Armada 2 for newer computers
Moderators: thunderchero, MrVulcan
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MrVulcan
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Its a bit of a gamble with HP laptops. I recommend staying away from top-of-the-line HP models.
Reason for staying away from newer models:
HP likes to use cheap components to save costs. Stick to slightly older, or slightly de-featured models. For example, a friend of mine bought an HP dv6 with the first generation i7 processor. 1.2TB storage, 19in screen. ATI dx11 graphics card (not sure which one specifically), 8GB ram.
The issues with this laptop are too numerous to list, but I will give you an idea.
- two months in, system updates from HP caused critical errors in the OS. Had to reinstall the OS.
- month later, installed other HP updates and cause the same problem. (took for warranty repair, was told the motherboard and harddrive were defective. Replaced at no cost.
- around 6 months later, hard drive crashed. Took in for warranty. Replaced with the same the HD with the same model... not expecting it to last very long. Was told that the cooling system was not installed properly, so HP fixed that as well.
- Lately, the videocard is causing occasional system dumps (blue screen), or bad startups (restarts while turning on).
Overheating is definitely an issue, but that's an i7 processor problem for the most part.
Reason for sticking to de-featured models:
HP will use older components that have lost value, or de-featured motherboards (fewer USB ports, lack of card readers, etc) on some of their cheaper models. I bought a dv6105 back in 2006, and never a problem since. I replaced the harddrive as the original only had 80GB, but no other replacements/problems. This model wasn't top-of-the-line at all, but used lower performance components that might have been been tested and revised over time.
Of course, this could be a fluke, but seems to be supported by other "evidence". At the time, the dv6000 series were fairy popular, and seemed to have given people less trouble than toshibas and even the macbooks.
Conclusion: Don't look at just the brand. Look at the components. Most expensive is not necessarily the best. Newest components (processor, graphics, etc) is not necessarily the most reliable.
Other brand to consider is Dell. They offer a fairly reliable lineup.
Reason for staying away from newer models:
HP likes to use cheap components to save costs. Stick to slightly older, or slightly de-featured models. For example, a friend of mine bought an HP dv6 with the first generation i7 processor. 1.2TB storage, 19in screen. ATI dx11 graphics card (not sure which one specifically), 8GB ram.
The issues with this laptop are too numerous to list, but I will give you an idea.
- two months in, system updates from HP caused critical errors in the OS. Had to reinstall the OS.
- month later, installed other HP updates and cause the same problem. (took for warranty repair, was told the motherboard and harddrive were defective. Replaced at no cost.
- around 6 months later, hard drive crashed. Took in for warranty. Replaced with the same the HD with the same model... not expecting it to last very long. Was told that the cooling system was not installed properly, so HP fixed that as well.
- Lately, the videocard is causing occasional system dumps (blue screen), or bad startups (restarts while turning on).
Overheating is definitely an issue, but that's an i7 processor problem for the most part.
Reason for sticking to de-featured models:
HP will use older components that have lost value, or de-featured motherboards (fewer USB ports, lack of card readers, etc) on some of their cheaper models. I bought a dv6105 back in 2006, and never a problem since. I replaced the harddrive as the original only had 80GB, but no other replacements/problems. This model wasn't top-of-the-line at all, but used lower performance components that might have been been tested and revised over time.
Of course, this could be a fluke, but seems to be supported by other "evidence". At the time, the dv6000 series were fairy popular, and seemed to have given people less trouble than toshibas and even the macbooks.
Conclusion: Don't look at just the brand. Look at the components. Most expensive is not necessarily the best. Newest components (processor, graphics, etc) is not necessarily the most reliable.
Other brand to consider is Dell. They offer a fairly reliable lineup.
I hear what you are saying, but my new laptop has already been ordered and should arrive by the end of the week at the earliest.
This link is from HP's Official Website, but it was ordered through Office Depot.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/produ ... UA%2523ABA
How is that laptop? It has been given a 5 Star Rating. And my relative says it is a very good deal and good laptop.
