Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I recently bought this HP computer from Amazon with great delivery time. I am very disapointed with the Vista operating program compatibility with not being able to use programs and hardware from my old HP computer. An existing great quality HP 5370C scanner not only won't work with Vista but HP advised me that they were sorry but there would be no support in the future to use this scanner with Vista and that I should "consider upgrading to a newer HP product". My new HP Pavilion Vista computer will not accept my Broderbond "The Print Shop" a popular program that I use daily and was told by Broderbond that they did not even have a version of The Print Shop available yet for Vista users. My existing Pinnacle movie program will not operate in Vista.
I phoned HP customer service and asked them if there was any way I could get XP software in place of the Visa program in their new computer and they said "no". I felt they should at least set up a procedure for new computer purchasers to get XP with some sort of discount that they can use until equipment and software designs catch up with Vista's advanced marketing.
The Visa system itself appears to be a great program for what I can observe so far but let the buyer beware that the compatibility with programs and hardware from their old computer can be expensive and impossible to use many cases. I am dissapointed that Microsoft and HP haven't made this information more available but then they appear to be looking out for their interest and cerainly haven't properly warned the new Vista users of this probable problem.
Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Media Center M8020N Desktop PC (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 640 GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti DVD Drive, Vista Premium)
Product Description:
The easy-to-use HP m8020n Media Center PC is the complete home PC system that delivers more entertainment choices, and brings them together in one place with easy access from anywhere in the room. You can watch, record, and pause live TV programming as well as schedule the PC to record upcoming episodes or entire series. The built-in TV tuner (providing both standard NTSC and high-def ATSC transmission) and personal video recorder (PVR) let you watch, pause, rewind, and record live television--up to 390 hours on the dual 320 GB hard drives (for a 640 GB total). An online Electronic Program Guide (EPG) lets you review the TV schedule and select individual episodes or entire series, so you can watch your favorite shows on your own time, at your own convenience. And you can easily burn TV shows and home video to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format LightScribe DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc. LightScribe technology burns custom, silkscreen-quality labels and artwork directly onto LightScribe-enabled discs, right inside the drive.
This desktop is powered by the 2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 dual-core processor, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance. A built-in drive bay fits an optional HP Personal Media Drive (PMD), for up to 500 GB of additional storage that you can carry away with you when you go (PMD not included). It also features 2 GB of installed RAM (8 GB maximum), Nvidia GeForce 7350 LE video card (with 128 MB of video memory), 15-in-1 memory card reader, up to 8 channels of surround sound output, and a remote control with up to 16 feet of range.
This PC also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.
The Basics
Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 processor has a 2.13 GHz processor speed, amazing 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and an extra-large 4 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:
Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.
This processor also includes Intel's Viiv technology, which enables you to quickly turn the PC on and off (after initial boot) with a touch of the included remote thanks to Intel's Quick Resume function. It also offers specially-designed software that makes network configuration easy, for connecting to portable media players, DVD players, TV sets and stereos.
Hard Drive: The dual 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives (7200 RPM) provide an astounding 640 GB storage capacity--enough for storing up to 390 hours of television programming, a vast multimedia collection, or for editing digital video. These SATA hard drives also quicken the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
Memory: The 2 GB of built-in memory (2 x 1024 MB, PC4200, DDR2 SDRAM) is a good start right out of the box, and it offers a very fast 533 MHz speed. This desktop has a 8 GB maximum RAM capacity (8 x 1 GB), perfect for high-def video and 3-D gaming.
DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R DL Write Once, 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD+RW, 16x DVD-R, 6x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, 40x CD-R, 32x CD-RW write speeds and 40x CD-ROM, and 16x DVD-ROM read speeds.
This LightScribe DVD+/-RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.
Keyboard & Mouse: This desktop comes with a wireless HP multimedia keyboard and wireless optical mouse (with up to a 16-foot range) as well as a remote control.
Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 7350 LE, which features 128 MB of dedicated graphics memory and can provide up to 400 MB of total available graphics memory as allocated by Windows Vista. Nvidia's exclusive TurboCache technology allows direct rendering from the GPU to system memory by leveraging the bi-directional PCI Express bandwidth. The TurboCache Manager dynamically allocates memory for maximum system performance while intelligent software algorithms maximize application performance. It also offers an integrated audio card that can produce high definition surround sound configurable to 8 speakers.
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This desktop has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. For expansion, this desktop features a drive bay that fits an optional HP Personal Media Drive--which enables you to add 500 GB of storage for your video and music libraries. It has three PCI expansion slots (occupied), one PCI x16 Express slot (available), two 5.25-inch bays (one available), one 3.5-inch bay (occupied), and the following external ports:
6 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (2 in front, 4 in rear)
2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals (1 in front, 1 in rear)
Composite video, S-Video, and analog audio inputs
Headphone and microphone jacks
Audio output: digital audio out, surround sound speakers--rear, side, center
2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
15-in-1 media card reader on the front, compatible with CompactFlash (Type I and II), MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick/Pro/Duo/Pro Duo, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, XD Picture Card, RSMMC, MMC Mobile, MMC+
Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.
Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.
Preloaded Software
Includes Microsoft Works 8, Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 Trial, Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update), Roxio Creator/MyDVD (with LightScribe technology), Muvee autoProducer (for creating professional-looking home videos and burning to DVD), HP Photosmart Essential, and HP Total Care Advisor.
What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Media Center m8020n desktop PC, keyboard, mouse, remote control, and power cord. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 90 days from date of purchase.
Want to read more honest consumer review about HP Media Center M8020N Desktop PC (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 640 GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti DVD Drive, Vista Premium) now ?
