Compaq Presario CQ61-410US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
Reviews for Compaq Presario CQ61-410US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
Beware, if you think it has a HDMI!
I just received this nice 15.6" notebook and I admit that I like it! The sound is great. The keypad is really handy when you need it. And the reponse of this computer is satisfying with windows 7 loaded.
However, pictures in its product page might be a deceiving. Although they are shown in the pics, this model does NOT come with a webcam and HDMI. I was surprised when I opened the box and found this truth. Hence, I further digged into the specification sheet and found that I was wrong. Beware, if you think this is really a steal with a webcam and HDMI for this low price, you may just make a mistake like what I did.
In all, I do not regret my decision of buying it at all. You can buy a netbook for $299.99. But I will pay a little bit more to go with this notebook ($379.99) with full capability, faster processing speed and a DVD burner in trade of the mobility. Now, I am going return my cute but slow netbook...
Great Value Great Laptop
Great computer with HD Screen, the new Windows 7 so user friendly, and I love the expanded keyboard - with numbers set off to the side. I was looking at laptops twice the price ($600-$700) when I saw this one pop up on the best sellers list for Amazon. The only difference between the higher price notebooks and this Compaq is that it does not have a webcam or 4 GB of memory - it only has 2 but is expandable to 4. You can't get a better laptop for the price $379. Very happy with my purchase! — Leah
return computer
Received this computer today, after a long wait for a period of eight days, and the strange thing is that I am open Magmt area to inspect the computer and found that it does not contain the camera and unlike HDMI to what exists in the company announcement.
So I decided to return to the company because I felt frustrated. — bigboss
Better than I expected..
I was wary of buying this laptop at first, was scared away and told bad things about Semperon processors, but all in all this laptop has exceeded my expectations. I originally bought it just to check my emails and chat with friends, maybe some light gaming... but I can play games like Everquest II just fine with quality graphics. I'm sure this laptop wouldn't work well in huge raids but it CAN game despite what I was told by many people.
Only negative thing I can think of would be that it has no HDMI. It has the port sealed off, it is only available on the upgraded models. Also if you are gonna game I'd recommend getting a wireless mouse to go with this, I got the kensington Ci95 M... bit different than normal mice but worth it!
Compaq cq61-420us
I purchased this notebook a week ago. With rebates and store sale prices, I paid $[...] total for it. Absolutely first rate on quality of product. Touch pad of this quality is usually reserved for high end units. Full numeric keyboard is a welcome addition. I would have liked to see more hot keys for common used actions. Dual core processor, 3 gigs of RAM, lightscribe DVD writer combine to make you think it's a high end computer. All for less than $[...]. Outstanding value.
refund my money
Alas!
For the second time I get this type of computer (compaq presario CQ-410US 15.6-inch Laptop Black "), without providing the required specifications, contrary to what exists in a case of advertising company, where confrontation with the truth and that the buyer upon receipt of the computer, which is not available on the webcam and HDMI port. This is the second time Orussel the company said the truth of the matter, you must contact the person in charge of marketing to the company, who told me that this work computer market, note that I am the first who bought this product. "inappropriate, I advise everyone not to buy this computer on failure to conform to what is in the image
In fact, lost confidence in this company, so as to exert a kind of fraud to the buyer, and the last time I'm going with it. — bigboss
Product key did not work...
I bought this laptop a month ago, its fast and nice, everything was find until I tried to use Microsoft Office, the product key did not work, so Im not able to use word, excel, etc. According to the Microsoft's website I have to buy a new product key!!!! Nice!!...
Nice for the price
This is a very nice computer,so far I am very happy about it but a little too early to tell how it will hold up.I really like windows 7 compared to Vista.I bought it at a really good price but don't think I would have paid full price for it,glad I found it on sale,thanks Amazon.Bottom line is I would recommended it if you can find a good sale.
A laymans review
I am not a computer geek so will skip the technical mumbo-jumbo and give the laymans review... It works good. Ive had it for a couple weeks now and I have no complaints. Everything runs fast and smooth. The moniter is big and bright and clear. For what I do (web surfing, photo editing, media streaming) it works great. Also, I gotta say that I love Windows 7. To me it is a big leap forward from my previous operating system Windows XP. — MeanGreen
Great for student purchase.
