Computer question- HP

[MGKrebs]

I need a laptop for my biz. Unfortunately, I need it quickly. The Office Depot down the street has this HP Pavilion zv5120 for $1000 that looks pretty good to me, but I can't find squat on it as far as reviews.

I don't need big graphics capability. This is just typical small business stuff- spreadsheets, word processing, internet. Our business software uses an SQL database (?) if that matters.

The only thing I can find is that HP's customer service evidently sucks.

Any experience with this unit around here?

PS- I'm a Mac person, so the PC lingo is a bit foreign to me, and thanks in advance for any help.

[RoyGBiv]

1. HP Customer Services definitely sucks...

I had an HP laptop I used throughout college. The computer itself was fine and did everything I wanted, but when I needed service, it was hell.

I don't know if this is still true -- this is from about 3 years ago -- but the touch pads HP uses have some problems and can go freaky on you really easily. The external power supplies also have cabling problems for those who are constantly moving them around. All the bending makes them break easily near the junction with the box.

These were my two main service issues, and they were never solved to my satisfaction.

OnEdit: The computer, which is now five years old, still runs, though. I taught myself how to replace the touch pad and found one after a lot of looking that I installed that works better. The CD drive died after an incident involving a glass of water and me tripping, and I've never replaced it. But I still use it for word processing and spreadsheets when I need something portable.

[MGKrebs]

2. Cool. Thanks.

This unit actually has a touch pad different from anything else I've seen. I don't know if that's good or bad! But it doesn't seem as fragile as others.

This is going to sound stupid, but... this thing would come with XP Home version (which I think will be OK), and "MS Works", (which I'm not sure is OK.) But, nowhere can I find where it says that it would include Outlook (or Outlook Express) and Internet Explorer. Can I assume that these will be included, or would I have to plan on buying them too?

[travisleit01]

3. Outlook Express and IE will be included.

I'd recommend getting the XP Professional if you can upgrade (usually around $99 up front), and getting MS Word, just because that's what everyone else uses.

[RoyGBiv]

6. MS Works is rather crappy...

It's better than nothing, but I eventually erased it from my hard drive.

As far as I know, anything with XP on it includes Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. I did a clean install of XP Home on the computer I'm using now, and both those were there when I was done. It may or may not have Outlook. My laptop did, but this is not standard with just Windows. If it's not listed as a feature, I doubt it is there.

There's a good open source alternative to MS Office and MS Works called OpenOffice. I use that exclusively. It has a proprietary save format, but you can save in various traditional formats for porting to other systems.

[Old and In the Way]

8. Outlook Express and IE are integrated in the Windows OS

Outlook is sold with the MS Office suite. I think Express is basically the e-mail client, Outlook is the personal information manager.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. MSWorks...

reads and writes to Word and Excel formats, so it's just fine for everyday use. Just try to avoid saving anything in its native .wps or whatever formats. It might choke on templates, or some versions of Word.

I use WordPerfect and Quattro instead of Office, but I did use Works for a while when it came with the Compaq, and it is a very decent program.

Outhouse Express and IE come with all versions of Windoze. Can't get away from them.

[TreasonousBastard]

11. MSWorks...

reads and writes to Word and Excel formats, so it's just fine for everyday use. Just try to avoid saving anything in its native .wps or whatever formats. It might choke on templates, or some versions of Word.

I use WordPerfect and Quattro instead of Office, but I did use Works for a while when it came with the Compaq, and it is a very decent program.

Outhouse Express and IE come with all versions of Windoze. Can't get away from them.

[LearnedHand]

4. HP (and other department-store laptops)

...come loaded with lots of proprietary drivers and shit that will really screw you up. I have a Gateway laptop; bought it "refurbished" more than one year ago. It totally ROCKS. They (and Dell) don't load their laptops down with stupid stuff. You could have one of these in your hot little hands within 5 working days; if you can wait, I highly recommed the Gateway.

[LearnedHand]

5. Oh, and MS Works won't talk to MS Office without

...lots of translators. You'd need to get a copy of Word.

[RoyGBiv]

9. OpenOffice

As mentioned in my other reply, you can get OpenOffice and have the functionality of Word and the ability to save in Word formats without the cost. It has its own save format, but you can over-ride this and save in Word and Excel formats.

When you do so, it'll tell you that some formatting may be lost by saving in an external format, but I have yet to run across any document with which this has actually happened. It seems to be a standard "warning" response for all the external formats, including plain ASCII text, which would of course result in formatting changes.

And if you're not having to port it to other systems for use on Word, it doesn't matter anyway.

[Old and In the Way]

7. I have a zd7020us

Superb machine. But it was about 2x your $ target. I'd get MS Office, for sure. MS Access for database applications? I use Excel.. There is a openware Office version, but I have no experience with it. Buy an AV package and download Adaware and Zonealarm, as soon as you get your machine connected to the net.

If you are planning to run your laptop on a network, I'd spring for Windows XP Pro OS, if you will run your laptop on a standalone basis, XP Home is fine.

Some hardware thoughts-

Get a minimum 256MB ram, 512 better
Get 32MB of Video Ram
Get a minimum of 40GB hard-drive (more is better)
Get a laptop with 3 or more USB ports
If you have serious business data, buy an external drive for back-up.

[welshTerrier2]

12. read these reviews

http://reviews.cnet.com/Notebooks/2001-3121_7-0.html?tag=cnetfd.glnav

also, make sure you click the link in the upper left called: Notebook Buying Guide ...

my 2 cents: I wouldn't buy an HP ... you're probably better off with Dell, Toshiba or IBM ...

[MGKrebs]

13. I had my sights set on an IBM, but I can't find

one I can get in time. I'll look around some more.

[MGKrebs]

14. Thanks everybody for the help.

I know the worst position to be in is to have to do something in a hurry, but hey, if it was easy, anybody could do it. Making good decisions under pressure is part of the gig sometimes.

I've got a couple of projects next week that will entail hiring a temp and also doing an on-site demo of a lighting program. My Apple laptop is way too old to consider.

So I've got to get something this weekend, But I have voter registration drives both day, so I have to do some research, go shopping, buy something, get it set up/networked/business software loaded, around that. Oh yeah, I guess I better get some coffee too.

I know- cry me a river.

Dell may be a good brand, but they sure do need a new advertising agency.