Laptops?

[Guest pelmetman]

My 18 month old Compaq laptop screen has packed up, I can use it with a monitor plugged in :D

 

I took it to an independant chap to have a look at and he reckons I would be wasting my money having it repaired as 18 months is average for this kind of laptop, and was surprised it was still going, I've already spent £90 on a new battery 8-)

 

His suggestions was to make sure I get an extended warranty next time and recommened Dell (?) Anyone any suggestions as I do need a laptop for the business, and it is on all day long so gets a fair bit of wear and tear, not to mention bounced about in the camper :D

 

 

[nowtelse2do]

I think I would expect a bit longer life than that Dave 8-)

Dave

[twooks]

if you are looking at Dell I recommend using their alternative site

Dell Outlet,

make sure you read all the small print - double check what is included

but it can be a cheap way to get a good PC

 

http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/dfo/df.aspx?refid=df&s=dfo

 

I've used them quite a lot over the years - never been disappointed

 

good luck

:D

[johnnerontheroad]

Have a look at a Mac book, my two have had one each for about 5 years they have used them for uni and one has just taken it around Aisa for 6 months back packing, they are very robust.

 

http://www.apple.com/uk/macbook/

 

 

Good Luck

 

Dave

[George Collings]

We had a laptop with (Light Emitting Diode) screen failure. If you can see just a trace of the image its possibly just the very thin flourescent tube inside that has died. The screen works by the LED altering the amount and colour of the light from the tube that comes through the screen.

 

I found a new tube on e bay and info on the net on how to change it. It was described as difficult.

Too difficult for me anyway. I gave up, coming to the conclusion that probably a little oriental lady with a very delicate touch could solder better than me. Steady lads .

 

No 2 son adapted the laptop it to work some sort of kit he was playing with.

[Dave Newell]

Dell are pretty good. My Advent laptop screen became iffy at about 18 months with intermittent backlight failure so it is now my workshop PC running a 17" external LCD monitor. The battery life was always poor but as it was always plugged into mains power I effectively wrecked it, battery life is now measured in seconds when not plugged in. I'm presently using an old Dell Latitude I picked up last year for £20, spent another £80 or so increasing memory and installing a 80GB hard drive. So far it has proved to be totally reliable if a little slow, oh and the CD drive keeps falling out 'cause a previous owner broke the retaining catch.

 

D.

[AliB]

Laptops do seem to have a poor life expectancy whilst PCs just seem to go on and on. Consequently I currently use a Compaq PC with a separate monitor and also have a Fujitsu Siemans laptop for when a truly mobile application arises.

A laptop has a much reduced airflow and cooling so all the components are more stressed. Manufacturers try to alleviate the cooling problem by fitting slower speed processors. Another reason to only use a laptop when it is truly needed.

I reckon it works out cheaper to run a PC and a laptop for limited use than to keep wearing out laptops.

[Brian Kirby]

First, you really should not have needed a new battery in so short a period of time.

Second, the screen should not have failed in so short a time.

Third, I think the advice that you will be better off getting a new replacement is good.

Fourth, I think the advice that you were lucky to get 18 months from a laptop was bad.

Fifth, except for the fact that you need a working computer, I'd take it back whence it came, smile sweetly, and ask them to fix it.  Out of warranty, maybe, but it is, IMO, a premature failure and, although the supplier will not be obliged to replace it FOC, what he sold should have lasted longer than it did, even as you describe using it.  He should accept some liability for the failure, and come to an agreement with you as to how much he will reduce the price of a replacement in recognition of that.  At least, that is where the law stands.

As to what you do next.

Buy a new, replacement, computer of the right type for the use you give it.  There are differences between the various models of laptops.  Some are intended for "desktop replacement" type use (which is part of the use you describe), meaning they have smaller battery reserves and frequently larger, but more vulnerable, screens.  Some are intended for "general" type use, having slightly stronger batteries but still being larger in format.  Some are intended for a life on the run, with greatly extended battery life and a compact, but also more rigid, chassis, often with protection against being dropped while running as an added feature.  Others again are aimed at graphics use, with enhanced (and hot!) graphics processors, and often larger, high resolution, screens.

These details are all tucked away somewhere on the various manufacturers' websites, not always very clearly explained in plain English, but I think getting the "right" machine at the outset will give you the best chance of getting reasonable service from it.  I'd guess that you have either been very unlucky, or you bought a machine intended for light home use, and then used it heavily in your business.

