*HP HDX18 Owners Lounge*

Dont you think it a bit strange that some are wrapped in plastic with the security seal and the black bag, and some are getting diffrent boxes? By the way I tried to replace my order for the HDX 18t and the rep told me I have to start all over again, no comp, no coupon code, nothing! I just sent an email to Mark Hurd the CEO of HP to ask him to take care of it. I'm thinking of just calling HP HQ and talking with someone. I'm not sure why the rep I spoke with today was giving me such a hard time, all I asked for was to replace the order with what was promised to me in the notes on my account. He said his system would not allow him to do so, which I know is a crock. lol

 

Anyone please, I really need your advice.

Does my laptop contain 2 separate hard drives or it's just the main one that is dvided into the C and D?

 

okay, your HDX 18t has 2 hdd bays in back, what hdd did you order? And, just as a note, it would be helpful if you would put your notebook specs (what is in your HDX) up along with your questions, thanks!

 

Is the option for DDR3 memory worth it? I've been doing some research and finding that DDR3 is not worth the price at this point because you dont even use the full potential of the DDR2 memory at this time. If you guys have any other input please let me know because I dont want to spend a lot more money if its not needed.

 

It contains 2 separate physical hard drives 250GB each.

 

thanks UNDERDOG for your response

I have a 500GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (250GB*2), does this mean that I can send the damaged C HDD to HP for the replacement and in the meantime I can work on my laptop using my second HDD where I actually backed up my content?

my laptop specs are

1. Vista Home Premium with service pack 1 (64-bit)
2. Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor T9600 (2.80GHz)
3. 4GB DDR2 System memory
4. 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT

 

Do you have any other data on your 2nd hdd besides what you backed up? If not then use something like Casper ( http://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/) to clone your 1st hdd to your 2nd hdd. You would then plug your 2nd hdd where your 1st hdd is. They have a trial version on the website but I don't see a 64-bit version of the trial. You might want to contact them to see if they offer a 64-bit trial. However, both 32-bit and 64-bit versions are included when you purchase the product.

 

I just saw this on the trial page:
*Unfortunately, we do not currently offer a trial for use on 64-bit versions of Windows Vista. To evaluate Casper on 64-bit versions of Windows Vista, you must purchase Casper and use the included Casper x64 Edition.

 

i have some data on my second hard drive, cant i just remove my 1st hdd and then plug the 2nd one then use the back up i mean recover my system from back up without any additional software? Because I have already backed up why i need to clone my 1st hdd again?

thanks for your really valuable advices edreamerz and UNDERDOG

 

No.

Your operating system is on the C drive.

That's why you'd need to clone it over.

 

It's been debated to a pulp.

Totally not worth it.

 

I am sorry for my stupid questions but I backed up my entire C drive, doesn't that mean that the operating system is backed up also along with other data.

 

If you ordered a customized laptop, you can't change the specs on your order. I tried cuz I forgot to get the tv tuner. However, you can cancel the order and start over again, but without the coupon discounts that you used originally, if they are expired.

 

Yeah, one would expect consistency in packaging, etc., but in these days sourcing from multiple manufacturing plants dispersed all over the world, it is not surprising these things happen. It's bad that with all the technology in place, the CRs of HP are not able to respond in a consistent manner to your query, but then this is not unusual either, as some earlier posts on this thread indicate. Good luck the second time around and good job on the review.

 

can i buy any hard drive for my HDX not external just to replace my damaged C HDD?

 

Yes, it means you have backed up all the contents in the C partition.

 

How much data are we talking? You would need to move that elsewhere temporarily until you clone the 1st hdd to the 2nd hdd.

 

Mine was in a nice black box with a handle.

 

Does anyone know where I can get the orginall Vista 64 nvidia 130m drivers from for my HDX18t? I formatted my laptop before I realized HP didnt post them on their website.

 

It's my impression that some hdx18 refurbs are being sold as new.

 

I think your right on the money. In fact I would go a far to say that the other models that were released in Canada, where they get the color HP boxes with a handel and a clear plastic bag over the soft black bag and security tape on the clear bag. The model number is the HP HDX-X18 1020us and whenever you watch an unboxing video from canada, they always have more stuff included in the box, i.e. headphones, better packaging and nicer box. I bet the USA is getting all of the returned ones. If this isnt true, then why are we getting cruddy brown refub boxes? Apple Macs are sold in brown boxes when they are returned/refurb, and they get a color box with a new purchase. If I wanted to pay for a refurb, I would pay refurb price, not brand new.

 

Way to get my blood pressure going guys!

uugghh

 

Oh, and we should pay attention to the stickers.

Are there the usual stickers you see on the new models in the store? The processor sticker, Nvidia sticker, Vista sticker, etc.

