Customer Reviews

HP Pavilion a800n Desktop PC (AMD Athlon XP 3200+ Processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, CD-RW Drive, DVD-ROM Drive)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this used from Craiglist for $35. It came without a hard drive, but with an upgraded power supply, GeForce 7600GS video card, 1 GB of RAM and a Creative Sound Blaster audio card. I bought and installed a 320 GB HD for $20 locally, and loaded Win XP Pro. I added a USB wireless adapter (Netgear WG111v3). I hooked up my vintage Altec Lansing ADA 305 speakers to this.

One may say that this computer is old, obsolete, dated. However, it runs like a champ for my purposes. It's quiet/near silent, and fast/smooth for common tasks such as web surfing (about 99% of what I do). I bank online, check e-mail, enjoy reading various forums pertaining to my interests, write reviews (as I'm currently writing my review on this computer) etc. I listen to music sometimes with the desktop. I don't do any gaming (except Angry Birds every now and then), photo/video editing. For word processing that I rarely do, I use Google Docs. I bought this to be a beater/test computer to use in one of my offices, but it works so well, I've kept it at home. Plus, I downsized my business and have one less office. I use this more than my HP DV9500, which I love, or my Macbook Pro 17". It runs Puppy Linux 5.2 and Ubuntu 10 and 11 well. Occasionally, with Win XP Pro, I get a message that my virtual memory is running low. I plan to add more RAM. I have yet to have this computer blue screen on me or crash.

The downside to the computer is that memory upgrades are relatively expensive. Although the HP website says that the max RAM is 1 GB, according to the Crucial website, the motherboard will support 2 X 1 GB of PC3200 184 pin RAM. Compared to newer mem sticks, 1 GB of this memory is about $40. I'm probably too frugal, but looking for a great deal on eBay. A Crucial 2 GB kit is $90+ from the crucial site. I don't want to invest too much $ in this unit. I can probably sell the existing RAM for about $15 once upgraded, to ease the pain.

I'm planning to upgrade the OS to Win 7 Ultimate eventually. I am waiting first to upgrade the RAM. It runs well in Win XP Pro, so I'm a little reluctant to rock the boat, so to speak. Also, I don't want to have to spend potentially hours to install Win 7 and the drivers and fix any bugs.

Despite the prediction that PC's (desktops) are dying and tablets will take over, for the time being, I still prefer PC's. I'm more efficient typing on an actual keyboard rather than a virtual keyboard (although I realize one can purchase a bluetooth keyboard for a tablet). I also prefer viewing a larger screen.

This is a really good computer! I've had mine since March 2004. HP was great with repair (one time), and it has been fine! XP home program.
You cant beat this computer. Ive been told by my internet/phone Provider and my home page Provider DSL support technicians who would tell me that I need a new computer, that my computer is too blame, it's too old,
everytime their crummy DSL connections went out...

I argued with them and stuck to my guns that IT Wasn't My computer!
Finally, a technician saw the DSL tests I failed everytime proved it was failing connection tests though the providers said all along, the failed tests didn't mean anything!

That technician said that wasn't true and set up a service fix appointment.
It wasn't my computer, and finally after 4 years of bad service the circuits outside were fixed and now I get high speed for real!

This is an excellent computer!
P.S. I have put this pc through a lot of "trial & error" too!