Even at the time of its release, the HP Compaq nx9010 price to value ratio was fair to middling. The graphics weren't very impressive, in spite of the 15 inch screen, and many users complained that the keyboard lacked sensitivity. It was also thicker than other similar models because it still included a floppy drive. Overall, however, it was a pretty solid piece of equipment that had a few workable flaws.

If you still have HP 9010 laptops in your office, it's even more important to perform upkeep and regular maintenance on them than on newer models. Laptops under a year old are still under warranty. With an older laptop like the HP 9010, you're on your own. Here are some steps you can take to keep your nx9010 running smoothly:

1. Be aware of common problems afflicting the Compaq business notebook nx9010.
2. Make sure you install the latest Compaq nx9010 driver, BIOS and software updates.
3. Preserve the life of your Hewlett Packard nx9010 battery and hard drive with regular maintenance.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read up on the most common problems you are likely to run into with your HP Compaq nx9010

Maybe you inherited your HP nx9010 laptop from a co-worker, or you purchased it when it first came out and have been using it ever since. Either way, this laptop is almost half a decade old. You want to make the most of your investment, so it's important to be aware of the most common problems that afflict your laptop. The good news is that this laptop has been around for a while, so there has been plenty of time for other users to figure out its quirks and flaws.

I recommend: Find out what issues other nx9010 users have posted about on the HP support forum. You can also read through the questions and answers for a variety of nx9010 problems at FixYa.

Solve common problems by making sure the drivers, software and BIOS for your HP nx9010 are current

With an older laptop like the HP nx9010, you should always make sure that you have downloaded the latest driver, BIOS and software updates. For instance, most nx9010 users complained that the fans were terribly noisy. Updating to the latest BIOS version resolves this particular issue.

I recommend: Download the BIOS update that reduces fan noise from HP. There are a couple of later BIOS updates that fixed other issues, like the system failing to resume from standby. You can access later BIOS updates and all other drivers and firmware updates from the Download Drivers and Software page. Just choose your current operating system for a complete list. Most nx9010's came with Windows XP Pro installed, since they were predominantly business laptops.

Perform regular maintenance on your Compaq nx9010 laptop

There are two parts on any HP nx9010 whose life can easily be extended with regular maintenance. The notebook battery and the hard drive are within your power to maintain and preserve.

I recommend: Tech Target has an excellent Notebook Battery Maintenance guide. Defragmentation can extend the life of your hard drive by one to three years. The Elder Geek has an great guide to the hows and whys of hard drive defragmentation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A common problem with the HP nx9010 is that the laptop will stop charging. This is due to the power jack becoming detached from the board inside the laptop. A cheap replacement jack can be found on eBay, but if you're not comfortable ripping open your laptop and manning a soldering iron, this particular repair isn't going to be up your alley. At this point, get your data recovered and look into purchasing a replacement laptop.

Compaq launched its HP nx9010 laptop in 2003, praising the wireless capability and desktop replacement quality. The computer had some rough points—the graphics weren't up to par and it was heavy—but overall the HP nx9010 was a decent model for business or personal use.

With its Pentium 4 processor, up to 80GB hard drive, up to 1GB RAM and 8-cell Lithium battery, the HP Compaq 9010 held up to its competitors. The model has since been discontinued to make way for newer more updated models, but you can still purchase the Compaq 9010 new or used online and at retail stores that may still have models in inventory.

If you're considering a Compaq nx9010 for your office, you have three choices:

1. Buy a new or used Compaq nx9010 laptop online. Look for cheap refurbished or used models that you can personalize and upgrade.

2. Update your HP Compaq nx9010 to fit modern standards, choosing extra internal RAM, video card, hard drive or external accessories.

3. Choose another model at the HP Compaq nx9010 price. Find the models that replaced this one or go with another company altogether.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy a new or used Compaq business notebook nx9010

Browse online bidding sites to get a great deal on a Hewlett Packard nx9010. You may be able to find a new model at your local computer retailer but most have probably been taken out of inventory by now. Focus on used or refurbished models which you can upgrade yourself to customize.

I recommend: Shop eBay to find the most options and to bid your price for a new or used HP nx9010 laptop. Check other websites such as VAI or Computer Online to find new models at not-so-great prices.

Upgrade your new or used HP nx9010 laptop to make it more current

Take your existing HP Compaq nx9010 and make it better with internal hardware upgrades and Compaq nx9010 driver updates. You can only upgrade the 9010 so far but you can change out the RAM, hard drive, sound and video card and disk drives to make it run faster and more efficiently for your business.

I recommend: Buy a new battery or plug-in adapter from Apex Battery or Amazon to keep your computer from constantly shutting down. Add new memory and download HP Compaq drivers to keep your HP nx9010 laptop in top shape.

Choose new accessories and programs to help your small business run more efficiently

Once you have your computer running faster with new internal hardware, add external accessories and new programs to give your HP Compaq nx9010 all the tools necessary to run your business. Purchase office programs to organize your business information and extra speakers, mice and projectors for your business meetings.

I recommend: Purchase a new HP printer to go with your laptop. You can network it to use with all your office computers or keep it in your office for your own personal use. Use Microsoft XP Professional as Vista may be too complex for the outdated nx9010, and install Office Small Business to help you with organization.

Purchase another model from HP or another brand at a similar HP Compaq nx9010 price

Look for new Hewlett Packard laptop models, which replaced the HP nx9010, at HP's website or at your local computer retailer. New notebooks will have faster processors, better graphics, larger hard drives, higher quality wireless capabilities and will also be lightweight and easy to carry with you from meetings to office to home.

I recommend: Search HP Compaq notebooks for a direct replacement to the HP Compaq 9010. Look for other notebook options from Dell and Gateway to stay in a similar price range. Sony VAIO and Apple notebooks offer more power and sleek looks but often carry a higher price tag.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  CNET reviewed the Compaq nx9010 laptop as a great option for the price. But there were some negatives that some users can't get past. The graphics were choppy, the processor was slow, the wireless connection didn't work at times and the computer was plain heavy. Compaq updated drivers to combat some of these problems but it turned a lot of people away from the computer to other alternatives. However, try updating the graphics card, and you may find that you have no issues at all.