Compaq NX9420

Reviewed by: FlameoutAlchemist

Duration of ownership: 7 Months

Strengths: This is an extrememly flexible computer. Not only does it offer excellent capabilities as an office-tyle computer to do job and school related work, but it is designed to let you do both comfortably with the wide screen and expansive layout. When you add an extra GB of memory, like mine has, this computer is also an excellent portable gaming machine. The main CPU has three vents that allow the heated airr off of it to escape in at leat two directions, no matter how the computer is physically sitting. Strangely enough, when I ran a straight-through Cat5e cable between my NX9420 and another classmate's notebook, the NICs on both computers strangely lit up and were communicating.... The Personal Secure Drive option isa great way for me to encrypt files and store them securely on the computer. Use it all the time and haven't heard anyone claiming to have cracked the encryption.

Weaknesses: Compaq's hidden partition, which is supposed to allow for the user to resotre it to factory default configs without the need for discs, has never worked the two times I've needed it. Sometimes the left-sdie USB ports, when I plug my mouse or any other USB device in, locks up the entire system. The two main RAM modules are not located together; one is underneath the keyboard and the other is behind an easy-access panel on the underside of the computer. When I purchased the computer, the extra memory was not factory-installed, and the noises of the seals breaking when I was removing the keyboard to install the new modules I was seriously thinking that I was breaking the darn thing. I never throught that I would miss the media buttons that are common on other laptops, but I think I'd rather have a 'play' button versus the 'presentation mode' button that's currently available.

Overall Evaluation: Overall I'm very impressed with this laptop. Compaq has made a piece of hardware that is capable of doing exactly what I want it to do - Be a versatile compter that can let me play my games, get my homework done, and act as my portable tech aid on computer repair calls, and it does all three of these functions very well. The dual core processor helps it play games like Guild Wars with excellent framerates and load times. I'd recommend this computer for people who are looking for a laptop that is scalable and upgradeable, one that will last 3-4 years without becoming seriously outdated. The $400 laptops from Wal-Mart may be more affordable initally, but the money you pay for this is made up in quality, reliability, and convenience, all three of which you sacrifice with cheaper models, just so that you can claim to have a laptop.