topic Re: HP laptop--questionable quality in Electronics

HP laptop--questionable quality

jrcnc — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 21:34:46 GMT

Reviewing a HP 17" touch laptop AMD R5 12GB Ram 1TB HDD purchased in July, 2020.

I purchased a HP laptop in July of 2020. At the time, during the pandemic, I was pleased to get it. However, 7 months later I got a blue screen with a hard disk error. Changed out hard disk to a solid state and G__K squad was able to mirror data so I did not lose anything. So currently, 2 1/2 years later, the 2 USB ports on left side have quit working. Once again G__K squad got to analyze. They found USB ports get power, but there is no data connection. The ports are built into the motherboard, so to repair would require replacement of motherboard. So now I have a USB hub plugged into the one remaining USB port. Hopefully I can use this setup for a while, but who knows how long. Don't think I will trust HP quality anymore. Just a bummer.

I hope others are having a better experience.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

millieshops — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 22:25:00 GMT

@jrcnc Yes, a bummer. I've read that laptops on average die out at 4.. I've passed the average age for laptops generally, but I keep hoping I can put off shopping for new any time soon.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

stevieb — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 22:34:30 GMT

The IT guru I dealt with in the day was 'gifted' an HP laptop as a promotion. He used it but uilitmately told me it was essentially junk and ended up tossing it and getting something more worthwhile. It was suggested that HP was good in the day, but that day was a long time ago.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

ValuSkr — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 23:21:16 GMT

I agree - HP is not what it once was. This HP Stream laptop that I bought 2-3 years ago was inexpensive but most of my days using it are just plain miserable. How many times have I wanted to throw it out the window. I'm replacing it with a Dell.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

Kmac444 — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 22:45:44 GMT

You can never go wrong with Apple. Yes, you will spend more initially, but you will have it much longer without many problems. My last iMac lasted ten years with really no issues!!!!!

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

snipsnapsnur — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 22:46:49 GMT

I've had my fill of HP laptops and desk tops. I've had an Acer Aspire 5 laptop for about four years now and have never, ever had any type of problem with it.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

ciao_bella — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 13:05:51 GMT

@snipsnapsnur wrote:
I've had my fill of HP laptops and desk tops. I've had an Acer Aspire 5 laptop for about four years now and have never, ever had any type of problem with it.

@snipsnapsnur I could have written your exact post! Years ago, HP was a good mid-priced computer that was dependable. I learned very quickly about 5 years ago that was definitely not the case any longer. I bought a higher end HP laptop and from day one, it was nothing but problems. It would constantly freeze up. Luckily, it was purchased from Costco and I was able to return it. After I returned the HP, I purchased (from Costco) an Acer Aspire laptop which I'm using right now. Never an issue and will never, ever purchase an HP again.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

hckynutjohn — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 17:38:16 GMT

Once computer manufacturers decided to integrate almost all functions onto the motherboard!

It is the same with any electronic with multiple integrated parts. When just 1 part starts having a major problem! Good luck

That is why I have always gone with peripherals as opposed to All-in-One!

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 07:20:53 GMT

Okay, don't leave us hanging ......... if someone told you HP wasn't what it used to be, hopefully you asked them who DOES make a good laptop ........ please share those opinions.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

gadgetgal613 — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 11:03:20 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
Okay, don't leave us hanging ......... if someone told you HP wasn't what it used to be, hopefully you asked them who DOES make a good laptop ........ please share those opinions.

One thing which is very important to me is venting. Overheating will kill a computer sooner than anything else. You want a good processor, plenty of RAM and a decent size hard drive. Most companies don't allow you to select either a video or sound card/chip anymore. What ever you do, don't buy cheap.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

gardenman — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 13:38:51 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
Okay, don't leave us hanging ......... if someone told you HP wasn't what it used to be, hopefully you asked them who DOES make a good laptop ........ please share those opinions.

What makes any computer (desktop or laptop) "good" is the use of quality components. Computer makers are in business to make money. Better quality components tend to cost more than lesser quality components so to hold down production costs, computer makers compromise on certain components. Very often a computer maker will contract for certain components before they know how reliable those components are, or will be.

And every company does this including Apple. They used cheaper capacitors in their line during the capacitor plague from 1999-2007 and suffered the consequences. There is no perfect company with perfect products.

If you want a "good" desktop computer, your best bet is to build it yourself using slightly older tech that's been around at least six months and been proven reliable.

To get a "good" laptop, look for one that's been for sale for six months or so and has overall good reviews. Ideally, lots of good reviews. If people have had the laptop and been using it for a while with no major complaints, it's probably going to be pretty good. You might still stumble upon a lemon, but your odds are better. And when reading reviews, focus on complaints regarding the computer's hardware. If someone gives it a one star review because it won't load and run a thirty year old piece of software, you can safely ignore that one star review.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 09:32:46 GMT

@gardenman

Thank you for the explanation. I've been thinking about how you are doing, and hope you and the kitties are okay.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

deeva — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 16:28:31 GMT

My Hp laptop is 7 years old and I haven't had any problems with it.
I customized it on their website.

But like so many things these days, I'm sure their quality isn't what it used to be.
I've owned both Sony and Toshiba laptops that didn't last long. Maybe that's why those companies no longer manufacture computers.

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

kindred cats — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 21:27:27 GMT

My HP laptop is wonderful. Got it at Costco and no problems whatsoever. It was on special for about $700-$800, can't remember. It's a good one and I don't know if they have it anymore.

Beautiful blue inside and out, 15"...

Re: HP laptop--questionable quality

ceekay — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 22:30:44 GMT

@jrcnc - I think I agree with you about HP quality. I bought my 3rd HP laptop in late July 2022. My previous HP was new in 2017 and having some issues with the screen. I have been dragging my feet getting my files transferred over to the new laptop. So I was using the new laptop intermittently for web surfing and watching movies and such. Nothing exotic and I thought I had made a good choice. I finally got my files transferred over last week as the fan on my old one was making a horrendus racket and I was afraid it would just poop out completely. So, fast forward a week. I was (notice the tense) using the new one and the fan on it started cycling and then started running non-stop. It was loud (but not ask loud as the racket on the old one) and very distracting. I tried rebooting and ending processes (such as they were) but no luck. I made sure the vents were not blocked while I was using it. No luck. So I turned it off and here I am back on my old laptop. I will not be in the area where I bought the new laptop until the end of March so I will just hope this old one keeps going until I can take the new one to the place I bought it since it should be under warranty. I will keep messing around with it just in case it decides to behave.

So my HP laptop (Win 7) from 2010 and its replacement HP laptop (Win 10) from 2017 are in much better shape than this new one at this particular moment in time. The new one is still Win 10 but I have the option to upgrade to Win 11 but not too sure I want to do that at this particular time. To quote Roseanne Roseannadanna "it's always something!"