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    Class Action Settlement for Owners of Overheating eMachines Notebooks

    Discussion in 'Notebook News and Reviews' started by fletch1, Jun 28, 2006.

  1. fletch1

    fletch1 Newbie

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    Class Action Settlement for Owners of Overheating eMachines Notebooks


    Posted by Edward N. Albro
    Monday, June 19, 2006, 10:41 AM (PST)


    David Heitbrink and Robert Rattner, you are my heroes. Thanks to you, there may be a happy ending to the most infuriating technology purchase I’ve ever made.

    Heitbrink and Rattner are the lead plaintiffs in a class action suit against eMachines over the M53XX series of notebooks, one of which I had the misfortune to purchase in September of 200X.

    When I got it home, the 5305, one of the first widescreen notebooks, worked like a charm (though its battery life was always pathetic). But within a couple months, it started overheating and spontaneously shutting down. At first, it would quit after an hour or two of computing, then the shutdowns came after half an hour. Finally, you could barely get Windows started before the notebook came to a crashing halt.

    I sent it to eMachines and a week or so later, got back a notebook that again seemed to work like a charm. In another two months, though, guess what started happening? In the meantime, I’d done some research and found that many other eMachines customers were complaining about the exact same symptoms. It seems that even tiny deposits of dust on the notebooks’ main fan would choke off the necessary air supply. One user had even posted a wonderfully detailed, superbly illustrated guide to dissecting your own eMachines notebook and cleaning the fan with alcohol and cotton swabs.

    I called eMachines tech support and demanded that they replace the notebook, but the rep politely refused to budge. I had to send it in for repair. And what if it happens again in three months, I asked. Then send it in again, the rep said. And again. And again.

    After two rounds of repairs, I’d had enough. I tried fixing it myself a couple times, then gave up and bought a Thinkpad.

    But now, because of Heitbrink and Rattner’s suit, I may get $800 for my trouble, which would be nice. Even nicer, though, will be the thought that eMachines (which is now owned by Gateway) is getting punished for putting out a substandard product and refusing to adequately remedy the problem. (The company doesn’t admit to any wrongdoing or liability, but has agreed to enter into a settlement.)

    If you think you may be covered under the eMachines suit (it includes model numbers 5305, 5309, 5310,5312 and 5313), you can call 866-817-6513 or visit www.m53xxseriessettlement.com.
     
    fletch1, Jun 28, 2006
    #1