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insomx
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Canada
 ·Aliant Communicati..
| [Notebooks] Rant about laptops Warning, this is going to be a long winded rant 
I have had the worst of luck with laptops. I have gone through 3 within the past 5 years. I know you’re immediately going to think I abuse my equipment, but I can tell you it's the complete opposite. I take great care of my possessions. A simple scratch even irks me if that gives you an idea how well I keep care of my computers.
It first started with an HP Pavilion laptop almost 4-5 years ago. I bought it at futureshop and got the product service plan (3yr. Warranty). After a year of owning it, it started to give me issues. It began with a failed hard drive. Fine, no big deal, futureshop replaces that for me. Then a month or so later I leave the laptop on overnight to defrag and I woke up to a burning smell in the morning. My power adapter had catastrophically failed; it had melted to the floor. It took the motherboard with it. Futureshop replaces both components quickly. It ran fine for another 6 months until the motherboard failed again. This time future shop gave me a replacement because it wasn’t reasonable to fix that computer again.
I received a replacement Compaq laptop. I re-purchased a service plan that gave me 3years of warranty from the day of replacement. After a year and a half, the motherboard died. They gave me a new laptop because the part was too hard to find. I was given a Gateway (laptop I currently own). And again, I bought another product service plan that gave me 3 years of warranty.
Well, I have had this laptop for exactly a year and one month. Yesterday I noticed the screen was flickering whenever I moved the laptop. Today, I open the laptop and CRACK, the left hinge snaps. I guess what happened was a crack inside the hinge has been forming for awhile and pinched my display cable, and finally the crack completely sheared off the metal hinge inside the display. So now futureshop is sending it away for repair (thank god for the service plan....I would be out of luck).
If I had not of purchased the service plan for these laptops, I would be out of luck with all of them, since the manufacturer warranty is only a year on each of them.
Ok, rant over with.
Here is my question. I have a feeling it is going to be really expensive to fix that Gateway and they are going to give me a new laptop. What would you guys recommend if this situation happens? I have the option of paying a bit more to get a better laptop if need be. What brands of laptops are reliable?
Thank you for reading this | |
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Mospaw
Positive outlook
Hawaiian Jellyfish
join:2001-01-08
The Pacific
 ·Cox HSI
Host:
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Automotive
| Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops My very first laptop, in 1997, was a Toshiba, back when they were built like tanks. I bought the extended plan and it came in handy when the machine had some issues.
My second one was a Winbook that I got at work. Not a bad machine and perfectly reliable. I only had it for about a year before we upgraded.
My third laptop was an IBM ThinkPad A21p that was purchased new (by the company I worked for) in 2001. It's still going strong. I sold it to a friend a few months ago and he's really happy. It only had one problem, the screen connector getting a tiny bit loose on the motherboard causing some flicker in and red lines, and I fixed that myself in 15 minutes. It's been rock solid since.
We had lots of various ThinkPads in the office and they were all terrific. There were some minor issues, but since the machines pretty much lived on the road, that's expected. Only one outright failure and IBM took care of that in a hurry.
My "new" machine I got about 3 months ago. It's another IBM ThinkPad. New ones are Lenovo ThinkPads, but they're still solid machines.
There are lots of excellent brands out there. However, you do tend to get what you pay for in durability and ruggedness design. ThinkPads might not be the most stylish, but they tend to hold up pretty darn well. They're a tiny bit more money, and probably not for uber-gamers. But my 3-year-old T42p is a terrific machine, and looks and runs like new.
I admit my prejudice for ThinkPads. I really didn't consider other brands before purchasing, based on my super good luck with them.
If you have to get a new machine, I'd recommend a ThinkPad with the longest warranty you can get for it.
And you know, despite your bad luck with laptops, you're not doing well. Sure, the machines are crapping out on you, but you're getting new, fully warranted machines for the price of the warranty. Kind of like free upgrades. That's not a bad deal. So really, the route your taking isn't all that bad.  | |
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PeteC2
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join:2002-01-20
Bristol, CT
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| Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops Thinkpads do have a good reputation, construction-wise.
My wife has a Sony Vaio which is over 3 years old now. Aside of the battery finally crying "uncle", it is as good as the day she brought it home.
I have had good luck with HP/Compaq for work notebooks, and currently have a HP at home, but it is still new...
For many years now we have had Toshiba Sattelites, going back to Intel 486 models, and frankly, they have not been the most reliable, and this goes over several different generations. May be just bad luck, and of course, some of our folks are good with 'em, and some are "ham-handed", but I am a little leary of Toshiba notebooks...
Dell enjoys a very good reputation for laptop construction/longevity also.
I like the newer Acer's, and they have a very nice price versus configuration...I am not sure what their longevity is like.
