Compal IFL90 - 2nd RMA

After surviving the IFL90 shortage, I thought it was smooth sailing after the UPS dropped off my IFL90. Boy was I wrong.

The first day I got it, tried to install XP. Upon the first reboot, it wouldn't post. It'd just power up, but the screen is completely black.

After waiting another couple of weeks, I got my IFL90 back. It boots, and it works beautifully! Got it dual-booting XP and Vista, all the drivers work, and with RMClock, I was able to lower the CPU voltage and got REAL LONG battery life. I love this thing (except for the super bright blue power LED light staring into my eyes).

However, just today when running Vista doing my normal web surfing (love my forums), it just cut off like someone pulled the plug. Of course, I have both the AC and battery, so I don't know why that would have happened. My heart sank because I was afraid it wouldn't post again. Sure sh*t, it just stays at a black screen and posting doesn't seem to be a possibility again.

Sager (I have the NP2090) says they replaced the mobo the first time around. Makes me wonder if the chassis has something metal shorting out the mobo. Or I just got unlucky. whatever the case, I am not very happy.

I'm torn on getting a refund or continue with the RMA. I wonder if waiting for the RMA uses up days from the return policy, because that wouldn't be fair, since the reason those days (weeks actually) are being used is because I decided to give Sager/PowerNotebooks the benefit of the doubt.

The IFL90 is a great price for the configuration, but it makes me wonder if I sacrificed quality. I read a lot of people who are happy with theirs, so I am really hoping this is just a freak of nature.

I guess I am posting just to hope other IFL90s say that it's just that one laptop and theirs is working like a dream to keep me optimistic.


And they say Apples have fanbois...

 

from what i understand it does use up the days from the return period. at least thats what sager told me. i guess it would depend who you bought it from. companies like xotic and others may be more willing to help you out. at this point what i would do is demand a rma but to receive a NEW SYSTEM. they did a system exchange for me i cant see why they wouldnt do that.. ?? who did you buy it from

 

Thanks, I'm glad you mentioned that. I think I rather get an exchanged unit instead of a repaired one at this point. Seems like this isn't a common problem if no other IFL90 owners are posting similar issues. I just don't want to be stuck with a lemon and having to keep RMAing and repairing the same sour fruit.

I called PNB Sager tech support, but they say that's more of a sales thing, so I have to wait about an hour before I can call sales (they are aren't open yet).

Maybe I can take this opportunity to pay a lil extra for an upgraded screen (if the 1440x900 screens are available).

 

^^^ i did the same with my sager. i was able to add what i lacked from the first system when sending back the first one for a screen issue. you hsould be able to i know at least xotic pc was able to do it for me cant say how sager directly will be about it

 

I sometimes get no boot, it passes post and stops there. It doesn't hangs up though, just need to press alt+ctrl+del.

 

What was wrong with the screen before? Right now, I am actually exchanging the unit. More like a refund/credit for the PowerPro (same Compal IFL90, except it's a in-house PowerNotebooks brand). I was swayed by the better screen and better warrantee (especially since I'm already having so many issues with it). I figure a new unit is a fresh start. Hopefully whatever ails my IFL90 follows with it to Sager.

See, that's what I'm afraid of. Sounds very unpolished. My previous laptop (MSI MS-1013, pretty much a whitebook version of the S270) had the same problem on start up sometimes. Also, sometimes it would hard-crash with a corrupt looking screen while in Windows. But it was so rare, that I just dealt with it. however, I'm making a deal with myself that any problems at all, I'm not going to take it.

The MSI didn't have a good warantee anyways (true white-book - 1yr parts and labor for just the chassis only since I supplied CPU, memory, and HD). had to RMA it once because the when the screen gets pushed back further than 90*, the back light goes out after 6 months of use.

 

my system is a 5791 not a ifl90 so it not the same but it was through sager / xotic pc.. powernotebooks seems to also be a good company though. xotic set me up with a brand new one though basically no questions asked.. that part was great they allowed me to add in whatever i missed from the first system as well.. like wireless n and intel robson etc..

the fl90 we got for my mom so far is working perfect not a single issue with it.

but yeah i would nicely demand a new system ... think of it this way.. you just JUST bought a BRAND NEW SYSTEM.. now you have to send it in??? and they will POSSIBLY ***FIX IT*** HELL NO.. this is a brand new system. i would absolutly refuse a new system being less than 2-3 weeks old to be serviced. at least i know i would maybe not everyone will agree. but i paid good money to get a new system not a 2 week old one that will nto be repaired. imo if thats what i wanted i would have bought a refurbished unit.. see my point???

 

I gotcha. But I thought if I exchange it, I would have to wait in line again, so the first time I RMA'd it - it was also suggested by PNB's techs. However, after RMA #2, I was thinking the same as you - I shouldn't have to do this to a brand new unit. I should have a working unit and a good experience. For the week it worked, it was awesome, though (again, except that damn bright blue power LED!)

I'm paying nearly $250 more to get an upgraded screen (1440x900 from 1200x800) and the PowerPro (better warranty) instead of the Sager NP2090. Donald is very reassuring, so I think the PowerPro is a better choice (don't have to deal with another company if anything comes up). Not to say Sager's techs were bad. Just less hoops to go through.

 

Sorry to hear all the drama you had with your IFL-90, it's a brilliant laptop, but no laptop is a good laptop if it just doesn't work! Hope it all works out with you.

 

Mine's held up fine on two different trips across the country (by air), daily use of a good 12 hrs / day, and being carted all over the house throughout the work-day (ah, the life of the full-time tele-commuter). When traveling, it rides in a pretty well-padded brief-case.

 

That's good to hear. Puts my mind at ease. Well, my Sager is packed up and ready to head back. I just need to head to UPS tomorrow and have it shipped out. Donald says he can ship out my PowerPro once he gets a tracking number from returning the Sager, so that means I have less waiting.

Looks like I will be changing my sig soon.

 

WTH? Now I was told that they won't ship it or start to build it until Sager says they get the laptop back. So that means a long long wait again. They say they can do a 2-day delivery on their dime though. I hope they don't change their mind yet agin.

 

Shoulda gone with Xotic or PNB from the get-go. That extra $100/$200 we were debating about would seem like a worthwhile investment now.

 

I bought my Sager from PNB. But I still have to go through Sager for tech support RMAs and returns. Donald initiated the return request with Sager, and all I had to do was send it back to Sager.

 

I have the exact same problem as you. It sucks, because it happened to me after 3 days of use. I also live in Canada, so Sager wont' cover the RMA shipping. (I negotiated for them to pay for the return shipping).

This is absolutely ridiculous, because *I* basically have to pay extra money to RMA it because *they* sent me a dud.

Seems like they have bad quality control.

 

Sorry to hear that. Instead of RMAing a new laptop, you should exchange it, or just return it for a refund and go with a vendor-branded and supported IFL90? Not sure if PowerNoteBooks.com or Xotic sell to Canadians.

That's what I'm doing - returning the Sager for PNB's own PowerPro brand.