Product Description

HP Pavilion A6220N Desktop PC. The perfect PC for photos, video and music HP Pavilion desktop PCs include a variety of features that make taking and sharing digital pictures easier than ever. As you would expect from the leader in consumer PCs and PhotoSmart printers, every HP Pavilion PC gives you the tools to make working with digital photos and video clips fun and convenient. Organize, edit, share and protect your digital photos with HP Photosmart Essential. The front panel 15 in 1 memory card reader makes it easy to transfer photos and files to and from your digital camera and other peripheral devices. HP Pavilion PCs feature the exclusive Pocket Media Drive bay20 that allows you to add instant storage. The Pocket Media Drive21 also works with any USB enabled PC. The SuperMulti DVD burner with LightScribe technology lets you create custom, silkscreen quality labels and artwork directly onto LightScribe enabled CD and DVD discs.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1564 in Personal Computers
• Brand: Hewlett-Packard
• Model: A6220N
• Dimensions: 16.28" h x 9.64" w x 6.89" l,
• CPU: Intel Core Duo 2.2 GHz
• Memory: 2000MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 400GB
• Processors: 2

Features

• Sleek and shiny black-and-silver desktop with Viiv-enabled 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 dual-core processor
• 400 GB hard drive, 2 GB RAM (8 GB max), 16x dual-layer DVD burner with LightScribe disc printing
• Open drive bay for an optional HP Pocket Media Drive; Intel GMA X3100 video/graphics card with 128 MB of dedicated memory
• Connectivity: six USB 2.0; two FireWire; 15-in-1 memory card reader; 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

Amazon.com Product Description
Boasting a sleek and shiny black-and-silver chassis, the HP Pavilion a6220n desktop PC comes loaded with the all tools you need to easily create, manage, share, and enjoy your digital photos, home videos, movies, and music. You can easily burn your home video productions to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc and provides a super-fast 16x DVD+R/-R write speed. It also includes LightScribe technology for personalized silkscreen-quality, laser-etched CD/DVD labels created right in the drive.

Under the hood, it's powered by the 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 processor, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance. Store more music, videos, and data on the super-sized 400 GB 3 GB-per-second Serial ATA hard drive, which offers lightning quick transfer rates. It also includes an open drive bay for an optional HP Pocket Media Drive (which can add up to 160 GB of storage). Other features include 2 GB of RAM (which can be bumped up to 8 GB), an integrated Intel GMA X3100 video/graphics card with 128 MB of dedicated video RAM, a wide variety of connection ports on both the front and rear of the box, and a 15-in-1 memory card reader that's compatible with today's most popular digital camera formats.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 processor has a 2.2 GHz processor speed, super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and a 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

  This processor also includes Intel's Viiv technology, which allows you to quickly turn the PC on and off (after initial boot) with a touch of the included remote thanks to Intel's Quick Resume function. It also offers specially-designed software that makes network configuration easy, for connecting to portable media players, DVD players, TV sets and stereos.

  The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

  • Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.

• Hard Drive: The super-sized 400 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive has a 3Gb/s interface speed that enables up to 300MB/s data transfer rates (double the speed of the current SATA interface of 1.5Gb/s).

  This desktop also includes a drive bay that fits an optional HP Pocket Media Drive, which enables you to add up to 160 GB of additional storage. The Pocket Media Drive also works with any USB-enabled PC, for easy transferring of multimedia files from other computers in your home.

• Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (PC5300, 2 x 1 GB) is a good start, but you'll want to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and gaming software. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. This desktop has an 8 GB maximum RAM capacity (4 x 2 GB). To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.

• DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 8x DVD-R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R DL Write Once, 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD+RW, 16x DVD-R, 6x DVD-RW, 12x DVD-RAM, 40x CD-R, 32x CD-RW write speeds and 40x CD-ROM, and 16x DVD-ROM read speeds.

  This LightScribe DVD+/-RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.

• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with an HP multimedia keyboard and scroller mouse (both with PS/2 connections).

