HP/Compaq popularity growing

It looks like the popularity of these notebooks are growing since we have now surpassed dell for number of posts and now have the most for number of posts.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

well, according to latest market data Dell is still ahead of HP in laptop sales but it's close. We're a bit of a microcosm of what the entire rest of the world is doing as far as purchasing notebooks but I'd say the activity in any one forum is at least a rough measure of the popularity of a brand. My guess is that as more and more people look to buying notebooks they like to actually try them out and go to a store to look at them. With Dell's you can't do this. HP obviously you can since they go through normal retail channels for selling as well as their own online site. HP has a major legup because of this and they'll benefit as the notebook market expands as a whole.

 

yep after buying my first laptop, i decided i would never buy one again without seeing it in person first and playing with it, or at least a compareable model, maybe not the exact specs.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

Yes. If you're going to spend a couple of thousands dollars, you need to feel and "play" with the machine. Plus it is so difficult to return a notebook and the lost cost of shipping.

 

I own HP ZT3000 for the last one week. I 've owned 2 toshiba laptop so far. When I wanted to renew the last one and was shopping around, I saw zt3280 and very much attracted by the form factor of that series of HP. I was indifferent between toshiba m30-320 and getting zt3000. However, toshiba had less features for a little less($200)than the specs I wanted to get with a laptop. I wanted to get Pentium M, 5400 rpm hard drive, ATI video card and WSXGA screen. I customized ZT3000, ordered and have been uisng it for the last one week.
--> First of all, cd drive stopped to read CDs suddenly while running an audio CD and still does not work(it spind the CD and tries to read CD but somehow stucks and cannot read).
--> Secondly, sometimes IE just closes the web pages by itself.
--> Third, volume buttons cannot be controlled while windows starts(right before starting) So if I want to make the volume down, I have to listen the windows jingle.
--> Software bundled with This laptop (Power management, wi-fi) are very basic, at least default GUIs(toshiba has better ones-you can adjust brightness in defferent battery charge levels, and lately Toshiba bundles a wireless detection software which interface looks like radar tracking)
--> I feel like Toshiba laptops are more stable
--> HP has nice screen though
--> I loved the specs and form factorof this computer(ZT3000)
--> HP has better customer service
May be some of the above issues can be solved easily(that I don't know yet) however, this still meant a little user unfriendly softwares coming with HP.
--> I guess, If you change the screen saver or power managament setting, new settings become active after restarting.
Summary:

If toshiba delivers custom built laptops someday (I believe they will, cause the trend is towards that--or they can set more product line) I believe they will challenge the market share of Dell and HP.

I will probably return this ZT3000(with 1.6mghz pentium M) and get another one with 735(1.7 mghz) while other features remain the same

 

as for the volume that can almost never be controlled with a digital switch as the software is loaded with windows there would be no way to change the volume without the software.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

I think their popularity is growing because they make solid, attractive notebooks at a decent price. Other machines with similar specs easily go for $200, $300, $400 more. It helps they are based in North America and I'd imagine most, if not all, of their manufacturing is in N.A. also. Before I purchased my v505, I did look at a ZT that was on sale at BJs Wholesale. I was impressed, but I favor small machines because I travel alot and carry alot of stuff. When I'm back in the market for a desktop replacement, I'll definately be taking a look at HP. Especially since Sony seems to be getting away from 'VAIO Purple'.

 

Yeah I looked at the smaller notebooks, but I really didn't need it too much and the price was a bit more for lower specs. I also didn't like the keyboard on the averatech machines. However, the final piece to my decesion was the 10% off coupon that could be stacked on top of everything else.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

Kapon,

Regarding the issues you listed:

1. Your CD drive could be defective. Best thing is to get it replaced under warranty, while you still have a warranty.

2. The sound problem can be worked around easily. You can lower the volume before turning off the notebook, or just mute it before powering off. The system will keep whatever the last volume setting was at the next bootup. I had my brother program a small utility to mute the speakers and I just put it into the shutdown script. It mutes my speakers whenever I shutdown, therefore eliminating the shock of a LOUD Windows jingle.

3. Regarding the IE closing itself, I'm not sure, maybe it's time to do a manual load of XP & load only the required drivers/software. This may help if you have some sort of spyware or maybe corrupt files.

-Vb-

 

yeah i didn't have time to read it all before along with what venombite said, i would definently check for viruses and spyware for the IE closing down.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

Thank you for your advices and opinions all!
1. I thought the CD drive problem might be due to the dust on lens.
I have it cleaned and it did not make any difference! So,
probably drive is broken. It is very disappointing case with a
new laptop and when it is first HP computer after using Toshibas
for 2 years.
2. As for volume setting, yes whatever the volume level is when the
laptop turned off, laptop starts with the last setting.I don't
know it is same in other HP models or Brands, as for the digital
volume control, however this is not convenient.
3. I am having another problem that MSN messenger getting on and off
one after another. I don't know why, may be XP needs some
updates, and since I have been thinking of returning it, I
haven't done any update to XP.
4. IE problems still exist. Such that, when I click a link a white
page appears and the web page does not open, if I click refresh,
then it opens fast

Summary: I did not wanted to change the original objective of the topic. Rather, regarding "HP/compaq popularity growing", I just wanted to reflect my experiences with Toshiba and some short experience with my new HP laptop. But, I would like to thank anyone who contributed with some solution recommendations to my problems even if the topic was not intending those problems!

I've heard some rumors about HP quality prior to my toshiba purchases in previous years, that is why I went with toshibas, this time, however I had been hearing goodfeedbacks(or "not bad feedbacks" could be better). Some critical accidents that have happened to my Toshiba laptop are:
I spilt a glass of wine on all over the keyboard and touchpad, and after maintenance I kept using it a year without problem.
Other thing was that it fell off the couch. CDrom drive and PCI slot lid were broken but after repair, there was not a problem that I could notice)
The problems that I have been experiencing with HP and the difference in stability, software etc, with toshiba has not made good impressions so far! This ZT3000 with
- Pentium M 1.6
- 60 GB 5400 rpm HDD
- 64 MB ATI 9200 video card
- 15.4" WSXGA screen
- 512 MB (1 DIMM)
- 1 year Extended and accidental warranty (after above accidents to Toshiba, I thought I need it this time)

$1785(Student discount)-$100Mail in rebate-$10coupon=$1675

is going back to HP and I will get a new one with M 735 processor for $50 more! and If some problems appears on that one too, I may consider to change the Brand allthough I liked the design of this one!