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HP Compaq nc6400 review

Roger Kirkwood Read more October 7, 2009

£1063

Price when reviewed

Choosing between the Dell D620 and HP’s nc6400 isn’t easy, as both are excellent notebooks. Slightly cheaper than the Dell, this EY493ET model has a better screen, similar performance, and great design and build quality.

HP’s 1,440 x 900 resolution packs in more information than our Dell’s 1,280 x 800 display – you add £30 to upgrade to the higher resolution on the D620 – and it’s a little brighter even if viewing angles are narrow. The nc6400 also offers better 3D performance than the Dell. There’s an ATi Mobility Radeon X1300, but it only managed 18fps in Far Cry at 1,024 x 768.

There are other areas where the nc6400 leads the Dell, including DVD-RAM support, integrated Bluetooth and an SD/MMC card reader. There’s also a fingerprint reader to boost security; the smart card reader and TPM chip are features shared with the Dell.

Conversely, there are areas where the D620 strides ahead. Its 120GB hard disk is 50% bigger than the nc6400’s 80GB drive, while the integrated 3.5G HSDPA provides broadband-like internet in major cities. The Dell’s Core 2 Duo CPU is newer than the nc6400’s Core Duo, but it makes little practical difference: combined with 1GB of RAM, both are fast enough for demanding applications.

Both have good expansion potential, including an extended battery option (adding to the standard six-cell battery’s 4hrs 27mins) and various docking stations. HP has a top-spec dock with an integrated 160GB NAS device for £249.

However, the D620 has the better warranty. While HP’s three-year collect-and-return cover is welcome, Dell goes the extra mile with international on-site next-business-day support.

Overall build quality is excellent; the HP’s screen has ample protection for the road. The keyboard is a little clattery, but it’s well laid out and spacious.

HP’s nc6400 is a fine business notebook that gives Dell’s D620 a serious challenge. If you don’t need 3.5G, a big hard disk and on-site warranty, the nc6400’s Bluetooth, media card reader, fingerprint reader, DVD-RAM and better screen make it a great substitute.