Compaq redefines home computers with small, usefull Presarios<\/p>\n
By Zatni Arbi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): From time to time, we see products that, at
\nfirst glance, look very familiar. However, when we look closely,
\nwe notice small improvements on what we have been used to. In the
\nworld of PCs and notebooks, these improvements can sometimes be
\nminor but make life easier nonetheless.<\/p>\n
Other times we see breakthroughs that change the course of the
\ntechnology and industry. In each case, however, our most common
\nreaction would be, \"Why didn't they think of it before?\"<\/p>\n
Recently, Compaq launched their new Presarios -- the tower,
\nminitower and notebook -- that are loaded with small but useful
\nnew features.<\/p>\n
The top of the line Presario 4800 Series, as you would expect
\nfrom today's high-end machine, runs on an Intel Pentium II
\nprocessor. That's no news. The front panel has a cover that
\nprotects the drives from dust -- and haze from the forest fires.
\nThat's no news either. The price is US$2,999. That's still no
\nnews.<\/p>\n
What is new is the placement of the video and audio connector
\nports in front, on top of the drive shelves. That's neat. In the
\npast, we've had to grab the entire housing and turn it around
\nfirst because these jacks were usually located at the back, at
\nthe rear end of the expansion card.<\/p>\n
You know what I mean? Well, try this: unplug all the speakers
\nand the microphone from your multimedia PC, leave it alone for a
\ncouple of days until you've forgotten where each of the plugs
\nshould go in and try to reconnect them.<\/p>\n
That's how difficult it is. But, with the color-coded ports
\nnow located in front of the housing -- and it's actually not
\nreally too difficult to move them to the front -- we no longer
\nhave to guess where the jacks go.<\/p>\n
The new Compaq comes with Intel ProShare included, so you can
\nconnect your video camera and create a short video clip of your
\nown act. Why a short one? Because you will need a lot of hard
\ndisk space to store video data. The 2.1 GB hard disk (3.2 GB or
\nlarger is actually available) would be filled up completely if
\nyou record just 10 minutes of video.<\/p>\n
The video capture program is interesting, too. You can make
\nthe video image brighter if the room is too dark, for example, or
\nimprove the contrast if the object is too bright. Once recorded,
\nyou can send the clip of your little baby to Grandma via E-mail.<\/p>\n
Suppose you don't want to create a video clip but, instead,
\nyou want a video-conferencing session with a friend who lives
\nacross the ocean, all you'll have to do is unplug the video
\ncamera and plug in a simpler PC video camera, such as the one
\nfrom Connectix.<\/p>\n
A couple of clicks, and you both can see and talk to each
\nother. Again, this is not difficult to do, as the ports are
\nlocated in front.<\/p>\n
Other features for the enthusiasts (with healthy bank
\naccounts, of course) include what you may find in any high-end
\npersonal computer soon: 2X DVD-ROM drive, MPEG-2, AC-3 Dolby
\nDigital surround sound, Advanced Graphics Port (AGP) -- the new
\ngraphics standard from Intel, 4 MB SyncGraphics (video) memory,
\n512 Pipeline Burst cache, and a speakerphone with every telephony
\nconvenience.<\/p>\n
Oh, another new improvement that I almost forgot to mention
\nis the backlit Easy Access Buttons. With illuminated icons, these
\nbuttons allow you to turn the PC on instantly, control the DVD-
\nROM drive and the speakerphone. The icon will blink when the
\nbutton is pressed. Small thing, but useful nonetheless.<\/p>\n
Still another nifty feature is the Internet button. Press this
\none, and the PC will initiate the process of connecting to the
\nInternet. Understandably, we need to setup the system before we
\ncan start using it.<\/p>\n
Discman<\/p>\n
When was the last time you used your Discman? Chances are, you
\ncould play your favorite CD for two hours at the most, and then
\nyou were already looking for power outlet. What about 8 hours of
\ncontinuous play? By all means, you'd say. This one is expensive,
\nbut you'll get a Pentium notebook along with the Discman.<\/p>\n
What is interesting about the new Presario 1200 and 1600
\nSeries is that we can play the CD drive without having to turn on
\nthe notebook.<\/p>\n
That's the secret behind the eight-hour playing time. Hm, did
\nI hear: \"Why didn't they think of it earlier?\" Like the previous
\nPresario notebooks, the buttons are placed in such a way that we
\ndon't even have to open the lid to use them.<\/p>\n
Another interesting thing about the more expensive notebook
\n(Presario 1600 Series) is the bass enhancement feature. Compaq
\ncalls it 4X Bass Reflex.<\/p>\n
You'll see an open chamber in each side where the thumps come
\nout. It won't pound your heart or shatter your ears, but, then
\nagain, your Discman cannot give you any better sounds.<\/p>\n
The entry-level Presario 1210 also comes with a high-contrast
\ndual scan LCD screen. Its size is a modest 12.1 inches. The more
\nexpensive Presario 1600 Series, as expected, comes with a TFT
\ndisplay -- but still 12.1 inches. In many cases, the passive
\nmatrix display provides better protection from prying eyes of the
\nperson sitting in the next seat.<\/p>\n
Battery<\/p>\n
Of course, we can accurately check the amount of juice left in
\nthe battery by turning the notebook on and running the special
\nutility.<\/p>\n
But here's another innovation introduced by Compaq: On the
\nbattery pack itself there are four tiny LEDs. You take it out of
\nits well and press a button. You'll know how much power it has in
\nstore by noting which of the LEDs turns on. If you're a road
\nwarrior, you can have more than one battery packs and you can
\ntest each one without having to boot up your notebook every time.<\/p>\n
One thing that I really would like to see in a notebook is a
\nstandardized battery. If we run out of power, we can just run to
\nthe Seven-eleven store on the corner and buy a fully-charged new
\nbattery. Once, in the past, Compaq used batteries made by
\nDuracell, but I guess because the design of the notebook kept
\nchanging, it was difficult to stick to Duracell.<\/p>\n
Notebook designs tend to emphasize slimness and therefore it's
\ngetting more difficult to fit a standard Duracell battery into
\nit.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, all the new improvements found in the latest
\nPresarios, including the front placement of the video and audio
\njacks, audio-CD playing without having to boot up the notebook,
\nand power indication on the battery pack itself, are certainly
\nwelcomed. Hopefully the other PC and notebook vendors adopt them
\nand even improve on them.<\/p>",
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