define getting destroyed. If you toss it around like the summer backyard football match, it will get destroyed rather quickly.

I have one (v2000z) and a good friend of mine has a compaq also.

I did have an issue with the power brick though, it overheated and melted a small part of the power cable ( i had to get a $30 replacement) This power brick was 2 years old and it wasn't handled that well.

If you live a rough and tumble life, consider a toughbook

---

Caps lock, not necessary all the time.

I haven't seen anything that says that Compaq is more susceptible than any others to breakdowns. Adama has one that has been giving good service with no problems. Unfortunately, you could get one that was faulty out of the box ( makes you wonder about their QC ). But this isn't confined to Compaq. For instance. I just recently bought an HDTV. They delivered it and unpacked it and set it up. Once it was plugged in and they turned it on, it didn't. They just unceremoniously put the thing in box and took it back. The next morning they were back with a new one and that one worked. Yes it had the QC passed sticker, but as I said, makes you wonder about the level of QC. There is also the problem with internal components that can go bad as they weren't exactly up to par. Hopefully this will manifest itself during the Warranty period. Again, this could be ANY LAPTOP or desktop for that matter. Odds are you'll get a good one. The bad ones are few and far between. I personally don't think it is really worth worrying about, unless you are planning on using it in a harsh environment. coastie65

---

eMachines T5212.... Intel Pentium D 945 3.4Ghz..... evga 8600 GT 256 Mb PCI-E video card..... Realtec HD audio......2 Gb 533 Mhz DDR2 memory..... Lite on CD RW; DVD +R / RW DL optical drive...... Windows XP MCE 2005....... Antec Basiq 500w PSU......200 Gb PATA HDD

Hey silentcon!!

If you are not going to use it on a construction site or any other

Harsh Environment.,(and this goes for any brand named notebook),

then , I see no problem buying a Compac.

To give you an example , We have two Compac notebooks.

Mine is a Presario R 4000, which is 3 1/2 years old and

this is the one I am using at this moment.

My Daughter's notebook is a Compac V 2500. which is 2 1/2 years old

She is in her last year of University and has been carrying this notebook

Every where she goes .

It is working like new. She has Never had any problems with this model.

Of course , You DO have to do some maintenance once in a while

to keep it at optimal performance. (eg. keep it clean, defragment, clean out the temps files , have good

virus and antispyware protection , have a good firewall ect...)

So, I would not hesitate in recommending a Compac.

FLASHORN.

---

Patience is life.