Ever since I got my new Compaq Presario V3000 laptop, a lot of people have been asking me for reviews about it. I thought I’d give it a couple more weeks before I’d post a more substantial feedback but I guess a Top 10 list of what I liked about it would suffice. 
1) It is fast! An Intel Core 2 Duo at 1.66GHz T5500 coupled with 1GB of RAM is the fastest rig I’ve ever had (desktops or laptop). I’ll spare you the details (that’s for AnandTech to work on.)
2) The built-in Altec Lansing speakers are just awesome. I’m an avid fan of Altec, having bought only that brand since I had my first PC back in college. The audio controls are simple and easy to use — mute, high and low. The sound quality and volume just rocks (ever tried playing DVD on a noisy Starbucks cafe?).
3) Built-in SD, MS, Pro, MMC and XD card readers to easily transfer files from my Ixus to the laptop in a jiffy. 
4) Manual toggle to turn on and off the built-in wifi and blue-tooth devices. With Bluetooth 2.0, I can manage my N3230 with the PC Suite even if it’s tucked in my pocket.
5) Toggle to turn off the trackpad. You can lock it so it won’t respond if you accidentally touch it (rogue cursor movement). This allows you to comfortable use the keyboard un-interrupted even if your palm hits the pad while typing. Comes in handy if you’re using an external mouse.
6) 16x Dual-layer DVD Re-Writer. The store even gave me a whole stack of BenQ DVDs for free. 
7) A really bright 14.1″ WXGA LCD screen (1,280×800) — more display space to work on.
8) Reasonable battery life. This one is just over 3 hours (6-cell) though the store said they could get me a 12-cell battery (6 hours) for under Php8k.
9) Dual built-in microphones situated on the top lid part of the screen. Not really for high-quality podcasting but this is the first time I saw two on a laptop.
10) Elegant blank carbon finish. You’ll have to see and touch it to appreciate.
Of course, it doesn’t come in without any drawbacks. First, the same time that I appreciate the extra horizontal display, the added weight comes with the baggage (5.5lbs). The battery life can still be improved, but you need to shell out some more dough to get it to 6 hours. Storage is only 60GB and though I wish it were 100 or 120GB, the DVD-RW comes in handy if you want some more storage space. While it comes in with a PCI Express Card slot, the old but still trusty PCMCIA slot was booted out . And yes, I would have been more delighted if Compact Flash (CF) card reader for my Rebel XT was also supported.
All in all, IMO the Php73,500 I spent for this baby is well worth it.
i have bought 2 compaqs. and they are dead now within 3 years. compaq sucks. u will see soon. i will never buy compaq again
I want to reformat my harddrive, it seems that my 80gb HD is already full, but I’ve got my windows xp installed and some of the microsoft office programs.
Is it possible to load windows xp professional on this V3000 compaq. How to do this ??
hey i have this one too… im planning on upgrading it to 4gig its running on windows vista… can anyone give me tips?? and can I upgrade its videocard??? thanks for helping.^^,
Don’t buy this laptop, many complain about this one, blank-screen.
@Rajiv – yes, a 1+2GB RAM would make sense but to get the benefits of dual-channel from the RAM, both sticks must be identical.
As for 64bit, you will have to install a 64-bit version of Windows XP. I tried installing Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit and it showed all 4GB of RAM now. Problem is the available device drivers for the 64-bit OS.
My bad…. You already have answered my Q :)
@Yuga oh ok! but does that mean you have effective 4GB RAM ( and just that it doesn’t show up in the system info). Else if its only effectively using 3GB it a better bet to go 2+1
How do you find out if WindowsXP is 64bit or not. As per the properties… of My Computer its Just says XP 2003 Service pack4. So I assume its 32bit
Thanks for you responses:)
Any idea on the Maximum RAM one can upgrade for a V3000. I had 512 default. Added 1 GB of 2 separate upgrades. Since it had 2 slots. I have 1GB in each.
