Features and Design

The m9200t we received for evaluation is mildly configured. It has an Intel quad-core Q6600 processor clocked at 2.4GHz 2GB of RAM, an NVIDIA 8400 video card and a single 320GB hard drive. You can upgrade all these parts while configuring the system during the purchase process, and that will obviously increase the price significantly.

Since this is a multimedia computer, HP has included a Blu-ray and HD DVD combo drive that reads HD discs, but doesn’t write to them. The drive reads and writes to DVDs and CDs, and includes Lightscribe functionality. You can upgrade to a BD-R drive during ordering, but it costs an extra $300 USD. HP also threw in a TV Tuner card complete with PVR functionality, an FM tuner and a remote control.

Backing up one’s personal data is important, and HP has provided not one, but two external drive bays that accept portable HP storage devices. There’s a big slot on the lower-right of the chassis for an HP Personal Media Drive ($200 USD for 500GB model), and there’s another open slot below the optical drives that accepts an HP Pocket Media Drive ($150 USD for 160GB). HP has also integrated the typical “one touch backup” functionality directly into the chassis itself, with a backup button just below the power button that launches a backup routine.

The front of the chassis has hidden I/O ports for USB, FireWire, S-video and composite video, as well as headphone/mic jacks. They are behind a panel that swings open on the left side of front of the chassis. There’s a panel on the right-side too, which also swings open to reveal one of the storage bays mentioned above.

The lower-half of the chassis has two swing-out panels that reveal I/O ports and a storage bay.

Rounding out the package is a 15-in-1 media reader with a built-in infrared receiver that sits atop the front of the chassis. Also, the chassis opens on the right-side via a single thumbscrew, and has a micro-ATX system board inside.