HP unveils new $300 Compaq and Elite desktops

HP recently showed off some minor updates to its Compaq (yes, it’s still around) line of budget-priced desktops as well as introduced an entirely new line: the HP Elite desktop brand.

Let’s get it out of the way now. Yes, Compaq is still around. After the merger with Hewlett-Packard some years ago, the Compaq brand seemed to enter stealth mode, all but disappearing from the computer manufacturer’s website. There wasn’t much buzz related to the crazy Q branding for the longest time; much of its existence seemed to be tied up in HP-Compaq co-branding identities. As of this summer, however, that’s all changed. HP has put forth a renewed effort to drive the Compaq brand by populating with low-cost, value-priced models, both in its desktop and laptop segments. In India, the Compaq brand has become the dominant branding of the entire PC industry, due in no small part to its value-minded nature.

In all, it was a busy day for the little brand, as HP showed off two business Compaq lines and one consumer model. They all look pretty similar, clad in glossy black plastic and finished black metal, with Compaq branding (essentially no sign of an HP logo to be found). All are pretty basic, which is to be expected from a value line – but despite easing back on some of the spit and polish, all of the units felt pretty solid.

Compaq CQ4010

The CQ4010 is the new consumer model in the Compaq lineup, adding to the CQ5110fthat we reviewed earlier this year. The new machine is a slim minitower, taking the value and capabilities of the pre-existing Compaq line and pushing them down into a package whose size has traditionally been reserved for more expensive models. Coming in at a surprising $309 price point, the CQ4010F is really more of an enhance nettop than a traditional desktop. The CPU inside is a single-core low-clocked AMD Sempron, so while it’s going to be more than capable of handling basic office tasks and web browsing, you won’t find it going too far beyond that. Interestingly enough, HP will be shipping the new desktop with a 64-bit copy of Windows 7 Home Premium; that could be a draw over many nettops that will likely ship with Windows 7 Home Basic.

Specifications:

• Processor: AMD Sempron LE-1300 @ 2.3GHz (512kB L2, 1600MHz bus)
• Memory: 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB (2 DIMMs)
• Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Hard drive: 250GB SATA @ 7200RPM
• Optical drive: SuperMulti DVD+/-RW with LightScribe
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE integrated graphics
• Networking: 10/100 Ethernet, 56k modem
• Audio: Integrated audio
• Inputs: 6 USB2.0 (2 front, 4 back), headphone and mic jacks, 2 PS/2 ports, VGA-out
• Expansion: PCI Express x1 (occupied by modem), PCI Express x16 (open)
• Dimensions: 4.43 x 15.91 x 12.24 inches (WxDxH)
• Weight: 9.2 lbs
• Warranty: One year limited hardware and software support
• Product number: NY650AA#ABA

The CQ4010 will start shipping with Windows 7 on its release day – 22nd – for the pretty affordable $309.

Compaq 500B and 505B Business Desktops

The new Compaq 500B and 505B business desktops are aimed squarely for the small business segment of the market and designed to be easy to set up. Still coming in at surprisingly low price points, the 500B and 505B are two sides of the same coin, with the 500B featuring Intel processors and the 505B offering a wider range of AMD alternatives.

500B Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Pentium dual-core and Intel Celeron CPUs
• Memory: 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB (2 DIMMs)
• Operating system: Windows XP Professional, Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows Vista Home Basic, SUSE 11, FreeDOS
• Hard drive: 160GB to 500GB SATA @ 7200RPM
• Optical drive: DVD-Rom or SuperMulti DVD+/-RW with LightScribe
• Graphics: Intel GMA 3100, NVIDIA GeForce G210, ATI Radeon HD 4350
• Networking: 10/100 Ethernet, optional 802.11b/g/n
• Audio: Integrated HD audio
• Inputs: 8 USB2.0 (2 front, 4 back, 2 internal), headphone and mic jacks, VGA-out
• Expansion: 2 PCI Express x1, one PCI Express x16, one PCI
• Power supply: 300W internal
• Dimensions: 6.54 x 16.87x 15.11 inches (WxDxH)
• Warranty: One year on-site hardware support

The 500B will carry a starting price point of just $359, and will ship with the launch of Windows 7 on 22nd.

505B Specifications:

• Processor: AMD Athlon II X2, X3, X4
• Memory: 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB (2 DIMMs)
• Operating system: Windows XP Professional, Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows Vista Home Basic, SUSE 11, FreeDOS
• Hard drive: 160GB to 500GB SATA @ 7200RPM
• Optical drive: DVD-Rom or SuperMulti DVD+/-RW with LightScribe
• Graphics: Intel GMA 3100, NVIDIA GeForce G210, ATI Radeon HD 4350
• Networking: 10/100 Ethernet, optional 802.11b/g/n
• Audio: Integrated HD audio
• Inputs: 8 USB2.0 (2 front, 4 back, 2 internal), headphone and mic jacks, VGA-out
• Expansion: 2 PCI Express x1, one PCI Express x16, one PCI
• Power supply: 300W internal
• Dimensions: 6.54 x 16.87 x 15.11 inches (WxDxH)
• Warranty: One year on-site hardware support

The 505B will start a little higher (no doubt due to stronger processor options) at $409; it will also start shipping on 22nd.

HP Elite 7000

The Elite branding has been seen before on the notebook side of things with the introduction of the high-end HP EliteBooks; we’ve also seen it rear its head on the HP Pavilion Elite line of desktops. The new HP Elite 7000, however, is a new brand and a whole new class of desktop from HP. Geared toward small businesses and home office users who need a little more power than a traditional mainstream machine, but less than that offered in a workstation unit, the Elite 7000 is something of an experiment by HP. They’re not entirely sure if the market is really there for such a machine, but with its understated looks and high-performance components, I suspect that given the proper marketing, it’ll sell.

HP Elite 7000 Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5 and Core i7 quad-core processors
• Memory: Up to 8GB (4 DIMMs)
• Operating system: Windows XP Professional, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows Vista Business, SUSE 11, FreeDOS
• Hard drive: 160GB to 1TB SATA @ 7200RPM or 64GB SSD
• Optical drive: BD-RW, DVD-Rom or SuperMulti DVD+/-RW with LightScribe
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce G210, G230, ATI Radeon HD 4550 or 4650
• Networking: Gigabit Ethernet
• Audio: Integrated HD audio, built-in PC speaker
• Inputs: 11 USB2.0 (3 front, 6 back, 2 internal), headphone and mic jacks, 5.1 analog and optical audio out, FireWire, video out (port selection depends on chosen graphics card), optional 22-in-1 card reader
• Expansion: 3 PCI Express x1, one PCI Express x16 (taken by the required discrete graphics card)
• Power supply: 300W internal
• Dimensions: 7.27 x 16.36 x 15.14 inches (WxDxH)
• Warranty: One year limited parts and warranty

The new Elite 7000 will ship on 22nd, and has a starting price point of $789