Avoid HP computers

[locosway]

Again, I'm not talking down on hardware. Mostly on the HP customer service, or the lack thereof.

[viras]

You get what you pay for.

FYI - HP Support call centers are located in Costa Rica, Shanghai, and India.

If you got a "sheeple" laptop, you'll most likely be routed to a support team in India.

If you got a "sheeple" desktop, you'll most likely be routed to a support team in Shanghai.

If you got a higher end (business class) laptop or desktop, you'll be routed to a support team in Costa Rica, and if you escalate your issue to L2, you'll be routed to a real life American based out of San Diego or Cupertino.

Good luck.

[bombadillo]

Yup, bought "the top of the line" model a couple years ago and went back to my built computer from 2001. I am looking currently and considering having dell build me one. I really like cyberpowersystem.com too.

[Corbin Dallas]

I have no clue what you guys are doing wrong, but I've had just about every laptop in the book. I've been repairing PC's, Laptops and Servers for nearly 15 years now and here's what I can tell you from a professional viewpoint.


Consumer grade anything is CRAP. Do you REALLY think a $399 laptop is going to last longer than the hard drive?

Business grade laptops are the way to go no matter WHO makes them. Of course you PAY for the extras but in the end they are worth it.


DELL was one of the first companies to outsource their service center.

HP's major failing was the purchase of Compaq. So there are a number of years (Carly ones) where the merger of HP and Compaq resulted in one big turd of a computer. Since Mark Hurd has taken over the new HP laptops (business grade) have gotten MUCH better.

Gateway is a JOKE of a computer, period. Might as well get a Packard Bell for a replacement.


If you want a GREAT laptop, buy a Toshiba. Hands down one of the best consumer grade laptops on the market.


BTW, this was typed on my HP TC4400 tablet running Windows 7 RC. Since I repair laptops for a living, I think I know a few things about these devices and yet I choose HP over all others due to their design, performance and reliability.

Theres my .02

[locosway]

I never claimed their hardware was bad. I simply said their customer service is complete PHAIL.

I've owned a lot of laptops. The best one was an old Dell business laptop running a 500mhz processor. I think it cost me like $300 on Ebay.

The ones with the most problems were MacBooks $1500, and the HP $1500.

[Cos]

It isn't like I'm trying to argue with a professional, but being in IT for 20+ years and building desktop, servers, and fixing laptops for a good chunk of this time I though I'd add a couple of point to the conversation:

Dell, HP, Gateway, Compaq, Acer - buncha crap and money waste. Pretty much all of them. Unfortunately, business models are better than a consumer grade, but not that much...

If you want a GREAT laptop, buy a Toshiba. Hands down one of the best consumer grade laptops on the market.

I'm surprised that you haven't mention IBM laptops at all? Are they really that bad? And oh, that's the good one - Apple?

BTW, this was typed on my HP TC4400 tablet running Windows 7 RC. Since I repair laptops for a living, I think I know a few things about these devices and yet I choose HP over all others due to their design, performance and reliability.

And btw - I wouldn't talk about reliability running Windows 7

[Blackhawk556]

It isn't like I'm trying to argue with a professional, but being in IT for 20+ years and building desktop, servers, and fixing laptops for


And btw - I wouldn't talk about reliability running Windows 7

have you even used windows 7 or are you just shooting it down because it's by microsoft?? it's hard to tell since gave no background info. I've been using windows 7 since January and the only problem I had was getting a driver for my webcam. After 30min of searching it worked

[calixt0]

I have had many dells and many hp's over the years of work. I prefer my hp to any of the dells. Dell support will also be in india and will sell you something other than what you asked for to repair it and will charge you to return it. the company I worked with for 12 years had used dells (i installed for sleep labs over the last 5 years) and on average 1 out of every 10 were bad machines and would not come up past a blue screen. Mind you this was with Gold tech support and they over and over refused to set out a tech (as is the agreement with gold tech support). I will never buy another dell even if it means buying 10 hp's.

I am using an hp that was bought at best buy for 299 about a year ago and it works great and is pretty good computer.

[JDay]

We waited 6 more months for our data off the old hard drive but never got it. We lost a lot of pictures and school work because of that.

That's your fault for not keeping backups, all OEMs will re-image the drive before returning the machine.

I'm surprised that you haven't mention IBM laptops at all? Are they really that bad? And oh, that's the good one - Apple?

Maybe you haven't heard the news but IBM sold off their PC division to Lenovo a number of years ago.

Now I don't see why you guys are having problem with HP (been using them for 10 years) but in my experience most problems are the result of user error and physical abuse.

[locosway]

I had backups for everything except what happened that past month. The HDD wasn't bad, there was nothing wrong with it. The laptop was 3 months old and the video card came un-soldered from the mobo.