Wondering if this can take 2+1 = 3GB ram or even better 2+2=4GB. Would it be as simple as go> buy> upgrade or is there something to watch for. Any limitations for upgrade. Anyone knows?
Thanks
@Rajiv – mine’s running on 4GB (2 x 2GB) but only 3GB is seen by Windows XP. Unless I upgrade to 64-bit, I won’t be able to use all that 4GB.
I also have a presario v3000 with 1 gb ram memory. can i upgrade it to 2 gb? thanks
I’m using Presario V3000.. the operating system is win xp. However, i would like to chnage it to run on vista. Can anyone guide me on how or where to start with? I have the vista cd with me. Do i need to search for any drivers before or after i change it to vista?
I also had that compaq presario v3000!! With 1gb of ram, AMD SEMPRON 2gh, 120 hdd, NVIDIA GEFORCE 7500.. I’d just bought it 25k without drivers and os.. all drivers that ive download are working!! This is my first ever laptop!!
On point number 4)
Just discovered… that there is no need for the manual toggle. I too have a V3000 and a Nokia 3230. I installed the latest Bluetooth Software from the Compaq site ( called HP Integrated Module with Bluetooth Wireless Technology Software). I can now use BT without turning off Wireless. Also the Handfree feature of the BT works! I can answer ny calls without reaching for my handset…right here on my V3000.
Thats pretty fun!. only that the Software is like 40MB
Link:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-41446-1&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=1817059&os=228
Try it!
hello…. Nice Compaq Presario… I love it.. actually I just got 1 too… Presario 767.
hope u can drop by too on my
http://allbestofphilippines.blogspot.com
thanks
V3000’s really gr8. I bought one last month. Its with AMD Turion64 Processor, and Windows vista home. really fast. Worth the money!!
homai bro.. use win vista instead to maximize your presario v3000 series.. xp is not meant for this model. no wonder your wifi and bluetooth are disabled.
JAYVEE..DONT POST ANYTHING STUPID NXTTIME..OF COURSE ITS NOT A MAC..IDIOT,,,
i have a v3304…bought it june last year..and am lovin’ it since day one…true..acer and other lappies have greater advantages when it comes to specs..but you cant beat the looks of this thing…even looks better than a macbook in my opinion…(but not as better as a macbook pro..) hehehehe… crappy intel 945 graphics card…but oh well…damn laptop looks good..haahaha love the fact that its scratch proof… hate the optical drive…i seldom use it because i reali hate it..a lot of errors…ended up with piles of useless dvds..duno wats causing that…anyway, seldom do i use the drive..but i love the lightscribe function…hmmmmm…vista is ok,,,just needs around 1.5GB RAM for it to be great..2GB would be better i think..hmmmmm….i used a v3000 (duno wat specific model) that came with a winXP and 512mb RAM, woah, even that was fast…but then again…i love my vista…it does wat i want it to do…so…..=D
Hi,
I have a Compaq Presario V3000. I have problem with wireless….my lappie wireless is disabled…
….i install BROADCOM WIRELESS driver on my V3758TU lappie but its not appear on Device Manager…..i download the driver from HP website….i think why my lappie wireless disabled because of it…….even i install BROADCOM wireless driver it not appear in Device Manager….
is that because wrong driver or mobo problem??
Hi Freind,
I have a Compaq Presario V3000 as well.
You said Bluetooth and Wireless are on a toggle.
When I toggle that button all i get is a disabled WiFi.
Did you do anything additional to set up bluetooth?
I dont even see the B symbol ( bluetooth)printed anywhere. Could it be mine is a non-bluetooth model. But it looks just like th epics u’ve psoted here.
Help appreciated, thanks in advance :) tc
Microsoft Vista sucks.
I can’t appreciate my Compaq V3525tu because of it. It’s making my laptop go super slow, eating up my memory and hard drive, too.
My laptop’s specs would’ve been great with XP!
The problem is, I still can’t find a way to replace Vista with XP. Vista won’t allow me to install XP.