Hi Rys,
I just bought an HP G60-249WM laptop, which looks to be nearly the same as the Compaq. My HP probably is a step up, but not by much. The other thing is that I can't find any current information on the 2650e processor for the eMachines, which leads me to believe that it's a discontinued product. The QL60 is current 64 bit processor and will run just fine. I have the QL-62 running in mine.

I have 3 gigs of RAM, versus 2
I have a 250GB hard drive, versus 160
I have a 15.4" or slightly bigger, running at 1366x768 resolution.
I have the same 8200M graphics set, although I haven't tried any real graphics intensive apps or games with it yet.

As to the power connector, on my HP, it's on the side, which is probably where it is on that Compaq.

CNet TV did a review on that computer, and I'd like to put my two cents in. At this price point, the Compaq and HP are the same computers. That looks nearly identical to mine. I *do* have a web cam in mine, but I don't have a CardSlot. The only thing that I would use a card slot for is for audio, and I've already decided that I'm going to go with a Roland/Edirol USB interface, which will give me better performance than my old Creative Audigy 2NX laptop card, as well as better connections and more options for less money.

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/hp-compaq-cq50-215nr/4505-3121_7-33309966.html

Here's the review.

My computer is a 2GHz versus the 1.9GHz of the Compaq. The biggest thing is that I paid $499 for my laptop at WalMart. For you to get a REFURBISHED Compaq for $400, I think it's a great deal.

I haven't started using mine for music yet, but I will eventually. I don't think it's going to be that much of an issue.

Finally, I recommend two things when you get the computer.

First, immediately, before anything else, get 3 DVDs and perform a system back up and then put those DVDs somewhere safe. The included OS is a 32 bit version of Vista Basic. That's ridiculous for a 64 bit processor, but it's what they did. You CAN NOT upgrade to a 64 bit version of Vista or Windows 7 without wiping the hard drive. If you don't care about anything that's on the hard drive, i.e., Works, or the Trial edition of Office (download a new trial) or anything else that they've installed, download the .iso of Windows 7 64 bit and install that. EVERYTHING gets wiped out, but you'll find the computer is faster, and runs much nicer. If you wish to keep the software you have, download the .iso of Windows 7 32 bit, and install that. That will be a simple upgrade of Vista Basic to Windows 7 Ultimate. With an .iso, you'll need to burn an .iso DVD to install, look for a free program called Deep Burner. Secondly, Windows 7 is a Release Candidate, and is for testing. It may be buggy (but I'm running it perfectly well on my HP Laptop). Come March of next year, the computer will start shutting down every two hours, but by then the real version of Windows 7 will be out. Reinstall the original Vista Basic, by the upgrade to Windows 7 version of your choice, and reload it. You will, in any case, have to reload from scratch, a new version of WIndows 7 when it comes out if you have the Release Candidate on the computer. If you put Vista Basic back on, and you want to go to 64 bit, I do not think you can 'upgrade', you'll need to check.

Get the Compaq, you should be okay with that.

Gary

Oh, I wanted to add this. I bought my Toshiba laptop from MicroCenter before I moved west, and I had also bought the extended warranty plan. My Toshiba was in the shop three times for bad power connector, fried motherboard, and such, all of which was handled here on the west coast by an authorized Toshiba dealer. That was four years ago, and I haven't had a problem since. The ONLY reason I've replaced the Toshiba was that the graphics subsystem in it was not compatible with Vista or Windows 7, there being no support for the graphics drivers. Other than that, I've been pleaseed with it, even though it's a brute for power consumption, being a Desktop Replacement.

Micro Center has always treated me well, and I wish they were in the Seattle area.

Last edited by Gary Curran; 05/25/09 01:46 PM.
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!