CompaqPresario
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HP expands laptop battery recall, doesn't want you to feel the burn
HP wants to make sure you don't get burned, literally. For the third May in a row, it's issuing another expansion of its voluntary battery recall on laptops produced from July 2007 to May 2008 -- frankly, we're considering a holiday to mark the occasion. May 2009 saw a recall of 70,000 batteries followed by an expansion to cover 15,000 in China, totaling 85,000 affected laptops. It didn't end there though, as further expansion was put in place during May 2010 to cover even more models, and this time around, a sizeable number of lappies have been added to the ever-growing list. About five percent of the models from the aforementioned time frame could have problematic batteries, and HP will be providing replacements for those at risk of getting a little too hot under the collar. If your machine was also part of the previous recalls, HP's saying those should be verified as well, even if you've done so in the past already. The full grid of affected laptops can be perused after the break -- Memorial Day weekend will be full of grilling, but we wouldn't want that to include your skin, okay?
NVIDIA's faulty laptop GPU settlement starts paying out, file your repair and reimbursement claims now
Got an old Dell, HP or Apple laptop sitting around with a defective NVIDIA GPU? The company's finally ready to compensate you. That proposed class-action settlement from late last year has been approved by a California court, and the company's taking claims for repairs, replacements and reimbursements at a specially-designated website until March 14th. If you've got an affected Dell or Apple MacBook Pro, you can get the faulty chips replaced free of charge, while HP owners get a whole new replacement computer, though considering the choices there are the budget Compaq Presario CQ50 or an ASUS Eee PC T101MT, you might be better off selling your old parts on eBay. Finally, if you've already paid to get your components replaced and have the docs to prove it, you might be able to get refunded -- NVIDIA's set up a $2 million pool to be divided among all such reimbursements. Find everything you need at the links below. [Thanks, Kalyan]
HP expands laptop battery recall, again
We haven't heard any tales of exploding batteries in quite some time, and we're sure that's in large part thanks to proactive battery recalls like the one HP has been running since about this time last year. However, it's a little disconcerting that this recall keeps getting expanded. For the second time a new group of laptops are being added to the pile, entries from the Pavilion, Compaq Presario, and other lines manufactured between August of 2007 and May of 2008. We have the complete chart included below. If you're included the bad news is that your aging laptop could explode and wipe out your entire neighborhood at any moment. But, the good news is... free replacement battery!
Compaq Presario CQ1-1020 all-in-one: Atom-equipped, ready for grandma's email sessions
Okay, okay -- so maybe Compaq's Presario CQ1-1020 is good for a little more than just browsing the world wide web and sending the occasional email, but there's no denying that this one's aimed at the "casual user." Outfitted with an Atom D410 processor, 1GB of DDR2 memory, Intel's GMA 3150 integrated graphics, a 160GB (7200rpm) hard drive and dual-layer DVD burner, the all-in-one isn't exactly cut out to handle Crysis. Furthermore, it ships with Windows XP Home Edition, though we are delighted to see that 802.11b/g/n WiFi was tossed in alongside the Ethernet jack. You'll also get inbuilt speakers, a 6-in-1 card reader, eight USB 2.0 sockets and enough bloatware to keep you busy with uninstallations for at least 10 to 12 minutes. It's listed for the low, low price of $429.99, but that little "check back soon" message means you can't order quite yet. Bummer, bro.
Walmart offers decently-spec'd Compaq laptop for $300
Not sold on the whole netbook craze? Then you might want to consider paying a visit to your local Walmart, which is set to offer a surprisingly well-spec'd Compaq Presario laptop for the low, low price of $298. As you might expect however, that model (the CQ60-419WM) isn't entirely new, but it did just debut in January of this year with a significantly higher $470 price tag, and packed enough features to make it a not terrible deal even at that price. That includes a 15.6-inch 1366x768 display, an AMD Sempron SI-42 processor, NVIDIA GeForce 8200M graphics, 3GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a DVD burner and, of course, Windows Vista for an OS. Good enough for ya? Then look for it to hit Walmarts on July 26th and be available "while supplies last."[Via FatWallet]
HP outs healthy slew of new Pavilion / Compaq Presario desktops
Seems that HP got all the laptop love out of its system yesterday, as today were having a foursome of new desktops shoved down our throats. First up is the Pavilion Slimline s5000, which gets going at $289 and includes an AMD LE1600 CPU, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 320GB hard drive, 6-in-1 media card reader and a case that should be small enough for most dorm room corners. Next, there's the all-too-similar $269 Pavilion p6000, while the $599+ Pavilion Elite e9000 offers up a larger case along with an AMD Phenom II X2 545 CPU, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 500GB HDD, 512MB NVIDIA GeForce G210 CPU and a 15-in-1 card reader. Finally, the $379 Compaq Presario CQ5000 ships with a 2.5GHz Athlon X2 7550 CPU, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE GPU and a 320GB 7200RPM HDD. Tap the read link for all the nitty-gritty details, but only if you're really, really prepared for what's to come.
