mrv3000 | (no subject)

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Guys? If you're going to send your sweetheart flowers in a box, you might want to make sure she actually has a vase to put them in once she gets them. *tries not to sporfle at the coworker*
I've been looking into desktop computers, and while I probably could get things cheaper if I built it myself, the thought alone makes me tired. Anyone have anything good or bad to say about HP computers? They seem to have less junk pre-installed than Dell as a rule.

I have a HP laptop - other than my hard drive dying just now, after a year and a half with the computer, I have nothing bad to say.

Good to know!

I've had mixed experience with them, but that was a while back. Not recent enough to give you accurate info.

We just got really lucky and scored a couple of nice gamer desktops from a friend for super cheap. (It's legit. LOL He owned an internet cafe that went out of business.) I have no idea if they're brand name computers or generic custom built. I'm sure we'll wipe them clean before giving them to the kids either way.

Oooh nice!! *is jealous*

He threw in an Xbox 360 too! All of it for $150. I couldn't believe it when the hubby told me.

WOW!!!

I also have an HP laptop and it's worked fine for almost five years. I've had to replace the battery once - but I'm pretty hard on batteries, so not necessarily a standard experience - and at Christmas the light that illuminates the screen died, but that too is replaceable and my dad is going to do that when I move back in with my folks next month. I've actually used it as the brains of a pseudo desktop for quite some time - I have a garage sale flat screen monitor and a lightly used keyboard and a mouse Dad got for free at a trade show and voila - instant desktop with instant portability. (You know, when the light is working.)

I really like HP computers, I don't think I'll ever buy anything else (unless I can somehow buy an alienware laptop). I just got a new desktop computer a couple months ago, and they upgraded it to Windows 7 for free, which was really nice. I've also had my laptop for three years without any difficulties (aside from me forgetting to clean out the fan).

Nice to know that they seem fairly good quality-wise!

Ooh, thanks! Another thumbs up for HP!

I think HP technology itself is ok, I mostly heard (and experienced) bad stuff that has to do with crap cables. My friend had to change her laptop charging cable three times in one year because it kept dying on her, and the thing is not that cheap around these parts. The VGA cable that came with my HP monitor didn't even go into the socket, thank God I had one from the previous monitor left, which still serves me quite well. You know, things like that.

I can't believe they don't sell clean PCs where you live! It's totally an option here, the computer costs about $200 less if you buy it without the pre-installed OS.

Well, I've got plenty of my own cables around, so that'll be easy enough to swap if needed.

And I'm still looking around, but things are pretty limited around here. We used to have tons of computer stores but all that's left these days are the big box stores.

We bought the husband an HP laptop in October after the burglary and I've been quite pleased with it. We got a great deal on extra memory and upgrading the hard drive size, so those were all pluses. I'm still on my Mac, but when I had to use it the day my HD died, worked quite well. I'd recommend it.

Thanks! I'm glad to hear it's worked for people! It's one thing to look at specs and hope they got the parts together right, but it's another to know it's been good for people.

My cousin stuck an HP sticker to me and told me to enjoy breaking down.

BWAH!

Friend of mine just bought a new HP desktop, because she wanted a change from Dell. Opened it up, turned it on, and the mobo was fried. HP is sending her the stuff so that she can send it back, and they'll replace in 2 to 3 weeks or something. I think that was her first experience with HP desktops.

Apart from that, I haven't heard bad things about them, and obviously this could just be a complete aberration. But like you, the last thing I built I put together myself. Core i7, 12Gb RAM, 1.5Tb Seagate and 300Gb WD Velociraptor HDDs. It screams.

You might want to check out TigerDirect.com. They always seem to have kits on sale - they send you all the pieces and you just put them together yourself. I think that's what

lannakitty did for her last machine, and it actually ended up being cheaper than when I bought the components individually from NewEgg.

MEEP. Hopefully that would be the exception to the rule.

And thanks! I'll definitely check that site out! Didn't know about it before.

You'd certainly hope so! I've had very good luck with Dell desktops and laptops, which I know hasn't been true for everyone. So, as I said, it could just be one of those things.

You should check out the PC Magazine Desktop Service & Reliability Survey 2009 as well. Seems like HP and Dell rate pretty evenly for the most part. But the survey also says that Sony desktops had better reliability ratings than the other Windows PC vendors.

Ooh thanks!

I don't know about desktops but I've got an HP mini laptop and I love it. Word of advice: their standard warantee doesn't cover accidental damage and, I don't know about the US but, their UK repair prices were pretty steep.

Thanks! Guess no accidentally kicking it!

Yes. This. I was all traumatised last weekend when I tripped over the cable and pulled my mini down from the coffee table to the carpet. Screen split and HP were quoting £267 ($500? I think, I'm not paying much attention to the exchange rate ;D) to replace it. The laptop cost £299 brand new. *was not impressed* thankfully my folks' home and contents paid out so I got a brand new replacement for just the £50 excess charge. Phew.

EEP!!

No flowers this year. No, this year is an envelope containing various certificates that can be turned in like "Take her to a movie even though it's not one I want to see" and "Whatever she wants for dinner, I'll make it".

I think that's better than flowers...

Awwwwww! :)

I will say, I got an HP desktop a couple years ago, and it's kinda crappy. But *shrug* it could also be that it was shortly after they introduced Vista, so I may just be frustrated with that being on it.

Does it crash a lot?

Hehe someone at my work did that last year, and had to run around the building asking everyone for a vase - she ended up borrowing one of mine for about two months *rolls eyes*

As far as computers go... I would definitely avoid Dell. The best brand I've ever found selling prebuilt comps is Acer - they're usually pretty good value as well. I've never had any problems with Acer hardware, always very reliable & long lasting!

Yeah, Dell doesn't seem like a good option, just for the fact that they're known for adding stuff you don't want.

Hmmm. Acer. Thanks! I'll have to look at that.

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