Frankly, a large part of it though is "how much" notebook you buy in the first place! There are more...and less rugged Dell's/Sony's/HP's etc., based on the model you shell out for.
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones? | |
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insomx
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Canada
·Aliant Communicati..
| said by Mospaw  :And you know, despite your bad luck with laptops, you're not doing well. Sure, the machines are crapping out on you, but you're getting new, fully warranted machines for the price of the warranty. Kind of like free upgrades. That's not a bad deal. So really, the route your taking isn't all that bad. That is very true. I've been getting upgrades almost every year for the price of a warrenty (which isn't bad). It's kinda sad that this way is almost better
said by Mospaw :how is the power at your house ? do you have problems with other appliances ? if no , you're just unluccky with laptops . i've had dell , acer and now hp and have NEVER had a single problem with mine in 10 years , my 4 year old dell 1560 is still going strong and it's been on 24/7 for 4 years . ibm , dell and hp all make good laptops , buisness class seem to be a bit more durable , go through fewer changes and have better warranties . hope your next purchase has no problems It would be nice to have all these issues connected with a single source, but that isn't so  . The power in the house is fine, and in fact I use an APC Smart-UPS and I plug my laptop into there to charge it (overkill eh?).
Like quetwo mentioned, business laptops seem to be more durable, I might have to go with that on my next purchase.
I'll update once futureshop gets the word from the repair company they are outsourcing too... 
Thanks for your replies everyone | |
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PeteC2
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Bristol, CT
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| Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops said by insomx :Like quetwo mentioned, business laptops seem to be more durable, I might have to go with that on my next purchase.Thanks for your replies everyone There are rugged "business" notebooks...and bargain "business" notebooks...don't be fooled. It really is quality of construction, and price will be your best guide. Even Dell has some cheap, bargain business laptops...note: I did not say "bad"...just cheap. Frankly, there is no brand name out there that can make an exclusive claim to quality, most major brands have both better, and lesser built notebooks.
IMHO, there is nothing wrong with a low cost notebook, based on your needs and usage...as long as one acknowledges that there is a reason that one notebook costs $499, and one costs $1,499. It really is more than just a larger hard drive, or faster cpu...
This I will say, and not as a jab at anyone: How a notebook holds up is ever so often at the hands of the end-user! None of my co-workers claim to be tough on their notebooks, yet I can usually make a very accurate prediction when new notebooks get sent out to the field, which 3 or 4 will be the first to require repair/replacement...almost like clock-work!
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones? | |
| jerry666
Premium
join:2002-12-12
Sainte-Anne-Des-Lacs, QC
clubs:
·Uniserve
| how is the power at your house ? do you have problems with other appliances ? if no , you're just unluccky with laptops . i've had dell , acer and now hp and have NEVER had a single problem with mine in 10 years , my 4 year old dell 1560 is still going strong and it's been on 24/7 for 4 years . ibm , dell and hp all make good laptops , buisness class seem to be a bit more durable , go through fewer changes and have better warranties .
hope your next purchase has no problems | |
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Anonuser
join:2003-01-03
Milwaukee, WI
| my first computer, a Dell Inspiron 7000, that I got October 21st, 1998, is still running 24/7 to this day. I am currently using it as a basic media server with external hard disk.
Only things I had ever have fail is the cd rom, replaced under warranty.
After 5 1/2 years of the screen being on 24/7, it burned out. I removed it, and just use the tv as the monitor.
orignal hard disk. like i said, only non orignal part is the cd rom. even the orignlal battery still holds a 2 hr charte, and i discharged that battery nearly every day for the first 3 years i had it. Worst computer is Pro-Star. Next worst i have owned is a Vaio. All my dells are holding up great! despite massivve abuse.
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»KmanScooters.com Home of Wisconsin's Most Affordable Cars, Motorcycles and Scooters | |
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quetwo
That VoIP Guy
Premium
join:2004-09-04
East Lansing, MI
| Well, part of your problem is you are consistently going with lower-end consumer-grade laptops. Take a look at the components of the laptop: HP, Compaq and Gateway are built primarily out of low quality plastics, have very inefficient power supplies (that run HOT), usually include cheap drives, motherboards and screens.
I had the same luck with you on HP and Compaq laptops I've had to deal with. I didn't stop having the issues until I bought my first Dell Latitude. Business class laptop, and its performance reflects it. I've traveled around the world, and beat the thing up for the last three years (and 2 years for the laptop before it), and have had no significant issues. My new laptop at work (a Mac Book Pro!) seems to be the same rigidity, and same feel. It FEELS like it is going to last (I can't speak over time for that one yet as I've only had it for the last 6 months). | |
| 
Mchart
Super Joe
join:2004-01-21
Gurnee, IL
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| I have a Toshiba X205 which is basically my first self-purchased, non-work laptop. It has replaced my desktop, as i'm done building desktops and moving completely towards notebooks.
