HP Compaq Presario CQ60-214EM review

This Compaq offers great value for money and may be the best laptop we've seen at this price

TechRadar Verdict

A solid specification and great performance makes this one of the best laptops you can buy at this price. Fully recommended.

Pros

  • +

    Great performance

  • +

    Nice design

  • +

    Good storage capacity

  • +

    HDMI out port

Cons

  • -

    Battery life below 3hrs

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

While HP's best known laptops fall under its consumer Pavilion range, the Compaq Presario CQ60-214EM has amazed us. With its fantastic specification, features and widescreen usability, this is possibly the best laptop we've ever seen at this price point.

The stylish black and silver chassis has a truly high-quality feel, while build quality is generally excellent throughout. The glossy lid is inevitably prone to scratches and fingerprints, however, so you'd be advised to invest in a protective carry case.

Mobility is bettered by the Toshiba Satellite Pro L300-1FO and eMachines E520-571G16Mi, but this is still a laptop you can carry around. The 156-minute battery life falls below the three-hour minimum we expect from a modern laptop, but is sufficient for the daily commute.

Performance is excellent, despite using the same Intel Celeron processor as the Advent, it outperforms its rival and provides ample power for basic home multi-tasking. Even when editing photos and running virus scans, this system proved fast and responsive.

BENCHMARK MACHINE: Samsung Q45

3D performance is equally capable despite using the same integrated Intel graphics card. While there is certainly not enough power for gaming, videos play smoothly and you can even perform basic video editing tasks, albeit quite slowly.

True widescreen

The 15.6-inch widescreen panel is a rarity at this price. Its 16:9 aspect ratio is ideal for watching widescreen movies, and viewing multiple windows side-by-side. The sharp image quality is also excellent, with impressively bright and vibrant colours.

Another rare feature at this price – also seen on the Advent 5712 – is the HDMI-out port for connecting to compatible high-definition screens. Combined with the widescreen panel, it adds a level of multimedia usability rarely seen in the entry-level laptop market.

Equally uncommon at this price is the LightScribe technology employed on the built-in DVD rewriter. The drive also provides standard CD and DVD read/write access, for copying data to and from all standard-capacity disc formats.

The impressive storage is continued with a high-capacity 250GB hard drive and integrated 5-in-1 memory card reader. The former lets you carry large quantities of data on the move, and the latter can be used to share files with external devices, including digital cameras and phones.

Rounding out the package is an impressive suite of software that includes market-leading tools for home office use and internet security, making the CQ60- 214EM by far one of the best laptops you can buy at this price, and one that we can easily recommend very highly.

Buy from our affiliates: dabs.com | MicroWarehouse | 1staudiovisual

Latest in Laptops
Microsoft Surface laptop 7 on the left side versus Apple MacBook Pro M4 14-inch on the right side, TechRadar vs background
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 vs. Apple MacBook Pro M4 14-inch: Mac and Windows go head to head once again
Apple MacBook Air M3 on yellow background with lowest price text overlay
Need a new MacBook Air? Well I've found 9 discounts you'll not want to miss, including a MacBook Air M4 Amazon deal
Assorted Apple and Asus laptops on orange background with big savings text overlay
These are the 16 laptop deals I'd recommend to anybody in the spring sales – including MacBooks and gaming laptops
The MacBook Air 13-inch (M2) on a pink background with text saying Big Savings next to it.
Trust me – don’t bother buying any other laptop while the M2 MacBook Air is at this incredible price for Amazon’s Spring Sale
Asus Vivobook S laptop on yellow background with price cut text overlay
I've looked through hundreds of laptop deals in the Spring sales - this $599 Asus Vivobook has them all beat
The Surface Laptop 7 on a cyan background with a TechRadar deals badge.
This Windows laptop is 31% off in Amazon's Spring Sale and we scored it 5 stars – so why is Amazon putting a warning label on it?
Latest in Reviews
The Kiwi design K4 Boost Battery strap being worn by Hamish
I test VR headsets for a living, and this affordable headstrap is the first Meta Quest 3 accessory you should buy
Both Kiwi design G4 Pro Performance Controller Grips
I thought VR controller grips were pointless until this Meta Quest 3 accessory proved me wrong
The Kiwi design H4 Boost Halo Battery Strap
Want to upgrade your VR headset? Look no further than my new favorite Meta Quest 3 headstrap
WithSecure Elements EPP and EDR main image
I tested the WithSecure Elements EPP and EDR - read how I rated this Endpoint Protection for small business
The RIG M2 Streamstar.
I wanted to love the new RIG M2 Streamstar, but this pricey gaming microphone fails to deliver
Bambu Lab H2D Vs X1C
I've been reviewing the hotly anticipated Bambu Lab H2D for a month, and it's the most versatile machine I've ever used