Compaq didn't send us one of those nifty docking stations, however (was it something we said in the mid-Nineties?). Instead, we got something called an "external multibay." Basically a caddy, external multibay houses optical drives such as DVD or DVD/CD-RW. Took us a while to get the multibay to work properly. Got all lathered up, then finally put in a frantic call to Compaq marketing department. Turns out we were using the wrong USB cord. We calmed down after that.

Evo N410c a well-configured -- and fast -- machine for $1,799. Our only real concern: message boards on consumer electronics Web sites seem to have their fair share of complaints about Compaq's reliability and customer service. Don't know if you can go solely by that, and we want to give Compaq benefit of the doubt. Still, such messages give us pause -- particularly given our past experience with company's notebooks. Your move.

(Editor's Note: Thin is in for notebook computers, but how about the computer makers themselves — how much cash do they keep on hand? See for yourself with the CFO PeerMetrix interactive scorecards.)

• « previous
• 1
• 2