I am a college student on a limited budget. I wanted a computer for under $500 that I could use for movies, video games, and homework. I bought the CQ61-410US a month ago and it has been working perfectly. I run Counter-Strike source on it and it runs well. It is quiet, has a nice battery life, although I have not let it die yet. I have dropped my laptop a couple times and it still works well. I would definitely recommend buying this. A+
compaq laptop cq61-411US
I purchased with the picture above the laptop and it showed a webcam... took delivery of laptop and no webcam... description didn't mention a webcam but was shown with one... I kept anyway... laptop is good...esp for my needs/ and price,,,but Best Buy had on sale the next week for $50.00 less than I paid... no tax w/my Amazon purchase and no S and H either.. but still $30.00 after taxes over Best Buy... — g
Great machine for the money!
I hadn't bought a new computer in almost 10 years. I chose Compaq because of that - my old workhorse (still functioning) is a Compaq! This laptop is a basic model, but works fine for the purposes for which I bought it. My only complaint is that the battery life is not as advertised, but I seldom take it anywhere that I can't plug it in. — JovifanVT
Good Laptops
I think the products were just as described. I am very happy with my purchase.
Worked for less than 24 hrs, then returned to Compaq for repair
I've purchased multiple brands of both desktop and laptop computers (Dell, HP, IBM, Fujitsu). Until this purchase, I've never purchased a Compaq, but felt confident that this laptop would be a good one, but at least for me... it's not. I bought a dud!
In less than a day my Compaq laptop was unusable. It booted up initially with Windows 7 as an operating system, then became 'glitchy'; the screen flashed, keys wouldn't work, etc. I spent nearly 2 hours on the phone with tech support - troubleshooting this computer - and eventually they said they would be sending me a pre-paid box to ship it back to them for hardware repairs. While I've had computers fail due to hardware in the past, usually they are at least a couple years old, not new and fresh out of the box.
I will not purchase another Compaq product in the future. I will stick with my tried and true: HP and Dell.
NOTE: If you're looking for an under $400 laptop, consider Dell or even Acer brands as a starting point. Both have been good for me.
compaqs are bad
Had a CQ60 computer for a little over a year and the battery gets to 40% and the computer dies. Warranty expired 2 weeks ago and HP can't help me. I went online to buy a new battery and surprise, everyone says the battery sucks. My previous Compaq, the AC adapter died after 2 weeks and HP sent a replacement. My brother's Compaq, the battery died after a year and he bought a new one after his wireless card died too. This is the last Compaq I buy ever.
Ok for the price
I think this is a decent computer for the price but remember that you get what you pay for. I would love this computer if it weren't for the fact that the battery sucks and the speakers are really low. Instead of the 4.5 hours of battery life advertised.. It's really maybe 1.5 hours before you need to plug in the charger. The speakers are kinda low which makes it frustrating to try to watch movies or video's. Other than those two things it's a good buy. I gave it 4 stars because both are problems that can be fixed by purchasing additional accessories.
Worked for less than 24 hrs, then returned to Compaq for repair
I've purchased multiple brands of both desktop and laptop computers (Dell, HP, IBM, Fujitsu). Until this purchase, I've never purchased a Compaq, but felt confident that this laptop would be a good one, but at least for me... it's not. I bought a dud!
In less than a day my Compaq laptop was unusable. It booted up initially with Windows 7 as an operating system, then became 'glitchy'; the screen flashed, keys wouldn't work, etc. I spent nearly 2 hours on the phone with tech support - troubleshooting this computer - and eventually they said they would be sending me a pre-paid box to ship it back to them for hardware repairs. While I've had computers fail due to hardware in the past, usually they are at least a couple years old, not new and fresh out of the box.
I will not purchase another Compaq product in the future. I will stick with my tried and true: HP and Dell.
NOTE: If you're looking for an under $400 laptop, consider Dell or even Acer brands as a starting point. Both have been good for me.
CQ61-420US Super Computer on a Shoe String Budget!
If you're looking for a nice laptop that can perform beyond the average expectation of a low budget laptop then this is the computer for you. Of course there are numerous other high end models to be had if the funds are readily available, but this one works well on a number of levels for, budget reasons, personal home use, as well as on a professional level. If pushed it will accommodate!
I've read a number of reviews that stated it comes with only 2 megs of ram but the unit I purchased from "Office Depot" actually came with 3 megs of ram installed with the ability to upgrade to 4 megs. As a side note: installed were one 2meg ram chip and another 1meg chip in the only two slots available, so of course the single meg ram chip was a waste once I upgraded it's slot with a new 2 meg ram chip to have a total of 4megs. But no worries though as it was well worth it for the increased application speed and was easy to do.
