Averatec 3150P Laptop (AMD Athlon XP-M 1600+ 256MB RAM, 30GB Hard Drive, DVD+CD-RW Combo)

by Averatec

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 8.3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000EI9US
• Item model number: 3150P
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,119 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 8, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Extremely thin (10.6 by 9.6 by 1.2 inches) and very lightweight (a mere 4.3 pounds), Averatec's 3150P Notebook PC is one of the smallest standard mobile computers on the market. Though not a power user's dream rig, the unit is a smart option for those who require excellent portability and a fiscally sensible price point.

The Averatec 3150P is driven by a trio of cost-effective components -- a 1.4 GHz AMD Athlon XP-M 1600+ processor, 256 MB DDR SDRAM memory, and an integrated S3 ProSavage8 graphics controller with 32 MB of shared (not dedicated) video memory. With this level of power at their disposal, users can expect solid performance for standard 2-D tasks such as word processing, spreadsheets, Internet surfing, contact management, and basic drawing. However, sophisticated business applications and complex multitasking will likely tax the system's capabilities. Furthermore, the unit's graphics engine will not effectively handle mid- to high-end 3-D gaming or animation.

The Averatec 3150P features an adequate 30 GB hard disk on which to store your important data and a DVD/CD-RW drive through which you can play and burn audio CDs, archive data and play DVD movies. DVD burning is not supported. You'll monitor your activities on a 12.1-inch XGA TFT display capable of sharp 1024 by 7678 resolutions, and listen to your tunes via built-in stereo speakers.

For such a small and affordable notebook, the Averatec 3150P is very well connected. Communication options include integrated 10/100 Mbit LAN for fast networking and Internet access, a 56K modem for slower dial-up environments and 802.11b wireless for those times when you can't plug in. Other important amenities include three fast USB 2.0 ports for data streaming with external devices such as scanners and digital cameras, a Type II PC Card CardBus slot, and an 85-key full-sized keyboard. An IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for swapping data with digital camcorders) is not included.

Microsoft's Windows XP Professional Edition heads up the preinstalled software bundle, which also features Microsoft's Works 7.0 productivity package and a DVD playback utility. Battery life is estimated at a commendable 3-plus hours with the enclosed Smart Li-ion cell.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good... but needs slight work, April 15, 2004

By 

Bob Frogelli (Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Averatec 3150P Laptop (AMD Athlon XP-M 1600+ 256MB RAM, 30GB Hard Drive, DVD+CD-RW Combo) (Personal Computers)

I bought this system in December, and so far it has proven very reliable. The USB ports (3) are quite helpful when multitasking, and it can connect to the internet in a variety of helpful ways. I have yet to try the wireless 802.11b, but up to now, the LAN port has proven the fastest. The RAM needs one upgrade to be fully helpful, and to get full processor power, disable a lot of programs that slow down operation.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasitc Budget Laptop, August 9, 2004

By 

Peter Lamonica "Programmer" (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Averatec 3150P Laptop (AMD Athlon XP-M 1600+ 256MB RAM, 30GB Hard Drive, DVD+CD-RW Combo) (Personal Computers)

I got this laptop open-box on clearance at office depot for under $800 about 10 months ago; it was probably the best $800 I've ever spent. I have always been a strong advocate against laptops, they are not very upgradeable and they are generally incredibly expensive. When I was forced to buy one due to my school situation, I decided to get a mid-level laptop: something that was not too slow, but was under $1000.

When I got the averatec notebook, the first thing that jumped out at me was the size and weight. Several of my friends have laptops that never leave their desks because they weigh 10lbs. At 4.3lbs, about the size of a piece of paper, and just over 1 inch thick, this notebook goes with me everywhere. The battery doesn't last as long as my firend's centrino notebook, but I've never had it die on me in class. (It gets about 2 hours under normal use, up to 3 or more under light use).

It has everything you need, usb 2.0, cd-rw, dvd and built in wireless (incredibly handy), and nothing you don't, like serial or parallel ports, which take up space and I haven't seen one used in years. The screen only runs at 1024x768 resolution, but on a 12.1 inch monitor, it looks fantastic.

Another thing I am incredibly satisfied with is the fact it comes standard with Windows XP Pro. Home edition has many problems, and is far less secure. Professional Edition usually only comes with expensive notebooks, to see it on a sub-900 dollar notebook made me very happy.

I have a couple issues, however. The keyboard is a bit cramped; the backspace key is too small and hard to find when touch-typing. The shift key is too small and right by the up arrow, so you often hit the up arrow when trying to hit shift with your right hand. Also, if you press down on the lid with the laptop closed, it clicks the mouse button, so its good to have it off or in hibernate when transporting it (a good idea for any laptop). And finally, it gets hot. The bottom is poorly designed, and if you put it on a soft surface (i.e. your lap) it will clog the vents and get pretty hot pretty fast. I have heard that Best Buy stopped carrying it for just that reason. As long as you keep it on hard flat surfaces as much as possible, the heat is not too bad, and will not cause any permanent damage.

Most of the issues are solved in the next version of this notebook (which also features a faster processor and more/better ram). Overall, this is a fantastic deal for under $900, I highly recommend it. There is no reason to spend $1700 on a laptop when it will be outdated in 3 years and there is no way to upgrade it. Better to spend half as much on something solid that will stick with you and just do the basic things you need.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars AVOID AVERATEC!!!, October 24, 2005

By 

Sam H. Grayson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Averatec 3150P Laptop (AMD Athlon XP-M 1600+ 256MB RAM, 30GB Hard Drive, DVD+CD-RW Combo) (Personal Computers)

I bought an Averatec in March of 2004. Eight months later (November 2004) the left hinge broke. Since the laptop was still under warranty you'd think they'd fix it. Instead, I got a lot of runaround from Averatec about how it was "physical damage" and therefore 'out of warranty'. They would not admit that it was poorly designed. It cost $130 to get it fixed. Ten months later (September 2005) the exact same thing happened. The left hinge broke. This time they tell me I need a new hard drive, a new wireless card, and a new fan (all of which were working perfectly before it went to Avaratec) for $295.

Averatec's products are not merely inexpensive they are CHEAP. Any savings are lost to bogus repair costs.