Should I Get Rid of My New DV9700T?

I'm toying with the idea of getting rid of my new DV9700T and moving on to another brand. After 32 days of ownership, the LCD went black but the laptop worked fine when plugged into an external monitor. It's at the HP repair center as I type.

I know other manufacturers have their issues but this is my third DV9700T since Dec. that has had a hardware issue. (One DVD drive, one LCD backlight flicker and now this latest issue.) Yes, I should've run after the first two but here I am and hindsight is such a beautiful thing.

I've never had a problem like this with HPs but I'm very disappointed my new toy is already broken and I'm worried this may mean more trouble down the road.

I love the computer (when it works), can't find another brand in my price range that looks as good cosmetically but every time I have to call tech support, I'm spending at least an hour on the phone and it's terribly frustrating. I'm also wondering if when it returns I'm going to be nervous every time I turn it on that something is going to fail on it.

I could start this thread in another area of the forum but I figure the posts I would get would be recommendations on other brands to buy. That's not what I'm after here.

I simply want to know what you would do if you were in my shoes. If this thing was still running (now on day 42 of ownership), I wouldn't be writing this.

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

If it is in for repair for the third time, I'd replace it. I would have done it after the second time, as a laptop is no good if it is not in your hands to use when needed......IMO

 

I got a DV 9700T and ran into problems the day I got it so I went with a Vostro 1500. Return it!

 

Funny bmwm3oz, if I buy another it's either a Vostro 1700 or a Inspiron 1720! Nice system you've got there!

 

Oh thanks! Yeah you will notice an improvement on gaming from the 9700T. Good Luck!

 

I had an Inspiron 1720 and hated it. It doesn't look nearly as nice, no touch controls for volume, no biometric reader, no HDMI and cost more! plus DELL support stinks. All dots in india, good luck getting someone who speaks English as a primary language and that is just what you want to do when your notebook breaks down and the frustration level starts rising; call for help, get a person who will make you repeat everything 4 times, have such a horrible accent you will want them to repeat everything 4 times and treat you like your an idiot ( tech agent: sir, please repeat for me the problem for which you are having, is it that your computer has no power? You: Yes for ninth time! tech agent; yes sir, I appreciate your problem, please hold while I check my resource (8 minutes later) sir, it was good of you to holding for me while I checked my resources, sir, we will have you try booting from the recover CD.) Oh wonderful. Who ever thought it was a good idea to mix a language barrier and technical support with a side order of cultural ignorance deserves a DELL.

 

How strange Zenica. This is exactly what I experience when I call HP support. Do these companies even have people who speak English clearly?

My biggest hangup on buying an Inspiron is cosmetics. It's the one thing holding me up from making a purchase today. I don't like the touchpad not having an on/off either like the HP has.

But if my computer is spending more time in the loving (HA!) care of HP, then I guess it doesn't matter what it looks like since I'm not seeing it anyway.


Edited to add: I'd definitely get Dell's in home support because it's killing me to think of my laptop laying in chunks on a metal table while someone has a sandwich and Coke right over it. LOL

 

I wouldn't keep a model I've had major trouble with three times.

Bill

 

I think you all are saying what I've been thinking but my freakin' heart keeps getting in the way. It's scary to switch brands when you have zero experience with them...On the other hand, it's foolish to stay with a brand that's giving you nothing but trouble, huh!?

I'm definitely not an HP basher! This is just my own experience since Dec. I'm working off an HP desktop right now and my 3+ year old HP ZX5280 is still running when I use it at night and my 7 year old ZE1230 laptop is happily used daily by my mother.

 

I have HP's in-home care for 4 years. I chose in-home because I knew I'd be messing around with it and I think it is easier to deal with a subcontractor who came out rather than an 800 number, at least that was my experience with Toshiba. I agree, if your HP is in their care more than yours, dump it.

But here is an idea, I had a Sony years and years ago that was with them more than with me and I got so fed up I climbed up the Sony ladder right to Mr.Nagasaki (joke) himself and after explaining the case and him verifying it, the Manager told me to take a few days, research Sony notebooks and call him with a model #, price not the concern. Well I gave him the model to Sony's biggest baddest bassass notebook of the day. He sent it next day air.
I sold it that week on eBay and have never had a Sony computer since.
Sony cameras? LCD TV's? Lovem, notebooks....not a chance in hell.

 

I have had my dv9700t laptop for a week now. I think it is great. Reading your and other's horror stories is freightening and I am sympathetic to your dilemia. I must admit I hope it doesn't happen to me.

I am sure every company has had their share of customer horror stories. One would like to think they are isolated incidents happening to a few poor unlucky people. There are probably a lot of satisfied customers out there who have had only good experiences with HP. Most probably never post to these forums. You may of had an unfortunate run of very bad luck.

How would you get rid of your laptop?

Sell it?

If you have to sell it then you may consider holding own to it for a short while to see if any new problems develop.

I wish there was a authoritative source that could provide reliability ratings for the different manufactures and their models. At least it would take some of the gamble out of buying a new notebook.

