HP PRESARIO 700US

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Ratings

No PCWorld Rating

Overall Rating	78
PC WorldBench 4: Performance word scores reflect comparions of PCs in the same category (power or value) running the same operating system. See Your Guide to the Top 100 for more details.	Average: 74 (Windows XP Home)
Base Configuration	Good
CPU	900-MHz Mobile Duron processor
Screen size	14.1 inches
System memory	256MB of PC133 SDRAM
Hard drive	20GB
Graphics	S3 Twister K using main memory
Pointing device	Touchpad
Expandability	No multipurpose bays, one PC Card slot
Extra features	Good
Bundled removable-media drives	8X DVD-ROM drive
Communications	Built-in V.90 modem, built-in network interface
Extra ports	Headphone jack, S-Video ports
Business suite	None
Other features	None
Overall design	Very good
Battery life (mm:ss)	Average: 2:15
Weight: typical/minimum (in pounds)	Average: 7.6/6.7
Vendor's reliability/service	Fair/Poor
Support Policy	One-year parts and labor warranty; free unlimited 24-hour/7-day toll-free support

No PCWorld Rating

5 User Reviews Add your own »

Compaq Presario 700

PRESARIO 700US Review, by Carla Thornton January 16, 2002

WHAT'S HOT: For consumers seeking a laptop with a distinctive look, the Presario 700 has style to spare. Its case is rounded and black with metallic highlights, and a large push-in release pops open the clamshell-style lid. The notebook's silver power switch, volume buttons, and four shortcut buttons stand out at the top of the dark keyboard. A metallic border wraps around the touchpad and transitions into mouse buttons at the ends. Creature comforts include a four-way rocking button that lets you scroll vertically and horizontally through documents and Web pages.

Other extras: an eye-pleasing bean-shaped PC Card release, a plastic business-card sheath on the bottom, and flip-out feet that tilt the keyboard for typing at an angle. The Presario 700 has most standard connections--including two USB ports and an S-Video port for connecting a TV--all of which are protected behind a long drop-down cover on the back.

WHAT'S NOT: Since both the floppy drive and the DVD-ROM drive are fixed, you can't swap either out to insert another drive, such as a Zip drive or a second hard drive. The battery poops out after a little over 2 hours, which is rather short battery life in comparison with that of other notebooks. The wraparound mouse buttons may be a minor work of art, but they're too thin and stiff to be comfortable. Hate designer labels? The 700 carries a huge plastic Presario medallion on the lid. Another minor beef: Instead of hinges, the long rear port cover uses a bendable plastic, which seems likely to break off eventually.

Aside from a few pamphlets, the Presario 700 comes with no print documentation; everything is on CD-ROM.

WHAT ELSE: The Presario 700 is of a typical size and weight for an all-in-one laptop, with the floppy drive on the left side of the case and the DVD-ROM drive on the right. Unlike with many other all-in-ones, the speakers aren't very powerful, and you can't order a docking connection. You can, however, access memory and storage easily: To remove the hard drive, which sits flush with the bottom of the notebook, you take out one screw and push on a fingerhold.

We've tested no similarly configured laptops with which we could compare the Presario 700's performance. Using a 900-MHz AMD Mobile Duron processor and running Windows XP Home, it's about 20 percent slower than the Gateway Solo 5300 with a 1-GHz/733-MHz Pentium III-M CPU running XP Professional, but it performed basic tasks in our tests fairly quickly.

UPSHOT: Stylish in black and silver, the Presario 700 is well suited for consumers tired of the boxy laptop look. However, with its fixed drives and short battery life, it may not suit travelers who prefer swappable drives.

SUMMARY

Compaq Presario 700

PC WorldBench 4 score of 74, 900-MHz AMD Mobile Duron CPU, 256MB of RAM, 64KB L2 cache, Windows XP Home, 14.1-inch active-matrix screen, integrated Via ProSavage KN133 graphics chip with 16MB of SDRAM, 20GB hard drive, 8X DVD-ROM drive, built-in V.90 modem and network adapter, touchpad pointing device, 7.6 pounds (including AC adapter and phone cord). One-year parts and labor warranty, free unlimited 24-hour toll-free technical support.

$1422
800/345-1518
www.compaq.com

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User Reviews From Around the Web

Reviewed by: dudelove337

Strengths: none

Weaknesses: overheats, overheats, overheats, dies, start when it wants to

Overall: someone please help me I have my entire life on a piece of junk 700....my AC blinks, but my battery is still good. Nevertheless, the 700 will not turn on....Please help!
Reviewed by: tsberry

Strengths: Price/Performance

Weaknesses: Support

Overall: Believe it or not most of the random lockups are NOT caused by an "overheating cpu". If the cpu truly overheats, the system will probably not boot up again. It's a well known fact that the early AMD Athlon processors run hot because they consume a lot of wattage. That is not the reason your system is randomly locking up while you surf the internet. The laptops are very finicky about the software (specifically any software that accesses device drivers on the system). Here is my troubleshooting recommendation for you people with random lockups on the Presario. Reinstall the operating system using the Quick Restore disks that came with your machine. Do not upgrade ANY of the software on the system (including Microsoft Windows Update) while you operate your computer. Do not install any applications. Run your computer for about a week leaving it on all the time connected to the AC adapter. If the system does not shut down or lock up during that time, then your problems are more than likely not related to the processor. Second, if you have have old, or scratched, or very dirty cdroms lying around, sometimes they will hang your system, so whatever you're putting into or connecting to your computer, make sure that it's not outdated or defective. These laptops are VERY picky as to what hardware and device drivers you use with them, so upgrade your drivers ONLY with the computer manufacturer or if MS, check for the WDHL logo.
Reviewed by: smuvplaya

Strengths: color and design

Weaknesses: parts break once out of warranty

Overall: I Had this computer for a year and 6 mos. I sent this computer back to the manufacturer 3 times where they had my computer for about 2 months while in warranty and they never extended my warranty for the time they had it. About 30 days out of warranty they pin in the power cord connection started moving so, I was not able to charge my computer most of the time. I asked Compaq if they would fix the problem and they declined. So I took the computer apart myself and had to glue and solder the motherboard to fix the problem. I have had a Gateway, Dell and Compaq laptop. I will NEVER buy anything Compaq ever again. I never had this problem with my Dell!! This computer is garbage!!!!
Reviewed by: clarkme1111

Strengths: moderate

Weaknesses: Do not move around a whole lot without expecting some technical problems

Overall: I've purchased my 700 at a pawn shop for a great deal & I'm very happy with the perfomance of it. It's very fast & sleak desighn feels & looks great, but I've recently had problems with it shuting down right after I started it up & it took me a couple of angry nights to figure out that the hard drive had become a little loose from handling & once I removed the easy access panle on the bottom I removed the hard drive & replaced it, I have not had a problem since. It has great sound & high quality picture & I can perform many multiple task at one time without any hesitation of speed.By the way, I know the average price of the 700 is approx 999.00. I got mine for 500.00 at my favorite pawn shop. Of coarse no warrenty
Reviewed by: MonicaLiza

Strengths: None

Weaknesses: The entire computer--low battery life, gets really hot, shuts off, and the list continues. See comments. It does not take heavy (all day) use too well.

Overall: Within in five months, I have sent my lap top back to the manufacturer for warranty service--from a defective A drive, bad hard drive, and now it is unclear as to what is wrong as they still have it and it is going on four weeks.

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