Presario 1685 - Nice basic notebook

I like Compaq computers. This is my second one, and the thing I like best is that they are dependable, and I can get one with all the power I need for a fair price. My first one was a Presario 486 something or other (it's in the basement right now, but it probably still works fine, for a Windows 3.1 machine ;)

I've had this notebook, the Compaq Presario 1685, since the end of September, and so far I've been very happy with. The main reason I chose this model was, for the price, it was the best deal for my needs. I'm not a power gamer, so I don't need huge amounts of power or memory. But I like enough so I can handle my basic tasks, without the RAM running low, or running out of hard drive space in a fortnight.

I'm an Internet junkie. For my habits, I need something that will allow me to have multiple web brower windows open (short attention span - I can flip back and forth) without choking on graphic-intensive pages. And I want to be able to run Word 97 while I'm surfing, too. And, hey, I want to be logged onto my ISP, running Netscape, and pop over into my AOL account {accessing them thru my ISP) without the computer crashing into a burning coal. I can do it with this machine, no problem.

The other thing I liked about this model was that I could get it with a DVD drive, so I can get used to that media a little. It was comparably priced with other companies' notebooks with only a CD-ROM. The DVD drive isn't the best in the world, but it's enough for me to experiment a little, get my feet wet, and see what the DVD revolution is all about. My first movie on DVD, "Yellow Submarine" works fine, just a little hesitant and jaggy sometime, rather like the old 1X or 2X CD-ROMs were when they were new.

Another factor I wasn't sure about, as a first time notebook computer buyer, was whether to get one with a touch pad, or one with a point stick (one of those little eraaser looking thingies stuck between the keys :) I figured both would be a big adjustment over mousing, but the point stick was just too odd, and I'm sure I made the right decision going with the Compaq computer with the touchpad.

The only thing I would change about this model would be to have the larger 15" screen. The resolution on the 14" screen doesn't seem as sharp to me, especially when I'm playing a computer game (and I'm not talking anything wild here, just CivII) The monitor can handle up to 32 bit True Color, but things seemed a bit muddy and hard to see, so I usually run min at 16 bit True Color.

The biggest problem I've had with this computer is the power supply went bad in less than two months. There was a bit of a hassle getting CompUSA to ship it back to Compaq and order a new one (but that's a different epinion all together ;) but in the end it was a week before I got a replacement part - too bad I didn't notice the battery was being used until I had already drained it down to 10%, otherwise I could have rationed it out over that week while waiting for the part.

I think this is a great portable for someone who wants to access the internet, or do word processing / budget / basic gaming.