In my experience, over two laptops and two desktops, Dell are reasonably solid, providing you get the right one at the outset.  They also provide a fair degree of support via their website.  Anything more complex can involve a lot of time being taken running diagnostics, and re-installing operating system, before they will accept the existence of a fault.  I would, therefore, go for a business (often cheaper, often better described, and generally geared towards wired networking, so you may have to add wireless capability), rather than a home user machine, and try to get to the bottom of what market/use it is intended to service.  In your position, I think I would go for a support package upgrade to at least a next business day, on site, type response.  However, do read the full terms of Dell's warranty and support packages very carefully, as there are several devils in the details!  :-)

The true advantage of Dell, is that they more or less build to order, so you can tweak the spec to suit your needs, usually disk size and speed, installed memory (usually pays to increase this), and card reader/optical drive options.  If you have the chance of a fingerprint reader as log-in security forget it - useless gimmick!  :-)  You'll need to set aside a bit of time on their website, because some of the promotions are surprisingly good and often work out cheaper than taking the basic model and altering the spec to the same level.

They deliver via secure courier, and delivery is usually quite quick, sometimes only a matter of days, seldom more than a couple of weeks.

You won't get one without anti-virus of some sort included, so if what you are using is different, you'll just have to uninstall it (preferably without running it) and install your own.

Don't bother with the "magic" USB cable to transfer data from the old machine, in my experience it is a totally indiscriminate process that is poorly described and by the time you find out what has transferred it is too late to reverse!  Took me a day to resolve the aftermath with all kinds of "hidden" files being passed across that caused endless problems with internet and e-mail connections.

Once you have shortlisted a machine or two, phone their sales number (can be a long delay getting through, what's new? :-() and get them to go through your queries, and any pros and cons of your choice.

Re Macs, to get the robust construction referred to above, you'll need to get the Mac Book Pro, with a metal, rather than a plastic chassis.  That pushes the already inflated price even higher.  On the basis that one Mac = 3 PC's in cost, I'd be inclined to go for the cheaper PC, but make sure I have good back-up for all data via a network attached storage device of some sort that connects to your modem/router, and pay for a back-up programme that backs up on the fly.  The internet storage options are fine, but no good when you can't get a connection, so their value depends on how reliable (and fast) your broadband is.

All of the above is stated as a complete IT non-expert, and is based only on my own experience, so please don't take it as any more than one person's opinion!  :-)  Have fun!

[maggyd]

I have had my Acer 1520 for five years :-S I did have a new graphics card about 18 months ago at a cost of £110, but the use it gets I didnt mind that it was cheaper than a new laptop .

I agree 18 months is ridiculous but having said that my daughter and grand-daughter have both had trouble with theirs just after the 12 months warenty was up one is a Dell not sure about the other except I know it cost more than double what I paid for mine.

If you do decide on a new one I would certainly look for one with a longer gaurantee or pay for the extra insurence.

I also would look around for some-one that could mend yours cheaper ! I found one that was very reasonable although I ended up googling myself for the part that was needed as he was having a problem I told him where it was on an ebay shop and he bought it and fitted it.

[Brambles]

I must admit I like Dell computers. I recently bought a Studio laptop for my son and he has had nearly 6 months now and proving excellent. I recently bought an all in one desktop and no problems at all.

From past experience and experience of friends, they are all peased with their Dell computers compared to others.

My experiemce is buy from dell online, not their outlet, although the outlet does have some good computers.

Get the discounts. Two ways to do this. Search on Google for Dell coupons and find the ones on the dell site itself. e.g Dell's own dicount codes .

 

Usually only apply to expensive systems, but worth looking and they do change all the time. Also be aware Dell offers change on a Thursday.

 

Next use a cash back site and the best one I know off and use is Top cash Back and you will normally get about 5% cashback (on prices not including Vat I think).

Here is the link to Top Cash back website where you can sign up get some cash back. It does take a while to get cash back, but they are totally legit and reliable. I buy anything I can via the refferal site and so far have made over £200 last year in cash back on purchases. On my last dell with Christmas promotions the cheapest price in shops was £980. I got it for £760 online with Dell and I am getting a whopping £64 back from Top cash Back. Normally £32. So over all a massive saving on brand new, not refurbished or surplus stock so pays to do a bit of searching.

