HP Compaq Presario 2100 review

3D graphics performance   (Longer bars indicate better performance) Futuremark's 3DMark2001 SE

Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100 4,090  Compaq Presario 2100 series 1,614  Fujitsu LifeBook E series 1,519

To measure 3D graphics performance, CNET Labs uses Futuremark's 3DMark2001 SE. We use 3DMark to measure desktop replacement notebook performance with the DirectX 8.1 interface at the 32-bit color setting at a resolution of 1,024x768.

Find out more about how we test notebooks.

System configurations:

Compaq Presario 2100 series
Windows XP Home; 2.4GHz Intel Pentium 4-M; 448MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; ATI IGP 340M 64MB (shared); Toshiba MK6021GAS 60GB 4,200rpm

Fujitsu LifeBook E series
Windows XP Home; 2.4GHz Intel Pentium 4-M; 480MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; ATI Radeon 340M 32MB (shared); Toshiba MK6021GAS 60GB 4,200rpm

Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100
Windows XP Professional; 2.2GHz Intel Pentium 4; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Nvidia GeForce4 420 Go 32MB; Toshiba MK6021GAS 60GB 4,200rpm

In our small roundup of systems, the Compaq Presario 2100 came out on top in battery life. With its 14.4V, 4,400mAh battery, the system beat out the Fujitsu LifeBook E Series, with its slightly weaker 14.4V, 3,800mAH battery. Compared to 2.4GHz desktop Pentium 4 systems weÂ've tested in the past, the Presario 2100 scored about average. Not bad; but with a better battery, it could have lasted longer.

Battery life  (Longer bars indicate better performance) BAPCo MobileMark2002 battery life in minutes

Compaq Presario 2100 series 168  Fujitsu LifeBook E series 140  Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100 103

To measure mobile application performance and battery life, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's MobileMark2002. 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:

Compaq Presario 2100 series
Windows XP Home; 2.4GHz Intel Pentium 4-M; 448MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; ATI IGP 340M 64MB (shared); Toshiba MK6021GAS 60GB 4,200rpm

Fujitsu LifeBook E series
Windows XP Home; 2.4GHz Intel Pentium 4-M; 480MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; ATI Radeon 340M 32MB (shared); Toshiba MK6021GAS 60GB 4,200rpm

Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100
Windows XP Professional; 2.2GHz Intel Pentium 4; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Nvidia GeForce4 420 Go 32MB; Toshiba MK6021GAS 60GB 4,200rpm

HP offers a one-year, return-to-depot warranty with each Presario 2100 notebook. You also get one year of toll-free phone support. After a year, however, you'll have to pay a $30 "one-time service event fee." HP will then provide as much support as you need on the specific issue for a period of seven days. When another issue comes up, it'll cost another $30. You can extend your support plan to two or three years of mail-in or pick-up service for $99 to $349. You should try the free support options that HP offers first, including free e-mail support and user forums on the company Web site. Finally, you can consult the Presario 2100's extensive manual to learn about everything from playing DVDs to troubleshooting wireless problems.