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Compaq R3000 series review
While Compaq offers the R3000 series with several different configurations, our test machine for this review featured an Intel Pentium 4 processor at 2.8GHz and 512MB of PC2700 DDR memory. Our 15.4-inch widescreen model also included a 40GB Hitachi 4200RPM hard drive, ATI's Radeon 9000 integrated graphics processor, and an internal Broadcom 802.11b/g mini-PCI card. Compaq sells the R3000 series with Microsoft's Windows XP Home operating system or, as our system was configured, with Windows XP Pro.
The 15.4-inch WXGA TFT wide-angle screen runs at a native 1280x800 resolution. Compaq also offers the R3000 with WSXGA+ (1680x1050) and WUXGA (1920x1200) options, as well as a new “Brightview” version of the WXGA screen, which is supposed to offer a higher contrast image.
Smooth rounded corners give the black and sliver Presario R3000 a sleek look that has proved to be quite durable over a few months of use. The top and bottom of the computer are black plastic with the center portion, including the keyboard and hand rest, finished in a thinner-feeling silver plastic. The bottom of the casing features solid rubber feet in each of the four corners and ridges throughout, presumably to help with heat dissipation.
Opting for a different design than some other laptops, Compaq has placed most of the expansion ports and interfaces on each side of the machine instead of at the rear. Those annoyed with having to turn a computer around or awkwardly reach behind it to plug in a USB device will appreciate Compaq's design choice here. The only interfaces at the back of the computer are the legacy devices — a VGA monitor port, a parallel port, and a telephone modem. Although we had no use for it, we were happy to see a parallel port since many new laptops don't include one, yet many people and businesses still have parallel-only printers.
The left side of the Presario R3000 features the optical drive, two USB 2.0 ports, a Type II/Type III PC Card slot and a 5-in-1 flash card reader. The reader can handle SmartMedia, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, MemoryStick and MemoryStick Pro flash storage formats. Missing is the popular Compact Flash format, but those with CF cards can find a PC Card adapter for under $20.
On the right side of the laptop is another USB 2.0 port, an IEEE 1394/Firewire port, audio controls and plugs, a 10/100 Ethernet port and an S-Video out. There is a button for volume up, volume down and mute as well as a headphone and a microphone jack. The right side also features a port that plugs into HP/Compaq's notebook expansion base, an optional docking station that includes a wireless keyboard and mouse and built-in Altec Lansing speakers.
The front of the computer features a button for turning the internal wireless on or off, and amber lights indicating hard drive activity, system power, and AC/power. The system power button slowly flashes when in standby mode which is useful if you have closed the lid and can't remember if you turned the power off or just went to standby. Also featured on the front panel are speaker grilles hiding the included JBL Pro speakers and a pushbutton to release the cover latch. The solid screen hinges and unique lid latch really gives the Presario R3000 a quality feel. We really liked this mechanism as the u-shaped metal latch was easy to open and release and kept the lid tight when closed.
With many competitors offering multimedia buttons on their laptops, the R3000 only offers the aforementioned volume buttons. Compaq's keyboard utility configures the F-keys to be used as multimedia keys, but you have to push them in conjunction with the Function key. Since many media applications such as Winamp have keyboard shortcuts anyway, we found Compaq's solution here to not be very useful and didn't like having to use a two-key combo.
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