H-P's Pavillion has good design and lots of power for the price

Article Abstract:

HP's new $2,199 Pavilion 7050 Pentium-based computer offers excellent performance, a well-designed architecture and nice features for a good price. The new Pavilion product line, which targets the home consumer market, includes six machines. The low-end machine is a 486-based computer that lists for $1,499. The remaining five machines are Pentium-based computers. The top four machines boast an impressive minitower design and huge 1.26GB hard drives. The top-of-the-line 7050 includes a 100MHz Pentium processor, 8MB of RAM, a quad-speed CD-ROM drive, excellent multimedia speakers and a 14,400bps fax/modem. The machines video and sound systems are excellent. None of the Pavilion machines includes a monitor. The 7050 includes an impressive range of pre-installed software such as Microsoft's Windows 95, Money and Works applications. Installation is straightforward, and the instruction manual is well-written and complete. The one-year warrantee is one weakness, as is its small 8MB RAM ration.

Product/Service Evaluation, Hardware single product review, Hewlett-Packard Co., HWP, HP Pavilion 7050 (Pentium-based system)

---

Falling prices let you buy more power for your basic PC

Article Abstract:

The rapidly falling price of memory makes it possible for home users to buy systems with 16MB of RAM for $2,000 to $2,500. The RAM is the most important feature of a PC, since it allows the computer to operate more quickly, to run several programs at the same time and to handle complex programs. The CPU should be at least a 120MHz Pentium; faster CPUs do not improve performance for most standard computing tasks. Like memory prices, disk prices are at an historic low, and users should buy a disk with a capacity of at least 1.2GB. A 1.6GB is worth the extra cost, if the user can afford it, or users can add a Zip drive that stores data on 100MB floppy disks. A 17-in monitor is preferable to a 15-in model, and the dot pitch should be rated at .28mm or lower, since a smaller number indicates a sharper picture. The PC should have at least 1MB of VRAM, although 2MB is preferable. A CD-ROM drive is now necessary for all PCs, as is a modem.

Purchasing, Buyers Guide, Hardware buyers' guide, Home Computer Market

---

AT&T's VideoPhone doesn't measure up to its price tag

Article Abstract:

AT&T's VideoPhone 2500 is a $1,499 color video telephone that allows users to see one another while speaking, but the quality of the images does not yet warrant the price. The VideoPhone plugs right into a phone jack, which makes installation very easy. AT&T has developed compression technology allowing the product to use regular phone lines, so the bills are the same price as they would be for normal calls. The regular phone lines cannot send 30 frames a second over the wire, so the picture ends up as a series of jerky motions that are not synchronized with the audio portion. There are controls for brightness, focus and self-viewing, but users will need to experiment with lighting and positioning to achieve best results. Aside from a few niche markets, the videophone probably lacks the quality that most users need. Once technology improves, the market may grow.

Telephone communications, exc. radio, T, American Telephone and Telegraph Co., Videoconferencing, Videophones, Video telephones, AT and T VideoPhone 2500 (Telephone management device)

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: IBM, Intel agreement sets cooperation in design of processors for future PCs. part 2 U.S. Memories says IBM to grant access to chip-making data
• Abstracts: A taste of the net and all was clear. Corks pop in China. Wine makers get even bolder
• Abstracts: IBM targets $500 million in chip sales to outsiders, reversing longtime ban
• Abstracts: Parties release election manifestos. Tories defeat Labour EU policy censure. British election campaign winds up
• Abstracts: In-laws in the family business. Rules for nepotism. How successors cope with stress

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.