[Corbin Dallas]

It isn't like I'm trying to argue with a professional, but being in IT for 20+ years and building desktop, servers, and fixing laptops for a good chunk of this time I though I'd add a couple of point to the conversation:

Dell, HP, Gateway, Compaq, Acer - buncha crap and money waste. Pretty much all of them. Unfortunately, business models are better than a consumer grade, but not that much...



I'm surprised that you haven't mention IBM laptops at all? Are they really that bad? And oh, that's the good one - Apple?



And btw - I wouldn't talk about reliability running Windows 7

Have you used Win7? I've been testing it since the first of the year with NO issues at all.

Why didn't I mention IBM? or Apple?

IBM is now Leveno - CHINA You think HP has bad support? Wait till you have to call them...

Apple - $$$$$$$$$$$ ChaCHING!!!!! Apple owners buy apple products and they are die hards. I do not care for Apple products (unfortunately I own an Iphone...) but they do make a good product.

My ***** with apple is the lack of service for those of us who DIO. (Think DIY).

Want to upgrade the hard drive - WRONG, send it to Apple.
Need a new battery for your iPod - BUZZZZZ, sorry, send it to Apple.

WTF is that??? Customer service my butt, more like "Take your money now, and take more money later" service.

Oh, and don't get me started with the "experts" at the Mac Stores... LOL

[Cos]

Was busy an couldn't answer earlier...

Have you used Win7? I've been testing it since the first of the year with NO issues at all.

Well, you've mentioned reliability. And reliability is a stressful load during quite long period of time. So, from that standpoint: how often you have to reboot your system (because of updates or crashes)? What is the typical utilization of that laptop of yours? Internet browsing, emails, documents? Or code development/compilation, heavy product testing? This should give you a very good example of how intensive the resources are allocated/freed, etc.

A common benchmark tests are no good for such things - they are short lived.

IBM is now Leveno - CHINA You think HP has bad support? Wait till you have to call them...

Why? It just works... My current X41 is in use for 3+years and I do reboot it like 3 times a year when I build and install new kernel ;-)

Apple - $$$$$$$$$$$ ChaCHING!!!!! Apple owners buy apple products and they are die hards. ...

The initial question was: what laptops are good. We aren't talking about incompetence of a particular store's personnel nor how hard it is to upgrade a laptop at home. We are talking about their reliability and the bang for a buck.

BTW, you can upgrade Apple's laptops at home if you need to. I did HDD and memory upgrades for my MacBook Pro a couple of times - no problem at all :-) And ThinkPads are just great DIY computers too. E.g. replacing build-in WiFi card - easy stuff; memory/disk upgrade - not a problem. To be continued...

[Corbin Dallas]

Was busy an couldn't answer earlier...


Well, you've mentioned reliability. And reliability is a stressful load during quite long period of time. So, from that standpoint: how often you have to reboot your system (because of updates or crashes)? What is the typical utilization of that laptop of yours? Internet browsing, emails, documents? Or code development/compilation, heavy product testing? This should give you a very good example of how intensive the resources are allocated/freed, etc.

A common benchmark tests are no good for such things - they are short lived.

Access database work, streaming video to my 46" tv, general internet browsing, gmail, ebay, photobucket, works, school, etc.

2GHz C2D proc, 4GB ram. Win7x64, Office 07.

Last time I rebooted was when I shut it down for the night. But since then it's been running non stop downloading torrents. 8 days now straight.

Why? It just works... My current X41 is in use for 3+years and I do reboot it like 3 times a year when I build and install new kernel ;-)

Guess you are the only one to own a X41 and not have hardware problems such as a bad motherboard.

The initial question was: what laptops are good. We aren't talking about incompetence of a particular store's personnel nor how hard it is to upgrade a laptop at home. We are talking about their reliability and the bang for a buck.

BTW, you can upgrade Apple's laptops at home if you need to. I did HDD and memory upgrades for my MacBook Pro a couple of times - no problem at all :-) And ThinkPads are just great DIY computers too. E.g. replacing build-in WiFi card - easy stuff; memory/disk upgrade - not a problem. To be continued...

Good is in the eye of the beholder.

Good to me doesn't mean my laptop costs the same as a used car.

[JDay]

Why? It just works... My current X41 is in use for 3+years and I do reboot it like 3 times a year when I build and install new kernel ;-)

That explains why you're bashing Windows 7, bet you haven't even used it. Btw, true Linux geeks know that you can update the kernel without rebooting using ksplice. Gotta love the stuff that comes out of MIT.

http://www.ksplice.com/

[locosway]

Yeah, but on a home computer it's easier to reboot.