The glossy white casing is certainly unique. Though equipped with a dedicated graphics card on the previous Centrino chipset, the performance of this unit is unfortunately only average.

If white is the colour of purity, then Apple should feel violated with the number of notebooks adopting the distinctive white theme. After BenQ's recent release of its white JoyBook S53, HP followed suit with the Compaq Presario B2800 in a similar shade. Equipped with a dedicated graphics card and based on the previous Centrino 533MHz chipset, we expect this machine to be the white stallion from which weekend warriors ride into battle.

Design
Similar to the ASUS W5A and Toshiba Portege A200, the Compaq Presario B2800 is covered with a piano white case which seems rather bulky at first look. With a dimension of 310 x 255 x 34mm, it is significantly larger than the Compaq Presario B1800. But with a weight of only 1.96kg, we suspect that most of the space inside is empty for better circulation as well as to fit in a dedicated graphics processor. Comprising sturdy plastic, the top case is finished with a glossy coat which is attractive but easily scratched. The rest of the body uses a matte-white exterior.

The all-white paintwork extends even to the bottom of the unit.

The full-size keyboard is comfortable to use. Using a combination of the Fn and another key, the volume and brightness level can be adjusted. It is rather unusual that multimedia control is also mapped to a combination of keys as notebooks either do without it or, like the Dell Inspiron 630m, dedicate buttons to it. Instead, a row of four buttons are reserved for Internet, email, Wi-Fi and touchpad control.

All the connectivity ports on this machine are located on the flanks for easy access. Together with the optical drive, one USB 2.0, monitor out, S-video out, modem and Ethernet ports are placed on the port side. The right holds the remaining three USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, PC Card slot, memory card reader and audio jacks. The speakers are positioned just above the keyboard, a location which results in muffled output should the screen be closed.

Features
Running on the previous Centrino platform, the Compaq Presario unfortunately does not incorporate all the latest technology. However, for users who have a fetish for all things white, this notebook is more than sufficient for most computing tasks.

Connectivity is handled by the four USB 2.0 and mini-FireWire ports. Though we would have preferred an ExpressCard slot which future expansion devices will use, owners who have invested in PC Cards will be able to use this machine. The memory card reader is about to handle SD, MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro and xD-Picture Cards without requiring an additional adapter. External monitors or a TV can be hooked up to this machine as it has the required VGA and S-video output.

A modem and 10/100Mbps Ethernet port can be used for connecting to wired networks. Unfortunately, the Presario B2800 is unable to use the faster Gigabit LAN. Wireless features include 802.11b/g standards, with an option to include Bluetooth and 802.11a connectivity as well. The integrated antenna is able to maintain good signal strength in areas where some other notebooks are unable to even detect a network.

Most of the ports are found at the sides.

The keyboard is large and comfortable for use. With the bottom left key allocated to Ctrl instead of Fn, gamers can map the key to their preferred setting. A seldom seen feature is the dedicated button and LED for the touchpad. Depressing the button disables the input device entirely. This is another game-centric addition which avoids accidental left clicking should the thumb brush against the pad.

The integrated audio chipset produces sufficiently loud audio for use in noisy environments. Though lacking in bass, there is little distortion at higher settings. However, the position of the speakers is such that output is muffled if the screen is closed. For a machine with gaming capability, we would have preferred the Fujitsu LifeBook P7120´s RealTek ALC260 High-Definition audio chipset for more control and options.

Performance And Battery Life
Using a Pentium M 750 processor, the Compaq Presario B2800 clocked in at 1.86GHz. Though MobileMark 2005 gave it an unacceptable score of 157 compared to Intel's benchmark score of 225 for the slower Pentium M 1.60GHz, we felt it could be a conflict between the program and the hardware. Applications started and performed at the same level as other similar notebooks. As such, the performance rating was based on user experience instead of benchmark numbers. The graphics performance of the ATI Mobility Radeon X600 card gave it credence as a light gaming machine, scoring 1,583 on 3DMark05.

The Compaq Presario B2800 lasted an impressive 3 hours 49 minutes on one charge. Considering that it uses a dedicated graphics card, the fact that HP does not offer a high-capacity cell for this notebook can almost be forgiven.

Service And Support
Compaq notebooks have a one-year local warranty. At HP's support Web site, laptop owners can download the latest drivers and manuals. In the event of a simple malfunction, the company offers an online knowledge database and support forum for troubleshooting. Further diagnosis or repair can be made at the service centre, though the owner has to bring the notebook there. Telephone support is available during normal working hours and for current or potential customers who are not sure which notebook is right for you, a dedicated number is available for assistance in purchase selection. There is no option to extend or upgrade the warranty.

HP Compaq Presario B2823TX
Company: HP
Price: AU$2,499