 

Thanks for watching the review. I get an email from Susan Peasley
Customer Service Manager HP Home & Home Office Store tonight and this is what she said. This was in responce to the email sent to Mark Hurd, HP CEO.
She offred to honer the 250.00 off coupon plus the 150.00 they gave back to me to keep. I actually emailed her twice because I started to read other HP web fourms that are having alot of the same complaints and I sent her another email asking her why the HDX 1020us is sold with nicer packing, and the US gets brown boxes? I alos gave here the link to this site so they are aware of whats being talked about, i.e. MACNUT's issues and some others. I would be so pissed is HP is reselling used HDX's to people as new. Their are US laws in place that prohibit the sale of used electronics as new to the consumer. I'll post back to let you know what she says.

 

Its too bad we couldnt get more people to tell us exactly what their packing and notebook looks like, we might have a better idea of what HP is up to. Here is a link to an unboxing of the HP HDX 18t that has the color box, ect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcaM5eVj_kc

I'm telling you, I know some people dont really care about the boxing, but I think it speaks volumes!

 

Good find.

For some reason I can't find too many HDX18 vids on YouTube.

I am guessing that this wasn't a store bought HDX, rather a customized?

 

ok guys, i need to know.

should i order my hdx 18t? 'cause its getting to be that time, and i don't get stuck with these problems yalls seem to be having with yours.

this laptop seems perfect, but if its a crappy refurbush job, then its really not worth it. thoughts?

 

Also, after watching that video, I remember that my HP DV6640US came w/ the clear sticker on the outside of the screen as well as the keyboard protector piece that goes between the keyboard and screen.

Very strange that they would stop using those!

 

I don't know what to tell you dstayl.

I am still ordering my at the end of this week or the beginning of next week. I will be calling in my order over the phone and letting them know I expect a brand new laptop though. I am pricing mine at about $1,300 or so right now. Still a hell of a deal for what I'll be getting.

I am also going to be discussing my DV6640US and how it's motherboard went out 1 year after I bought it (it is a VERY know issue w/ the DV series, and they have replaced most peoples laptop even after the warranty because of default equipment. Of course, not my series!!). I expect some sort of compensation for that.

 

Rageman, it sounds like you were lucky to get a new one, I dont know what to tell people until the HP "team" gets back to me tomorrow.

 

I thinks it's random. My friend got an hdx18 from a costco store in canada which was in a black box, nice color logo, everything seemed kosher at 1st. Once he opened the box he noticed all the literature was scattered all over the place with some pages crushed. The box the literature came in was also banged up. The laptop was wrapped in a black fabric cover and was inside a security-sealed clear plastic cover. All seals/tape did not seem tampered with
but there were glue marks on the upper lid of the laptop and more disturbingly a noticeable ding on the chrome edge by the front of the laptop. This laptop did not look new. It was promptly returned for a refund.

Beats me if I know the true story behind this laptop but a new product should not have dings on it especially when the outer box seems fine. The whole thing seems a bit suspicious and this leads me to think that some refurbs are being sold as new. My advice to new buyer is to really look over everything for anything odd; the packaging, the state of the laptop etc...

 

Oh, don't get confused UNDERDOG, lol. I am ordering mine either at the end of this week or the beginning of next week.

I got the clear sticker and screen protector w/ my last HP laptop I bought about 1 and 1/2 years ago at ABC Warehouse in Detroit, MI.

 

Store bought HDX's come in that FANCY black box. If you customize it from HP you get a boring Brown box with your specs in a tiny plastic baggie tapped to the side of your brown box.

 

I would call HP headquaters and ask to speak to someone. Heres a link to the webpage that the number is listed. I dont want to give out the wrong advise, however if you order straight from HP, and have to wait two weeks get this notebook, why are they taking care of us less than any retailer? I dont think thats fair. The tape, box and accessories should be the same if not better. Heck, I've had nothing with problems with places like best buy thats why I decided it would be better to do it right the first time and wait for my new laptop, then go threw what I went threw with the new DV7 series where all the touch pads were broken. I'm not saying or implying anything, Im just informing others of HP's practises so if they get their new HDX, they wont be dissapointed.
Executive team: http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/

HP Headquaters: http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/regional.html


Hewlett-Packard Company
3000 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185 USA

Phone: (650) 857-1501
Fax: (650) 857-5518

 

UPDATE:
March 31st 2009 I called HP HQ which is where all calls to HQ are routed and the OP transfered me to the Calf. HQ where Mark Hurd is the CEO of HP. They wont let you talk to him but they have a ACR team that you can get in touch with. You give them your issues and the HP team emails you back. The woman that emailed me back pretty much told me I would need to keep the same specs that I ordred them at (four weeks ago) and then they would give me the 250.00 coupon code plus 50.00 (coupon) and 100.00 for all my trouble. I was very dissapointed because I spoke to a Rep. on the 26th of March and she upgraded me to the 320 hdd, 4gb RAM and free Backlit kb. Im now told that the last Rep. misinformed me and that I had to start all over, and by the way sorry about trying to sell you a junk HDX, you'll have to live it, now can I take your order please? I emailed Susan from HP HQ and told her I, as well as others on the net would really like some answers about the security tape, and other issues some have been having. I'm waitng to hear back from her. By the way, the comp they are offering is no comp at all, 100.00 bucks? I can get a better deal with a 30% off coupon! Its sad really whats happening to our world, things are getting cheeper and people are getting more greddy. I'll post another update when the HP Executive team gets back to me, thanks all for your support.

