4. Interfaces And Ports Are Clearly Labeled

The designers at HP really deserve some praise for the way they clearly label ports and connectors. The symbols are even duplicated on the inside of the case, so they can be seen from above when working - no more straining your neck to see what connector goes where. Most other companies only put these markings on the side of the case or right next to the port or jack in question. Therefore, the usual procedure when looking for a certain port is to pick up the whole unit and keep turning until you find the right one.

The ports are also clearly identified on the inside of the case

Why HP doesn't label the front-mounted IR port just as clearly is a mystery to us. It can only be found and identified by either picking the notebook up or consulting the manual.

Well-placed, but also well-hidden: the front IR port

With USB having become the peripheral interface of choice these days, classic serial ports have become somewhat rare. However, this old port is still used as a control interface in the industry, which may be one of the reasons why HP decided to equip the Compaq nc8230 with the legacy 9-pin port.

HP also equips the Compaq nc8230 with a serial port.

The multi bay on the right houses the optical drive, which is secured in place with a screw on the bottom of the case. The drive can easily be disconnected by removing the screw and pressing the large "eject" symbol next to the drive. An optional second hard drive can then be installed in its place.

The DVD drive can be removed from the notebook by pressing the large "eject" symbol to the left of the drive.

The modem, networking interface and S-Video connectors are all found on the outer left hand side of the case. A single USB port and a Firewire connector are situated here as well.

The network interface, modem and S-Video connectors are all on the left side of the case.

The dividers between the SD, SC and PC card slots are a little too thin and don't make a very sturdy impression.

If the dummy card isn't inserted, the thin divider between the PC-Card slot and the smartcard reader can easily be damaged.

To ensure quick charging of the batteries, HP ships the nc8230 with a 90 Watt power supply brick. Beware: its surface can reach temperatures of up to 117°F (47°C) while charging!

As with almost every other power supply, we found ourselves faced with two questions: first, where to put the long and cumbersome power cable, and second, why isn't there a fixture that lets you firmly attach the cable to the power supply during trips? Dell, for example, offers one of the most elegant and simple solutions on the market.