I haven't had any issues up until the past month. There has been a strange issue where -very randomly- it will make like an internal beep, the IDE activity light will light up and then it will go back to normal. I suspect a failing hard-drive - However, the system does not freeze when this happens; usually a system freezes while this is occuring. Not to mention music that will be playing or what not is still playing, and its coming off of the hard drive. So I honestly don't know what the problem is, or how to fix it. Fortunatly it has been happening on such a rare basis that I dont have to worry about it.. yet. It happens at least once every 24 hours though. I know this.
Overall I've been satisfied with this laptop. It's faster then most desktops out there, has great build quality, good speakers. The speakers were the major surprise. I bought the laptop thinking I would have to get different speakers, but the integrated 2.1 harman/kardon's that this laptop have sound great. Has 2 mid-range, 2 high-range, and then low-range/subwoofer on the bottom on the laptop. Sounds great.
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"You figured it out. All new CPU's are nothing but overclocked Pentium 1's with a few bells and whistles added, ask any ol timer whose been around." | |
| anthrorules
Premium
join:2003-09-14
Rollinsville, CO
·Qwest.net
 ·IonSKY
| I've had laptop computers since 1989. My first was a Toshiba, the darn thing weighed 10 lbs., looked like a brief case, and ran Windows 3.1 with DOS. It finally died during my first year of graduate school in 1995. The battery died and I could not get a replacement battery.
I had a Mac notebook during the rest of my graduate school between 1995 and 1998. It was a great laptop, and it allowed me to work everywhere, at home, at the office, and in the classroom. I had to return it when I left graduate school.
Then I started using desktops, primarily HP, in my first full-time job out of graduate school, running Windows 98 and Windows 2000. Continued with using Dell desktops at jobs in Colorado, running Windows 2000 and XP.
Then I got a Dell laptop in 2004 and it died recently in late 2007. I tried restoring it for my girlfriend, but got tons of hardware errors.
I also used a Macbook during the last part of last job between Aug 2007 and Jan 2008. It was a great machine! I miss it dearly.
Now, I have a ultra portable, HP Pavilion tx1000. It is a nice little machine that allows me to work remotely between my office and home office. Although I am disappointed that it's running Windows Vista Home Premium Tablet PC, I would love to run Windows XP Tablet PC, but afraid that there would be too many driver incompatibility issues.
So, that being said...for me, basic needs wise, I liked the Dell, although it was repaired five times (from motherboard to power supply). But when it ran, it ran really well. And also I loved the customer/technical support in that they fixed the problems.
But in terms of ultimate reliability as a business computer, I am definitely biased towards Mac, Macbook, or Macbook Pro. I was able to do everything as a Web Administrator/Web Software Developer in my previous job.
I went with this HP that I have now because of price. Basically, it was $600.00 less than the base price of Macbook, and in terms of ultimate productivity, I would've had to purchase Parellels and Windows XP licenses, so that I could run Blackberry Desktop Manager, and also test applications via Internet Explorer. That would've added another $400 to my purchase, not to mention getting Office upgrade for Windows, another $300.00. So, I went with a cheaper laptop that is portable, so that I can use it on the bus that I spend 2 hours a day on.  Unfortunately, my new employer did not get me a laptop, they got me a Dell desktop, which is fine, but I would've wanted a laptop. May be I'll get one as time goes on.
Hope this helps.
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insomx
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Canada
·Aliant Communicati..
| Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops said by anthrorules :So, that being said...for me, basic needs wise, I liked the Dell, although it was repaired five times (from motherboard to power supply). But when it ran, it ran really well. And also I loved the customer/technical support in that they fixed the problems. But in terms of ultimate reliability as a business computer, I am definitely biased towards Mac, Macbook, or Macbook Pro. I was able to do everything as a Web Administrator/Web Software Developer in my previous job. Hope this helps. I personally put together my own desktops and haven't had a problem with them.
For a laptop, I've heard many good things lately about Mac books (be it normal or pros). I'm very tempted to snatch one of those in the near future. | |
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PeteC2
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Bristol, CT
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| Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops Mac Books are well-put together laptops. My only issue is that they are a bit expensive, feature for feature compared to most Windows based notebooks.
Were money no issue, I might well have gone with a Mac-Book, however...to me, money is a consideration...
Fortunately, my HP for $700, does everything that I want it to do, short of gaming...which I do not do anyways! The least expensive Mac Book that I could find, was $1099, and only came with 1gb ram and a measely 80gb hard drive!  And Mac Book Pro? Sheesh! 2K+ for a good, but not extraordinary laptop? Pass...too rich for my blood!
