5 comments about HP Pavilion Elite M9280F Desktop PC (2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB Hard Drive, Blu Ray Drive, Vista Premium).

1. I purchased to this computer to run my small business. basically needing it for the office professional suite. I was indecisive between this or a laptop as this was a pretty expensive desktop. deciding on this unit feeling that if I paid a little more hopefully I was getting a very decent quality product.
   
   This computer worked for 3 months and never worked again. I initially called customer service to help me fix it and they said the recovery image on the computer must have been corrupt so they were going to send me original disks to get it back up and running, and only as soon as 5-10 days.. SO MUCH FOR RUNNING MY BUSINESS. I had to wait 7 days for my disks to get it back up and when I got them it did not help. I called customer service and after 2 hours of help it was still not fixed. Not once in the conversation on my 3 month old computer did they offer to send me a new one or a new drive NOTHING. I have always owned Compaq or HP. I am even now typing on my 17' laptop Pavilion dv8000 that has been great. This company has no desire to care for the consumer. I sent this junk back to HP after losing my temper for my company being shut down for 2 weeks and I smashed it on the ground. That is a first for me. they returned it as is and said they are sorry I had a bad experience. I would be out of business in 2 days with service like that.
   
   I know I am just a small fish but everyone I talk to or deal with will know what junk HP is now putting out. Stay away for this stuff it is complete junk
   
   I have replaced it with a dell that has been great and it came with the recovery disks.
   
   Austoah Mfg



2. Great Product. I was hesitant to buy anything with the Vista OS, however with the HP 9260 it runs seamlessly.



3. After many years as a computer programmer one thing I know is that software developers will use all available hardware resources as they design new systems(as they should). This means that you need a computer that will anticipate future 'heavy duty' software. With the HP m9260f you get massive amount of disk storage (two 500gb drives) and a fairly large main memory 4gb. The first thing I did was buy another 4gb main memeory, making a total of 8gb. Note that you are replacing 4 x 1gb with 4 x 2gb so you actually need to buy 2 pairs of memory, a little over $200. Then I bought the HP 500gb personal drive for $160 which ups the total hard drive capacity to 1.5 tb. I hope this much hardware will last for awhile.
   
   Another major plus factor of this computer is the Vista 64 bit operating system, which some view a big negative, is actually required to take advantage of the large RAM (look for most future software to be written for the 64 bit operating system). Much of the sofwtware I was running would not load or download because it wasn't compatable. Most vendors are modifying ther systems to run under Vista 64bit but there are still plenty that are not. My Epson scanner software isn't available, I had to upgrade my photoshop to a new version. This is all painful and somewhat expensive but I think in the long run it will payoff.
   
   Last thing, you don't need to buy the model with the Blu Ray but it is kind of nice to watch the HI Def movies with the computer. I did buy the HP w2408h 24" LCD monitor at $450 to take advantage of the Blu Ray -- it is really good.



4. I would have to say it's one of the best purchases I've made in awhile. System runs great and I've had no problems running any of my legacy 32bit programs.



5. Typing on this awesome computer right now. Purchased it for $1100 and it was a real steal. Listed now for between 1600 and 1990, I definitely recommend buying this item. DO NOT BUY THE DESKTOP SERVICE PLAN!! I cancelled after getting the warranty information and it about gave me a heart attack trying to get the refund. This has been a super computer with absolutely NO problems and the picture on the combined HP monitor, HP w2207h, for an additonal 300 bucks is fantastic. I definitely recommend this!! Good luck.

5 comments about Sony VAIO VGC-LT25E 22-inch PC/TV All-in-One (1.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium).

1. This is a great product where you can watch TV, surf the web and read and answer Email all at the same time. Only drawback is trying to net the printer as VAOI has Vista and my desk top has XP. It is attractive and super easy to set up.



