Ha! ZT3000 is now going back...

Screen has dead pixels now. CDRW drive won't open. Can't control the mouse as it has become inaccurate and extraordinarily slow. Programs take 30-60 seconds to open(Word, IE, Outlook...). Wireless has to be set up every time I want to connect. Re-installed XP Pro as suggested by tech. support and can no longer choose 1900x1200 as the resolution. This is just two days of ownership.

To add to my extreme dissatisfaction, HP wants to charge me for another computer, send it to me as the current one is returned to them, and will refund the addition couple thousand dollars when they receive the current computer...using my credit card as their insurance is not an option and I don't care how high my credit line is. I can buy a car on it, but I'm not going to have it used that way. I don't see how that $300+ warranty I just bought is helping me here and it is really pissing me off...not that I don't have another laptop to use, but I shouldn't have to pay twice to receive one working notebook.

What other notebook computers with similar specs should I look at? I really, really liked this one when it first arrived. Those 5 hours of use during which everything seemed to work were great, and I'd love to stay and play with this model, but if this is the product quality and service level I'm going to experience I'm happy to move on.

Here is what I ordered:
ZT3000
-DVD and CD writing drive
-1900x1200 res. screen
-1.6 Pentium M
-512Mb RAM
-XP prof.
-60 GB hard drive
-wireless b/g and BT
-64Mb graphics
-Office basic

I just want something with similar specs, great battery life, and is around the same size and weight.

 

wow, sounds like there's multiple points of hardware failure on that zt3000. Sorry to hear of all the troubles you're having.

as far as hp insisting you pay for another laptop while the broken one is shipped back, i don't think there are too many manufacturers out there that will do such a thing as send you a new product without having the old one in hand before sending something to you...so i wouldn't knock hp too much on that point. i know with dell if you have problems you have to send it back and then they'll either fix it and send back or send a replacement....they simply won't send anything until they have the broken machine in hand though. still, you paid $300 for a warranty and i think the treatment you're getting could certainly be better or they could give you another option.

may i ask what the price point was for this zt3000 so we could go about recommending another laptop in the same price range?

 

As far as paying for a unit thats how all manufactuer's work. I've built several desktops and if a component fails I either have to send it back first and wait, or if I don't have time I can pay to cross ship it which they take a safety deposit incase I don't actually return the product until they recieve and verify the product.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 21,862

 

Silver5,

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this many issues in one unit, especially one that you JUST got. As what Abaxter & Quikster indicated, this is standard procedure, I know that's not what you want to hear. But, before you get it replaced/return it, you may want to try a manual install of the OS. Don't listen to the tech's procedures, they usually don't work too well.

A few suggestions before you return/exchange:

1. Does your CD Drive eject while in the BIOS & not in the OS?
- Power up your notebook & hit the F10 key to goto the BIOS, hit the eject button on the CD Drive, work? If yes, it's most likely OS related, if no, it's the drive

2. Boot info Safe Mode (Power on unit & start Tapping F8, then select Safe Mode from the list) Does the mouse work properly or is it sluggish? If it's ok, it's OS/driver related. If not, it's a possibility it's hardware, but still a chance it's software

3. While in Safe Mode, try running Word. Is it still as slow or a bit faster? (May still be slow because you're in safe mode) If it's faster, OS related, if not could be because it's in Safe mode

4. Re-Install OS manually from scratch & try not to follow Tech's procedures. Your unit should have come with 2 CD's, possibly a Black or Silver XP CD & an App Recovery CD. Try to use as little drivers form the HP App Recovery CD as possible. Try downloading display drivers straight from ATI & install drivers to see if it fixes resolution issue
** Backup all files before re-installing OS, it will delete everything

If after Step 4 the problems with CD Eject, Resolution, Mouse & Software are still there then it's been proven that it's the hardware and your only options are to return/replace, but if all the issues except for the dead pixels are gone, since you really seem to like the unit, I say just get the LCD repaired and you're all set. If you purchased the accidental damage warranty & if they won't fix it because you don't have enough dead pixels, register the warranty and then just break the screen & send it in for repair.

I hope you can get the unit working again just by manually re-installing the OS. I hate to see someone find "THE" unit and then something like this happens & forces them to go for the second choice on their list [ ].

Good Luck!

-Vb-

 

I ended up just sending the notebook back. I might have them send a new one since those 6 hours were really nice, but I'm seriously looking at others right now as well. The 17" Apple is at the top of my list...I just wish they offered accidental damage insurance like HP. I'm sure homeowners insurance will cover it, but I should not have to rely on that.

 

I hope this incident hasn't turned you off completely on HP products. I also had a not so perfect experience with HP as well (not as bad as yours though) and my unit went back as well, but I'm still considering another HP. I love their screens, overall features & performance. I was also considering an Apple, but because I do play games and unfamiliar with the Apple OS, I have decided to stick with a Windows based computer.

Rather than getting the Consumer based product lines from HP, have you considered the Business or Corporate series?

-Vb-

 

I decided to give HP another try and I reordered the notebook. It turns out that for the same price I was able to get a few upgrades...not sure if they did that as a courtesy or if the prices are lower, but it makes me less annoyed with the situation.

They upgraded the hard drive for me to the faster 60GB drive and a higher processor speed. Nothing big, but nice add-ons.

Sorry I never said what the price was Abaxter, I originally paid $1918.54. This new one that is coming is the same price with the following specs.

ZT3000
-1.7 Pentium M
-64Mb graphics
-512Mb RAM
-1900x1200 res. screen
-XP prof.
-60 GB 5400rpm hard drive
-DVD and CD writer
-Wifi b/g and BT
-Office basic

Venombite; Yes, I had considered the business versions of the notebooks, but it seemed that I was getting a bit more for my $$$$ with consumer offerings. Over the years, I have had very good experiences with HP and their customer service, but this was a very annoying situation. Of the many iPAQ Pocket PCs that I've owned, they always send me a replacement, then have me send back the non-working unit. To have actually purchased an extended warranty and get less than that kind of service is not what I expected but I'm willing to give them one more chance...Especially since I really do like the notebook.

 

hope you have better success with your replacement.

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

 

Silver,

Glad to see that you're giving it another try. It's pretty cool that you got the faster HDD & CPU for the same price. Hope this will give you years of problem free computing! [ ]

I think the reason why they gave you a replacement iPAQ before you sent the old one back, was because the iPAQ's cost a few hundred dollars upto $1000, but a notebook costs from $1500+ which may make them a bit more nervous on sending out replacement units.

Good luck on the new unit. Keep us posted.

-Vb-