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones? | |
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insomx
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Canada | Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops I'd be willing to pay the extra if it meant a durable laptop that doesn't give problems after a year.
Anyone here own a Macbook or Pro that have had it for a long time and can vouch for them (or not..)? | |
| | | | | anthrorules
Premium
join:2003-09-14
Rollinsville, CO | Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops Of course, probably a bit biased opinions, you could check out the Macintosh forum.
»All Things Macintosh | |
| 
alamarco
o.O
join:2003-06-18
Windsor, ON
clubs:
| Wow, some unlucky stories. Me and my friend have opposite luck , knock one wood.
My story first. I bought my laptop two years ago this upcoming summer. I haven't had to bring it in for a single repair yet. It's an HP Pavilion dv8000 series laptop. With all my belongings, no matter what it is, I treat it with the highest of care. The only thing going bad right now is the battery. Used to last me 4-5 hrs, now it'll barely last me 1.5 hrs on the lowest brightness setting. I think I'll get another laptop before a new battery though. I'll just wait until it's barely usable on battery and go for a newer laptop. Again, I'll knock on wood.
My friends story. He bought his laptop a year before me and was always having problems. The HDD died twice, the backlight stopped working on the LCD, etc. He finally got a new laptop this year with the warranty. The policy was supposed to be after 3 repairs you get a new laptop, but they wouldn't give him one until after the 4th.
Funny part? On the 3rd time when he received it there was "VOID if removed" stickers on the bottom of his laptop over anything that could be removed. Yes, even the battery! I could just imagine Futureshop explaining that one. We took it as a joke from one of the tech guys.
So far his new laptop has been guy, thank god. With the problems he had with his first laptop it's about time he gets some luck on his side. Even though you get a new laptop I would hate the fact that I'd be without a laptop for a period of time while it's being repaired/serviced. | |
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insomx
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Canada | Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops I'm thinking MBP also. How can you beat the ability to run 3 major operating systems on one machine? From what I've heard their hardware and support is good so I'm jumping ship when I can. | |
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insomx
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Canada
·Aliant Communicati..
| Well, here's an update:
Futureshop claimed I dropped my laptop and that was the cause of the damage. I (obviously) was furious with this accuastion. The company they send the laptop to (nexicore) said the hinge wasn't broken and that I dropped it causing the plastic to break all around it.
I talked to many managers and finally moved up the chain until I talked to the district supervisor (or whatever his title was). This was last Friday, after speaking with him for a very long time he finally decided to exchange my laptop.
I am going to pay extra and get a Macbook. Then, I'll buy an Applecare warrenty through Apple and never go to Futureshop ever again. I cannot believe how bad this company treats their customers. | |
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PeteC2
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join:2002-01-20
Bristol, CT
clubs:
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| Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops At least you hung in there and got your investment returned...good for you!
I hope that you like the MacBook, and decide that the price differential was worth it. If you would, do keep us posted on this?
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones? | |
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insomx
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Canada | Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops I'm going to get my laptop on Sunday, I'll try it out for a couple days and post back on how I like it. | |
| | | | anthrorules
Premium
join:2003-09-14
Rollinsville, CO | Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops Looking forward to read about your evaluation of the Macbook. | |
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joako
Premium
join:2000-09-07
/dev/null
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops Apple laptops, especially the cheap ones, are crap.
I've generally never had problems with my laptops, but I generally buy the business-grade laptops like Thinkpad T-series, HP compaq business notebooks. And when I did have an issue it was quickly resolved. One time HP replaced my Evo n610c notebook because there was a week delay in the repair. They sent a box to the wrong address twice in a row so they just replaced it.
I then see all these cheap consumer Dells with hinge problems and just falling apart after a year and that's why I keep buying the same sort of laptops. Only problem is on the business notebooks they are not going to have a good video chipset for gaming.
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09:F9:11:02:9D:74:E3:5B:D8:41:56:C5:63:56:88:C0 | |
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insomx
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Canada
·Aliant Communicati..
| Re: [Notebooks] Rant about laptops Well, I purchased my MacBook today (typing on it as we speak). My first impression is that it seems like a solidly built machine. I am impressed with the user interface (I've only played around with OSX for a couple of minutes before). It's a bit to get used to but it's only been a couple of hours and I'm used to it now.
I have the track pad setup the way I like (two finger right click and two finger scrolling).
One thing I'd like to mention is that I was planning on installing parallels onto this laptop when I got it. I have yet to find a reason to. Once I come across one I might but until then I'm happy.
Joako, why do you say Apple laptops are "crap"? Do you have any personal experience with them? | |
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