As a bonus this laptop also comes with an additional 128MB (Megs)or cache memory for smooth video streaming and high definition playback whereas others at this level do not offer the same.
Since the original purchase I have also upgraded to "Windows 7 Professional" from the original home version initially installed as an "OEM" (Original Equipment Manufacture). The professional version allows much more application versatility and unlocks more of the operating systems existing (and hidden power). The battery life is average but good while the display screen is brighter and crisper then most.
It can and does run many high powered memory hungry software applications very well and simultaneously if you choose. Just to name a few, Adobe Photoshop CS, AutoCAD, Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, Power Point, Roxio video/music/photo production and editing software and MORE! (All of which are not necessarily included except for a trial version of Microsoft Office and Norton Anti-Virus application suite). It also comes with a very nice DVD/CD light-scribe drive, and easy internet access with the built in Wi-Fi for quick mobile internet surfing on the go anywhere there is wireless internet access.
And NO! It does not have a video camera but for the power you get at such a low price it is easily added for a nominal cost if you shop around. This unit runs circles around my older Dell workstation originally built for the same or similar task! I've owned it now for several months with no problems while having purchased an extended 4 year warranty that allows me to upgrade to the latest unit in the event of the systems possible failure, even if that's four years from now! (This may be an "Office Depot" deal and no I do not work for Office Depot. I just shop there a lot).
All in all it's an excellent laptop for the price though once funds are available I'm sure to upgrade to an even more extreme power house from the likes of "HP" to suite my growing digital needs/speed and desires. You can't go wrong here especially if you purchase the extended warranty where offered. By the way HP and Compaq are one in the same in case you didn't know. The HP models just offer the higher end hardware for increased power and performance just not for those of us on a "Shoe String Budget"!
— Computer Aided Design
'Very Good' for a Mid range Computer
Compaq Presario CQ 61- 420US
I received my Compaq on April 1, after ordering it on March 28. Excellent shipping from Amazon.
This model is mid range when it comes to main stream Computing, and the Price at Amazon is a super deal. You wont find it cheaper anywhere else.
This computer has met and exceed all of my expectations, I have found no problems with its hardware or the software that comes with it.
Windows 7, will take some time getting use to, I dont know how much better it is compared to XP or Vista as yet.
To every one who read reviews before purchasing, I recommend this Computer. Its above average and the price is a bargain.
This computer trulely deserves a Five Star Rating.
— nighthunder
steal for the price
I've had this computer for a few hours and I'm pleasantly surprised. I bought it at a local electronics store on sale and I can't believe the value I got.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS LAPTOP
Beware that this Laptop does not come with a webcam. I am so in love with this laptop. It has a full keyboard with great shortcuts on the keys. This laptop is by far better than the Dell Laptop that I had. Windows 7 is also by far better than Vista. No complaints on my end.
Great value.
I bought this computer to use when I travel but wound up replacing my desktop with it.
It performs all of my office tasks flawlessly and has plenty of horsepower for netflix streaming and DVD playback.
'Very Good' for a Mid range Computer
Compaq Presario CQ 61- 420US
I received my Compaq on April 1, after ordering it on March 28. Excellent shipping from Amazon.
This model is mid range when it comes to main stream Computing, and the Price at Amazon is a super deal. You wont find it cheaper anywhere else.
This computer has met and exceed all of my expectations, I have found no problems with its hardware or the software that comes with it.
Windows 7, will take some time getting use to, I dont know how much better it is compared to XP or Vista as yet.
To every one who read reviews before purchasing, I recommend this Computer. Its above average and the price is a bargain.
This computer trulely deserves a Five Star Rating.
Follow up - April 22: Received this Laptop on April 1st. its been up and running at least 18 hrs a day without any problems.
I can now say Windows 7 is a great improvement over XP and Vista in respect to ease of use, Safety and Security and my favourite of all is the new improved Desktop and Display features.
Most of the XP and Vista Hardware Drivers wont work with Windows 7! You will have to update them.
Had to update - Printer, Webcam, Gamepad and Digital Camera.(All works fine now)
The ATI MR\HD 4200 Graphics Video capabilities is exceptional, I Watched a Movie useing the DVD\RW Drive and the High Definition datail was unbelievable.
I also Burned some HD MP3 at 24x, I now have High Definition Audio in my Car.
The Computer Best Features revolves around Security and Safety and HP has taken this to the next level. The Computer actually Police's itself.
