Compaq Presario CQ5320F

The Compaq Presario CQ5320F ($399.99 list), available at Staples, straddles the line between great bargain and diminishing returns. Let me explain. Have you ever been to a gas station that has 8 different types of gasoline? They start with Ultra Premium, and then descend into types like Extra Premium, Premium, Regular, and Economy. When you compare prices, Economy looks awesome; you can fill your tank and save a few bucks. The problem is when you look at the fine print Economy barely has 80 octane per gallon, which does your engine a disservice and likely costs you more down the line. The Compaq Presario is like that Economy gasoline. Its $399 price tag lures you in but once you fire it up you realize that it might not be the bargain you thought.

Hewlett-Packard Company

http://www.hp.com

• Price as Tested: $399.99
• Type: Gaming
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo P6500
• Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz
• RAM: 3 GB
• Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 6150 SE
• Storage Capacity: 500 GB
• Primary Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW (Plus Minus)