If Hewlett Packard‘s (NYSE: HPQ) high-end Z800 workstation is a little more computer than you need, at the other end of the scale is the Z200, HP’s entry-level model in its Z-series workstation line and a sub-$1000 option for the workstation market.
While it has the Z-series DNA on the inside, on the outside it looks like just another desktop tower. Indeed, it doesn’t incorporate some of the more impressive external features that make users want to put their BMW-designed Z800 on top of their desk instead of hiding it underneath. The Z200 doesn’t have the burnished aluminum casing of the Z800, and it lacks the convenient carrying handle. Of course, it also weighs less and is a lot smaller, so that does help in portability too. Basic black, however, is the finish for the Z200.
It does have the same easy-pop off side as the Z800, making it easy to get inside the innards. Inside, though, the Z200 lacks the impressive modular design of its Z-series cousin, although it does support a remarkably uncluttered, accessible interior never the less.
A variety of Z200 configurations are available. My Z200 came with an Intel Xeon x3440 processor running at 2.53Ghz and 3GB of RAM. New configurations are now available including Intel Core i3 and i5 options, and up to 4GB RAM. My demo model also featured a 16x DVD multidrive. Buyers can choose from HP Integrated Graphics or an ATI FirePro V3700 Graphic Card.
One thing that I found odd was the lack of a VGA output, which led be off to IT in search of a more modern monitor to connect. Perhaps they figure most workstation users are using better graphics, which is a decent bet, I suppose. In one old school move though, they did include PS2 ports for your keyboard and mouse if you want to save your USB ports for other uses (there’s two on the front and five on the back).
I found the Z200 to be a quiet machine, which is always nice and not always a given with some performance models. We used the demo machine primarily as a video editing station and it performed this task admirably. Boot-up to the OS (it defaulted to Windows XP but does come with Windows 7) and to Adobe Premiere was very quick. It multi-tasked well, gave us no problems while editing video and rendered completed projects quite nicely.
With the prices continuing to come down on desktop PCs, it’s important to keep in mind you do get what you pay for. Most entry-level desktop PCs are pretty basic machines. With the Z200, HP has done a good job at bringing a workstation architecture to a desktop that starts around US$800, marrying performance and reliability with budget price. It’s a good option for the enterprise that wants a reliable, quality desktop but doesn’t need the computing power of a high-end workstation.
If you do need a computing beast, you should move up in the z-Series family. But if your needs are for a quality desktop that needs to do a little more that web surfing and spreadsheets, the Z200 is a solid choice.
Follow Jeff Jedras on Twitter: @JeffJedrasCDN/