After having 6 months of headache with a Dell (not a Dell problem though), they are finally letting me return the Dell XPS 410 with the sound card issue no one could fix.

I started browsing around on HP's website since they also offer student discounts and came up with what looks like a pretty sweet computer for a great price.

Anyone know anything about this HP and the configuration? The only HP I ever owned was a Presario laptop about 6 years ago. It still runs great, but we don't use it.

Final Price: $2113.88 (+tax)

Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit Edition
Intel Core 2 Quad processor Q6600 (2.4GHz)
2GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024)
512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8500GT, TV-out, DVI-I, HDMI
1TB 7200rpm SATA 3Gb/s dual hard drives (2x500GB)
LightScribe 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
16x max. DVD-ROM
15-in-1 memory card reader, 3 USB, 1394, video
ATSC-NTSC TV tuner with PVR, FM tuner, remote
Sound Blaster Audigy X-Fi, 24-bit Xtreme Fidelity
4-year HP Total Care Extended Service Plan with House Call

The only downfall is that the PC only has 3 PCI slots so I cannot get the dual tv tuners (yes, sometimes I have 3 shows on at the same time and with school I cannot ever watch them live...). However, I thought about replacing my 19" with a 22" ($218.40) and then replacing my second monitor (17") with the 19". The 17" is also a TV so I could use that to watch the third show live if needed. I'd just get a splitter for the cable.

Opinions on the configuration? Price? Overall computer?

I'm nervous about the sound card because it was a SoundBlaster that gave me a horrible time before. I got referred to the very top of Dell tech support and they are still stumped. I sent them my computer to troubleshoot on-site. They are still stumped. I'm worried I may have the same problem again. At least this time I'll know right away and return it.

Thanks!!

that is a very good computer. if you can upgrade it though, upgradde to a Geforce 8600GT. you will get over twice the performance than with the 8500. But other than that... Dont worry about the Sound card, Sound Blaster is the leading technology, and the leading company of audio chipset manufactururs. the biggest one by far in the world. The whole configuration is very good. If you want new monitors, i reccomend either HP, LG, Samsung, or Westinghouse. These are all very good manufactuers of monitors. my computer, and my parents is LG monitor, and my grandfather has a Samsung, and my grandmotehr has a Westinghouse. So i know personally they are very good. So iwould say that you are all set.

I'd love to upgrade the graphics, but I can't for two reasons. It won't let me have a TV Tuner and that graphics card. Secondly, that would kill my poor pre-med college kid student budget

i see. well, then you are all set there