Compaq Presario CQ 61- 420US is one of the Best Midrange Computers on the Market. You will not
regret owning one.
— nighthunder
the best purchase a have ever done
My item can on time and is the same product shown in the promotion.
The price was really low comparing with the same Laptop in my country.
Thank for offerting devices like this. Berliza
WONDERFUL LAPTOP
I am very happy with my laptop and the price is great.
It works great and I will recomend it to anybody.
Thanks — Jose R. Portillo
Its windows 7, my idea!
Love the computer, but even more, i love windows 7!!
it is pretty easy to use, though after a month of using it, i still havent "played" with all of the stuff on it. still learning it, but it is easy to use. i got the basics, just what i asked for, just what i needed, and it is a great computer for traveling.
the only thing i am not very happy with are the speakers. too quiet. especially when compared with my old HP Pavillion that could blast your ears off. so, if you are planning on using this to watch tv or movies, listen to music, etc, you might want to invest in some good external speakers. i picked up some really nice ones at radio shack for 30 bucks.
go for it, you know you want to own this nice little machine! — Lucky Dog Farm
Just fine for simple use
I bought this computer to do some billing and small amount of simple games. Nothing over te top. This fits my nitch perfectly and I wouldn't trade it in for the world. For those out there that complain probably din't get a computer that could do all they wanted it to. If you are looking for simple and easy this is your ticket. I love the way the key board works...that is my main issue with laptops is the always changing keyboard...
compaq presario laptop
I love this laptop.It is easy to take anywhere and even easier to setup. If you are a little leary of buying this one, don't be.I have almost stopped using my desktop altogether,this is so user friendly. — project lady
Definitely worth the money!
The Compaq 61-410 isn't the fastest, fanciest or coolest laptop in the world. It is, however, a great value for someone needing a new computer for email, basic web surfing and office work, etc. The sound is good, the screen is crystal clear and the computer boots pretty quickly. Windows 7 works without a hitch (so far, at least!) and the wireless components seem far better than my 4-year-old machine at finding available WiFi connections.
Overall, a good solid "A" for value for this machine. — NOLA guy
A very good buy. A lot for the money
My home computer finally died after many long years. it was time to buy something new.
This computer has a very clear & bright screen.
Keyboard is very comfortable. The DVD read-writer is smooth and quiet.
Also, the Windows 7 operation system is similar to the previous system but has some very nice new advantages and conveniences.
Overall, I'd recommend this computer for general usage and internet access.
I don't do any of the popular gaming, so I can't give an opinion in that area. — acadian
Good Laptop for the money
I have had this computer for about 1 month and other than a BIOS error which prevented me from starting up the machine I am satisfied for the money. A call to HP got the machine up and running, and a little research on-line solved the problem for good. It's a little unsettling that they would ship a machine with such an error however, concerned about the longevity.
Love this laptop!
This is the first laptop I've actually purchased new. The last laptop I had was a Dell Inspiron that I bought used from a friend 2-3 years ago. It was only 512 mb, 40 gb hard drive and single core processor. So, to me this Compaq is a huge upgrade. I love the mouse pad the most. It's metal instead of 'soft' like the Dell Inspiron. I love the number pad as I'm an accountant and am used to the side number pad more than the keyboard numbers. The screen is plenty big too. I actually watched Avatar on it one night and am very impressed with the quality of the playback. I have had this laptop for a week now and it's running better than my Dell Vostro 400 Core 2 duo processor desktop I bought 2 years ago (still on XP). I was able to load the game Spore onto it too with no problems. I'll mainly use this for internet surfing and casual games. Bought mine at Staples for $399 and everyone assures me I received a great buy I'm tickled to find one under $500 with such power and features. The only con I have to this right now is there are no restore disks. The restore is part of the hard-drive so you do not actually have 250 GB of hard drive. I think it was something like 230. I did order the restore disks from HP for $15 just in case the one I made doesn't work for some reason. This laptop is also very light. I'm amazed that it's lighter than my work laptop considering my work laptop is only 10" screen where this one has a 15.6" screen.
I highly recommend this laptop especially for students or someone who just wants an inexpensive laptop to see if they even want a computer or not.
Fantastic Media Computer
I bought this laptop primarily to watch Netflix movies and sports
on ESPN 3. The HD quality is excellant and so is the streaming
speed coupled with a high speed connection; a perfect marriage.
