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Thought I would start a small discussion.
I have heard several people talk about HP computers. I was interested in what was the general consensus about the HP Pavilion line. Are they good are they bad? Why you think so, etc.?
-me-
PS. Keep it clean
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Hi,
I have had both.....I like the HP....I have a Dell right now....I still like my HP....My son and a few friends have the HP and never had a problem....
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Well anything that is proprietary and HP is very proprietary I don't desire to own nor recommend the purchase of. They are also no fun to work with from a tech's point of view. I should not have to disconnect all the drives, remove all of the drives, just so I can get at the hard drive to replace it. They use sub par componets and if something ever happens to it while it is under warranty you can't take it back to the store you purchased it from for repair. As you can see, I don't speak very highly of HP when it comes to computers. They make great printers but there computers are worthless. Also, if you didn't know already HP is attempting to purchase Compaq. YIKES!
Laters,
KTTD
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KTTD... it is extrelemly difficult to work also on my car (nissan maxima)... to change the spark plugs the mechanic has to disasemble part of the air conditioning system.... but i dont complain because the spark plugs have to be changed once every 60000 miles and it is not me who is changing them ;-)... i did hear that it is even more difficult to work on a porshe... i would not base my oppinion about a product from how difficult it is to service it if the customers are usually not doing it them selves...
this is not any endorsment of HP or compaq or any brand of the computer from my side
(or any car either)
Regards
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I have an HP Pavilion and I really like it, as far as operating it. Their programs are simple for home users to understand. But their tech support isn't the best. All they can ever tell you to do is to remove ghost drivers, then use msconfig, and their last option is to reformat. They are no help at all in trying to diagnose problems or errors you may be receiving. Also, they only do unit exchange, don't do home repair of your computer. If they can't fix it by doing any of the above, they'll send you another computer, and you never know if it is new or a refurb (I suspect they are all refurbs). I kept having problems and had to exchange that computer like 5 times, and I called rainsing sand about it, and they had quality control get involved. He sent me a lot nicer, upgraded computer. It cost twice what I paid for the original one. Also, calls to tech support are on your dime. They don't have toll free tech support, so I could have bought a more expensive Dell for what I paid for the phone calls since purchasing this HP. I'm not sure if I would buy another, probably get a Dell next time, all things considered.
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Ok, There tech support is very lacking, at least from what I have experinced. The componets are cheap and once the system is out of warranty you are very limited as to where you can get parts and they are much more expensive. You also get a recovery CD, not a real OS CD. So if the system has to be reloaded you have to uninstall all the junk they give you. So therefore I would never recommened the purchase of a HP computer, HP printer yes but never a HP computer system.
Laters,
KTTD
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Miro, KDDT is rite! I hate working on Hp's Mine or a clients, from a design and engineering side Hp put little thought into it. Took some parts, fit 'em together and sold it. I have 1 hp pavilion, 3 dells, and 1 compaq, DELL RULES. Even the compaq has a motherboard tray that swings out. With the system software Hp sent i bootup at 74% when wiped and put in the box ver. i'm at 96%, just poor execution. And it's Porshe...no contest!!!
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i agree with KTTD. my experience with proprietry brands is that they build them cheap and sell them high and dont back 'em up
very well. they're also a bugger to work on internally and i just gotta disagree with miro on principle. how can you compare a computer with a car, thats ridiculous.
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I know nothing of HP's. But I have a Dell Inspiron 8000. I have had no problems so I dont know how their service is. As far as the machine, it ROCKS!
Mark me down as a vote for Dell.
HAL8000
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Hey, HAL8000 Just to let ya know. Dell laptops, at least the new ones are the simplest to take apart, Compaq gets a 2nd place award. Just talking Laptop's here though. I can see Miro's point of view to the car but why should the consumer have to pay me and extra hour of labor because of a poorly designed machine or car? If you have an HP system and I have to do major work on it, you are most likely going to get hit with 2hrs of labor because of all the extra steps I need to take to get at the simplest things, like a hard drive and god forbid you don't know how an HP Pavilion box comes out and even when you do, it's still a pain in the butt. The avg. person who has never worked on a computer would not be able to look at an HP Pavilion and be able to figure out how to get at the hard drive to replace it just by looking at it, you have to know the trick. Computers should NOT be built this way.
Laters,
KTTD
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My wife has a Pavillion and likes it; however, she also likes AOL. There have been no glaring flaws with the pc so far. She refuses to let me download drivers for her modem - it never seems to connect at anything over 33kb and hp has drivers that are supposed to make it better on their download site. She is afraid that I might infect it with a virus. Oh well, it is her computer.
KTTD - As for HP printers, the one I have does produce nice quality prints. It is a replacement sent to me by HP when the original crapped out during the warranty period. I am sure this one is a refurb, but it has held up better than the original.
There was no problem with the tech support for the printer - they had me do a couple of things and read them the results. They told me that they had already entered the order for the replacement by the time I finished reading the last requested item. Of course, this was my third call in a month. The first two must not have counted - they were not answered by the one person who actually knew what to do.
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Modular Dude! I'm glad I made a good choice. I looked at the disasembly instructions on the Dell web sight, and it looks like it would be a piece of cake to replace parts.
The Dell web sight is very comprhensive. They have a good forum there too, although it appears to be down at the moment. Some customers have complained about the laptop's being rather rickety and creaky. I use mine on a 3/4" board, mainly for the heat, and I've never noticed the R&C.
Miro has a valid point, but I try to consider all factors when making a purchase. For the very reason pointed out, is why I drive a Toyota and not a Porsche. My neighbors Porsche spends more time in his mechanic garage than his. Shoot, shopping is half the fun anyway. I like input!
:-) HAL8000
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Echoing KTTD and others here. HP and Compaq have successfully "filled the void" left by Packard Bell.
Lotsa-gotcha junk designed NOT to facillitate service, upgrade or expandability.
Talk to your local mom'n-pop. They'll build you an "open box" consisting of namebrand parts...intead of a "branded" PC of unbranded/proprietary parts.
Sure, the "open box" is a li'l more expensive. From thence, you can later replace any part same-day @ under $100. ('cept friggin windoze).
Anyway, it sure beats chasing "warranty fulfillment" from timbuktoo, or worse still, Texas.
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How about just going to pricewatch and build your own. No tech support but beautiful computer!
Regards
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Have a Pavillion myself...no real complaints. I have installed an internal zip drive, more ram and added a second hard drive, all were a snap! I've never needed to call tech support so I can't vote there. Overall I'd say it's a good machine (after some minor customization, of course). I prefer to build my own but have had no major problems with the HPs I've worked on. By the way, I HATE working on/with Compaq PCs.
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