HP dc7600 User Manual
Product Reviews
HP Compaq dc7600 Ultra-slim
Desktop
Summary: Hidden in a small ultra-
slim case, this computer system has
the same power as larger systems
and wins our Best In Class Award for
value, power and compactness.
Price: $1242
The HP Compaq dc7600 series of
computers are a group of customizable computers systems with
an affordable price and the power
to be an excellent workstation in
the office environment as well as at
home. In our case, we received
the ultra-slim desktop unit to test
and give this system our Best In
Class Award for value, power and
compactness.
Although this particular model
is available as a tower or a larger
desktop, the ultra-slim version is
great for those cases where you
don’t have a lot of room to spare.
Still offering the same computing
muscle as its counterparts, this
version is just a bit larger than a
notebook although you will still need to
purchase a monitor. With a
3.4GHz Intel Pentium 4
processor, 1MB Level
2 cache RAM and
512MB of DDR2
SDRAM the system’s performance
was rather impressive. Add to that a
fast SATA80GB hard drive and the data
processing performance was above
average for computers with this combination.
The ultra-slim version is great
for those cases where you don’t
have a lot of room to spare.
Our system had an integrated Intel
Media Accelerator 950 graphics card,
however with the company’s web site
configuration program you can choose
between two faster NVIDIA cards and a
DVI adapter which will
really complement the HP Compaq
dc7600. The system uses a multibay for
some peripheral items such as our
8X/24X DVD-ROM. As more offices are
going with a faster Gigabit network, the
computer has an integrated Broadcom
10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet port with
options for a wireless hookup if you
need it. Other peripheral devices can be
attached through a FireWire interface
and we really do appreciate HP
Compaq’s normal six high speed USB
ports available with the computer.
The dc7600 ships with Windows XP
Professional, although you can save a
few dollars by going with the
Home version. If you prefer a
Linux based system, HP offers
this computer with the HP
Compaq dc7600
Alternate OS called
F r e e D O S .
Productivity software
isn’t included with the
base system but the
configuration program gives you a
wide selection of
packages that can
be installed on the
shipped system.
When you need
the computing power
for business applica-
tions in a work environ-
ment, the Hewlett Packard
Compaq dc7600 system offers
great space savings and
excellent performance. This
particular computer is priced on
the company’s web site for around
$1240. To find out more details or
price a system just right for your
needs, visit the site at www.hp.com.
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Product Reviews
HP Compaq nc6220 Notebook
Summary: A lightweight and compact
notebook designed specifically for
business and travel use that wins our
Editor’s Choice Award for functionality
and price.
Price: $1591
Recently, we’ve had the chance to
review several of the HP
Compaq 6000 series of
notebook computers and
while each of them had
their own benefits, they all
seem to be geared towards
business use with some
uniqueness to each model.
The nc6220 follows in the
same genre offering a light
weight system with quick
computing power.Thissystem receives our Editor’s
Choice Award for functionality and price.
Like most of the HP
Compaq notebooks, you
can configure a model with
specific features on the
company’s web site. You
can drive the price according to the extras you select
that differ from the base unit.
Weighing in at less than 5-pounds
and skinny with a height of 1.1”, the HP
Compaq 6220 is a great traveling companion for the business person.
This particular system starts with an
Intel Pentium M 1.6GHz processor with
2MB of Level 2 cache as well as 512MB
It has more than enough for
power for use with many business
applications that we test with.
of DDR2 SDRAM. Graphics are provided on the 14.1-inch diagonal TFT active
matrix LCD screen through an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator
900 card. Although this combination
doesn’t rank it as one of the fastest laptops available, it is more than enough
for use with many of the business applications we test with on these types of
computers. The display presented an
extremely crisp image even at the higher 1400x1050 maximum resolution.
Wireless capabilities of the system
include a Bluetooth connectivity and an
integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG
802.11b/g interface. Additional support
is available through a
10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet port for
quick network communications.
Other features include three high
speed USB ports, VGAand S-Video
outputs, a microphone input, speaker and line outputs, a replicator port
and an RJ-11 jack for the 56K G3
fax/modem of the computer.
The HP Compaq 6220 comes
with the Microsoft Windows XP
Professional operating system and
a few utilities specific for this laptop,
but you’ll have to fend for yourself
when it comes to any productivity
software for the system. We think
you’ll be happy with the price and
performance of this lightweight and
compact notebook with this
base unit starting at
roughly $1600.
Visit the
Hewlett
Pa c k ar d
web site to
see specifics and configuration possibilities at www.hp.com.
The base unit includes a 40GB 5400RPM hard drive although a slightly
larger 60GB drive is available with the
system. Our system included a
DVD/CDRW combo while you can
select a DVD burner in its place.
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Product Reviews
Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard
The days of just one phone company are long
gone and even though it's been replaced by multiple companies and cell phones, the wave
of the future is telephony by broadband.
TheActiontec Internet Phone Wizard is
small enough to fit in your palm with
the capabilities of an expensive
VoIP interface. This device wins
are Best In Class Award for
originality, functionality and
price.
Unlike some of its competitors, this
Actiontec product can utilize both landline (with
your existing phone) and Internet phone connections
without the need of a headset. The device actually notifies
you when you're on one line, that a call is waiting or incoming
when you’ve completed the first conversa-
tion.
Whether you’re using cable, DSL
or using a product like Skype to make
your phone calls the Actiontec Internet
Phone Wizard is very easy to
install and understand with
the software that’s included
with the system. Connection
to your computer and network
is accomplished through a
USB port. Some broadband com-
panies are offering a device like this
but you must sign a contract. No con-
tracts are required with this affordable and
compact device that has an internet price of
around $50. Find out more my visiting the company’s web site
at www.actiontec.com
Just when you thought you had
enough devices for your dockable iPod,
all along comes another one. This one
however, is handy if you use the MP3
player in your automobile and want to
save the juice of the rechargeable battery. Because of its price and convenience we honor the Griffin PowerPod
our Best In Class Award for value and
functionality.
Although the dockable iPod can
certainly take care of itself, this power
source is an opportune appliance
when going on a long trip. Simply plug
one end of the PowerPod into your
cigarette lighter and the other to your
Griffin PowerPod
iPod via the FireWire cable, and
you’ve got sound, unless your car battery dies - but that’s a different story.
Even though we’ve occasionally had a problem placing devices
in our cigarette lighter or they're
too loose, the PowerPod fit snugly
into the unit and even through a
few bumpy roads it never disconnected. Apple charges $20 for the
same FireWire cable alone, Griffin
sells the cable and power supply
on their web site for just $24.99.
You'll find the PowerPod and other
iPod accessories at the site located at www.griffintechnology.com.
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