The sound quality could be more refined as it becomes garbled
at full volume. The touchpad is quite sensitive making the
cursor glide freely from click to click. The scrolling bar on
the touchpad takes some practice to manage and if accidently hit
will jump your cursor. This can get annoying.
The laptop comes with three USB ports and a smartcard reader. The
independent number pad is convenient for number crunching operations.
I do wish the power cord connected on the back rather than on the side.
Also, it would be nice if it included a webcam.
Longevity? A friend bought one three years ago and the laptop has been
troublefree. My parents bought theirs a year ago and again, no issues.
I purchased mine in May 2010 and I am very content. For the price, the
Compaq laptop rivals higher end products by far. Excellant product.
OII
Good, Heater for winter, but we're in mid June. What to do?
I'm afraid this thing is gonna melt in one week or less (had it for 2 days). It emits lots of heat, real heat, burning HOT. The A/C adapter, also, gets pretty hot (produce things in USA,again, please). Never bought Compaq before, this is my first. I used to buy Dell Laptops/Destops, for at least 20 years or so, until start getting , heat issues, dead motherborad, bad LCD and horrible customer service. Hope I'm not repeating same mistake and getting same problems, with different company! If that's the case, I'll move to APPLE. — Hello
Great laptop for the average computer user
You get a crisp bright display with a decent built-in ATI HD 4200 graphic card, light-scribe DVD drive, and high definition sound. It is a great price for what this notebook can do! I'm very happy I've bought this notebook.
Pros:
64 bit system for under five hundred dollars.
Great for web surfing
You can watch videos online or play them from the DVD drive
*MMO gaming (runs majority of the MMO's I play: EQ1, D&D online, EQ2, FFXI, and WoW in despite of what system requirements lab indicates. The games I've indicated come in crisp and clear and no lag.
Cons:
Only comes with 2gb of ram
— Xonic
love this notebook
bought this notebook 2 months ago and I really think it was a great buy. Windows & is a great software program. the screen is nice and bright great for watching dvd and streaming works well. the only thing negative I can think of is it is a little heavier than some of the other models. Great for home use.Also I love that it has the full keypad unlike some of the other models I looked at — flwrpower0
Computer for Granddaughter
Since I have purchased this for my Granddaughter I have no personal knowledge on its' performance. To the best of my knowledge however it is very satisfactory.
Very VERY good machine for the price!
I've only had this machine a little less than 2 days, however, it is pretty clear that it is a great value with decent specs and very solid build quality. The keyboard feels firm, the hinge seems well built, the 15.6" screen is large and bright with a resolution that works well for the screen size, though it could have been a bit higher. General machine performance is excellent. I immediately bumped up the memory to 4gb to more take advantage of the included 64bit Windows 7 OS and it is flying.
The Mobility 4200 gives this machine very modest gaming ability, but it was not built for that. I installed Dirt and Modern Warfare 2 and was able to achieve (barely) playable framerates by turning down the resolution and detail settings however this machine will be able to handle anything less demanding than these titles with ease, including HD rip playbacks which it excels in.
I usually do clean installs on new machines that come pre-loaded, however I decided to try to clean up the bloatware and preserve the recovery partitions. After uninstalling all of the unnecessary software, it runs like an absolute dream. Compared to the Dell E4300 my company bought for us about 1.5 years ago which cost roughly 3 times the price, this is an absolute steal.
The machine is aesthetically pleasing both in its opened and closed state, so much so that its sophisticated poise easily matches that you would find in a more expensive machine. Most will consider it thick and bulky by today's netbook'ed standards but this sacrifice pays off in the form of much more power, screen size and speed than a netbook can and should ever offer, with a pricetag that lives dangerously close to its diminutive siblings. I did not test battery life but you should not get into this expecting any miracles. The adapter is standard HP fare which gets reasonably hot after prolonged use (as do the majority of them).
In closing...
The good:
1) Very aggressively priced ($430 with shipping)
2) VERY powerful machine for what you pay for
3) Excellent Integrated graphics
4) Solid build quality
5) Legit copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit pre-installed (no physical media included)
6) Nice looking screen, glossy and bright (though not the best I have seen)
7) Looks more expensive than it is/Aesthetically pleasing
The kinda kinda:
1) No physical installation media included, you'll have to download and oem iso if you want to do a full reinstall and use the key to activate.
2) Not the best looking screen ive ever seen.
3) No HDMI output.
The bad:
1) Nothing
The nit picking:
1) A lighted keyboard would have been nice
2) Also an integrated camera
3) Higher capacity battery — CptAwesomeTT