2. I bought this computer to replace an old refurbished Dell that I purchased five years ago. This thing is freaking awesome. For starters, it just looks cool. It looks like it's floating on my desk. Its case is slim, and the 22 inch Bravia screen is brilliant, AND it comes with a Blu-ray Disc player. Set up was a breeze and took all of 20 mins.
   
   I only have two minor gripes: I think someone mentioned it before, but the keypad does not have a numlock light. Small annoyance, but it's difficult to see whether the lock is on or not when I'm using the computer in the dark. Also, I've only had the computer running for about a month and I've had to replace the mouse's batteries for the first time the other day. Make sure to turn the mouse and keyboard off when not in use to cut down on the cost of batteries.
   
   The computer came with Vista Premium pre-loaded, and I have not had any problems with the software. I actually really like the new Microsoft Office Window's Media Center.
   
   Overall, this is a great (if not expensive) home computer.



3. This is a decent PC as far as eliminating some cables but comes with no backup software, not even the operating system software. There is a record-breaking amount of crapware preloaded on the PC. Takes a long time to remove it. If I had it to do over again I would choose a PC that provides at least a copy of the operating system and minimal crapware.



4. I's compact, but it has lots of storage and memory. It hangs on the wall behind my desk with almost no cables. The screen is so big, I can see it even with my bad eyes. I have had a few small issues with Windows Vista, but otherwise it has worked so much better than the Dell I previously had.



5. To put it as simply as I can: I do not like this computer and I regret buying it.
   
   It is a sluggish performer, mostly (I presume) from the bloated Windows Vista OS, which sucks up all the memory. This isn't a review of Vista...but RUN, don't walk, from it. It's as irritating as Windows ME. Got XP software and expect it to run with Vista? Last laugh is on you.
   
   The audio system is terrible. Somebody here commented on how great it is...that's just not true. Think back to the mid 1960s and transitor radios. No bass, no audio controls, no nothing except tinny, weak sounds. It's the worst audio system on a computer that costs as much as this one costs. And you have to buy over-priced proprietary external speakers if you want to slightly upgrade the audio.
   
   The wireless mouse: Turn it off when not in use, because it stays on all the time, sucking battery power 24/7. Stock up on AA batteries: you'll need them.
   
   All controls and connections are inconveniently located in the back of the PC. Learn to get up and look behind the computer each time you make a headset connection, insert a disc, eject a disc...everything. You imagine this is a minor inconvenience? Just wait until you have to do it.
   
   The monitor is so bright, so irritating, I had to put a tinted screen in front of it to tone it down. Human eyes were not meant to be subjected to such dazzling brightness.
   
   And forget the insinuations that you can watch HDTV on this computer. It's not HDTV, does not receive over-the-air HD signals, yet Sony insists on giving the impression that you'll be watching HDTV once you connect your cable-TV cord. It's a lie, and I suspect Sony's fuzzy claims about HDTV and this computer were entirely intentional.
   
   I am back to using my old computer, which this all-in-one was supposed to replace.
   
   Two thumbs down for this computer.
   
   ADDENDUM: If you've going to vote "not helpful" on this review, then have the brass to explain why in the comments section...and DO tell us if you work for Sony or Microsoft. This computer is a major rip-off to anyone who wants to use it for purposes other than surfing the web.

No comments about Gateway DX4200-UB001A Desktop PC (AMD Phenom 9550 Processor, 6 GB RAM, 640 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium).

No comments about Compaq Presario SR5510F Desktop PC (2.6 GHz AMD Athlon X2 5000 Dual Core Processor, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium).

2 comments about HP Pavilion M8530F Desktop PC (2.2 GHz AMD Phenom X4 9550 Quad Core Processor, 5 GB RAM, 750 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium).

1. It took two of them before I got one that worked. The first one was online for about 3 days before the motherboard-integrated LAN connection just died for no apparent reason. I had it replaced, and the second one worked like a charm (so far). With such sensitive electronics these days, I guess a dud now and then is just going to be the norm.
   
