HP Laptop = GARBAGE!!!!

Lol you're lucky, your laptop lasted 2 years?
Hear my tale:

My parents bought a HP DV5. We didn't use it that much, about only 5
hours and installed only 1 program (MSN messenger). Then one day, I
opened the laptop case after a month of not using it, and the
touch-pad simply detached from the computer! I phoned HP and they said
it's not even freaking covered in the warranty, and that I had to pay
60-100 dollars to fix it.

Later I asked the staples manager where I bought it from and he said
this was a common problem.

What did I do? Use some tape to stick it on and use a mouse instead.
If this laptop freaking completely dysfunctions in the next 5 hours, I
seriously want to smash it on HP's headquarters...

Welcome to the club. My family bought 2 of them. The exact same kinds.
One for adult and one for the kids. The one for the kids, well teen
last about 6 mo was replaced and broke again within 6-9 months later.
HP refused to replace it after the 2nd time. The second one it had the
same issue as your had only a year into it. I had insurance and
warranty on both. They had me send it to the company to get fixed. 2
weeks after it left I called to check on it. They said it was in the
shop getting fix and to call in about a week. I called every week for
2 months. Everytime I was told it was being worked on still. Finally I
got pissed and chewed some poor guy out. At least I got him to stop
going around the bush. He actually looked and found out they had
@tired to fix it, but found out it had a fried motherboard. Then when
I asked why they did not contact me about it, it was in their notes
that they had called several times about it and they had only gotten
my machine. The funny part, I had caller ID on my cell and no call had
come in and no messages. They had scraped my computer, all my pics and
everything that was saved on my computer. Then they had put me on a
dead list. Basically that they were not to try to call back or try to
figure out what was going on. Had I not called every week for those 2
months then it would not had been recorded and they would not had sent
me another. It has been 3 years since I have had this one. It has a
cracked screen and the touch screen does not work thanks to kids and a
ball. And it had over heating issues and I took it in to a friend and
he fixed the problem before it fried my motherboard. We bought a new
laptop and love it. It is not an HP. I will never buy from HP or deal
with them again. When this thing dies, it dies. I am not going to have
HP fix it. It is not worth it. Junk, crap and garbage is all it is.

An HP Pavilion 2500 notebook? I'm going to assume you are referring
to the tx2500 series here because you don't say exactly which product
line. With the price you quoted and the fact that it's a touchscreen
I'll go with that assumption.

The fact that you had to pay $400 to repair the screen is a moot
point. The standard HP warranty does not cover anything other than
manufacturer defects, and a child throwing something at the screen
does not constitute a manufacturer defect. It is up to you as the
owner of the product to avoid such damage happening to it. Next time
purchase an HP Accident Damage Protection extended warranty (not an
instore extended warranty because they don't cover as much) so that
repair caused from user negligence won't cost you anymore out of
pocket.

So, that in mind, it was really only a $1200 investment with a $400
idiot tax - surely you realized that the screen is a lot more delicate
than say, a TV screen. Depending on what you use your laptop for it
may or may not be powerful enough for what you require. Pavilions are
great for students, even the gaming or entertainment models. However,
for any serious work they just aren't worth it. What you are paying
for is the software here, not the hardware.

If the laptop had been purchased with the intention of using it for
work your wife would have been better off going with something meant
for business use. The Compaq and Pavilion lines are NOT business use
HP laptops. HP Probooks are designed for that sort of usage.

Just because a person spends $1200+ on a laptop it doesn't mean that
they are getting what they actually need. Next time, do your research
a lot better instead of just assuming that the more you spend the
better the product because that just isn't true. And I think you have
one of the few Dell Inspirons that hasn't had a battery issue...lucky
you.

