Just curious. Diff between Compaq laptops

I see every model number combination under the sun for the low-end
Compaq laptops but can't find what the differences are. I was looking
at a C504US and then at a C560US. I didn't have the info side by side
but does anyone have a link to some definitive comparisons?
I see Circuit City has a F527, BestBuy has a C563NR.

I bought an used NC6000 for myself but a couple guys here are looking
at the low-end Compaqs.

Like I said; Just curious

JohnF

It's quite likely that each store buys the same hardware configuration from
HP/Compaq but specifies their own unique model numbers. That way they can
advertise they'll beat another store's price on the same model and be sure
they'll never have to pay off! Since the model numbers are unique, one
store can deny your claim for them to beat the other guy because the "models
numbers are different".








"JohnF" <mpi-brwNADA@phxinternet.net> wrote in message
news:v1sob3d6viup86dvc9eru12fe8csin7mok@4ax.com...
>I see every model number combination under the sun for the low-end
> Compaq laptops but can't find what the differences are. I was looking
> at a C504US and then at a C560US. I didn't have the info side by side
> but does anyone have a link to some definitive comparisons?
> I see Circuit City has a F527, BestBuy has a C563NR.
>
> I bought an used NC6000 for myself but a couple guys here are looking
> at the low-end Compaqs.
>
> Like I said; Just curious
>
> JohnF

You would have to compare specs. In particular:

-CPU (both type and speed)
-screen
-memory
-hard drive
-optical drive (CD/DVD)
-OS (Vista Home Basic vs. Premium)
-extra features (S-Video, flash card readers, firewire, etc.)

In the case of Toshiba, I often see the same models at Circuit City and
Best Buy, as well as different models. Sometimes the only difference is
the amount of memory and/or Home Basic vs. Home Premium.


JohnF wrote:
> I see every model number combination under the sun for the low-end
> Compaq laptops but can't find what the differences are. I was looking
> at a C504US and then at a C560US. I didn't have the info side by side
> but does anyone have a link to some definitive comparisons?
> I see Circuit City has a F527, BestBuy has a C563NR.
>
> I bought an used NC6000 for myself but a couple guys here are looking
> at the low-end Compaqs.
>
> Like I said; Just curious
>
> JohnF

On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:00:53 -0700, "Al Gillis" <al.1020@hotmail.com>
wrote:

:>It's quite likely that each store buys the same hardware configuration from
:>HP/Compaq but specifies their own unique model numbers. That way they can
:>advertise they'll beat another store's price on the same model and be sure
:>they'll never have to pay off! Since the model numbers are unique, one
:>store can deny your claim for them to beat the other guy because the "models
:>numbers are different".

Hell, that''s been going on in consumer electronics for at least 30
years now. Now that computers, both notebook and full size, have
become "consumer items" they've been added to the mix.

me/2

:>"JohnF" <mpi-brwNADA@phxinternet.net> wrote in message
:>news:v1sob3d6viup86dvc9eru12fe8csin7mok@4ax.com. ..
:>>I see every model number combination under the sun for the low-end
:>> Compaq laptops but can't find what the differences are. I was looking
:>> at a C504US and then at a C560US. I didn't have the info side by side
:>> but does anyone have a link to some definitive comparisons?
:>> I see Circuit City has a F527, BestBuy has a C563NR.
:>>
:>> I bought an used NC6000 for myself but a couple guys here are looking
:>> at the low-end Compaqs.
:>>
:>> Like I said; Just curious
:>>
:>> JohnF

I do not think that the situation that you describe is generally the case.

me/2 wrote:
> On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:00:53 -0700, "Al Gillis" <al.1020@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> :>It's quite likely that each store buys the same hardware configuration from
> :>HP/Compaq but specifies their own unique model numbers. That way they can
> :>advertise they'll beat another store's price on the same model and be sure
> :>they'll never have to pay off! Since the model numbers are unique, one
> :>store can deny your claim for them to beat the other guy because the "models
> :>numbers are different".
>
> Hell, that''s been going on in consumer electronics for at least 30
> years now. Now that computers, both notebook and full size, have
> become "consumer items" they've been added to the mix.
>

On Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:51:55 -0400, Barry Watzman
<WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote:

:>I do not think that the situation that you describe is generally the case.

I know Toshiba started doing just that around 3 or more years ago. Up
until last year I worked at a Toshiba Premier ASP for around 10 years.

An example with made up model numbers. These model numbers are totally
bogus and are only being used to make a point. :-)

A999-S999 Base Model that MAY be generally available to all retailers
A999-S9991 Available from Retailer #1
A999-S9992 Available from Retailer #2
A999-S9993 Available from Retailer #3

What the above is meant to show ONLY is that when you see a 4 digit
"S" number it means that most likely that exact model number is only
available at one retailer. Sometimes there will be a slight difference
in the factory installed memory or hard drive size or type of optical
drive or CPU speed or preloaded software. Usually only one of those
items will be different just to generate a new SKU#. Other than that
it is the same exact computer. There are probably some exceptions to
this but none that I've personally seen. And just to confuse the
issue, quite often the only difference is in the packaging, not the
computer itself.

Actually the first time I saw that type of thing was before the "S"
number days with the 4600 Satellite Pro. They had a version with a
1GHZ P3 that was only available as a CompUSA exclusive. All other
retailers, including Shop Toshiba, only had a 900MHZ P3 as the fastest
processor. I think that one may have been the test case for building
retailer exclusives.

Note: this relates to consumer grade models since the days of the "S"
numbers being primarily used on Satellite models in the US. The BTO
(build to order) and CTO (configure to order) models like the earlier
Tecras and Porteges always had unique part numbers to indicate both
the hardware and software configuration and were not sold at retail
stores.

BTW, I've got a brother-in-law in upper management at one of the
larger home appliance/electronics/computer retailers and he's the one
that first made me aware of this back in the 1970's when he was a
lowly salesman. :-)

me/2

:>me/2 wrote:
:>> On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:00:53 -0700, "Al Gillis" <al.1020@hotmail.com>
:>> wrote:
:>>
:>> :>It's quite likely that each store buys the same hardware configuration from
:>> :>HP/Compaq but specifies their own unique model numbers. That way they can
:>> :>advertise they'll beat another store's price on the same model and be sure
:>> :>they'll never have to pay off! Since the model numbers are unique, one
:>> :>store can deny your claim for them to beat the other guy because the "models
:>> :>numbers are different".
:>>
:>> Hell, that''s been going on in consumer electronics for at least 30
:>> years now. Now that computers, both notebook and full size, have
:>> become "consumer items" they've been added to the mix.