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Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 7:58:21 AM

jennileigh8182

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So, back in like January 2009, I purchased an HP laptop. In November of that year, the screws that hold the screen to the computer (at the hinge, under the plastic casing) tore free and it tried to totally fall apart. I took it to 3 different places and found someone to look it over and fix it. This morning, it happened again. The warranty through HP refused to cover it, my extended warranty through Best Buy refused to cover it the first time. Now, it cost me $70 or $80 to have it fixed last time...and it seems that it only bought me 8 months.

So here are my questions:

Is this worth fixing again and waiting for a "rebreak" or is this just a structural problem with this machine?

Would I be better served to just get a new laptop? (Bear in mind, I start an accelerated nursing program this fall, in which I will have NO spare time to deal with bullshit or not having a computer)

I need suggestions on what to get, if I should replace this. I'm getting very leery of HP products, I'm a student so it needs to be a laptop that can go with me, and I don't have an enormous budget, but I want something that will hold up for a couple years.

Thanks!

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 8:00:51 AM

mnottertail

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repair it, sell it and get a new one.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 8:14:55 AM

PeonForHer

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Without looking at it, it's difficult to say exactly how I'd do it . . . but I'd be inclined to put extra hinges on it. I'd go to a DIY shop to if there's some door or cupboard hinge that might do the job. Something that would fit and is designed to take a certain amount of weight and stress.

What a waste of money are those extended warranties! The thing just wasn't designed strongly enough. It was HP's fault.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 8:16:11 AM

Missokyst

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If you can resign yourself to using the thing at home only, get a cheap monitor and use that for your laptop.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 8:28:29 AM

jennileigh8182

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Missokyst

If you can resign yourself to using the thing at home only, get a cheap monitor and use that for your laptop.

While this would be a good idea if my situation was differnet, it's not an option. My laptop will travel to school with me every day starting this fall. My program is very intense and it goes everywhere with me so I can maximize my study and work time.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 8:30:05 AM

jennileigh8182

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quote:

ORIGINAL: PeonForHer

What a waste of money are those extended warranties! The thing just wasn't designed strongly enough. It was HP's fault.

No kidding! But Best Buy told me that HP denies this type of claim because they say that I consistently open/close it too aggressively and it's abusive.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 9:07:28 AM

DomKen

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Not to be rude but how are you handling the laptop? It certainly sounds like you're doing more than gently opening and closing it.

If you really are slamming it about you might be better served buying a "ruggedized" laptop.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 9:16:13 AM

jennileigh8182

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I'm not throwing it around. It does go with me when I go to class, but it's placed in the padded compartment in my backpack for it, and when I set my backpack down, it doesn't put weight on the computer. With books in the front compartment, it naturally settles onto the books (and I'm careful about it). It hasn't been traveling out of my home since the end of April, though, when my classes ended for summer. Since then, it's moved from my bedroom to the kitchen table and back, and that's it. It's always carried carefully, set down carefully, and opened and closed without force. When I took it into Best Buy the first time, the guy said that it does just tend to happen with some laptops, more the longer you have them. My brother recently started working for Best Buy and when I talked to him this morning, he confirmed that they hear about this more with HP than other brands, that they're not known for putting a lot of quality and durability into what they make. I've also had to replace the power supply on this unit twice since I purchased it.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 9:24:52 AM

OohAahMrs

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jennileigh8182, just get rid of it, have a look around for one of those trade-in discounts from a reputable seller. such problems are quite rare in my experience but when they keep happening, just for peace of mind, find a new model, there are a lot of good deals out there.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 9:26:06 AM

PeonForHer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: jennileigh8182
No kidding! But Best Buy told me that HP denies this type of claim because they say that I consistently open/close it too aggressively and it's abusive.

That cracks me up. I can picture you, now, sitting on a train, yanking the thing open and screaming, 'How do you like that, asshole?!' I bet you also spit at it and bite it savagely.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 9:36:57 AM

jennileigh8182

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quote:

ORIGINAL: PeonForHer

quote:

ORIGINAL: jennileigh8182
No kidding! But Best Buy told me that HP denies this type of claim because they say that I consistently open/close it too aggressively and it's abusive.

That cracks me up. I can picture you, now, sitting on a train, yanking the thing open and screaming, 'How do you like that, asshole?!' I bet you also spit at it and bite it savagely.

*gives a tragic sigh* You found me out. I'm a biter. And screamer? Hell yes. I even grab it firmly during periods of high emotion!