   Anyway, this is a lot of computer for the price ($750 when I bought it). Quad core, 3/4 terrabyte hard drive, nVidia 9-series video, and every jack imaginable. I couldn't find any similarly-equipped HP computer within several hundred dollars of this price anywhere. With extra PCI slots, many USB ports, and spots for an additional hard drive and optical drive, I should be able to keep this PC up-to-date for many years.



2. I had a similar problem at first. The first machine I bought was dead after the second boot. (Power supply comes on, optical drives spin up, two ticks off of the hard drive light, and ..... nothing. No BIOS message, no HP recovery selection screen, and WILL NOT recognize a recovery disc when installed.) Now on the second machine, after three months, after I've migrated all my pictures, music, movies, and programs .... it's done it again! Apple, I'm comin' to see you.

5 comments about Apple iMac Desktop with 24" Display MA878LL/A (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive).

1. You've seen the ads. You've heard the accolades. You take the plunge. The first 24 hours are really pleasing... the Mac "just works!" out of the box... it is really good if you are a total tech-incompetent. I am not, but I enjoyed the set-up: nicely done.
   
   Then, you spend time with the machine. You start to use it. You start to have doubts - "have I made a terrible error?" Sadly, the answer is "yes."
   
   All that noise about how "user friendly" the Mac is? Only true if you have absolutely no clue what you are doing, and don't want to do much anyway. The finer points of UI design, the small-print of usability - well, the Windows operating system is simply far, far better. An experienced, technically competent PC user will find the Mac UI profoundly irritating. Expect:
   
   * Higher 'click counts'
   * More random machine slow-downs
   * Infuriating random events (icons vanishing, other weird
   stuff...), as - of course - the God-like Mac programmers
   know FAR more than you do about what you really want...
   * Incompatibilities...
   * Unsupported devices...
   
   If all you want to do is "oooh!" and "aaah!" at a big screen, or at a cool but trivial effect (eg Photobooth), then go buy one. I have already bought a replacement PC, and the Mac will be relegated to being a family-room web-browsing station.
   
   DON'T FALL FOR THE ADVERTS!



2. Superb machine. Fast. Very. Great screen and colors. Quiet. BUT....
   If you want to prevent
   1. Crashes every 5-10 minutes - uninstall Microsoft Office from the machine. It will solve 95% of the mysterious crashes I had to experience.
   2. Some horizontal lines that appear from time to time on the background and sometimes on some windows - you must install a widget that controls (and increases) the speed of the fans. The machine gets hot as some have mentioned, I guess because of the way it is built - everything enclosed in one box without much air circulation. I have installed a freeware called smcfancontrol then increased the speed of ALL 3 fans by some 30% and the horizontal lines just disappeared.
   I think iMac does not crash now anymore.



3. maybe would have liked it more with a matte screen instead of shiny screen. Storage is good, thought I would never run out but alas the more you have the more you use.



4. Our PC died and since it was several years old, we opted to get a new computer instead of fixing it. I talked to several people who have Macs and love them but was hesitant about the price. We have had it for about a month and a half now and so far, I would not go back to PC. It's fast and very user friendly. I have Microsoft Office on here so I can do all the papers I need for school and spreadsheets I need for work - AND they transfers over to the PCs at computers labs and work. This Mac is SO MUCH FASTER than a PC that has a higher processor speed (Windows, I'm guessing?). GO BUY ONE. YOU WILL LOVE IT. It's not what you think, you can really do more with it than it being just a toy.



5. I purchased this item recently and thought that the speed 2.4 might be too slow compared to the other models, but I was wrong!
   
   Saving a few hundred on purchasing the unit with a 2.4 processor versus a 2.8 or 3.06 was the best decision I made. I used the cash to purchase 4gb of ram which was easily upgraded.
   
   The unit itself runs great and I am glad I made this decision.

5 comments about HP Pavilion Elite M9150F Desktop PC (Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 720 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium).

