Wednesday, August 17, 2005
CompUSA Auctions and HP a530n
I gotta say this has gone much easier than the last HP. I haven't had one real problem with the computer yet. I had a hang-up in IE the other day but that was with four windows open (all with dynamic or active content) and the email program working. I'd have to say the system is capable and stable. I thought that more memory would be an immediate need but the video card w/memory pulls enough of the load so that there appears to be no discernible difference in performance between the a530n and the a736n with twice the memory (non-geek, seat-of-the-pants, notable coincidence; leaner and cleaner is better- for comparable software packages the a736n requires two DVD's for recovery, the a530n just one).
As we noted, there were some issues with CompUSA and they graciously extended themselves (that Elizabeth is so cool) to bring me back around. I wanted to give them a fair shot on their quality control and I was afraid they might try to cook the results by lavishing the unit with some extra technical attention. I can say that there were tell-tale signs that would indicate this unit didn't go through anything special. I am working with one of their standard refurb units and it is doing quite well.
I've cleared one hurdle, the download/install of SP2 (second computer in the last few months without a problem from SP2), and have just a couple more before I settle in. I've gone about this a little differently this time, I'm taking my time- do something, let it run and see what's up. Everything is real cool so far but I haven't loaded any of the other HP products into it. There are some known issues with redundant or overlapping drivers from HP. I believe that (and my own technical ignorance) was what caused such a hard time with the first HP. Maybe we'll get to see what CompUSA's support can do for this.
As a measure of how happy I am with this unit I'll say that the more expensive, newer model HP has gotten shoved into the back room (it's a work in progress). It's still on the network but right now the Dell and the a530n are carrying the brunt of the load. ¶ 8/17/2005 12:25:00 AM
As we noted, there were some issues with CompUSA and they graciously extended themselves (that Elizabeth is so cool) to bring me back around. I wanted to give them a fair shot on their quality control and I was afraid they might try to cook the results by lavishing the unit with some extra technical attention. I can say that there were tell-tale signs that would indicate this unit didn't go through anything special. I am working with one of their standard refurb units and it is doing quite well.
I've cleared one hurdle, the download/install of SP2 (second computer in the last few months without a problem from SP2), and have just a couple more before I settle in. I've gone about this a little differently this time, I'm taking my time- do something, let it run and see what's up. Everything is real cool so far but I haven't loaded any of the other HP products into it. There are some known issues with redundant or overlapping drivers from HP. I believe that (and my own technical ignorance) was what caused such a hard time with the first HP. Maybe we'll get to see what CompUSA's support can do for this.
As a measure of how happy I am with this unit I'll say that the more expensive, newer model HP has gotten shoved into the back room (it's a work in progress). It's still on the network but right now the Dell and the a530n are carrying the brunt of the load. ¶ 8/17/2005 12:25:00 AM
