[valleyboy]

Evenin' all

 

Per topic title......

 

I've had a HP Pavillion laptop that fell apart a few years ago, hinges fell to pieces. Stupidly, after inspecting the hinges of a new Pavillion (hinges much more robust looking) I bought another one. Guess what...... it's fallen to pieces after less than 18 months use. To be fair, I think an atomic bomb wouldn't do much damage to the hinges; the surrounding plastic case however is now in several small pieces and the guts are starting to fall out of the machine.

 

I'm not happy!

 

Apart from the obvious tough book (I can't afford one) I would like to here your suggestions for the most durable laptops please?

 

VB

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Hi,

I've had a Dell laptop since 2009. We bought our daughter and my mother-in-law Dells in 2010 and 2011.They are all doing fine. But we don't lug them around every day. Since I don't know how the HPs have been treated/used that's kind of a subjective question. I'm assuming you don't drive nails with them or use them to hit ground balls. But if all they are getting is normal use and abuse I wouldn't be giving HP a third bite at the apple

[godawgs]

Hi,

I've had a Dell laptop since 2009. We bought our daughter and my mother-in-law Dells in 2010 and 2011.They are all doing fine. But we don't lug them around every day. Since I don't know how the HPs have been treated/used that's kind of a subjective question. I'm assuming you don't drive nails with them or use them to hit ground balls. But if all they are getting is normal use and abuse I wouldn't be giving HP a third bite at the apple

[donetao]

Hello!

This is MHO and does not reflect GTG's thoughts or opinions.

HP has been going down hill fast in both their products and support. I help seniors with printers and computers in my village for free.

I had to take 3 HP printers back to staples before I got one to work right. That was after spending several hours with someone from India that I could barely understand.

I have a cheap Toshiba that has given me very little trouble, but it is used like a desk top and seldom moved around or lid closed.

From all the computers I have worked on in my village, I think I like the Dell the best. I have speed a lot of my time lately in doctors offices and hospitals. All I ever see is Dell.

I'm sure you will get some opinions here on the forum. Some times cheap is not good. HP is cheap and so is Toshiba. Better to pay a little more.

donetao!

[valleyboy]

I hit quote reply for no apparent reason.....now deleted. Please ignore this post.

Edited by valleyboy, 17 August 2014 - 04:35 PM.

[godawgs]

HP has been going down hill fast in both their products and support.

I won't comment on the HP product. My mama told me if you can't say something nice not to say anything. But I will comment on their support or lack of support. I had a HP desktop in the 80s and their customer support was non existent then, even in warranty support...and has only gotten worse from what I hear.

[valleyboy]

Thanks for your replies.

I don't use it for business so it never gets knocked around but it is used daily and the lid opened/closed several times. It gets moved between rooms a fair bit.

I look after my stuff. In my opinion it gets reasonably light use.

Cost was £350. There were cheaper laptops in the shops.

[godawgs]

Doesn't sound like the laptops have been abused to me. I use my Dell for this site, so it gets opened and closed numerous times a day...every day. If you go to the Dell site there is a area for factory reconditioned computers. A reasonably appointed laptop will run in the $350.00 range. And the up side is it doesn't come with all of the pre-installed junkware that comes on computers you buy in a retail store.

[donetao]

Hello!

HP does have some decent people on their forum, but trying to get any help from the staff at HP head quarters and their CEO and president is nearly impossible.

My mother also taught me  "if you can't say some thing nice keep your mouth shut" I guess I didn't learn very well.

I'll admit this and regret it latter. I'm a little up set with HP. I was on their forum learning about their products so I could help people in my retirement village.

I was banned. Accused of being a spammer. I have nearly 700 posts here on GTG. No one here is accusing me of spamming.

I'm no spammer and I have no use for those that do it!

I will admit to being very windy.

donetao!

[b0bl335wa663r]

Hi valleyboy,

 

I have a small personal experience related to the hinges. I had an Acer laptop that is fine until my cousin did a stupid thing. She inverted the laptop onto the LCD down and the base upright as it became very hot due to improper ventilation to the base. I mean like this  to cool it off. I did not happen to see that stunt and when I opened it later the hinges broke and the screen is just making quacking sounds. I took it to a Acer support center and the guy told me the whole bottom should be replaced and it costs about 1/5th of the total laptop price which I was unable to afford. My local nerd friend saved it by running bolts into in by using a soldering gun. That's a different story anyway. A month later my friend at school happened to break his hinges but not in a similar manner.

 

What I see is the hinges are somewhat delicate no matter what the company is. May be we should put in some extra care handling it.

[valleyboy]

You are probably right, picking it up with two hands every time would be beneficial.

However, if something breaks when subjected to normal use bad design or inadequate testing is to blame.

[b0bl335wa663r]

Yes, that is exactly what the guy in the service center told my friend i.e. either open up the lid/screen with both hands each on the either side of the webcam/center or lift it up in the middle.

 

I guess the bad design is the culprit here.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, for my two penny, or cents worth, laptops do have certain fragility problems and not just the lid hinges, CD/DVD drawers for one other, but I come across a few where the wiring through the hinge breaks, either to the screen, or where fitted, the webcam. Also being a portable device, a simple knock against something hard can wreck the hard drive, especially if it is on and running at the time.

For something usually built to be light and easily transportable, it is its own enemy in that regard.

 

Nev.

[valleyboy]

So. At the moment there is one clear vote for Dell and not much of anything for any other brands?

[donetao]

Hello!

My vote goes to Dell !

donetao!

[valleyboy]

Thank you.