OnSale.com offers the HP Compaq nx6325 laptop powered by AMD Sempron Mobile 3200+ at 1.6GHz for $539 after $140 rebate.

The offered HP Compaq nx6325 has a 15-inch 1024 x 768 XGA display and comes with 512MB of DDR2 main memory, 40GB 5400rpm SATA hard drive, and a DVD/CD-RW combo drive. The laptop incorporates ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 graphics with up to 128MB of shared system memory. The ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 graphics engine managed a score of 1,380 on 3DMark03, which is on a par with other business notebooks.

The charcoal-on-black look of the nx6325 is simple and understated. At just over one-inch thick, the six-pound HP Compaq nx 6325 is comfortable to carry. In this day of ever-larger power bricks, we also appreciate the rather diminutive AC adapter. It is equipped with Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g wireless and a 56k modem. We’re pleased to see HP has included a fingerprint reader on its entry-level business model. Along with the TPM circuitry, the reader makes the nx6325 as secure as most laptops out there. The keyboard is spill-resistant, and the hard drive is shock-mounted (though there is no active protection system as on pricier models). The nx 6325 also does not yet have embedded wireless broadband as an option. If you want EV-DO or HSDPA data service, you’ll need to get a PC Card solution

The HP nx6325's full-sized keyboard is comfortable to use, though the key clicks are a bit too noticeable when typing. The touchpad with dedicated scroll area is responsive, and its mouse buttons are wonderfully quiet. Fleet buyers should note that the nx6325 does not feature dual-pointing devices (touchpad and pointing stick) as on other business-class notebooks. This HP nx6325 configuration also includes TPM 1.2 security, fingerprint sensor, 7-in-1 media card reader and a PC Card slot.

The Compaq nx6325's front-firing stereo speakers deliver adequate sound for a group assembled around a conference table and surprisingly little distortion even at full volume. Nestled between the speakers on the front edge is a 7-in-1 card reader. The expected connectors are scattered on the sides and back, including three USB 2.0 ports, FireWire, VGA, and S-Video. On the bottom is the docking connector, which works with all of the current-generation HP Compaq docking solutions. The AMD-powered HP Compaq nx6325 has battery life of up to 4 hours, according to the product page.

Windows XP Professional is included in price. The HP nx6325 delivered more than four hours of runtime on our tests, which puts it in the upper range among mainstream notebooks. HP sells both an extended-life battery ($129) and ultracapacity battery ($179), which extend runtime to 5 and 10 hours, respectively.

The nx6325 starts at only $539, which is good for a big-screen, dual-core ready laptop. Add the multiformat dual-layer DVD burner and 40GB hard drive and you’ll pay $539—still quite affordable for a business portable with most of the features you’re likely to need. The AMD Sempron Mobile 3200+ processor inside this HP nx 6325 doesn’t offer single-core productivity performance as good as an Intel Core Duo CPU, but it offers enough multitasking might for the price.

Pros
Impressive multitasking performance
Good battery life
Fingerprint reader
Attractive price

Cons
Relatively slow productivity performance
Not a widescreen
No mobile broadband option

See our HP Compaq nx6325 Laptop Preview

More info & buy at Onsale.com:  nx6325 AMD Mobile Sempron 3200+ 1.6GHz Notebook Only $539 after mail-in rebate