Currently the cheapest you can buy in Malaysia is the -402AU. It is dirt cheap, but is it any good?

The Compaq Presario range of notebook is not a new player here in Malaysia. The presario range have been selling quite admirably due to its affordable price and reliability. HP launch the range last year to precede their best selling model, the Compaq Presario CQ40.

First let us look at the Compaq Presario CQ42-402AU specification:

  • AMD Athlon™ II Dual-Core Processor for Notebook PCs P360 (2.3GHz, 1MB L2 Cache)
  • 2048MB 1333MHz / DDR3 Memory (2048 x 1 pcs) RAM
  • 14.0” diagonal High Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366 x 768)
  • ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4250 Graphics Processing Unit
  • 500GB 5400rpm Hard Disk Drive
  • LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±RW with Double Layer Support
  • 802.11b/g/n Wireless Adapter
  • Bluetooth
  • Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector
  • 101 key compatible keyboard with home roll keys, Touch Pad with integrated On/Off button and 2-way scroll pad support
  • 3xUSB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, RJ-45, 1xHeadphone out,  Microphone in
  • Altec Lansing speakers
  • Webcam with Integrated Microphone
  • 5 in 1 Memory Card Reader
  • 6 Cell Battery
  • FreeDOS Operating System
  • Free Nylon Carrying Case

Compaq Presario CQ42-402AU price at the time of writing: RM1199.00

The specifications is what you would expect from an entry level notebook. Compare to its sibling, the Presario CQ42-459TU which are equipped with an Intel Processor, the CQ42-402AU choose AMD processor as its core. Although the Intel Pentium P6300 in the CQ42-459TU pack a bit more horsepower when compared to the AMD Athlon II in CQ42-402AU, the CQ42-402AU excel in the graphic processing department with its ATI Mobility Radeon 4250.

The ATI Mobility Radeon 4250 is far more superior than the Intel HD GPU in the CQ42-459TU.

At this price point, do not expect the CQ42-402AU to run heavy duty task such as video editing flawlessly. The equipped processor and memory will run normal task such as office application or internet surfing without a hiccup. The storage and connectivity option are aplenty, with  DVD±RW, Bluetooth, and 5 in 1 card reader.

Not much can be said about the exterior. HP Compaq has continue to use its proven presario design blueprint. Although the design is a bit bland, it is neither ugly or a let down. I would say that the Presario CQ42-402AU design is sensible enough to live up to its reputation.

The keyboard on the CQ42-402AU is the same layout as the previous CQ40. The same can be said on the touchpad. As usual, I find the scroll touch key on the CQ42 touchpad is a big help when navigating through web pages.

The CQ42-402AU come with FreeDOS as its Operating System, but with 2GB of DDR3 memory and 500GB of Hard Disk Drive space, it is more than enough to run Windows 7 as its operating system. But if you are on a budget, installing ubuntu netbook remix is an option.

I strongly believe that the Compaq CQ42-402AU will continue to sell well here in Malaysia. Considering the price and the packed features, it is an entry level notebook that will be more than sufficient for most users who don’t want to get themselves a netbook.

At the CQ42-402AU starting price of RM1199 (maybe RM1099 or free RAM upgrade with some hassle with the retailer), I highly recommend this notebook to anyone looking for a cheap and reliable notebook in Malaysia.


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