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Amazon.com Product Description

The easy-to-use HP m8120n Media Center PC is the complete home PC system that delivers more entertainment choices, and brings them together in one place with easy access from anywhere in the room. You can watch, record, and pause live TV programming as well as schedule the PC to record upcoming episodes or entire series. The built-in TV tuner (providing both standard NTSC and high-def ATSC transmission) and personal video recorder (PVR) let you watch, pause, rewind, and record live television–up to 390 hours on the dual 320 GB hard drives (for a 640 GB total). An online Electronic Program Guide (EPG) lets you review the TV schedule and select individual episodes or entire series, so you can watch your favorite shows on your own time, at your own convenience. And you can easily burn TV shows and home video to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format LightScribe DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc. LightScribe technology burns custom, silkscreen-quality labels and artwork directly onto LightScribe-enabled discs, right inside the drive.

This desktop is one of the first offered by HP to be powered by the 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad E6420 quad-core processor, which blows through processor-intensive tasks in demanding multitasking environments and makes the most of highly threaded applications. A built-in drive bay fits an optional HP Personal Media Drive (PMD), for up to 500 GB of additional storage that you can carry away with you when you go (PMD not included). It also features 2 GB of installed RAM (8 GB maximum), Nvidia GeForce 7350 LE video card (with 128 MB of dedicated video memory), 15-in-1 memory card reader, up to 8 channels of surround sound output, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a remote control with up to 16 feet of range.

This PC also 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: This desktop is one of the first consumer PCs to be outfitted with the 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad E6600, which provides four times the power with a four execution cores. Whether you’re creating multimedia, annihilating your gaming enemies, or running compute-intensive applications at one time, the E6600 blows through processor-intensive tasks in demanding multitasking environments and makes the most of highly threaded applications. With four processing cores, 8 MB of shared L2 cache, and a 1066 MHz front side bus, you’ll enjoy a more intense entertainment experience as well as faster multimedia rendering for video editing and 3-D gaming. (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.)

  Other features include:

  • Intel Wide Dynamic Execution enables delivery of more instructions per clock cycle to improve execution time and energy efficiency.
  • Intel Intelligent Power Capability is designed to deliver improved energy-efficiency.
  • Intel Smart Memory Access improves system performance by optimizing the use of the available data bandwidth
  • Intel Advanced Smart Cache provides a higher-performance, more efficient cache subsystem.
  • Intel Advanced Digital Media Boost accelerates a broad range of applications, including video, speech and image, photo processing, encryption, financial, engineering and scientific applications.

• Hard Drive: The dual 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives (7200 RPM) provide an astounding 640 GB storage capacity–enough for storing up to 390 hours of television programming, a vast multimedia collection, or for editing digital video. These SATA hard drives also quicken the pace with a higher speed transfer of data–akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
• Memory: The 3 GB of installed RAM (PC5300, 2 x 1 GB, 2 x 512 MB) 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 enormous 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: This desktop comes with an HP multimedia keyboard and scroller mouse (both PS/2) and remote control.

Video & Audio
Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 7350 LE, which features 128 MB of dedicated graphics memory and can provide up to 400 MB of total available graphics memory as allocated by Windows Vista. Nvidia’s exclusive TurboCache technology allows direct rendering from the GPU to system memory by leveraging the bi-directional PCI Express bandwidth. The TurboCache Manager dynamically allocates memory for maximum system performance while intelligent software algorithms maximize application performance. It also offers an integrated audio card that can produce high definition surround sound configurable to 8 speakers.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This desktop has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that’s fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. For expansion, this desktop features a drive bay that fits an optional HP Personal Media Drive–which enables you to add 500 GB of storage for your video and music libraries. It has two PCI expansion slots (none available), one PCI x16 Express slot (not available), one PCI x1 Express slot (available), two 5.25-inch bays (one available), three 3.5-inch bays (one available), and the following external ports:

• 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)
• Composite video, S-Video, and analog audio inputs
• VGA, DVI, and S-Video video out
• Headphone and microphone jacks
• Digital SPDIF audio output and input
• Surround sound speakers–rear, side, center
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 15-in-1 media card reader on the front, compatible with CompactFlash (Type I and II), MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick/Pro/Duo/Pro Duo, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, XD Picture Card, RSMMC, MMC Mobile, MMC+

It includes an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

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 8, Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 Trial, Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update), Roxio Creator/MyDVD (with LightScribe technology), Muvee autoProducer (for creating professional-looking home videos and burning to DVD), HP PhotoSmart Essential, and HP Total Care Advisor.

