At $999 (after a $50 rebate), our Presario V3000 test unit came with a solid set of specs for the price; essentially, you're getting a Core Duo configuration for the price of an otherwise similar Pentium M configuration from this time last year. Specs on our test system included a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo T2400 processor, integrated Intel graphics, 512MB of DDR2 SDRAM, and a 60GB, 5,400rpm hard drive. We built a very similar Inspiron E1405 configuration for about $975 (after a $250 instant rebate). The Presario V3000 turned in a very respectable performance in CNET Labs' benchmark tests, running right with the similarly configured Core Duo laptops we've tested during the past few months; it can easily handle word processing, e-mail, and even considerably more-demanding tasks, though without a dedicated graphics card, we can't recommend it for serious gaming. It lasted just short of 4.5 hours in our battery-drain test, which is quite good for a laptop of its size and at its price point. The ThinkPad Z60t configuration we tested turned in slightly superior scores but cost about $1,200 more than the Presario V3000; we have not yet tested the Inspiron E1405.
HP backs the Presario V3000 with an industry-standard one-year warranty; however, for a reasonable fee, you can extend the term to three years. HP will also cover the cost of returning the system for repairs throughout your warranty. The company's toll-free telephone-support lines are open 24/7 and offer free help during your warranty period. The HP support Web site includes one of our favorite support features--real-time chat with a tech rep--though the company limits your free chat time to just one hour. After that, you can try to troubleshoot problems yourself by searching through the site's FAQ database.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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BAPCo MobileMark 2005 performance rating |
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BAPCo MobileMark 2005 battery life in minutes |
Find out more about how we test Windows laptops.
System configurations:
HP Compaq Presario V3000
Windows XP Pro; 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo T2400; 512MB PC4300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; Intel Mobile i945GM Express 128MB; Hitachi Travelstar 5K100 60GB 5,400rpm
Lenovo ThinkPad Z60t
Windows XP Pro; 2GHz Intel Pentium M 760; 1,024MB PC4300 DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; Intel 915GM/GMS, 910GML Express 128MB; Toshiba MK1032GSX 100GB 5,400rpm
Sony VAIO VGN-FJ170B
Sony VAIO VGN-FJ170B
Windows XP Home; 1.73GHz Intel Pentium M 740; 512MB PC3200 DDR2 SDRAM 400MHz; Intel 915GM/GMS, 910GML Express 128MB;Hitachi Travelstar 5K100 100GB 5,400rpm
