wireless Assistant, HP Local Recovery provided by Altiris, Synaptics Touchpad Driver, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Norton AntiVirus (60 days of live updates), HP Client Manager Software (free download), HP One-Touch Button, HP Mobile Print Driver, HP Wireless Assistant, HP Local Recovery provided by Altiris, Synaptics Touchpad Driver, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Norton AntiVirus (60 days of live updates), Smart Card Security for HP ProtectTools (free download), HP Client Manager Software (free download), HP Help and Support, HP One-Touch Button, HP Mobile Print Driver, HP Wireless Assistant, HP Local Recovery provided by Altiris, Synaptics Touchpad Driver, Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, HP Mobile Printing for Notebooks, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, Norton AntiVirus (Trial), HP Mobile Printing for Notebooks, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Norton AntiVirus (60 days of live updates), Smart Card Security for HP ProtectTools (free download), HP Client Manager Software (free download), HP Help and Support, HP One-Touch Button, HP Mobile Print Driver, HP Wireless Assistant, HP Local Recovery provided by Altiris, Synaptics Touchpad Driver, Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, HP One-Button Disaster Recovery, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, HP Mobile Printing for Notebooks, Altiris Recovery, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Norton AntiVirus (60 days of live updates), Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, HP Mobile Printing for Notebooks, Altiris Recovery, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Norton AntiVirus (60 days of live updates), Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, HP Mobile Printing for Notebooks, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Norton AntiVirus (60 days of live updates), Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Norton AntiVirus, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, HP Mobile Printing for Notebooks, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, HP Mobile Printing for Notebooks, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, Norton AntiVirus (60 days of live updates), Smart Card Security for HP ProtectTools (free download), HP Client Manager Software (free download), HP Help and Support, HP One-Touch Button, HP Mobile Print Driver, HP Wireless Assistant, HP Local Recovery provided by Altiris, Synaptics Touchpad Driver, Drivers & Utilities
Manufacturer warranty
Service & Support: 3 years warranty, 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details:
Limited warranty - 3 years, Limited warranty - parts and labour - 1 year - pick-up and return, Limited warranty - parts and labour - 1 year, Limited warranty - 1 year, Limited warranty - parts and labour - 1 year
Technical support - phone consulting - 1 year, Limited warranty - parts and labour - 3 years
Environmental parameters
Min Operating Temperature: 0 °C, 10 °C, 5 °C
Max Operating Temperature: 35 °C
Humidity Range Operating: 10 - 90%
Shock Tolerance: 125 g @ 2ms (operating) / 200 g @ 2ms (non-operating), 125 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse (operating) / 200 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse (non-operating)
Vibration Tolerance: 0.75 g @ RMS (random) (operating) / 1.5 g @ RMS (random) (non-operating)
I've recently been able to test this laptop as my stepdad has received one through his work. It's the first time I have seen an HP/Compaq laptop, but I've used many other brands so I'll be mainly using them as a comparison.
At first glance, the laptop more
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