With its very small form factor, one might expect the HP Compaq 6000 Pro to be an under-powered basic office machine. In fact, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. HP has created a powerhouse computer that can fit in even the smallest of spaces, and its performance and upgrade options are impressive.

Its small form factor case measures just 3.9 inches by 13.3 inches by 14.9 inches, so its ultra compact. The machine can even be placed on its side to occupy less space, although using the disc drive is just a bit more challenging in this configuration.

The basis of the 6000 Pro is an Intel Core 2 Quad processor, delivering more power than the average home or office machine. It comes with 4 GB of DDR3 RAM installed standard, but can be upgraded to a maximum of 16 GB if necessary. Since the unit includes the 64-bit edition of Windows 7 Professional, so it can utilize a large amount of RAM for maximum performance. The inclusion of the Professional edition of Windows 7 practically justifies the machine’s price, as buying the operating system on its own is a very expensive proposition.

A roomy 500 GB SATA hard drive is included, as well as a LightScribe DVD burner for data backups and movies. Despite the small form factor of the case, there is still room for upgrades, such as an extra hard drive. Also impressive is the machines array of ports, including a number of USB and eSata ports for adding external peripherals and other upgrades. This makes its potential storage capacity nearly limitless.

Overall, the HP Compaq 6000 Pro combines the look of a compact desktop with the power of a high-end machine, and does it all at a very affordable price. Office users who need a little more muscle and high-end users who want raw processing power should both be happy with its price and performance. The addition of Windows 7 Professional in the box makes it an even better value.