1. There are several reasons why I've only given this computer three stars.
   
   1. It doesn't come with a Vista 64 install disk. This makes it impossible to set it up as a Raid0. It's already set up in a non-raid configuration when you get it, and without a Vista 64 disk, you're stuck.
   
   2. It's under-powered. This thing should really have at least a 500 watt power supply. This makes upgrading a chore, since you WILL have to swap out the power supply.
   
   3. HD DVD: can you say Betamax?
   
   4. The case is too small, and it's further cramped with those proprietary portable media bays. Who is actually going to buy one of those overpriced things when they can buy a 1 terrabyte external hard drive for less money?
   
   5. The hard drives keep parking their heads (clicking) unless you turn off the power saving features.
   
   6. It will be difficult to swap out the optical drives without buying them from HP because of their non-standard appearance.
   
   7. Instead of 4 1GB RAM sticks, it should come with 2 2GB ones. Then upgrading to the maximum 8GB of RAM would be as simple as adding two more 2GB RAM modules. As it stands, you have to swap out all of the installed RAM and buy 4 2GB RAM modules.
   
   Other than that, it's a fast quiet computer. Once you go quad-core, you won't go back. I can watch a movie, whilst running a virus check, whilst compiling a C program without any lag. Also, it's pointless having a 64 bit Operating system unless you're going to take advantage of the ability to install 8 gigabytes of RAM!



2. It's awesome computer with many excellent features.. I really love it... the wireless mouse and keyboard, the integrated tv card,etc.



3. Out of the box this is a great machine. The case is elegant and quiet. 3GB of ram is the optimal configuration for a box running 32-bit vista premium (4GB can't all be accessed). The TV card/Windows media center intergration is flawless. There are a decent about of usb ports, and I have yet to find anything to tax the cpu. The graphics card is a little bit of a letdown. The graphics card is a low end geForce 8400GS. While the rest of the pc's components manage a Windows Experience index of 4.4, the card lowers it to 3.5. Its fine for general use, but you'll only run into that issue if you plan to run a lot of high end games (e.g. crysis).
   
   The only real down side of this machine is that it attempts to guide you down the path of more hp products by embedding a couple of ports for hp portable drives. The front of the machine has two slots avaiable. If you've ever looked for these drives, you'll quickly realize that they're more expensive than any external usb harddrive but are less compatible (read: will only work with another hp machine with the same ports). In addition to being a bad idea, the ports take up crucial real estate needed when trying to add additional drives or access memory modules. Bad HP. This isn't a deal breaker (I love mine), but something to be wary of. Overall a great system.



4. My review is for my own custom built HP 9000 series, very similar to this one.
   
   I have 4GB of ram the maximum you can have in a 32bit system with windows Vista Premium.
   
   I selected the highest Nvidia graphics card for use whether for TV, Gaming just onlne streaming video and I made sure it was blue ray/HD DVD so I have both as at that time they hadn't chosen. Fortunateky I have both and even had HD DVD's so this way I am ok for Blue Ray as well.
   
   This is one of the best computers I have eve had. I had mine made back in mid December 2007 and I have been running it daily for many hours with virtually little issues or needs to contact support.
   
   I have the HP 24" flat panel monitor and it works flawlessly with the computer.
   
   I recommend before you buy to go to the HP website and even just do a mock custom built machine to see what you want, what they recommend and see the pricing. Then go back to the net, to Amazon to shop for the best price and combo of choices. In many cases you may find exactly what you want already built. All of these computer makers create several commercial spec sytems with more bels and whistles and some with less all taylored to a variety of consumers.
   
   I have the 750GB HD and 4GB of ram and this machine runs fast and quiet from my past large desktop towers and actually much smaller too.
   
   I have loaded the full Adobe CS3 Design Premium Extended, full MS Office 07, Visio Professional, Project Professional along with several other large programs and have had a few open at the same time with very little lag compared to the past.
   
