HP Cheaps Out for 2005
Written: May 15 '05 (Updated Aug 17 '05)
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Pros: Dual-Layer dual-format DVD-RW drive, standard hardware, easy to use, loaded with software
Cons: Hardware comparison to previous models & other manufacturers makes this model feel cheap
The Bottom Line: Skip and pay extra money for another model. $50-$100 goes a long way in terms of hardware. Not as powerful as it seems, but would make a great family PC.
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| wsmunch's Full Review: Hewlett Packard HP Pavilion Desktop PC (A1006N) |
Every 6 to 8 months or so, the major PC manufacturers discontinue their current line of desktops and laptops to replace them with a new set of equipment. You can expect new things after X-mas and also right as school is starting in the fall. If you've worked in PC electronics retail long enough you won't be fooled by the physical redesigns and the new model numbers; the product is still pretty much the same hardware at the same price-point. Granted that each new series (generally) brings out slightly faster processors, slightly larger hard drives, and slightly included extras, you'll find that the performance stays pretty much in the same spot. A $599.99 computer this year is mirrored by the last years' model it's replacing.. most of the time. The past two years of HP's computer releases have given more to the customer for the same price. This year, things are a little bit different. Instead of giving more, HP has actually taken away some of the power and hardware of their low-end PC lineup, when you compare it to what was made available for last year. Maybe this doesn't seem so bad when you consider that the computer will still be able to do what the buyer would intend it to, but it doesn't look good in my eyes when I see someone charging the same price while giving less than they used to. The HP A1006N is no exception.
Reasons to Be Impressed With the A1006N:
• Dual-Layer DVD+-/RW (quality brand too, been seeing mostly Lite-On)
• MSI branded motherboard
• 533MHz Front Side Bus
• Ventilated side-panel
• Improved positioning for additional hard disk (horizontal instead of vertical, makes easier mounting)
• Excellent collection of software included (like trial spyware software, PC utility tools, restore CD/DVD creator, media playing/creating software, etc)
• 9-in-1 Flash memory card reader
• Easy connectivity (USB & Firewire ports)
Reasons Not to be Impressed:
• Celeron D Processor (previous models were AMD XP processors)
• 60GB less hard drive space (previous models had 160GB)
• Only 256kb of L2 cache
• No AGP slot (previous models had it included)
• No SATA (serial ATA) connections
• 250W Power Supply (weeeeaaakk)
• Two less USB 2.0 ports (previous model had 7 ports)
• Known issues with upgrading Norton software & installing SBC software
• Front door opens and closes to hide front-side audio connections and a single 6-pin Firewire port (it's really bordering on looking like wasted space)
Full product specifications can be found here:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?dlc=en&lc=en&product=460073&lang=en&cc=us&docname=c00313191
Ignoring the comparisons to the HP A710N, one might look at the specifications & price of the HP A1006N and think that it's a good computer. I'm not saying that it's bad. I'm just saying that you're getting more for your money when you compare it to not just previous models, but also competitor's models too. The major beef that I have with the HP A1006N is that it limits upgrades. No AGP slot or SATA connections means that you're strictly limited to PCI graphics cards and ATA hard drives. You can still see the solder connections for the AGP slot on the board. Granted that the weak 250W power supply is bare minimum and wouldn't support a better graphics card too well, why would the AGP slot be omitted from the system other than to "be cheap"? You get better performance with AGP, and most people expect it to be there too. SATA connections are great to have too, especially for those interested in speedy loading of media & data copying/transferring, yet they eliminated those too. The previous model's AMD XP processor is not only faster than the Celeron chip, but the overall performance is much better to boot. It just feels like HP eliminated some powerful (though easily overlooked) pieces in it's corner cutting, even though it brings in name-branded parts instead of the usual OEM stuff. The tradeoff of getting a DVD+-/RW drive for the loss of the rest of the hardware doesn't really balance out and go with HP's more-for-your-money PC's from before (in my opinion). You can purchase the same internal Lite-On DVD burner around $60 off the shelf. Also, for $50 more you can go with another manufacturer (like eMachines or Gateway) and get a better processor, larger hard drive, dedicated video card, and branded hardware, while still keeping the other (few) perks that this model HP has to offer. Maybe I'm just being picky, but I think that most people would agree it's better to pay the same and get the same (or get a bit more), than have to pay more to get hardware comparable to last year. HP has usually set the pace of including new things to give to the customer (e.g. they were the first to integrate memory card readers into their desktop computers) for the sake of value. I'm just used to HP's trend of giving more to the customer, instead of being cheap with their products.