HP recalls another 15,000 laptop batteries, this time in China
HP just recalled a hefty 70,000 laptop batteries earlier this month, but it looks like it still has a few more fires to put out, and it's now recalled another 15,000 batteries sold in China. No reports of any actual "flames / fire" this time around but, as with countless other recalls, the batteries are apparently prone to overheating, and can indeed pose a pesky fire hazard. Word of specific models affected is also a bit hard to come by at the moment, but the batteries were apparently used in laptops manufactured between late 2007 and early 2008, and include models sold under both the HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario brands. If that sounds like your laptop, you can get in touch with HP China for a free replacement battery.
70,000 HP laptop batteries recalled due to fire hazard
It's been quite awhile since we've seen a major recall surrounding volatile laptop batteries, but it looks as if HP is the company bringing the topic back to the forefront. Announced today, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Hewlett-Packard, has issued a voluntary recall of about 70,000 Li-ion batteries. Reportedly, these cells can "overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers," and so far, the firm and CPSC have received two separate reports of batteries that have overheated and ruptured, resulting in -- wait for it -- "flames / fire that caused minor property damage." For a look at what units are affected, head on past the break -- oh, and if you're reading this on an HP lappie right now, go ahead and grab the fire extinguisher just in case.
Atom-powered Compaq Presario CQ2009F desktop now on sale
Compaq Presario's got a new 4.41- x 10.71- x 9.69-inch box for your consideration, and it goes by CQ2009F. 'Course, those following the scene in Taiwan probably know it better as the mini-Q, but apparently the model name had to be purged of any personality before being introduced to America. The so-called nettop (or maybe mini tower is more fitting here) houses an Intel Atom 230 CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, GMA 950 graphics set, a 160GB 7,200RPM hard drive, Ethernet, integrated audio, a 6-in-1 card reader, a few USB 2.0 ports, VGA output and loads of additional software that you'll have to quickly uninstall upon arrival. You'll find Windows XP running the show, and the built-in DVD burner should handle the storage duties. Nah, performance junkies won't find much (read: anything) to love, but who wouldn't appreciate the $269.99 price tag?[Thanks, V & Brian]
HP gets official with new laptop lineup
There's not a lot of surprises given all the leaks we've seen, but HP has now officially taken the wraps of its expansive new lineup of laptops, all of which are based on Intel's new Santa Rosa platform. On the consumer front, the company's introducing a slew of new Pavilion laptops, including the dv2000 series, dv6000 series, dv9000 series, and the previously-announced beast that is the Pavilion HDX. Of the less gargantuan laptops, three new models pack 14.1-inch, 15.4-inch, and 17-inch widescreen displays, respectively, and each come loaded with a variety of Core 2 Duo processors, Nvidia GeForce 8400M graphics, built-in webcams (optional in some models), and integrated WiFi (including 802.11n in some models). Look for these to boast starting prices of $999, $949, and $1,199. For the more business minded, HP's also busted out a number of new laptops in its Compaq Presario line, including the 14.1-inch V3000 series, 15.4-inch V6000 series, the 17-inch 8710 and 8510 series, the 2710p convertible tablet, the 2510p ultralight and, last but not least, the 6910p, 6710, and 6510b "Balanced Mobility" models, which boast 14.1-inch and 15.4-inch displays. On the low-end, you'll be able to get a V6000 laptop starting at just $899, with starting prices going all the way up to $2,199 for the top-end 8510w model. As for availability, you can look for all the Pavilion laptops and the Compaq Presario 6910p, 6710, and 6510b to start rolling out immediately, with some more Presarios following in mid-July and the rest trickling out over the course of the summer.
