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A certain store chain* specializing in boudoir outfits hit is on the nail with their customer-forward thinking when you hit the unsubscribe key: ask if you want to unsubscribe completely, or reduce their spam to one spam piece per week.
While not optimal...(read more)
I have been using the HP Compaq dc7900 Ultra-Slim Desktop PC for the past three months as part of a long-term review.
This is one nice PC.
The dc7900 came in a fairly largish box, which was surprising until I opened it, and remembered that it had to contain a full size keyboard!
As is usual with HP products, it was well packaged, contained all the necessary cabling, including a USB mouse*.
Initial installation was at the Orbiting O’Odua.
I connected the system to my network (wired) through a CradlePoint MBR1000 router.
I turned on the system, and received my first shock: it was running Windows XP! However, since I had been informed of that prior to receipt of the system, it was all good.
I installed the Logikworx Standard Business Desktop, and went began testing.
I really wanted to review this system for three primary reasons:
Size-wise, this PC is just right. Smaller than the smallest Dell unit we had placed in the past while being more powerful that those systems. With Intel dual-core processors and 2GB of RAM, the dc7900 proved to be capable of a primary desktop unit for years to come.
The dc7900 is already Energy Star 5.0 compliant, with each unit shipping with an 87% efficient power supply.
Performance
This is one fast puppy.
The dc7900 uses a 3 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 CPU, an Intel 4500 Media Accelerator GPU, and came with a 160GB hard disk.
I was able to perform daily desktop productivity tasks without the system hiccupping at all!
Moreover, HP imbued the dc7900 with integrated systems and add-ins that add more value and functionality to the dc7900. They are:
HP Power Manager
This is free power management software that ships with the dc7900 series. Client-based, it allows for computation, in real dollars and cents, of the power consumption of the dc7900.
Mozilla Virtual Browser by HP & Symantec
This one was new to me.
A collaboration by HP and Symantec, this exclusive-to-HP version of the browser is sandboxed for added security.
In my tests of it, the dc7900 was as responsive with the Mozilla Virtual Browser, as another install on the same device, using another partition.
For businesses, the Virtual Browser is an added benefit, since it helps mitigate the issues with errant employees surfing the Intertubes willy-nilly, and putting the entire enterprise at risk.
However, In-Private browsing offered by Microsoft as part of Internet Explorer 8, also sandboxes for you.
HP ProtectTools
This is a wizard-based software suite made up of several modules that serve to protect your system.
What can you do with Protect Tools:
a) Encrypt and sign emails and documents.
b) Credentials Manager to manage credentials.
c) Multi-factor authorization.
d) Privacy Manager.
e) Direct Access Manager, helping restrict/authenticate write functionality of all drives and USB ports.
The photograph to the left shows a configuration of the dc7900 that I am enamored with: the Integrated WorkCenter.
This is as one-piece as you can get to a customizable PC in the Windows realm. That solution connects to any VESA standard-mount monitor up to 22 inches.
Additionally, the dc7900 supports dual monitors out-of-the-box: a standard monitor, and a DisplayPort unit.
I tested the dc7900 at several client locations in order to gauge user acceptability. It passed.
Running over the several networks, the dc7900 displayed nary a whimper as I threw more stuff at it.
Interestingly, it also works well as a living-room system due to the size and quietness.
However, that was not enough for me.
I decided to go off the ranch and install other operating systems on the dc7900 in order to see if some weirdo component had been subdulously inserted into the computer by HP in order to create lock-in.
Windows Vista SP2
I installed Windows Vista SP2 from a standard image used by Mediklabs, and it worked flawlessly. Installation concluded in 27 minutes, and all devices worked OK.
Windows 7 RC
Not leaving enough alone, I decided to install Windows 7 Release Candidate, build 7100 on the dc7900. I hate to sound like a broken record, but it worked flawlessly as well, with installation concluding in 19 minutes.
The HP Compaq dc7900 is a small-format system. However, from (physical build) system integrity, where it can support up to 67 pounds I am told, to performance, to the included software, this is one big system.
It is also engineered for the new global awareness of environmental responsibility.
Not surprisingly, it is the recipient of the SmallBizWindows Superstar Award.
*In 2009 alone, I have sent back, un-reviewed, four systems – two desktops, a workstation, and a server – sent for review with PS2 input devices. No, they were not from HP, and it is 2009 for goodness sakes!
...(read more)
HP Small Business Servers Review Series, Review #1…(read on)
We have been testing the HP Color LaserJet CP3525dn at our Northern Colorado RealtorLabs for the past several weeks.
The HP Color LaserJet CP3525dn 
The HP Color LaserJet CP3525dn is a duplexing, 30 ppm (page per minute) departmental/small business printer capable of yielding 3000 pages color and 3000 pages black-and-white from a single refresh of toner cartridges.
It is networkable through the built-in JetDirect NIC, and includes a USB port as well.
Unboxing
The CP3525dn ships in a rather large sturdy box – this is not a small printer, despite the low cost. It came with a starts set of toner cartridges installed, and a power supple cable. The usual series of user manuals came in the box as well.
We lifted the unit out of the box, installed it on a rack, connected it to the network, and presto, Windows Vista auto-discovered the printer, downloaded basic drivers, and we were good to go.
Testing
For the CP3525dn, I decided to use a real-world Realtor’s office for the review scenario.