Screen, Video & Audio
Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which includes 128 MB of dedicated graphics memory and provides up to 287 MB of video memory allocated from the system. It also features Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
For expansion, this desktop has one PCI slots (occupied), one PCI Express x1 slot (available), two PCI Express x16 slots (both available), two 5.25-inch bays (one available), and three 3.5-inch bays (two available). It comes with the following external connectors:

• 6 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (2 in front, 4 in rear)
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals (1 in front, 1 in rear)
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 2 headphone and 2 microphone (front and rear)
• 2 line-in (front and rear)
• Digital coaxial audio input/output as well as surround sound speaker outputs (rear/side/center)
• 15-in-1 multi-format memory card reader, compatible with CompactFlash I/II, IBM Microdrive, Secure Digital (SD), miniSD, MultiMediaCard (MMC), Reduced Size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC), MultiMediaCard Plus (MMC plus), MultiMediaCard Mobile (MMC mobile), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, SmartMedia, and xD Picture Card.
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
• 56K modem

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Includes Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial), Muvee Autoproducer Basic Edition, Roxio Creator 9 and MyDVD Basic, HP PhotoSmart Essential, and Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions & Weight
It measures 16.3 x 6.9 x 15.25 inches (LxWxD) and weighs approximately 22 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Pavilion a6220n desktop PC, power cable, keyboard, and mouse. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 90 days from date of purchase.

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Customer Reviews

Expansion? Be prepared to replace the power supply!
I don't have this model, but I do have two other HP Desktops. The point of this review is to warn you that most HP Desktops are significantly under-powered. The 6200 unit has a 250w power supply and the 6230 has 300w(per their parts list on the web site)... Although there is a lot of room to add-on, you can't do much with only 250watts. Most decent PCIe video boards require at least 350w. I have a model a1450n (300w) and a a6009n (250w), both AMD 64x2 CPUs. The a6009n has a mother board with a 24-pin input socket for power(as do most new motherboards), but the power supply only has the older 20-pin output (the extra 4-pins are supposed to be to get extra power to the mother board to accomodate various add-ons, including accessories/peripherals that use USB ports. It works, but just minimal power.

The thing that burns me is HP makes it quite difficult to get power supply specs because they know they would be a liability (but they sure promote the extra slots and expandability). The only way to find out is to actually look inside the case or check the parts list on their web site.

The bottom line is you should plan to replace the power supply if you're going to add-on much to your system. Besides the inconvenience, that's an extra $50-$150... and a wasted, useless replaced power supply.

Good bargain, but...
I just got the HP Pavilon a6220n this week. For the price, it is a really good value. However, be aware that despite the fact that there is a fax/modem included, vista home premium does not allow you to send out faxes. Apparently, the faxing feature is only part of the Vista business or Ultimate versions. If you are considering upgrading from a computer with XP and planning on transferring your current software/ applications (Quicken, etc), be sure to check if your current applications are Vista compliant (otherwise, you should keep in account the cost of buying newer versions of your applications).

HP Pavilion A6200N Desktop - Works with Ubuntu!
The HP Pavilion A6200N Desktop is a rather stylish-looking (and very quiet) machine that a friend purchased as a replacement for an E-Machines PC that died. After trying Ubuntu (Gutsy) he wanted the same OS installed on this new machine. I'm pleased to say Microsoft Vista is no more - in fact, it never even got to start as I booted straight into an Ubuntu Install CD - and everything worked great out-of-the-box.

I would recommend this machine as an excellent buy for those who need a reasonably priced Linux box, with very good performance for the money.

Things I learned during the Ubuntu installation:

1) Don't accept the default video driver - choose 'GeForce6 series' - your performance will be massively improved,

2) There is no parallel port on this machine - you will need to purchase a parallel port card or a USB-parallel port adapter if you have an old parallel port printer,

3) To get DVD playing to work reliably, you need to install 'non-free' software from Medibuntu (http://www.medibuntu.org/). This is quite painless but unfortunately necessary. I found that without doing this, only one of my DVDs would play (which fooled me for a while, when I discovered others would not),

In short, this machine is a bargain and you can easily trash the bundled Microsoft Vista and put a decent operating system on it instead. For those who take issue with what seems like an inflammatory statement, I would only say that the person for whom I installed Ubuntu was delighted with one thing in particular 'You put a DVD or CD in and it just plays! Fantastic!'. Before, he had to do - to him - an unreasonable amount of Windows navigation to choose a DVD-playing program. Ubuntu delivered exactly what he expected - 'I put the DVD in, I want it to play'.

You can see why I didn't hesitate to wipe Vista from the newly-acquired machine!