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GCN Lab Review: HP Compaq nc6320

|GCN Lab Reviewer's Choice|
Pros: Large number of ports/interfaces
Cons: Somewhat low performance
Price: $1,799
Performance: B
Battery life: B
Features: A
Value: A

The HP Compaq nc6320 has a lot to offer in its roughly 6-pound package. With EvDO cellular and 802.11 wireless radios, Bluetooth, seven-in-one media card reader, S-Video, FireWire, extra PC-Card slot, etc., it packs more interfaces and ports than any other notebook in the review.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a device in regular use that the nc6320 can’t communicate with. Plus it has an integrated fingerprint reader.

While its Core Duo T2500 processor sports one of the top clock speeds, its 7,309 benchmark score was very slightly below average.

We’re not too worried about that lag, because we like the EvDO radio, and we really like that the system was able to squeeze out over three hours of battery live from a mere six-cell battery.

No other six-cell battery got within a whiff of the three-hour mark. Given what the nc6320 comes with, and the solid-if-unspectacular performance it delivers, $1,799 is a good price.

The nc6320 is a nice choice for anyone who wants maximum multimedia capability, efficient battery use and biometric security.

Hewlett Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif., (800) 888-9909, www.hp.com