HP Computers Suck

This is off topic, but I figured I'd rant a bit.

For the past year my HP laptop has experienced tons of problems. When it is hooked up the fans blow out air hotter than the breath of Satan, and it never recognizes the power cord being plugged in. This means that the battery drains and the computer shuts off on me, then once it does, the charger is magically recognized. Lately when it is charging it will charge 1 out of every 3 seconds, which means that it takes about 3-5 hours to fully charge for 1 hour of usage.

My battery was old a few months ago, so to get more than 10 minutes of usage out of the computer I had to purchase a $250 battery. Now to fix this current problem it is going to be $150-200. I also spent $100 upgrading the memory because I noticed that the computer acted up the longer it was on. For a few hundred more I would have had a brand new computer.

I figured I'd post this as a service. My dad used to get HP laptops and has said he has trouble with them as well. I checked online and this is apparently a big issue with HP computers.

As for the computer, I took it apart to look inside, grabbed the wrong screw when I was putting it back together, and got the screw jammed. It wouldn't come out, then I broke something on the motherboard trying to hit it out. I then decided it was time for a new computer, so I went on to bash it a few more times. I stripped it of the important stuff, and on Tuesday or Wednesday (next days I have off from work) I am going to have an Office Space moment with it and beat the thing with my wooden bat. I put this post under the Injury Updates section because my computer is on the PUP list now.

Anyone have any good experiences with other brands of laptops? My dad currently uses a Toshiba and he hasn't had any problems with it. A co-worker of mine uses a Dell. I am currently on my 5 year old desktop, which works just as well as my 2 year old now deceased laptop. I may go with a Dell, but I might also try Toshiba...can't decide. Then again, I may just switch back to a desktop since I'm done with school and don't need to take my computer back and forth to work. However, if you know of a good laptop company, let me know. Thanks!

I've worked with a dell for a few years now, i upgraded to a new one just a few months ago. the XPS M1710 with a few upgrades, no problems with this brand, never needed to call customer service. It works great especially when i'm out and about and need to place some wagers online. So yeah stick with a laptop.

I have a Toshiba M45 with XP Pro and the thing has run like a champ. I originally bought a compaq(yikes), which is basically an HP now, and traded it in within a few days of buying it for the Toshiba because it was a piece of junk. You can definitely tell the difference in quality of the hardware. At the time(about a year ago) Toshiba was rated at or near the top of laptop reliability on consumerreports.org, to which I subscribe. Hope that helps some. I know Dells are good as well though, never heard of anyone really complaining about them.

Thanks guys. John, you bring up a good point about laptops. I forgot how much I use mine when I travel for work, or for anything else.

I've been considering Toshiba, Dell, or Apple...can't decide. I've had good experiences with Dell, just not with their finance department. My dad has a Toshiba now, and he says it works well, but I don't know what type he has. I might call him and check on that, but I do know he got it from Circuit City, which is probably where I will get my computer.

As for Apple, they're like the hot minor league prospect, but I'm not sure that I want to make that call. I hear good reviews of them, but it is hard to get an un-biased review. Either the review comes from an Apple fan and is Pro-Apple, or it comes from a PC fan and the person doesn't use a Mac. There is nothing that I've found that is un-biased. I'm renewing my subscription to Consumer Reports, so maybe that will tell me something.

I have had similar issues with HP/Compaq laptop too.

From my experience as 1 man computer dept for 60 engineers and talking with other network admins here is how I would rank the laptop manufacturers product and customer support.

1. Alienware - They make very reliable laptops for gaming but the lower priced units make great standard use laptops.

2. Sony - We bought one over year ago at my second job and not one problem. Plus I have heard nothing but good things from other techs.

3. Toshiba - Solid laptops, good bang for a buck. Customer service lacking sometimes.

4. Gateway - At my full time job we have 5 of these. Seem to have more standard software/driver issues. They are usually heavier but can take a beating. Seems slower that they should be.

5. Dell - Have two of these and have hardware issues all the time but that could be to the heavy abuse the engineers deal out. From what I hear from other techs is split good vs. bad.

I have heard some good things about Acer but do not have enough experience with them to rate. I have heard Lenovo nothing but problems.

As for the Apple they are good but I have heard they have been sliding in reliability.

Hope this help.