Compaq CQ61 Is a Netbook Alternative

One of the key points of those small-sized, low-power computer systems we all call netbooks is that they come at a low price point of under US$400, while providing end-users with a basic computing experience in an ultraportable form factor. However, as technology advances, the fine line between netbooks and full-fledged notebooks is getting increasingly thinner, as new notebooks come with prices in the range of the netbook category. On that note, Compaq, an HP subsidiary, has just released a new portable PC, designed to provide customers with a choice for an affordable, ful-fledged laptop.

As it was to be expected, an affordable, full-fledged laptop comes with internal hardware that can deliver a basic computing experience. With that in mind, the CQ61 packs a 15.6-inch display and is powered by a low-power AMD Sempron M100 processor, clocked at a factory-set frequency of 2GHz. In the graphics department, the laptop comes with the ATI Radeon HD 4200 graphics chip, while 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive are there to provide the aforementioned basic computing experience you can expect from the new Compaq machine.

Designed as an alternative for users on a strict budget, who also want to take advantage of the features that are enabled by the 15.6-inch laptop, the CQ61 is featured with Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system. There's also a 6-cell battery pack, but the PC vendor is yet to announce any details regarding the laptop's expected runtime.

All of the above will be available sometime after the launch of Windows 7, for a price tag of just US$399. That's pretty much in the same line as the majority of netbooks currently available on the market. In addition, for those who aren't looking for a portable PC, the PC vendor is also offering a GQ4010 slim desktop that comes with a more affordable US$310 price point.