HP Compaq nc8000 series
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CNET Editors' Review
- Reviewed by: Jon L. Jacobi
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
- Updated on:
The good: First-class performance; excellent battery life and keyboard; runs cool; has firmware security.
The bad: A tad bulky; stiff pointer controls.
The bottom line: The fast, sturdy, and highly secure nc8000-series notebooks make excellent enterprise machines.
Modules for the nc8000's left-mounted HP MultiBay (also found on the smaller nc6000) include a DVD+RW drive, a 24X/10X/24X+8X CD-RW/DVD combo drive, a 24X CD-RW drive, a 8X DVD-ROM drive, a 24X CD-ROM drive, a second battery ($169), a second hard drive, and a floppy drive. Wireless options include 802.11b/a/g and Bluetooth. The nc8000 also features HP Protect Tools Embedded Security, a rather lengthy moniker for a security solution that includes firmware, software, and smart-card components. Advanced user verification and file encryption are its two main features. The nc8000 comes preloaded with Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 for its operating system. The software utility bundle includes HP Compaq's Insight Management Agents, Intelligent Manageability Diagnostics for Windows, a plethora of user documentation, and Adobe's Acrobat Reader for displaying the system documentation. The HP nc8000 came in second place in mobile performance in our latest roundup of mainstream systems. Hot on its heels was the Toshiba Tecra T1, which came in just two points lower than the HP nc8000. The IBM ThinkPad T41 was the winner, scoring nine points higher than the HP nc8000. In real-world terms, however, this is a very small difference that wouldn't translate to any noticeable performance gap between the two, since they both scored high. The HP nc8000 definitely has what it takes to run office and content-creation apps at a fast clip.
To measure mobile application performance and battery life, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's MobileMark 2002. MobileMark measures both application performance and battery life concurrently using a number of popular applications (Microsoft Word 2002, Microsoft Excel 2002, Microsoft PowerPoint 2002, Microsoft Outlook 2002, Netscape Communicator 6.0, WinZip Computing WinZip 8.0, McAfee VirusScan 5.13, Adobe Photoshop 6.0.1, and Macromedia Flash 5.0). Find out more about how we test notebooks. System configurations:HP Compaq nc8000 IBM ThinkPad T41 Toshiba Tecra M1 The HP Compaq nc8000 is a top performer in battery life. Thanks to its 14.4V, 4,400mAh (63WHr) battery, the system lasted much more than five hours, delivering one of the best single battery scores from a mainstream system we've seen. Neither the IBM ThinkPad T41, with its 10.8V, 4.400mAh (48WHr) battery, nor the Toshiba Tecra M1 could stand up to the power of the HP Compaq nc8000's cell. For a mainstream notebook--or any notebook for that matter--this great battery life is something most users will appreciate.
Battery life analysis written by CNET Labs assistant lab manager Eric Franklin. To measure mobile application performance and battery life, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's MobileMark 2002. MobileMark measures both application performance and battery life concurrently using a number of popular applications (Microsoft Word 2002, Microsoft Excel 2002, Microsoft PowerPoint 2002, Microsoft Outlook 2002, Netscape Communicator 6.0, WinZip Computing WinZip 8.0, McAfee VirusScan 5.13, Adobe Photoshop 6.0.1, and Macromedia Flash 5.0). System configurations:HP Compaq nc8000 IBM ThinkPad T41 Toshiba Tecra M1 The nc8000 comes with a limited three-year system-pick-up warranty, though there's no promised turnaround time. HP Compaq also offers a wide array of service plan options that includes everything but an offer to hold your hand crossing the street. Some of the options are onsite service, next-day exchange, 4-hour same-day service, and 2-hour service on software issues. Toll-free, 24/7 hardware technical support is standard and free for the duration of the warranty. The paper documentation consists of a short but informative start-up guide, an errataum sheet saying that the USB 2.0 bus doesn't supply bus power as the manual states, and a copy of the warranty. Additional and more thorough documentation is provided on CD. HP Compaq's online support is both copious and diverse, including e-mail to a technical-support agent, downloadable PDF manuals, firmware updates, and FAQs. To find out more about how this product's warranty really stacks up and what you should look for in terms of service and support, take a look at CNET's hardware warranty explainer. Hide ReviewUser ReviewsSee all user reviewsMost recent user reviewsShowing 3 of 24 reviews stars "2010 un notebook ancora competitivo! Win 7 compatibile!" By powerhp73Pros: Siamo nel 2010 e questo nc8000 riesce ancora a stupirmi. Windows 7 gira molto bene e sono riucito a trovare tutti i driver. Se aggiornato con un disco veloce compete ancora con i modelli attuali! In entrambi le prestazioni sono fenomenali. Cons: Mancano le USB laterali. Risolto con una carta pacmcia USB.. ;) stars "Feels like a desktop! With less CRT heft! Yay!" By kaneda_shimaPros: I bought this used after a bit of research, including cnet.com. HP often makes a solid desktop and this laptop is no different. The config: 1.7 P-M, 1G RAM/128M ATI Fire GL T2, and combo drive makes this a rich platform for content creation. Cons: I have been told Vista doesn't play well w/ this machine, and the lack of a 64-bit cpu + separate gpu config is kind of stressful, but since the Pentium-M can be upgraded, along with the hard drive and RAM, shouldn't be obsolete for awhile. Summary: All in all, this mobile workstation lives up to its name. I am going to enjoy the breathing room the ati gpu is giving me, seeing as my Macbook friends and Qosmio buddies hate their graphics performance. Even four years after it's release, current software and games are tackled ... Expand full review Where to BuyPricing not available  Where to BuyPricing not available  Which laptop is right for me?
While a laptop has become a ubiquitous accessory for modern life, the actual process of choosing the right model can take some serious time and research. In this guide, we'll outline the different categories of laptops and which types are best for different users. We'll also take a look at CPU, hard-drive, and networking options. We've compiled a handful of typical user experiences that should help outline what type of laptop is right for you. Chances are, you'll fall somewhere in between two or more of these archetypes, so carefully consider what you'll be using your new laptop for.  
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