Advantages: Free Email Support, Local Rate Telephone Support, Very Helpful Website
Disadvantages: Opening Hours of Support Lines

...and without the help of this customer services department I would have some serious problems now. Either that or be completely out of pocket as I would have to make a further purchase of windows. Since then I have recommended people that are buying a new PC that if they are unsure of PC’s to take a look at Compaq as good customer support is always a major advantage. Since that day I have had other minor problems with my PC and have discovered the Compaq website where they have all sorts of information. The address I was using was www.compaq.co.uk although this will now redirect you to a different address as Compaq are now part of Hewlett Packard (HP). On the website you can get all sorts of help with all Compaq and HP products ranging from Laptops, to Desktops, from Printers to Servers. There is a complete list of contact numbers to call... Read review

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Advantages: High pixel display, settings
Disadvantages: None

...This WHOPPING 19" Flat screen TFT came with my hp computer when i purchased it from HP around a year ago, so far, no problems what so every, just a crystal clear display. It has a 1280 x 1024 resolution meaning its a great all rounder, and by that i mean, whether your watching tv ( on windows media center), watching a dvd, or just browsing the internet. It has serveral on-screen adjustments that you can make such as brightness, contrast, image control, language, managment settings, OSD control, video input select, or you can make a factory reset. With this monitor, you can plug upto 2 computer devices at the same time, meaning you can switch between the two (video input select, as said a paragraph before this). This would be great saying, if you had your main desktop PC all linked up, but you bought your laptop home from work and want... Read review

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Advantages: Takes 6 disks in a 2U package
Disadvantages: Not a great deal

...the manageability of HP servers shines through is the ability to carry out system firmware upgrades when the operating system is loaded, ideal if you have servers that are not close to you. HP also provide various means of configuring your server with the operating system you can use either the enclosed Smart Start CD or if you have a lot of servers to deploy there is a scripting tool kit, and for the very large enterprise there is the Rapid Deployment Kit based on Altiris Deployment Server, unfortunately this last option does require the purchase of a licence but it is well worth it if you have lots of servers. Bundled with every server is a copy of HP Insight manager which is a web based console that uses SNMP traps from the server it can manage you whole server and desktop estate, it is basic monitoring but for a small company is ideal. The support... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to work on, good support
Disadvantages: Rather large footprint

...I have run a IT department for over 10 years and have seen many Computer suppliers in that time. I have now standarized on Compaq throughout the company for Desktops because I find that they have worked hard on what used to be very poor in customer service. We tend to now buy EP series because they suit our needs. We are not power users but use standard off the shelf products like Microsoft Office Pro and terminal emulation software for accessing our Unix system. The speeds are more than adequate for most users, why do you need disc access speeds of .00000001 msec if you are only typing memos and reports with 2 fingers. Service calls , which I must admit are not often, are dealt with in an efficient manner by Compaq Direct. Users Manuals are never opened by most users so why spend huges budgets on them. We currently operate about 120... Read review

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Advantages: All users can have up to date software
Disadvantages: It has an low power usuage

...What is it? A “thin client” is a device that enables all applications to be run from a single server instead of the applications been run from the individual persons computer. Compaq evo thin client T20 otherwise known as the “thin client” for people in the trade. Compaq evo is a Microsoft based terminal, which means it has the ability to connect over a network to an operating system (server) which has a citrix metaframe software operating. Thin client enables the server to control all applications, processing and storage. This means all applications are run from a single server, thus the thin client is used to process keyboard input and screen output, and hence is where the users applications and folders stay. Experience The experience I have had with Compaq evo thin client T20 is that they are relatively... Read review

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Advantages: small form factor, cheap, fast, reliable, good support
Disadvantages: lack of space to upgrade

