The Basics
If portability is paramount but you need enough power for the majority of typical mobile computing tasks, the Averatec AV3250HX-01 12.1-inch Notebook PC represents a sensible and affordable solution. It certainly isn’t built to be the fastest notebook in town or a high-end gaming rig, and its 12.1-inch viewing screen may be too small for those who prefer desktop-size displays. Nonetheless, the surprisingly competent, extremely compact and definitely cost-effective Averatec AV3250HX-01 features several impressive and forward-looking amenities and capabilities such as CD and DVD burning, wireless connectivity and a large hard drive, and is thusly a great match for demanding frequent travelers on a budget. Processor
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The Averatec AV3250HX-01 features a Mobile AMD Athlon XP-M 2200+ processor running at 1.66 GHz. Featuring AMD’s latest PowerNow and 3Dnow Professional technologies, this notebook-specific CPU conserves power and maximizes battery longevity while offering enough raw power for standard mobile situations. Memory
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Averatec AV3250HX-01 incorporates 512 megabytes of RAM, a generous allotment for an ultra-compact notebook and certainly enough to permit satisfactory multitasking. Video
CPUs are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output, particularly 3D graphics, to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). A graphics controller with "dedicated" built-in video memory is preferable to one with "shared" video memory wherein the graphics controller borrows a portion of the all-important main system memory. The Averatec AV3250HX-01 utilizes an S3 Unichrome graphics controller with up to 32 MB of shared video memory. Though low-cost and certainly satisfactory for 2D applications such as word processing and Internet surfing and some 3D apps, this graphics controller is definitely not ideal for anyone who deals with visually taxing applications such as the latest 3D games or 3D graphics design. Display
At 12.1 inches, the system’s XGA TFT display is smaller than that of a standard-size notebook but equal to that of other ultra-compacts. The system’s maximum resolution of 1024 by 768 is average for notebooks in this price range. Hard Disk
If storage space is a priority, the system’s 80 GB hard drive will come as a pleasant surprise. You’ll have more than enough room for a broad range of applications and also a library of space-gobbling music and/or multimedia files. Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD burning, so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can record home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Most drives support several of these functions. This system boasts a versatile Dual DVD +/- burner through which you can do all of the above. Moreover, the "Dual" designation refers to the unit's ability to handle double layer DVDs, each of which offers nearly twice the capacity of traditional DVDs (8.5 GB vs. 4.4 GB). Audio
The Averatec AV3250HX-01 offers adequate mobile sound via a standard AC ’97 sound card and built-in stereo speakers. Keyboard and Controls
You'll control your notebook via a standard size keyboard and a large touch pad. Connectivity and Expansion
The Averatec AV3250HX-01 doesn’t brandish ultra-upscale technologies such as Bluetooth or Infrared, both of which provide wireless interaction with other high-tech devices and peripherals. Nor is it equipped with a FireWire port (typically used for data uploads from digital camcorders) or a memory card reader. The unit does feature a 56K data/fax modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, a 10/100 Mbit LAN for high-speed wired network and Internet communication, and 802.11g wireless technology for super-fast cord-free communication in public hot spots or other wireless networked locations. Other key amenities include three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an audio-out and microphone-in port, and one Type II PC Card slot. Operating System and Software
Averatec will pre-install a copy of Microsoft's windows Home Edition operating system and a small assortment of useful applications including Microsoft's Works productivity package and CyberLink’s PowerDVD XP 5.0 DVD software player. Dimensions and Weight
Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and too cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two or three lbs. and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The Averatec AV3250HX-01 is very small and exceedingly portable at a mere 4.5 lbs (with standard battery) and just 10.9 by 9.6 by 1 inches. Power
The Averatec AV3250HX-01 sports a smart Lithium-Ion battery capable of three-plus hours between charges.
| CATEGORY: | Personal Computer |
| MANUFACTURER: | AVERATEC |
| MEDIA: | Personal Computers |
| MPN: | AV3250HX-01 |
| # OF MEDIA: | 1 |
| ACCESSORIES: | |
| UPC: | 764296200741 |
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Averatec AV3250HX-01 12.1" Notebook PC (AMD Athlon XP-M 2200+, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW/CD-RW Drive) reviews by customers
 If you get a good one you'll likely be happy
Don't get an ultra light if you need more of a machine, ok?