   Like with just about any PC maker they all come with bloatware, not too much in comparison to my Sony laptop but still some. Simple fix is to delete the trial and other things they give or want you to try unless you are interested of course. Trial software though is good, just remember when you are near the end of the trial period so as to NOT sign up or make sure to say NO as you maybe charged. That is rare as most companies will ask several times first. Take on only what you want or need.
   
   I have emailed support most often when needed and usually receive a response a few hours later with links or instructions on a fix. I have had very minor issues and all have been corrected via using the email tech support. Like with almost all computers except Apple iMac you get a 1 year warrenty via phone/email tech support. Although I love Apple computers, their latest all inone desktop comes with 90 days tech support after that you pay. That is unacceptable when paying a premium for any computer in my experience and opinion.
   
   The computer is easy to set up with big diagrams for connections and pretty easy for cable hook up via your cable companies cable box or other ways that are described in the materials. For me it worked fine with a direct cable box coaxcial hookup on the back of the computer.
   
   Remote works fine with the computer as well as the monitor being it is HP and I have BOSE speakers adding in the sound as the HP monitor has rear speakers and of low wattage so needed external to compensate and just turn off the monitor speakers.
   
   All in all I have now had two products in the past year from HP and each have been above my expectations in their operation and customer support has been efficient so far from my personal experience.
   
   Again, research the brands you like, check them out in any store to test them/sample them go to the brand websites, decide your needs and search for the best price before buying.



5. 
   
   
   when open the box i found out the case have damage
   
   and there is a missing scrow
   
   the dvd r not working

1 comments about Sony VAIO VGC-LT33E 22-inch PC/TV All-In-One (2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 640 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium).

1. I bought the desktop Model LT33E, but most of these comments would apply to any of the 3X Models.
   
   Although the computer may look white in the illustration, the computer actually has a matte silver finish, which fits in well in a home office setting.
   
   The 22-inch wide screen is wonderful for watching widescreen movies, as well as for doing computer work, especially when you want to have 2 page-size windows open at the same time.
   
   Vista and Office 2007--
   -----Many people have had negative reactions to the new software environment, but try to keep an open mind until you work with them. I actually like the user interface and find them to be more graphical and user friendly. You may like them too.
   -----When Vista was first introduced, many older peripheral devices were not recognized by Vista. In July, 2008, Vista was able to recognize my peripherals, so this problem seems to be abating.
   -----This computer has enough resources (speed, memory, RAM) to run Vista without obviously impacting performance.
   -----The 3X Models ship with Vista SP1, so you won't have to install it.
   
   Wireless Connectivity--The computer connected immediately to my wireless router (D-Link DIR-655). This desktop computer has the same processor speed as my laptop (Sony SZ370), but the N-level connectivity speed makes the desktop significantly faster than the laptop in surfing the internet. For this feature alone, I would recommend getting one of the new 3X Models of this computer series, rather than buying a discounted older 1X or 2X Model, which would not have the N-level connectivity.
   
   The only problem that I have had with the computer hardware is that the mouse stopped working after a month, but Sony sent me a replacement mouse quickly. In the meantime, I went back to my old keyboard and mouse: the Logitech Wave. These are easier to use and have more functionality than those supplied by Sony, so I am continuing to use the Wave.
   
   The hard drive on the 33E model is specified as 640GB, but it is really 2 drives (C and D) of about 300 GB each. I decided to use the D drive to store my recorded TV programs, so I selected that drive when I initially set up the Media Center.
   
   The Media Center is MicroSoft software that allows you to control the built-in TV as if you have a TIVO, but without the monthly service fee. Unfortunately it does not work consistently on this machine. Sometimes it does not record a scheduled program at all. Sometimes it records part of a scheduled program, and sometimes it does record the entire program. Of the Olympics recordings that I set up, none of them recorded the entire program. I reported this problem to Sony support two months ago, but they have not gotten back to me. Based on comments from Sony technicians, it seems that Sony has been aware of this problem for some time before I reported it. This is the reason that my rating is only 3 stars.
   
