I've had this machine, the HP Pavilion a384x PC Desktop, about a year now and it's been running pretty well for me.

All Geek to Me

Not being much of a computer geek I can only tell you in simple terms about what it does for me and how I like it. I'm sure there's a ton more stuff inside this baby that I'll never know about. I do know that I have Windows XP with this computer. The computer does have a tag on it stating 2800+ (2.08 GHz) AMD Athlon XP Processor and 512 MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM memory. More specs can be found in the details section if you need that kinda stuff.

First I'll mention it's a handsome looking machine. The gray and black colours give it a solid manly look. To me that's important. I had an E-machine sitting on my desk for years previous to this one and I hated its looks.

Set Up

I don't recall the exact process I had to use to set this machine up but I can tell you it was easy. The directions were easy to understand and I simply read the directions and followed the prompts. I was happy that there was absolutely no problem with my other devices getting connected. This computer recognized my printer and scanner and all was one in no time. I didn't even have to ask my daughter to get involved. Pops did it all by himself.

Recently I purchased a combo Printer/Scanner/Copier. When I set it up the hp pavilion recognized it right away and I was in business a short time later.

Watch DVDs

I like the fact that I can watch a DVD from this computer The DVD-rom drive with 16x speed is right up in front and responsive when I need it. I just put in the DVD plug in head phones and I'm off into a different world. I suppose the quality of the picture is more in the screen but I'm real happy with what I have.

A Happy Ipod Man

The CD-RW 48x24x48max speed option is also in front just under the DVD set up. The only thing I really use this for now is to listen to a CD when I'm woring at the computer but more often to send music into my 60GB Ipod that I won in an Epinions sweepstakes that anyone can enter. I simply wire the Ipod into the high speed USB port in front, stick in a CD and click here and there and I now have a good part of my CD collection in my Ipod thanks to my hp pavilion a384x computer. It's amazing!!!!!

I know the ports can be used for most PDA and MP3 players.
I also use it for connecting my digital camera. I plug it into the port and before you know it I have all my pictures saved to the computer. It's so easy! I can also edit pictures directly through the computer. I like that I can archive photos and send data to CDs too. There's also one of those floppy disc slots on the front of the computer. As of now I have no use for it.

I do like that a sliding door slides up and covers that slot and also the USB ports giving the front a smooth clean look but with the simple slide back down I have easy access up front.

Tech Support

Unfortunately I had to call for tech support once on the Hewlett Packard Pavilion (A384X) PC Desktop. I had some kinda bug in the machine about a month after owning it. It was nothing I noticed. What happened was my son told me I should get some particular security software to protect my investment. Somehow a bug would not allow me to set up the program. I called the security company first and they walked me through a process. They said they were stopped and I would have to go through the hp people. I did call them. I was on the phone for 8 hours straight. No kiddin' 8 hours. The guy on the other end was incredibly patient with me and we worked out the problem step by step.
Once corrected he stayed with me as I set up the security again. They guy wouldn't let me leave until we checked things out a couple of times. These guys are good.

A Non-Geek Assessment

I use my computer for writing reviews, searching the web, writing letters and getting music into my Ipod. I watch a DVD now and then. My daughters use this same computer for homework assignments, talking to friends on AIM and writing reports. They also download music and transfer it to their CDs and say it's a snap to do. We haven't had any problems at all. My wife simply looks up vacation spots and tracks down good buys for vacations on our computer.

One grand daughter joins one of my daughters and they play the games on the computer too. They tell me they need more or different kinds of ports for "real deal" fun and laughter.

The key board came with the hp pavilion a384x. It matches in colour and has a number of pictured buttons on top that will lead you directly what the icon relates to. I don't use them but the quick button to things like Email, Shopping and searches makes for a quick transition to these actions.

For our home use, this computer has more than enough features and memory space. We have been very happy with it from when I first had to set it up on my own, without any problems, until and including now. I had some software installed to help protect the computer and the firewalls, pop-up blocks and all seem to keep this computer safe. Once in a while my son comes over and reprimands me for not doing basic maintenance. He then hits my start button and does some clean up. I suppose I could do it all myself but I've got him trained. He comes over, he asks how the computer is operating, I tell him "good, I guess", he asks me what I have done to maintain it, I say, "Nothing", and he starts pushin' buttons. It's pretty easy for me.

To me a good computer is a computer that I never have to kick. This computer has been perfect for me and my family and I walk around barefoot without any bruises.

The Hewlett Packard Pavilion (A384X) PC Desktop is a keeper.






Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 499
Operating System: Windows