Dimensions & Weight
This desktop measures 15.16 x 7.6 x 16.54 inches (LxWxD) and weighs approximately 32 pounds.

What’s in the Box
This package contains the HP Media Center m8120n desktop PC, keyboard, mouse, remote control, and power cord. 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.

As for this model, i’m pleased with its performance, though I do not recommend anyone buy a new computer so they can have Vista – trust me, its no great improvement over XP. But this HP has a lot of power, and most importantly, I got it with 3 GB RAM, which is not all that much in a “media” pc.

The Windows Media Center is a simple but useful tool for bringing together TV, internet capabilities etc in one place. And there is a new disk burning capability built in that will do the job for most layman like me. (Dont rush into one of the video editing software packages now available–they are really big headaches for most users who have no interest in becoming computer technicians in their spare time).

This one also has a good number of USB2 and firewire ports, and lots of inputs/outputs for speakers, media centers, DVDs etc.

Like all computers these days, it comes loaded with software applications you probably dont want, and which are just there in the hopes you’ll buy the “full” product. You’ll want to uninstall a lot of this stuff, but wait a few weeks, so you dont accidentally uninstall a piece of software you wish you had kept a while…

AND burn your backup emergency reinstallation DVDs right away…they dont come included with the computer these days.

As usual with Amazon, delivery was amazingly fast — it came one business day after I ordered it on-line — and there are a few rebates that lower the price by about 15%.

I purchased my Media Center (direct from HP) a week before Labor Day and was anticipating its arrival from HP as my current computer was beginning to show its age. When I finally received it, I began to encounter one problem after another… no wireless connectivity even though my other computers were connected and communicating just fine. Calling HP technical Support only caused increasing frustration and dissatisfaction. I was on the phone for three and a half hours with people who did not appear able to understand my language or my problems. What’s worse I was repeatedly placed on hold for periods in excess of twenty minutes. On two other occasions I was disconnected – I must be honest in saying that I no not know if the disconnection was on purpose or not.

Ultimately, HP Sales arranged to have the computer replaced. You cannot imagine how happy I was when I finally received a unit about ten days later. Unfortunately, my euphoria was short-lived as the computer failed to boot due to a CPU fan problem. At this point I called HP technical support only to be connected to a service representative, who could not seem to comprehend what the statement “the computer will not boot” means.

But this was not the end of my exasperation, I spent the better part of a week trying to get someone with a little more horsepower involve in potentially resolving my problems with HP. As a customer of HP for more than two decades, I thought surely someone would take interest in resolving my problems… that someone would expedite a solution for the inoperable products that had been shipped to me… that someone would address the poor technical support that I had received… that someone would explain the general lack of concern on the part of everyone I spoke to at HP -with the exception of sales – with making things right for a disgruntled long-term customer.

Over a three day period, I repeatedly asked that someone please call me to resolve the problems that I was having with HP. On at least three occasions I was told that an appropriate HP supervisor/manager would call me within twenty-four hours. I waited four days and I never received a single call. So today, I finally got through to someone at HP, who was at least capable of arranging the return of the second of the two malfunctioning units that I had been sent. But, this was only after being placed on hold for the better part of a half hour, and having to hang up and start the process a second time via an HP sales representative.

Bottom Line – unless you like aggravation, I would sincerely recommend that you avoid HP like the plague. Remember, I was an HP customer of over two decades and they had little to no regard for me or the problems that I had with their products and their service. You should not call HP technical support for any reason other than learning a second language because the people that you will have to deal with seem incapable of understanding English.

3/21/2008 UPDATE
The RAID failed and I ultimately had to return this unit to HP. They replaced the RAID and returned it to me at no cost. They even allowed me to have the unit picked up at my house. The unit has been in service for a bit over a month now and the performance is markedly better.

That said, top-notch service provided by HP’s repair facility does not offset the fact I had been previously shipped units that did not work and the fact that their technical support goes beyond being essentially non-existent – it is exasperating and a total waste of time.