 

As to the posts mention screen failure. Just to correct something , LCD screens have back lit cold cathode fluorescent tubes, LED computer screens are very similar but use an array of LEDs around the edge of the display and are supposed to be a lot more reliable and superior. LED displays also use a lot less power. You can repace the tubes, as mentioned by others quite easily if you are good at dabbling with electronics, and there are plenty of tutorials online if you search goolgle on how to do this. It is one of the most common failures, and plenty people on Ebay sell replacement tubes. LED back lit displays vary and some are repairable easily and some are not, but you can also buy replacement screens complete and for some computers are not outlandishly expensive.

Jon.

[ips]

Had my toshiba satelite pro for about 5 years used it daily for work for 4yrs now I just use it at home a couple of times a week. Not had any problems with it so would reccomend one.

[robkilby]

First...respect , as ever , to Brian for the detail and thought he puts into his reply

 

My two pennyworth....

 

...get a simple reconditioned one. We got our ( laptop) three years ago from the local guy in the village /town here ( I think we have had a shop local thread before, haven't we ?). I guess it was alreadya year or two old.it is a Packard\Bell Easy Note...but typing its name here is the first time I have ever conciously looked at it.

 

[Guest pelmetman]

Thanks for all the feed back people, especialy Brian for his comprehensive reply :-D

 

I'm thinking of the Dell vostro 3500, which with all the extended warranties etc pushes it over the £550 mark, but at least its a business expense :D

 

Once I have sorted a replacement, I will take this one back to PC World and see if I can get any joy *-)

[spospe]

Take a look at the Morgans website. I have had several PCs and Laptops from them and they have all been good.

 

http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/

 

[Guest pelmetman]

Now here's a thing............. my screen has come back to life 8-)

 

It has a bit of stretched look to it :-S but seems to be working ok (?)

[ekka]

I have a friend who sells second hand laptops for a living, nearly all ex-company laptops. There is no reason that they should not last years and years. He tells me the only weakness if some brands are the ribbon connectors that attach the screen display to the main motherboard due to the constant opening and closing of the lid, but even this is rare. So I guess you may have just been unlucky. The machine I am currently using is 6+ years old.

 

You can find him on Ebay, user name bargain-laptops if that is of any help to anyone. :-)

[Guest pelmetman]

But why has it come back to life :-S

 

[maggyd]

pelmetman - 2011-02-12 7:39 PM

 

But why has it come back to life :-S

 

Because it heard you talking about it (lol)

Do you know I had a bit of trouble last year! blank screen and had to keep switching it off and on again!! I took everything I wanted to keep on a 3g storage stick!! 8-) 8-) its still going strong after my Son gave it a good cleaning with the hoover tools.

[Guest pelmetman]

Its still working so maybe it is a built in con *-)

[terryW]

7 year old Samsung v25 still going strong but..........

 

HP Pavilion pain in the butt. Quote for new screen £90 already had new battery and charger :$

[Basil]

I would suggest and completely recommend that with such a young laptop you try

 

http://www.cambridgelaptoprepair.co.uk/

 

they are VERY reasonable and have repaired an eight year old one of ours for the princly sum of £25, don't know how they do it with the delivery charges built in.

They can often do a visit and while you wait service if you are not far from them.

 

Bas

 

P.S. They do exactly what they say and keep you informed by email or text at all stages.

[Mel B]

pelmetman - 2011-02-12 7:39 PM

 

But why has it come back to life :-S

 

Loose connection somewhere ... it can't be the graphics as your external monitor wouldn't work .... moving it about may have caused it to 'connect' again ... you need to be gentle with it chuck! :-D

[Guest pelmetman]

Working fine again this morning and the streched look has gone?

 

Hopefully saved myself 650 quid B-)

[Barryd999]

Firstly it is utter rubbish that laptop screens tend to go after 18 months.

 

I recently bought an Acer Timeline laptop. Its brilliant. The main reason I bought it was because of its battery life. 8-10 hours. So when we are off hook up for days on end it will keep going.

 

If you have a broken laptop then dont just throw it out, sell it. I recently sold a 3 year old Toshiba that was completely knackered. The screen was smashed, the casing cracked, no hard drive and it was in bits. It still made £55 on ebay. I sold a customers 9 year old laptop as well. It all worked but its ancient, only has a 10GB hard drive. £72.

[Brambles]

Could have just been the lid switch for the display. Sometimes they can give problems especially if mechanical switches. The way to check if it goes off again is shine a bright light at the screen and look closely for a very faint image.

Same if the back lights have failed.

 

 

Your stretched look could have been because you connected to a 4:3 external monitor and had just not updated itself for a wide screen again when you disconnected it.