The HP Pavilion a1100e series of customizable desktop computers offers considerable flexibility and scalability. The hard drive can be expanded from a 'mere' 40 GB to 250 GB, while the memory can be scaled up to 2 GB from the 256 MB memory in the default configuration.
The onboard graphics chip will be adequate for basic applications, but there's no AGP slot for graphics upgrades. (You could use one of the two available PCI slots for graphics, however.) Windows XP home edition is included in the default configuration, and some office productivity software.
The basic model comes at a bargain offer of $249 (after a $50 mail-in rebate and excluding shipping), good for an entry-level PC. There's a a one-year limited warranty and a number of 24x7 customer support options. However, shipping on this system is expensive, at $99.
| HP Pavilion a1100e series customizable PC (Default configuration) | |
| Processor | AMD Sempron 3000+, 1.8GHz |
| Installed RAM | 256 MB DDR2, 400MHz SDRAM |
| Maximum RAM | 2 GB (2 x 1GB) |
| Hard drive | 40 GB, 7200 rpm SATA |
| Includes CD-ROM | Yes, 48X Max CD-ROM drive |
| Includes keyboard | Yes |
| Includes mouse | Yes, HP scroller mouse |
| Includes speakers | No |
| Includes monitor | No |
| Includes floppy drive | No |
| Includes AGP slot | No |
| Includes Modem | Yes |
| Ethernet jack | 10/100 |
| PCI slots | 3 slots (two available) |
| USB ports | 2 USB 2.0 ports |
| Motherboard | SiS760/964 |
| Power supply | 250W |
| Installed OS | Windows XP Home |
| Warranty | Limited 1 year hardware warranty |
| Bottom Line | |
| Price | $249 (after $50 mail-in rebate) + $99 shipping |
| Pros | Good entry level computer for personal use, configurable. |
| Cons | At $99, shipping is expensive |
| Shop | HP Pavilion a1030e desktop PC (click the link then click Pavilion) |
Updated November 20 2005