One look at a Compaq and most can
immediately tell that this series is HP’s affordable model. Out of the box, the
specs are supposedly decent enough to execute heavy processing tasks. One of
the newer models the Compaq Presario CQ45-702TU Notebook PC is just exactly
that. Pre-loaded with free DOS, it gives users the freedom to load another
operating system on it or completely change the platform altogether. They can
basically do what they want with the new Compaq. In fact, I have equipped this
particular CQ45 with Windows 7. Let’s see how well it fares against our
benchmarks.
1. Plastic-Ky Build
The CQ45 spots a black glossy finishing on
the lid with Compaq’s ‘Q’ trademark at the centre. While the notebook looks
sleek and modern, it never escaped the most common of problems for many devices
of this age: being a fingerprint magnet. The palm-rest and touch pad surface
looks nice but I’m not too keen on having the touchpad surface being too
polished. It gets worse when my fingers are not very dry as it makes the
touchpad rather sticky.
2. Extra Bright Screen
The CQ45’s 14-inch HD Bright View display
is pleasant to look at, showing off decent colour accuracy and brightness
levels. The only thing it lacks is the different shades of black. With any
black colour grading, the CQ45’s display will have noticeable pixels. Also, I
suggest turning down the brightness to less than half because that’s all I need
to use the notebook comfortably. Another recommendation to take note of is to
always keep in mind that the screen has a reflective surface. That means,
you’ll have to pump up the brightness when working outdoors.
3. Multimedia Marvel
Watching a movie with this notebook is
great fun. It handles fast paced action movies so well that motion blur is
barely present. However, as mentioned before, it still suffers when showing
shadows or any dark scenes because pixels is very apparent. However, this issue
doesn’t really diminish the entertainment value and performance of the CQ45. Sound
wise, the speakers of this notebook has a crisp sound performance at the
mid-to-high range levels. This ideal threshold can be achieved when the audio
is set to about half the maximum volume. Anything above that will affect the
quality of the audio.
4. Low Battery
Sadly, the battery life is particularly
disappointing. I can barely squeeze three hours of usage with this notebook and
this is with the brightness being set to around 50 percent and having the Wi Fi
turn on. Of course, I tested the battery life by constantly web browsing
throughout the estimated time. This means having to take the cable with the
CQ45 everywhere, including for moments of very light travelling. However, do
keep in mind that its affordable price point is clearly reflected in its overall
performance.
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Details
·
Price: $327
·
Dimensions: 342 x 231 x 35.5 mm
·
Display: 14-inch diagonal HD BrightView
LEDbacklit Display (1366 x 768)
·
Processors: Intel Celeron B820, 1.7 GHz, 1333
MHz FSB
·
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
·
Audio Features: 2 x Altec Lansing Internal
speakers
·
OS: Free DOS
V: 9/10
F: 7/10
P: 8/10
D: 6/10
U: 8/10
Verdict: It is a great first PC for those who love to DIY.
7.6/10 Score
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