Hi Quartz, thanks for your 2 cents worth... 
I paid considerably less for this laptop. I didn't expect it to last forever; but I thought it would last for longer than a year and a half.
EVERY laptop should last at least 36 months, imo. Technical gadgets are too expensive to become throw-away gadgets after a year or 18 months of use.
When I was dealing with all the HP Laptop problems, the only source I sought for help was HP Assistant. I now wonder if I had sought help elsewhere if I could have solved the laptop issues & still be using it. Such a nice laptop to turn out to be nothing more that junk.
When contemplating buying a new tech item, I read the most recent online reviews that turn up in Google search. There are a lot of reputable sites that list the TOP 10, TOP 16, etc. These often state that every item being reviewed has been tested by the reviewers. These are the reviews I pay particular attention to.
I also leave reviews (good & bad) for items I have purchased, as I feel this helps others to steer away from the junk. I do know that after my experience with HP & their supposedly high-end laptop, they will be on the bottom of the list of brands for me.
Edited by Quartz, 19 June 2019 - 04:17 PM.