...When Compaq was bought out by HP, there was some concern as to the loss of the Compaq brand and a reduction in quality of desktop and server machines. I am pleased to say that this has not happened. The Compaq Evo D510 is a worthy machine and packs a lot of power into a small space. The basic specs of the machine are: 2.4GHz Pentium 4, 256MB, 40GB, CD-ROM, onboard sound, AGP Video, LAN, Modem, black case, TFT monitor Available from £600+vat (even PC World are keeping prices on this quite low) the machine definitely has a lot of features for the price. Although not designed as a gaming machine, the PC will perform (though you may want to change the graphics card for the more demanding games). The machine comes with a return to base warranty and this is a good all round solution for most people. If you want to upgrade the warranty... Read review

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Advantages: Relatively fast printing, clean pictures, and sharp text
Disadvantages: Sometimes a hassle to troubleshoot without a more thorough manual

...My brother purchased an HP Desktop computer recently from Circuit City. He managed to find a great deal on this printer... free. I was a little skeptical at first because of the "free printer" deal, but I've known HP to be a reasonable printer in the last few years. I have two other HP printers at home... a 732C and a 610C, and I've enjoyed all of them for the most part. The 610C has given me some quality problems, but that's not what this opinion article is about. I've enjoyed the high quality of the 842C and have recommended it to all of my friends for it's ability to conserve ink better than most Canons and Lexmarks. In the long run I think that this printer has been a good deal, and as far as cost, well... print cartridges aren't cheap anymore, as we all know, but saving money on a printer that will conserve ink is worth the extra... Read review

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Advantages: Bright colours, Good size, Clear, Good design
Disadvantages: Not a huge size, nothing else

...So on top of the HP Compaq Business Desktop dc5100 - P4 640 I'm using is this HP monitor, a very clear, vibrant display showing exactly what it should. But first lets talk about it's design. A simple 17 inch monitor, HP logo in the top centre, "HP 7540" bottom centre and below that are 4 buttons. "MENU" on the right, - (left centre), + (right centre) and "SELECT". Further right is an led indicator and the on/off button. See simple, ordinary standard sort of a layout, nothing too confusing or hard to handle, and even PC newbies should be able to handle it fine. The display is definately a step up from yesterdays monitor, which looked blurry and merged colours together (though it may have been due to someone messing around with the display rather than the monitor outright). The colours are how they are supposed to be, no blurriness... Read review

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Advantages: Powerful, fast, sleek
Disadvantages: Getting programs into the system

...to check email. Make sure if you use the client that you use an imap so that it does not remove the original email from the server so that you can download it to your main computer. My girlfriend went for the Palm, ands its good but it was HP for me due to the backup of HP and most importantly the WiFi capability and MS suite of software that came with it. You get Ms Word and Ms Excel, so you can read your docs on the run and also produce material which you can use on your desktop or note book later on. This is real power computing on the small manageable mobile platform. I bought it in my local PC World, in Sprucefield. They were inexperienced and not really able to help me out with my purchase, lucky its not them being reviewed. Make sure you do your research and know in advanced if its this model or one of the others you need... Read review

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Advantages: Size, battery life, colour screen
Disadvantages: Memory (though I can "borrow" CF cards from work!), IR transfer is a bit iffy though this could be the software.

...I didn't intend buying a Pocket PC as I already had a pretty well spec'd laptop, though at times lugging around a bag weighing in at about 4Kg was a bit of a pain. I happened to walk past Dixons and noticed that they'd reduced the HP 525 by £100 to £199.99, seemed like a pretty good deal and not a massive amount to spend, so I splashed out. Turns out to be one of the best purchases I ever made. I couldv'e got the 548 from PC World for £300 but didn't see the point in paying the extra just for a bit more memory and a USB port connection. And the colour of the 525 matches my car!! The HP uses the windows CE OS, which I personally prefer to the other PDA OS's, familiarity I suppose. It comes with MS Activesync to connect to your desktop and a copy of MS Outlook 2000, though I already had this installed. Once connected the Pocket PC... Read review

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