HP Tale of Woe

hick · ‎03-28-2010

I've been an HP person for years and years. The past several years I've only had a lap top. I didn't need a desk top any longer.

In Oct 2018, I decided to get a new laptop to replace the old one. I bought it on Amazon.
It worked fine and I didn't have any problems. A few days ago, I couldn't believe my eyes! The frame around the left side of the screen completely separated from the screen itself! I never dropped the thing or mistreated it in any way. Of course the warranty had expired.

I emailed Amazon and they did the right thing.

I'm assuming that my problem was not unique.

My SIL suggests getting a Lenovo next time. Maybe....

glb613 · ‎03-09-2010

@hick wrote:
I've been an HP person for years and years. The past several years I've only had a lap top. I didn't need a desk top any longer.
In Oct 2018, I decided to get a new laptop to replace the old one. I bought it on Amazon.
It worked fine and I didn't have any problems. A few days ago, I couldn't believe my eyes! The frame around the left side of the screen completely separated from the screen itself! I never dropped the thing or mistreated it in any way. Of course the warranty had expired.
I emailed Amazon and they did the right thing.
I'm assuming that my problem was not unique.
My SIL suggests getting a Lenovo next time. Maybe....

I've had problems with my Apple computers and it didn't stop me from buying another one. I owned HP computers for years and never had any problems. Maybe this particular model had a design flaw? Good luck finding a new computer.

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

Adhesives (heat-sensitive double-sided tape in some cases) are used a lot on modern laptops (smartphones and tablets also) to keep them as thin as possible. Screws and mechanical fasteners need something to bite into where glue/tape is simply applied to the surface. Disassembling them often requires the use of a heat gun to soften the adhesive. Most of the adhesives used tend to soften with heat making the computers serviceable. It sounds like part of yours became unglued on its own.

Things like sitting in the sunlight or even the output from a nearby heater can be enough to soften the adhesive enough for something to come loose. There's a fine-ish line between making an adhesive strong enough to hold the pieces together, but still able to be removed without damaging the components. Sometimes they err a bit too much on the removable side of things. As problems go, it's not a huge problem as a wee bit of hot melt glue applied very carefully (emphasis on very carefully) can often put things back where they belong but still be removable down the road if need be.

In other cases, the frame snaps into place, but the thinness of modern laptops often requires a very tiny margin of error and if you get just a little too little plastic (or metal for that matter) holding things together, they can fatigue and snap over time even without any abuse. Once again, a wee bit of hot melt glue carefully applied can often solve the problem.

The consumer demand for thinner and thinner devices (whether real or perceived to be real by the manufacturer) compromises the structural integrity of many of the devices. It's pretty easy to make a three-inch-thick laptop that a truck can run over without damaging it. Making one a half-inch-thick (or less) is far more challenging.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!

Nuttmeg · ‎03-09-2010

@hick

I agree with @gardenman. People want lighter and thinner computers. This is what happens.

I buy Dell basic Alienware gaming laptops for the tech. They are not portable, they weigh 9lbs.

My sister has a Lenovo ThinkPad. She needed a new hard drive during the warranty period. She bought a new power adapter. last week. It is still running after 5 years.

I use Carbonite to backup the data on my computer. Buy whatever brand makes you happy.