This link is from HP's Official Website, but it was ordered through Office Depot.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/produ ... UA%2523ABA
How is that laptop? It has been given a 5 Star Rating. And my relative says it is a very good deal and good laptop.
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MrVulcan
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I think this will be just fine.
i3 2nd generation -- check
Intel3000 graphics -- check
-should not overheat
-decent most most applications
-on that budget, ATI or NVIDIA will not be much better
Harddrive -- depends on brand. If its a seagate, be wary of overheating. Usually the underside will feel very warm/hot to touch where the harddrive is located. I recommend a cooling pad or an aluminum plate to sit it on. If its a western digital, you're in luck
Other specs are good. I think this laptop will work well for you.
Do try to uninstall the various pre-instaleld HP software (bloatware) and various trial offers for backups, system checks, etc.. This stuff will just frustrate you when starting up.
Good luck
i3 2nd generation -- check
Intel3000 graphics -- check
-should not overheat
-decent most most applications
-on that budget, ATI or NVIDIA will not be much better
Harddrive -- depends on brand. If its a seagate, be wary of overheating. Usually the underside will feel very warm/hot to touch where the harddrive is located. I recommend a cooling pad or an aluminum plate to sit it on. If its a western digital, you're in luck
Other specs are good. I think this laptop will work well for you.
Do try to uninstall the various pre-instaleld HP software (bloatware) and various trial offers for backups, system checks, etc.. This stuff will just frustrate you when starting up.
Good luck
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MajorPayne
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jetnova. I'll add a quick suggestion here. Although I hate HP laptops and pcs theres one thing that you might benefit from. If you have an original copy of windows xp or 7 and can get just the drivers for this new laptop, then you might benefit from completely formatting the entire hdd. In all my experience with laptops very few nowadays have the original system discs for reinstalling. Besides which, with just the bare OS and drivers you'll be able to tailor the software specifically to your needs and won't have to piss about uninstalling unecessary software.
Its something I've done with EVERY pc I've ever looked at (something I do in my spare time is build and manage PCs for other people).
Its something I've done with EVERY pc I've ever looked at (something I do in my spare time is build and manage PCs for other people).
Maybe I would do that MajorPayne, I've just never done that before and I usually like keeping the newest OS plus I don't have any old Windows XP,Vista or any ones prior to XP.
Why do you hate HP computers?
I haven't really ever judged computers or the companies that make them. Just the individual PCs and their Ratings.
Does anyone know any bad ratings and the reasons why for the laptop that I will be receiving soon?
Why do you hate HP computers?
I haven't really ever judged computers or the companies that make them. Just the individual PCs and their Ratings.
Does anyone know any bad ratings and the reasons why for the laptop that I will be receiving soon?
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MajorPayne
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That's good to know. One of my friends has had a new HP laptop for months now without any problems at all, nothing related to hardware, software or even overheating. His laptop is a different model than mine but hopefully it will work and perform just as good for me.MajorPayne wrote:The reason I hate them so much is because of the trouble I've seen HP pc's cause. Hardware failures are a prime example.
One thing I've learned is HP, Toshiba, Compaq (bought out by HP), and other brands at times share the same hardware and components as each other. Meaning it is easy to find the same hardware parts in say a Toshiba as an HP. My first laptop for example was a Compaq Presario and it had a Toshiba designed Hard Drive and my Hard Drive in my Toshiba is also a Toshiba design. (Both had the name: "Toshiba" on them.)
Because I have seen this occurring (sharing of different hardware types), I have come to the conclusion that judging a brand like HP or Toshiba on the hardware they use is a big mistake because the laptop (or even desktop) could be better than a predetermined decision based on the brand itself. Isn't this a logical course of thinking? After all, all companies that make computers don't also make their own parts, they get them from third parties like AMD, Intel, Microsoft (for OS and some software), and so on and so forth for their hardware/parts.
I guess I am confused about the thinking about disliking/hating a brand like HP, Toshiba, and Compaq (to name a few) based on the hardware that they are using/built with or even the software Pre-Installed with them.
