Hewlett-Packard Compaq Presario CQ61

by olajide john o
(Port harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria )

My laptop is a Compaq Presario CQ61 notebook PC manufactured by Hewlett- Packard (HP). It has an Intel Pentium (R) dual-core CPU processor at T4200 2.00 GHz, 2.00 GHz. It has a RAM memory of 2.00GB. The operating system of this laptop is Windows vista Home Basic (Service Pack 2). It is a 32-bit operating system. It is yet to be rated as its 3.5 windows experience rating still stands at ‘unrated’.

The laptop is also equipped with a 250GB local hard disk (WDC WD2500BEVT-60ZCT1 ATA device) and a 10GB recovery memory disk. It also came with a DVD – RW drive (TssT corp CDDVDW TS-L633M ATA device), in-built HDMI webcam- 101 and a 5-in-1 card reader. It has two USB ports, a USB/SATA dual function port, an Ethernet port, a HPNA port, a VGA port, and SD-MS/Pro-MMC-XD card reading port. Available also are the headset jacks for microphone and speakers. It has in-built stereo speakers. The keyboard is a Standard 101/102-key of Microsoft Natural PS/2 keyboard with HP QLB. The pointing device is a synaptic PS/2 touch pad which can be enabled or disabled by a button on the key board.

The computer can also be connected with any network through its wireless adapter (Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi adapter) or local area network adapter (Realtek RTL8102E/8103E Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)). It has provision for a plug and play Bluetooth device but none in-built.

Actually I bought this laptop after my Toshiba laptop was stolen from me by armed robbers. After a long market survey, I decided to buy this system because it was the only system that met my entire requirement and still fell within my financial capability.

My laptop is a system that performs excellently well when it comes to file processing, video and audio playbacks, and almost anything it is used for. The speed of operation is fantastic. I have compared with other systems I had before it as well as with some of my friends’ systems and found out that it stood tall.

However, the two problems I usually encounter while using it are the delay in internet launching on Windows Vista once the signal is not too strong and the frozen pictures as well as sudden stoppage of the HP DVD playback software while playing.

Although in the case of the HP DVD playback software, I have proffered a solution to it. DVD playback software (Media Classic Player) that does not give such problems was installed as a complement to the HP DVD software and since then I have been enjoying it.

I could not change the vista operating system because I am just in love with the way it works and its outlooks. Hence I endure it’s seldom network problems. Also I am planning to upgrade the vista Home Basic to vista Business so that my Windows media player can play back DVDs.
To be candid, if I am asked to make a comparison between my present laptop and other systems that I have used before, and put the score in percentage, I would score my laptop 90%.

I have encouraged many of my friends to buy this system and I will still recommend many more that want a super machine at a very reasonable price to go this brand. You will not regret it.