One of the glaring problems that we've experienced happening with HP machines lately is the compatibility with upgrading Norton software. Those who try to upgrade the trial software that comes loaded with the machine quite often have errors that prevent a successful installation. We've tried to troubleshoot the problem with everything that we can think of with no success, including attempting to uninstall the current trial version. In the end, it took phone calls to HP's tech support and their answer was that they know of the issues with HP's pre-installed software that get in the way of trying to install new Norton software. They told us that there are no known fixes yet either. Sucks for Norton, since we've resorted to installing Etrust and Mcaffee for the customers that want full protection from viruses. Another problem that has been occurring (though it's probably moreso a problem with SBC) is that the SBC software used to install their DSL modems has been corrupting the operating system of HP's (Gateway is affected as well) computers. Users who plan to keep SBC as their high-speed internet service provider & use their software should keep this in mind, and may want to contact SBC ahead of time for instructions on how to prevent the OS corruption while installing their software (as of right now, we've heard rumor there is a fix for this).
SUMMARY
Aside from these issues, the HP A1006N is a good unit for people who need a basic computer that will accommodate most all of their needs. HP provides a lot of useful software with their latest series of desktop PCs which are easy to use and are backed by helpful documentation. You get software preloaded for just about anything that one might want to do, so new users don't have to worry about purchasing anything additional with the new computer, unless they want better quality software (whatever is loaded will get the job done, but there are always better options available to purchase off-shelf). Setup and installation is quick and easy and only takes about 7 minutes to be up and running once you turn the unit on. The case (and matching keyboard & mouse) remind me of a Bud Light can with it's mix of silver, alabaster, and greys. I think that it's an improvement over the grey/blue color combos from last year. The mouse and keyboard match the tower's sleek look and perform quite well, which is expected since they're based from Logitech products. Video, audio, and networking are all integrated into the motherboard and work perfectly out of the box. Those who encounter problems with these at any point are likely to have a dire issue with the system itself. The hardware runs well and performs as expected for basic user needs: internet browsing, 2D or older 3D games, digital imaging, music, word processing, cd/dvd backup, etc. The machine runs quiet and smooth, though improper software protection (i.e. lack of spam & spyware protection programs) will quickly drag down the boot speed and program access speed of the unit. I tested out the DVD burning process and it was just as fast as pretty much every other computer I've tested out over the past year. Messing around a little bit with video transferring and editing left me with the impression that upgrading the memory from 512MB to 1GB would help it out, though a system with better base stats would be the best option for those who would get a bit more serious with their video editing. People who might be interested in purchasing this unit would be those who: are on a budget, want something basic yet capable, like easy-to-use. People who might not be interested in purchasing this unit would be those who: are interested in doing home video projects, interested in PC gaming, are interested in upgrading with the most options available, might want to do more than basic-PC stuff. Overall, this unit is good enough for a family computer, though I think that there are better options if you're looking for bang-for-the-buck computers in the same price range.
My Recommended Software:
• Zonealarm Security Suite
• Webroot SpySweeper
Other Computer Reviews:
Averatec AV6240 Laptop
HP DV1040 Laptop
Related Hardware Reviews:
APC BE500U Battery Backup
Sandisk Cruzer Mini 256 Flash Drive
Logitech MX510 Mouse
Recent PC Game Reviews:
World of Warcraft
Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War
Doom 3
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 579.99
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Celeron
Processor speed: over 1000
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
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