For the record...I do not blame HP for the broken screen. I was
merely stating how much money the laptop cost me all together (though
adding in how much I paid to replace the screen was somewhat
irrelevent...I was just angry at how much the laptop cost me all
together.). The screen heing cracked is totally on my end and never
did I blame HP for that. I babied that laptop. It was always in a
neoprene sleeve as well as a padded bag. I Never banged it
around....over-clocked the processor...opened it up to upgrade. It
was my work computer and my "surfing-the-net" laptop. That's it. You
don't understand....the motherboard should not have failed on me. It
was the result of poor craftsmanship (maybe there should have been
more vents, more fans, or a tougher motherboard). I am angry at HP for
not building a sturdier notebook for the price I paid. This was not a
cheap, $350, celeron, throw-away. When those break...you say, "Oh
well...I got 2yearscif good use out if it.". I thought this one was
I'm for the 5 year plan. After that I figured the drive may begin to
fail or maybe I would have to replace the keyboard, but the
motherboard...that's a $400 part right there. I should have purchased
the extended warranty, but I've had so many electronics that I
purchased an extended warranty on that I never used...I didn't want to
waste my money again. A very expensive lesson learned. This does not
etract from the fact if it were made better...it would still be
working. The reviews don't lie. I just wish I read them before I
purchased. This is the FIRST time I did this. I always research my
electronics. I went solely on the Hewlard Packard name and reputation
I knew. ONCE AGAIN...shame on me!!!

I don't get it. The laptop is 2.5 years old, and apparently didn't
give you any trouble until the last month or so. Your daughter broke
the screen.

How is this HP's fault?

This is a 30 month old laptop that has had it's LCD damaged (your
child THREW something at it??) and the motherboard is now burned up
from overheating?

Just as a point of reference, my employer uses HP's too and they
replace them for newer models every 36-42 months. I believe that's
the standard replacement schedule for laptops that are used heavily.

As one poster says, he builds his own desktops. The reason? Most store
bought systems are indeed garbage.

Now, that said and done, there is a cheap preventive item you can
purchase to help alleviate this in the future. Buy a chill pad for
$20-25. Its a laptop sized board with two fans.
I move it around as the fans tend to not hit the hot spots. But, for
$20-25, it will help keep your $1200 investment cool.

The time to read the reviews and consult the internet is before you
buy not after.

Did you purchase the extended warranty from the retailer? We did
that, and it's been well worth the expense. We purchased the
"kick-it-across-the-floor" warranty, which would have covered the
screen repair for you. The only thing our warranty doesn't cover is
theft or loss. As long as we can bring the machine in, it's covered.
(Until the warranty expires.)

You can ask the repair technician exactly what the cost will be to
replace the motherboard. Then compare that number with the new
computer of your choice. You'll likely find that a brand-new, 2010
computer will be faster, lighter, with better capabilities then the
one you've got, all at a price similar to repair of the $1200
computer(NOT $1600 "investment").

Check out the ads in the Sunday paper for new computers. If you don't
subscribe, go buy one. It'll save you a lot of running around and
surfing online if you can narrow down choices from print ads. You'd
be surprised at what $1200 will get you right now. And be sure to
turn the thing all the way OFF so that the motherboard doesn't
overheat.

Part of the problem with newer laptops is with all the features,
faster and more powerful graphics and processors, and limited cooling
all contribute to overheating. As for Dell, a close friend of mine has
one that is just over a year old and the video processor died on it.
All manufacturers have models that have problems. You could end up
with problems with Dell, Toshiba, or any other manufacturer.

This is why I steer clear of laptops, they are not made well.

On top of that to get one with a decent processor and memory you have
to spend alot of money.

I build desktop computers but would never touch a laptop, they are
junk.

Good Day

Get a Mac

You can't blame HP for your daughter throwing something at the screen
- come on now!

FYI - I have a Dell Inspiron also, and it is a piece of junk. Just
two days ago I replaced, for the second time in 2 years, the palm rest
because the mouse button failed again. This time I took the button
completely apart, and discovered to my horror the cheezy construction
that leads to rapid failure. The mechanical part of the switch is
essentially made out of flexible plastic, which simply fatigues and
breaks after so many operations. But not nearly enough.

As far as the bulk of your claim, I think it all comes down to luck.
Apple has been very successful, but their MacBook Pro, or something
like that, has been plagued with design flaws that have led to a lot
of customer disatisfaction. Apple has never fully stepped up to the
plate, AFAIK.

It is a real shame that things like this happen, but they do. Sadly,
I think HP will let you go as a customer, as the ebb and flow of
customers over the years (like myself, who won't buy a Dell anytime
soon) probably makes up for these blips in the customer base.