I bought it as a second computer but it has proved to be a real hummer. The Celeron processor works fast enough for me. I notice when running two or three programs it slows down when switching from one program to the other, but how often do you do that? (After doing research on the Internet for an hour it gets slow. I do a restart and it comes back up lightning fast.) I run Flight Simulator on it which is very demanding of any computer, and it runs just fine. An upgrade of 64 more Mb of RAM would do wonders for it which I am going to do. The upgrade is around $40.00 Piece of cake to install, remove three screws and open the case, no problem. There right before your eyes is the memory slot. (DO NOT start feeling around inside the case or touch any thing just yet.)

NOTE: Be aware of static electricity build up in you or the PC case. I take mine in the garage and sit it on a work table. I take off one shoe and stand on the concrete floor which grounds me removing static electricity from my body. Then I touch the inside of the case frame BEFORE touching the memory module I am about to install. Then while still having one bare foot on the floor, install the memory module. If you do not have a concrete garage floor you can do it outside on the walkway, or touch a metal water pipe, or ground the PC case to the pipe. Whatever the case, you MUST follow the guide lines for dicharging static electricity out of you and the PC case BEFORE touching the memory module. Don't even take it out of the box until you have rid yourself of static electricity. 1.Bare foot on grounding floor. 2.Touch PC case frame inside. 3.With bare foot still on floor, install memory module. I've installed five modules with no problem using this method. If you have doubts, let a technician do it. A very miniscule amount of static electricity can ruin the memory module. Grounding is an absolute neccessity. Labor to install should run $35. to $50. depending on who and where. It takes about fifteen minutes. If you can plug in a light cord you can do the upgrade.

The 20 Gig hard drive will be adqueate to store more data than you can imagine. Flight Simulator and all the extra software I installed plus all the software that comes on the computer has used only 2.3 gigs with 17.7 gigs still available for data storage. The CD Rom works fine and fast for data or music CD's. The speakers that come with it are not made for listening to Led Zepplin, but they work fine for what they were intended to do. The 3.5 floppy drive works well. I installed my printer, Palm OS for my Visor Deluxe PDA, external ZIP drive, Flight Simulator 2000, Sidewinder joy stick, all with no problem for the HP 6736. Not once has it ever "locked up". If anything aggrivates me, that does.
The keyboard has seven buttons you can program using keyboard manager to connect to the web, e mail or programs you want to bring up. The mouse is basic but works very easy and slides like it is on glass.

The 6736 has a serial game port which a lot of the other low end computers don't have. I need that to plug my Sidewinder Force Feed Back Joystick into, which also works fine. It also has two USB ports for the modern day plug ins. All in all, it has about everything you need to get going. The internet modem made by Lucent Technoligies works great, fast, reliable and no problems thus far. It also has a FAX function and a phone dialer. Plug the modem into one plug, your phone into the other and use your computer for dialing. All plugs and connections are clearly labled.
The great big instruction sheet clearly gives directions for installation hook ups.

It has all the software you could ever possibly need, same as the high end HP computers. This is the second HP I have bought and have nothing bad to say about them. The HP website is full of data and info for their users, driver updates, etc. A year or so ago ago I had to call HP customer support line and had to wait a few minutes. But when I got through they walked me right through correcting the problem, which was my stupid error in the first place, and I left happy.

For those of you wanting to do word processing, spread sheet, graphics or surfing the web, forget the RAM uprgade. The 64 RAM that comes on it will do just fine. Upgrading to 128 RAM will be like getting the turbo charger option on your new car. Try the 64 RAM and see if it works for you. If it does, forget the upgrade. If you are a heavy gamer, do the upgrade.

Hey folks, fact is, this is a bottom of the line entry level computer that offers the most I could find for the money. I did a lot of research before I bought it. I did find one for $475., but upon scrutinizing the sparse software, I figured I'd have to spend around $200. to bring it up to the high level of the software that comes standard equipment on the HP. Plus that companies customer support has a poor rating. (I read various computer magazines and keep up on such things.) As afore mentioned, HP's customer support did fine by me.

I lucked out and got a $50.00 in store discount PLUS the HP $50.00 mail in rebate. So for $500. I'm happy as can be. If you want a hot dog zippidie doo dah lightning fast computer with a CDRW and a Pentium III processor, go pay the big bucks and get one. I got a fine computer made by a reputable company at a bargain basement price and I'm happy. (If you do want a CDRW check out the HP 6738 for $749. not including the HP $50. mail in rebate. With the 6736 or 6738 plan on installing the extra 64Mb of RAM for optimum performance.)





Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 500.
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Celeron
Processor speed: 601-700
RAM: 64
Internal Storage: CD-ROM
Hard Drive (GB): 13-20