 

Holy cow, I thought you had one already! Hope it gos good for you. Ive decided to help out on the new HDX site started by gaines. I'd like to get MODERATION site privileges so I can help improve and add some things, who do I ask rageman?
*Never mind I just sent him a message.

 

hey gaines,
I was wondering if I could help with building the new HDX site, I have alot of time invested in the HDX and could offer alot of help. I have some resorces Id like to bring to the site like starting an chat help to help new owners with any problems live, and I could head it up and find recruits. I also want to help people get what they paid for with HP, so if that means calling emailing ect for them so be it.

 

Underdog,

Why do you care so much what kind of box it came in? Are you going to mount the box on the wall like a work of art or something? I personally wouldn't care if mine arrived in a walmart plastic bag, as long as its new and not damaged.

 

Wait for the next 30% coupon, return your 2nd one. Reorder a new one with the specs you want. This is what I will do as soon as my order gets here. I bought it with a 25% off coupon but forgot to get the TV tuner.

 

Pretty much my sentiments exactly

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Listening to: The Offspring - The Meaning Of Life
via FoxyTunes

 

That's what I figured. Thanks.

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Listening to: The Offspring - The Meaning Of Life
via FoxyTunes

 

Hello... again all, I'm one of the oldies on this thread. It seems the oldies have all disappeared. I've read up on a few back post, not all since I don't have the time. What is interesting to me are:

There's a backlite keyboard option now. I wonder if existing users can self upgrade to one. What does it look like?

For those of you that want to buy a lesser processor and upgrade it later to the QX9300. You should be aware that you will also need to buy the fan/headsink assembly specific to the QX9300. This might not be so bad considering, the fan is only going to last about 3 years before it will need replacing. Looking at the manual, it seems that the fan/heatsink is one assembly, a shame as it's going to cost some money.

Glad to see the thread is still alive and kicking.

 

I added you to the moderator list, and would like to include some of the other veterans in helping to keep the forums organized and helpful. Of course, anyone can contribute and participate without being a moderator.

My only reservation with putting up a live chat is it can be helpful for an individual at that moment, but once they leave chat the history is lost and any information that was shared is not available to future users. That's why I really like forums. Someone can post a question and someone else can answer it, just like in chat, however the thread is still there for anyone else to find using the site's search feature. It helps build a knowledge base.

If people feel strongly about it, I can certainly add live chat, however I would encourage people to use the forums. You can get nearly instant updates when someone posts in a particular forum or thread by subscribing to it or use an RSS reader such as Google Reader to easily monitor new conversations.

 

Three years!? That's a long time in the computer world. I think I can afford to drop another $1200 on a new laptop in three years as this one will be a dinosaur. It comes out to about $1/day.

 

Well, I did it! I took the plunge and ordered my laptop. A big thanks to everyone for all of the helpful info in this forum.

I am not a gamer and will be using the computer primarily for editing digital photography. Here is the configuration I chose:

• tHP HDX18t Premium Series Notebook PC
• Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
• Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8700 (2.53GHz)
• FREE Upgrade to 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) - For 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics
• 640GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (320GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT - For DDR2 Memory
• 18.4" diagonal High Definition HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1920x1080p)
• Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
• Webcam + Fingerprint Reader with HP Imprint Finish (Fluid)
• Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth
• 50% OFF!! HP Integrated HDTV Hybrid Tuner
• Full Size Backlit Keyboard
• 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• No Productivity Software
• HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
• TOTAL $1467.03

I hope that this configuration will work for me. I can't wait to receive it!

 

Very nice system and a great price. Congrats!

 

Nice! Thanks for posting again.

The problem is, once people get their HDX's they don't come back here! lol



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Listening to: Every Time I Die - Kill the Music
via FoxyTunes

 

Hopefully they wont be such a stranger once they find out about HDX18.com since they'll be able to discuss topics more easily.

 

Its really not so much the box as its the security some of are concerned about. If you read back in the last 10 threads or so, you will understand why this became a topic of dissuasion. Some people have just noticed that the some things are not quite up the standard that HP usually sells its laptops and this was one of those things.

 

My HDX 18t came with those....