I really wanted to ask them wtf they were thinking with that policy. I guess I can see that if people are wrenching it open and slamming it closed, it would wear out, but I really think you'd see more damage than just the screws coming loose on the hinge.

OohAhhMrs...
Thanks for that. I just talked to my brother, who recently started working at Best Buy, and he advised going in and spending some time talking to a computer rep about my needs, this experience, and letting them help me find something new. I'm not very technologically savvy as far as what to purchase, but he said they do train them to pay attention to needs and such, and that they don't get bonuses for pushing particular products. I don't know of anywhere that does trade-ins, but I think Best Buy is the only decent electronics store in my area.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 10:03:44 AM

Missokyst

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Oh my... that is the sadest thing I have ever heard.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jennileigh8182
, but I think Best Buy is the only decent electronics store in my area.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 10:14:00 AM

Chasteboy76

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Just seen this. Shame you are not in the UK. Over here all electrical and electronic goods need to be fit for purpose. So if my laptop broke at the hinges either the shop I purchased the laptop from or HP would have to fix this under warranty. Failing that I would get my local friendly solicitor (attorney to you guys I think) and get them to write a snotogram on my behalf requesting that they pay or they can see me in court. Alternatively just sue them for making shoddy goods.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 10:14:21 AM

PeonForHer

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I'd show the thing to someone who's good at DIY, Jenni. Forget the 'computer experts' who'll charge you a fortune anyway. My first thought would be to fix it with slightly bigger screws, then, perhaps, glue a strip of leather to the whole of the edge at which the laptop's hinged.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 10:19:27 AM

Aneirin

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I don't know about others, but this thing here I am using is a HP 530 laptop and structurally it is fine, despite myself having lost a fair few screws from the casing each time I take it apart. I bought a HP due to my last laptop being a Compaq E500 which was very well built, weighed a bit, but that was a tough machine, and I specifically looked for a business machine as opposed to a multimedia machine. My HP 530 has been dropped a few times but luckily enough it never received enough force to break the screen. I take my computers apart to defluff the fan and heat exchanger fins one a year or so, and whilst am at it, hoover out any other debris that seems to accumulate.

I now have an macbook pro, the unibody design, apparently machined out of a block of alluminium, I must resist taking that one apart, although it does intrigue me.

But, in regards to the OP, it all comes down to available funds, if you have the spare funds, a new machine would be the way to go, less funds get the old one repaired, whichever is the cheapest option, as it is clear a laptop is needed for your studies and depending on your schedule, sooner rather than later, so it is a time/cost equation to think about.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 2:37:13 PM

sub4hire

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I've got an HP laptop..3 years old now. Never any issue with it at all. Other than the occasional virus but that was something we did to it.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 8:40:10 PM

Arpig

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When I hear somebody say they absolutely require a laptop for their studies I always wonder how us old farts ever managed to graduate

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/22/2010 9:10:43 PM

xxblushesxx

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Well Arpig, they do make it a lot easier.

OP, I would probably resign myself to getting a new laptop. (unless you can find like peonforher said, someone who is a diy'er, who can absolutely fix it for you.)

My Toshibas held up well physically, and I have a samsung now which I love.

My laptops are used for excessive amounts of time btw, say 16-20 hours per day almost every day.

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/23/2010 3:30:56 AM

Aneirin

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Arpig

When I hear somebody say they absolutely require a laptop for their studies I always wonder how us old farts ever managed to graduate

Many educational institutions now want work to be submitted via the use of a computer. The college I am at requires us to submit work via email, on disc and give power point demonstrations and lectures, so one's own laptop is pretty essential, especialy so as one tends to know their own machine and the college machines can be somewhat iffy. My college also is pretty hot on saving resources, so the use of paper is kept to a minimum, which I believe in this information technology age is a good way to go.

But I do understand what you are saying, as this is the first further education course that I have done which relies heavily on computers, ( oh, and it is an art's degree), a sign of the times perhaps.

But as a point of interest, some of the people on the course started with not ever having sent an email before, so the college, part of the course, is to bring people up to date with the new ways of working, the eventual goal I suppose, is everyone finishes the course computer literate, which is in many fields of employment a requirement these days.

< Message edited by Aneirin -- 7/23/2010 3:31:46 AM >

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RE: Laptop help? - 7/23/2010 8:10:14 AM

Missokyst

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Laptops are slightly lighter than the stone tablets and chisels.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Arpig

When I hear somebody say they absolutely require a laptop for their studies I always wonder how us old farts ever managed to graduate

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Post #: 20

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