 

damn rt!! not again! here, you want mine...i haven't had a problem with it yet, plus i have back up parts....lol

 

john how long have you had yours for?

 

There seems to be no brand out there right now that is head and shoulders above the rest. Used to be Apple and then Dell. Now they all have their share of problems due to mainly one thing, IMO, outsourcing.

I had a Dell 1720 for 5 days and sent it back. The screen was awful - dim and shadows - had to look at it dead on in a dark room. Vostro has TrueLife, but I am not taking a chance that it is better. I will probably stay with Sony because I know what to expect - great screen, but a LOT of bloatware. But overall, it's a TOUGH decision deciding what to buy in this market.

 

rtrdogs

I would not buy a DELL it's not better than HP as of this weeks news...Dell is closing their only PC plant in Round Rock, TX & laying of 8800 people there and outsourcing everything to India in China..to make more profit..

 

Now, now, don't go spreading rumors - Dell is consolidating the RR ops into the Winston-Salem, NC plant (for which they have HUGE tax incentives) - so those Business desktops they made in RR will still be made in the US. And it is 900 people, not 8800.
http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/technology/04/02/0402dell.html

However, I do agree that their laptop quality stinks.

 

hey johnksss, i noticed that we have the same hard drive for the dv9700t but im wondering, how do you have a 5.4 in ur subscore? i only get a 4.9.

 

I only quoted CNBC from this morning maybe they spread rumors

According to this morning report on CNBC Dell is laying of 8800 people & outsourcing the service to be more profitable!!!!I

 

I live in Austin and we have not heard that number, but who knows. Anyway, they are on a massive cost cutting binge, so I am sure more than 8800 will be cut b/f it is over!

Sorry, I hijacked the thread....

 

I've said it many other threads but just to be clear, I want to say it here too. I've been an HP customer for 15+ years. In fact, the only computer I've ever bought (until yesterday) was an HP. I'm definitely not an HP basher and I wholeheartedly agree that not everyone has problems with HPs. I have plenty of HPs that are running strong at several, several years old.

The only laptops I've ever had a problem with from HP have been CTO. I had a ZX5000 series a few years ago that had to have the mobo replaced within the first 6 months and then it went in 3 additional times within a month. But HP did right by me and replaced that notebook or I wouldn't have bought the DV9700T.

I don't know why I've had these issues but there's no excuse for 3 computers to have problems (2 of them within their return window and had hardware failure). I absolutely agree that not everyone has this problem. But when your notebook sits on your desk and still has the protective film over the cover because you're trying to be so careful with it and it still ends up with a problem, it's just unacceptable.

Now I got my laptop back from repairs yesterday. I opened it up, played with it last night and I'm simply heartbroken over this situation. I love this computer. But I'm also fed up with having to be on the phone for an hour any time this series has had a problem.

If I sell the HP, I will be very clear about the problem it had. I will also transfer the remaining warranty. I don't want anyone to feel "trapped" with it and a lot of people buy these things to take apart and sell for parts. Doesn't matter what they intend to use it for. I would never, ever sell anything without giving the potential buyer full disclosure. That's just the way I roll.

 

dont sell it till the dell return period expires. just incase dell is even worst

 

what I find interesting is that people say they will have a better experience when they send in a dell rather than an HP. What most people don't realize is that they all get made by the same companies like Compal and Quanta, and they all get repaired by companies like that. Here is Quanta Fremont's website, it even shows the brands they repair, including HP, Dell, Apple, Sony, Gateway, etc http://quantafremont.com/index.aspx

 

since January 23 of this year

 

how much for the vostro?

 

flipfire - That's exactly what I plan on doing. I think my DV9700T is great...when it works so I'll run the Vostro through the same tests and see what happens.


caveman - I have no prior experience buying from anyone other than HP. I'm definitely not saying Dell (or any other manufacturer) is better. I think everyone has their own experience with each brand. All I know is I've had 3 HPs with 3 different failures since Dec. One thing that attracted me to Dell was that my new notebook coming from them will have 3 years of next business day in-home service. At least I won't have to send it off anymore. I'll just have to wait and see what I think about everything when the Vostro arrives and the two laptops are running side by side.


John - $926 (with a $500 off coupon)

 

You know my vote already. I went Mac and won't look back. BTW - I received my replacement HP 2 days ago. That would make it 51 days total from the time HP received my defective laptop until I got a new one (54 days without a laptop). That would also make it two HP laptops that I went through in two years, both defective. I'm not giving them a 3rd chance. I didn't even bother unpacking the new one so I could get full dollar for it.

Now I just gotta get rid of the sucker on ebay/craigslist. How fun.

 

In general that is a good school of thought. However, a quick google search brings up many more horror stories just like mine and rt's. It's not the reliability of HP that is the problem, it's their piss poor customer service and the games they play.

I look at it this way. I expect hardware/software failures at some point and likely within the warranty period for ANY notebook. The BIG question is how will they treat me when it happens.