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MajorPayne
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I think a friend of mine would be inclined to disagree with you there. In the 6 months or so he had a HP laptop for it broke down no less than 18 times (only one of those was through software problems). Perhaps he was just unlucky but theres only so much patience a parson has with their hardware before changing.
With regards to hardware. You'll find that nearly every laptop manufacturer uses parts from the same areas of china and other far east areas. Coupling mass production of components will always lead to batches of hardware which will enevitably cause problems of some kind.
I've also dealt with around 20 different HP desktops which have had all sorts of hardware failures ranging from bad memory to HDD failures. One system I dealt with was under 1 month old and it suffered nothing but overheating. It took me about 4 hours and several makes of cooling systems to find the right one.
HP pc's and laptops are like marmite. You either love them or hate them. Thats my way of looking at this, and its unlikely to change in the long term.
With regards to hardware. You'll find that nearly every laptop manufacturer uses parts from the same areas of china and other far east areas. Coupling mass production of components will always lead to batches of hardware which will enevitably cause problems of some kind.
I've also dealt with around 20 different HP desktops which have had all sorts of hardware failures ranging from bad memory to HDD failures. One system I dealt with was under 1 month old and it suffered nothing but overheating. It took me about 4 hours and several makes of cooling systems to find the right one.
HP pc's and laptops are like marmite. You either love them or hate them. Thats my way of looking at this, and its unlikely to change in the long term.
A lot of people can be unlucky with any desktop or laptop computer. Anything after all is possible. Getting any computer, desktop or laptop (a Windows, Mac, or Linux) all can have their own problems and hardware/software problems. Doesn't mean they are going to happen, but they could easily occur.
Anyone of us, myself included; could eventually have problems with any desktop or laptop that we purchase. We all just hope that we aren't going to be unlucky and have a problem. All we really can do is hope and pray that we will have some good exsperiences with the desktops or laptops that we purchase.
Anyone of us, myself included; could eventually have problems with any desktop or laptop that we purchase. We all just hope that we aren't going to be unlucky and have a problem. All we really can do is hope and pray that we will have some good exsperiences with the desktops or laptops that we purchase.
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MrVulcan
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Well, you can do more than just pray. Once you get your laptop, keep checking from various sources for any recurring problems that people might be having with similar models. If you suspect that anything is wrong, don't wait too long. Ask for warranty service. Normally, it comes with just one year limited warranty.
If something appears to be overheating, or you get a blue screen, or a bad startup; don't ignore it. It could mean a hardware problem waiting just around the corner (the one year mark
)
If something appears to be overheating, or you get a blue screen, or a bad startup; don't ignore it. It could mean a hardware problem waiting just around the corner (the one year mark
)I've been checking for what problems that could go on with it before I actually decided on it. So did my relative thst said it was a good laptop. It is Rated 4.8 Stars (actually all 5 Stars are colored in at HP's website for a Coustomer Rating with the number 4.8 Stars).
I noticed this morning that the Fan is really small and impossible to access. The area for the Hard Drive, RAM and Wireless Card is the only unscrew-able part. This cover wasn't on perfectly so I had to unscrew this cover to fix it/put it on better. The cover wouldn't remove so I couldn't see the Hard Drive, but according to "Properties" I believe it is a Toshiba Hard Drive. Well I manage to get the cover for this section on better even though I couldn't remove it to actually take alook at the hardware in that section.
I have also created my Recovery Disc.
I believe I'm as set as I'll ever be for this HP laptop.
I noticed this morning that the Fan is really small and impossible to access. The area for the Hard Drive, RAM and Wireless Card is the only unscrew-able part. This cover wasn't on perfectly so I had to unscrew this cover to fix it/put it on better. The cover wouldn't remove so I couldn't see the Hard Drive, but according to "Properties" I believe it is a Toshiba Hard Drive. Well I manage to get the cover for this section on better even though I couldn't remove it to actually take alook at the hardware in that section.
I have also created my Recovery Disc.
I believe I'm as set as I'll ever be for this HP laptop.