Buy It, You'll Like It

I look for two things in buying a computer: processing power and how much RAM it can take. Software comes and goes, sound and audio cards too, but processing power and RAM amount are what you build everything else around. I bought this computer after my homemade P4 computer crashed. When looking at several internet sites (using my son's computer), I was going to buy an Emachines P4, 1GB RAM (upgradeable to 2GB), 160GB HD, running on XP, with 21.5" flat panel at Wal-Mart for $600 (good price), but because I already had a good monitor, so I looked for a CPU (the computer itself) only. This HP caught my eye because of value (lots of RAM, a powerful processor, and just having new technology) for $680. I bought it at BB because of the return policy and fair price. Being an Intel guy for years, I knew about AMD from my kids, who love the speed and reliability. This model has the (now) fast 5600 processor and comes with a whopping 3 GB of RAM (2-1GB sticks and 2-512 sticks, in four slots), and can be upped to 8GB. Wow! First, I noticed it is QUIET. HP says the fans are computer adjustable controlled for lower speed -- and can actually increase or decrease in speed depending what the computer needs to keep cool. Cool. The 16x MULTI DUAL LAYER DVD reader/writer also takes any DVD in either - or + types. Now I don't have to worry about which disks to buy. Then being dual layer, it writes on the higher capacity 8.6 GB disks. Nice. The (now) huge 500 GB hard drive is truely massive. The computer is smaller than my old computer and much lighter. There are 6 USB 2 ports (4 back, 2 front) and two Firewire ports (1 back, 1 front). The built-in media card reader (I use compact flash photo cards) can read 15 different types. Also there is a built-in GeForce 128 graphics card (makes those monitor colors pop!) and a 5.1 surround sound audio card. I was using Windows XP when my old computer crashed, but this machine has Windows Vista that I've "heard" about -- but I was "hearing" about the horrors of XP when I had Windows Me. Unfounded. It runs much like Apple with the point and click routine. Friendly! Vista eats about a GB of RAM, (because it does so much for you) so HP wisely installed 3GB of RAM. Vista is different, more showy, but friendly: it runs my old (Office 2000 and 2003) Excel spreadsheets and Word documents using the Vista built-in WORKS program. I don't have to buy Office now -- great! However, if you need Power Point, you'll have to buy it, WORKS, doesn't have the program, only a PP reader. So far, it has done it all and I just have to get used to Vista and it's many new possibilities. I do photos, so I'm running full-blown Photoshop and the pictures fly onto the screen and a few manipulations I'm done -- no waiting with this baby. It does so much for you (will even talk to you) when I unplugged the green speaker wire from the back, it told me I had done that on the screen! Emailing and opening photos is easy, and there is a video maker in Vista too. My first experience with HP is a great one. Fast, quiet, (even the keyboard is quiet!). Also, it will shut down or go to sleep (or not at all) depending how you've set it, so you don't have to hear those fans running or waste electricity. Smart! I have mine set to sleep, and when you think it is off (the top on/off switch turns from light blue to yellow) bring it back to life just by moving the mouse. It is also loaded with Norton's Internet security (which has Live Update to have the latest anti-virus and trojan software protection and a Spyware scanner) and Vista has Defender, for firewall protection. I know I said I like it, but after using it for a few days, I REALLY like it!
UPDATE: I found that although the machine will physically take 2 GB RAM sticks (4 of them to equal 8 GBs of RAM) the installed Vista Home Premium version program is 32-bit and Vista Home will only read up to 3.5 GB of RAM. It is not the computer's fault. According to Microsoft and HP's sites, the computer will take 8 GB of RAM, but you must install the 64-bit version of Vista Ultra to allow the programming to accept anything over 3.5 GB of RAM. Again, this is NOT a knock against the computer, but the installed version of 32-bit Vista Home Premium.
(I have now 4 GB of installed RAM, but Vista is reading only 3.5 GBs). I have not decided to upgrade to Vista Ultra to take advantage of the extra .5 of RAM I have. For me running all my programs (I am a huge CIV 4 game player) and I run Photoshop CS and other intense photo manipulation software) the computer is blazing fast! I still love it :)