Mine is over a year old now. I paid $800 and I can't kill it. I wish it would die so I could justify another ultralight but...
The dvd/cd drive still runs great, compare that to my $2500 17" 2.8HT Toshiba luggable's drive that died in a few months and is too expensive to replace, Averatec's just keeps on spinning.
The battery only lasts a little over 2 hours, but I've treated it badly and only a few times have done the "recommended" full purge - which they nicely have as an option in the power-up menu, so it's just my laziness ... yet still over two hours down from the original "up to 3" after all this time is pretty amazing. Again to compare to the toshiba, that machine's battery was routinely purged yet is now long dead and will never again recharge.
The screen came with no bad pixels and there are none now. If it had had even one I was going to ship it right back. You have to buy from sites/stores that let you do this no matter what kind of laptop you're buying. Read the fine print, pixle problem returns have to be supported or no price is good enough. Duh ;-)
I was sure I'd have killed the screen with all of my tossing it around and smashing it into my backpacks and messenger bags but nooooooo :) (Years ago I had a Compaq that became an instant brick when the screen cracked by a 3 foot fall in a padded case. That taught me to ALWAYS buy screen replacement warranties)
Seems to me after all of my machines that the more you baby a laptop the more fragile it becomes. I treat this one like a second class citizen and it acts like the little engine that could.
It doesn't have a great viewing angle, you have to be nearly straight on for the colors to be the same across the screen ... but it's a 12" screen so how far away and off-center are you expecting to sit?
The keys are tiny. I originally tested it in a store and said "I think I can get used to that" but for a long time used a wireless full size keyboard instead. Lately I've started using it to do coding while sitting on the bed and guess what, the more I use it, the better my fingers have found the right keys after all.
It is not a gaming machine. It plays dvds and streaming video media very well but has no 3d rendering abilities to speak of.
That said, I've been using it for development of web sites and "real Win32 projects" using Visual Studio 2005 with debugging on in XPPro's IIS5 and SQLServer2005-Express and that Hog of a combination runs about as fast on little "Avery" as on my 2.8HT. Gotta say, that's impressive. (I did up the RAM to 1gb with a $50 PC2700 chip)
It does get hot, hot enough to actually cause my pinky knuckle to turn red and hurt a little near the end of a battery-limited session. You know what? Live with it, this is how many notebooks are ... I had an expensive company Dell that literally smoked its motherboard while I was working with it. The Averatec gets hot but keeps on turning on. Maybe the battery life is a good thing, if it lived to 5 hours maybe the MB would have melted long ago.
It's very light, it's very small and it's inexpensive for its class.
If you get it and after a week of banging on it hard you hate it, get your money back but if you open it and see no dead pixels and you find it does what you need an UltraLight to be then what's the fuss at the price?
And if you, like me, get over a year out of it then you're ahead of the game for a notebook purchase from any vendor.
 Terrible warranty
After five months the LCD stared leaking from the upper right hand corner. Averatec customer service indicated that if it was an LCD problem it probably would not be covered under warranty, to be determined by repair facility. Sure enough repair facility, Fremontek in Fremont CA. charged me $355.00 dollars to repair and return. It took 8 weeks to get a refurbished computer returned. Repair facility has no toll free number, I spent 5 hours on hold waiting for customer service and they don't return calls.
DO NOT SPEND MONEY ON THESE LAPTOPS
Expect substandard customer service and support who treats the customers as if they should just accept the minor defects on a brand new laptop.
Dead dots on the screen are not acceptable but they say it is. The built in wireless is weak. These laptops get very hot, hotter than most laptops should be when running.
All in all, do not spend money on a laptop due to PRICE. You get what you pay for and this is another unknown company that will disappear as many other tech companies have in the past due to poor service and substandard products.
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