   Media center files of TV programs are in .dvr/ms format, which uses a lot of disk space and cannot be edited. Your 300 GB D drive will start to fill up quickly. Although there are several pre-loaded programs that can write to a DVD, there apparently is no software on this computer that can convert the files into a more efficient format, so you may want to download a conversion program. After you convert and edit the files, then you can store them on the D drive or an external hard drive, or write them to DVDs. I will update this review after I learn more about that.

5 comments about Compaq Presario SR5410F Desktop PC (1.8 GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium).

1. This a very good computer at an affordable price. I am
   bothered by some of the reviewers that give this a low
   score. Right out of the box it is easy to setup. Burning CD's and DVD's are a synch. There is a media center that allows you to watch tv/movies/listen to music/ and more. This thing is fast and quiet.I added a 19" Acer wide screen monitor and a Bose Companion 2 multimedia speaker system. I have recommended the SR55450F to friends and family and I recommend it to you.



2. This is my first new out of the box pc and I love it!
   The Windows Home Vista is great and my computor runs smooth and keeps cool. This computor comes with 2Gb of memory ( 2048 Mb ) and a 500 GB
   hard drive. Great Buy and quality parts, which is hard to come by.
   Every thing is user friendly. The graphics are great ( NVIDIA GeForce
   6150 SE GRAPHICS ) iT COMES WITH A dvd/cd burner and has the light scribe technology which can laser silk screen graphics on to you're discs.
   Comes equipted with a AMD Athalon x2 5000 doul core processor and this is every bit worth the money!
   I purchased this computor 1 month before this review was made, and paid around 100 dallors less at Best Buy, than what is advertised on amazon.



3. I have this PC and I tell it's great, but why does Amazon sell it with out a monitor? I bought mine at walmart, same serial no., same specs and every thing. But mine came with a 20 in. LCD, and this only cost me $520



4. Background info: This is the first computer I've ever purchased; owned it 5 months. I consider myself a casual, novice user. Wanted a computer (pc or mac) with new OS and suitable for long-term use.
   The dual-core e2160 processor seems efficient. Even with Opera, Media Player and my emulator running, cpu usage remains around 6 percent. The tower is very quiet and doesn't overheat. The mouse feels "right" in the hand; keyboard isn't too clicky.
   The preloaded software chews through 1GB of RAM! Vista Premium is beautiful, though the memory usage is a bit shocking. But it's not ALL Vista's fault. Norton Internet Security and HP software REALLY slow it down. I turned off Aero, set display to "classic mode," streamlined the startup menu, uninstalled Norton, and downloaded security software with a smaller footprint. Now it boots quickly, runs faster, and *rarely* freezes.
   Ripping DVDs and CDs is a total joy with SO much available space. There's lots of room to experiment with open source software. I now use Firefox and OpenOffice.org. I will try partitioning the HDD to dual-boot Linux (never would have tried this without system restore!)
   I chose this computer because it has lots of storage, features, and a good price. Please shop around; as other reviewers mentioned, it's probably cheaper at a brick-and-mortar store. I paid $560 for pc, 17-inch lcd monitor,
   2-year extended warranty, AND tax.
   Overall, I'm very happy with this pc; I'd recommend it to anyone. It was an excellent way to adopt Vista without the fuss. But those who want the full Vista experience ought to buy more RAM.



5. I bought this computer to replace a eight year old Gateway that couldn't be updated anymore.I considered a Dell but had one of their laptops fry after just three years.I saw this one at Amazon and figured for the price
   it was worth a try and I can tell you I am very happy with it.Vista takes a lttle getting used to but the computer hasn't given me one problem,so much faster then my old one.I upgraded the memory to 2 megs of ram it runs quiet and has been very reliable.

1 comments about Sony VAIO VGC-LT32E 22-inch PC/TV All-In-One (1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5550 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium).

1. I bought this product 15 days back. it's perfect in looks. the only problem I have is that the inbuilt webcam is not working with the yahoo messenger. I do not know the reason but have to find out if I have to download any plug ins.