Review of the HP G6-1b39WM

The HP G6-1B39WM is clearly intended for casual computer users, as it doesn't have a tremendous amount of power. Even so, HP has found a way to build in a lot of features while keeping the cost of the computer just under $450.

Compared to many of the cheap laptops on the market, the G6-1B39WM is surprisingly full featured. It packs a 1.6 GHz Dual-Core AMD E-350 processor with 4GB of SDRAM, expandable to 8GB. This is by no means a fast processor -- there are even a few netbooks that could outpace it -- but it's more than enough power for web browsing and other basic tasks. There have been some complaints of slow performance with other laptops in the G6-1B39WM's range, but it's fair to say that the processor and RAM are ample power for a sub-$500 laptop. Even so, some users might want to upgrade the RAM for better performance.

The media and storage features of the HP G6-1B39WM are ample and well-implemented. It has a 500GB hard drive, so it's great for college students and users who need to store a large number of pictures or videos, and those users will also appreciate the built-in webcam and microphone.

There's also a 2-in-1 media card reader for accessing camera cards or moving data between computers. Its DVD burner handles multiple formats and is coupled with an AMD Radeon HD 6310G graphics card for excellent quality movie playback on the 15.6" LED screen. This is a great media laptop which could work really well for users with a big DVD collection or an interest in photography, although the limited processor probably won't handle serious photo manipulation software like Photoshop or any other advanced programs that need a lot of memory.

The G6-1B39WM is loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium and some basic software. Several Cyberlink programs are included for easy web conferencing and DVD burning. There are also trial versions of Norton Internet Security and Windows Office, but students and business users will either need to purchase a full version of office or install another word processor, as the reduced-functionality version of Office included here isn't very useful.

Overall, the G6-1B39WM compares very favorably to other low-cost laptops. Buyers shouldn't consider this PC if they're concerned about power, but for basic tasks like word processing, email and Internet, this HP is incredibly flexible. It even comes in a variety of stylish colors, and for $450, there aren't a lot of laptops on the market that can compare with its feature set.