(It is hard to believe, but there still are real estate agents out there!)
Comprising of three agents and their support staff, this realtor still(!) has a vibrant business since she caters exclusively to the agricultural and farming communities.
The agents are always in need of color documents to give to prospects, and a color printer would be just perfect.
As a result, I downloaded PostScript drivers from HP.com, and installed them for the realtor’s network.
When looked at from a price/performance perspective, the CP3525dn is hard to beat.
It is fast, reliable, and prints out colors with such vibrant hues that you would almost believe that you are looking at a inkjet print.
One thing that is pretty cool with the CP3525dn is the fast initial print. We have all grown accustomed to waiting for the first page of a color laser printer's output to begin. No longer. The CP3525dn spits out the first page almost as soon as you send the job to print.
Snag-free duplexing is also something that is very easy to get used to with the CP3525dn. Add the various paper sizes to the mix, and you would see that the CP3525dn is one capable business printer.
Conclusions
As a utility, printers must plug away reliably and quietly at their tasks. However, they should, like centurions, be ready to leap into action when called.
The HP Color LaserJet CP3525dn continues in the tradition of reliable printing workhorses for business.
This unit performed flawlessly.
I also tested the technical support infrastructure for the CP3525dn by calling HP Tech Support and taking the support drone through a fictitious scenario, adding new wrinkles as I went along. The support staffer remained courteous, and genuinely tried to help, even when it was evident that I had to be a total doofus to create the scenario I was asking him to resolve.
That was commendable service, and the sort businesses should expect when making a buying decision.
For the price, performance, and reliability of this printer, we have given it the AbsoluteVista Business Ready Award.
The affordability and performance of this printer make it just that.
Afterword
“Are there other companies manufacturing printers on this planet?”
I just have to ask.
I have reviewed five printers so far this year, and only the only printers to pass muster have been the HP C6380 AIO and this printer. In fact, going back to January of 2008, the only printers to have been deemed Business Ready by AbsoluteWindows and SmallBizWindows have been HP and Epson printers.
While it is true that I have liked and recommended HP printers since the LaserJet II, the lack of true competition in laser printers just means that other so-called competitors are just pretenders.
All other printer manufacturers just have to wake up and shake themselves if they truly want to compete.
Have you seen the new ‘Rookie’ series of Microsoft’s “I’m a PC” ads? Especially the one with the 4-yr old girl?
I have. And I would like my kids to be that savvy.
With that in mind, for the boy’s room at the Orbiting O’odua, John and Trevor get to use...(read more)
Brandon Young of Pennsylvania is the winner of the HP Magic Giveaway on this website.
Today and always.
With my familia , I will be going off-the grid for the next few days. I’m packed for sightseeing: ...(read more)
It is getting harder and harder to do the Christian thing.
You know, turn the other cheek, and look away.
For years, we have heard the derogatory buzzwords chanted by the freetards (thanks, Real Dan Lyons) at Microsoft Windows: bloatware, insecure, porous. I, and...(read more)
One of the best things to do when faced with either a relentless competitor or admiring fans, is to create a timely and effective response marketing campaign to either countermand the wrongful perception, or in the case of admiring fans, move the needle...(read more)
When a lot of pundits gather together wherever they gather together at, watch out!
Yeah, watch out for the nonsense they would issue forth from their respective pieholes as they anoint the next ‘new thing’. Case in point is Gmail.
By now, I sure you have...(read more)
I jumped the gun!
The accurate configuration of this system will be published here as soon as I get it.
However, be rest assured, it will be an xw4600!
I have just been given the go-ahead to start my 30-day conversation leading to the giving away of the HP workstation described below.
Mark Welker, Manager/Product Development Engineer
“Lies, lies, and damn statistics”, someone once said.
Well, benchmarks were unfortunately omitted from that list. For benchmarks, like stats, can be skewed to whatever the touter wants the target to believe.
(This is a reprint from the July 2008 issue of The Interlocutor)
Pat Moorhead, Vice-President, Advanced Marketing (& corporate blogger)
The ever-effusive Pat Moorhead, he of the 40% number I wrote about last year, then took the floor††.
Cinema 2.0 is the latest iteration of AMD’s virtual to realistic graphics visualization technology. Put it this way, this is where gameplay becomes so photorealistic that a distinction almost cannot be made!
(This is a reprint from the July 2008 issue of The Interlocutor)
Ognjen Brkic; Product Marketing Manager
One of the more intriguing presentations was delivered by Ognjen, detailing AMD’s new, and extremely innovative external PCIe slot‡, dubbed ATI XGP. Folks, this (the external PCIe product) is the jam!
(This is a reprint from the July 2008 issue of The Interlocutor)
For the past couple of years or so, Apple Computer Inc has been running a series of ads dubbed ‘I’m a PC, I’m a Mac’, that started out funny, and have quickly devolved into a series of errors, FUD, innuendos, and lies about Windows.
Through it all, Microsoft stood meekly on the sidelines, doing nothing, seemingly totally befuddled by the machinations of Steve Jobs. Alarmingly, the so-called ‘Rapid Response’ teams charged with protecting Microsoft the brand, did exactly the opposite of what their moniker described: nothing happened.
(This is a reprint of the The SmallBizVista.com Editorial from the July 2008 issue of The Interlocutor)