Questions about my Averatec 3270 purchase

I never owned a notebook before but bought an Averatec (3270) a month ago after it was recommended by a few people. Please keep in mind that I am totally ignorant about what to expect from a notebook.

I love the Averatec...well I did until I saw and used my son-in-laws new Apple iBook the other day. It's not the Apple OS that caught my attention, or even it's handsome looks and feel, but the fact that the iBook fan doesn't make a peep while it is running and the ibook never get's hot. In fact, it is so quiet that, unless you look at the screen, you don't even know it's on.

You can always hear the fan running on the 3270 and it gets louder when something is processing. It is warm to the touch when I use it and so is the table it sits upon. I don't really care if I get six hours, but I sure want to be able to watch a 1 1/2 hour movie without the battery running out of juice about 3/4 way through it.

I'd appreciate any help/insights. Thanks in advance.

gail

 

I have a 3250HX and those symptoms you describe are typical of Averatec. There is also a known problem with the 3200 series which may or may not have been carried over to the 3270 - be careful how you insert and remove the power plug. Do not wiggle it but either push straight in or pull straight out.

Read more on the unofficial Averatec forum at: http://www.averatecforums.com/

If you are able to, return the Averatec and go for the iBook.

If you decide to keep the Averatec, get a Targus "chill pad" to rest the Averatec on. It will keep the Averatec cooler. Circuit City has them this week for around $15. There is also a fan calibration procedure to do which will make the fan run at a slower speed i.e. less noisy, once the system starts up. To do the calibration you have to go into the bios. If you are unsure how to do this let someone who knows a little about computers do the calibration for you. It is not difficult.

Hope this helps.

 

Yes it does. I really don't want to get an Apple Computer. Not that I don't like them; my first several computers in the mid '80s were Macs. I"d like to stay with Windows for many reasons.

What I don't understand is if the heat/fan problem is unique to Averatec? I've seen the pads like the Targus chill pad, and I assume it is made for other brands too.

I really like the 3720 and have not had any of the plug or other problems I've noted at these forums. I'm just trying to determine if the warmth and the fan running is normal for most laptops. It's sitting on my lap as I type this and is only a tad warm (I callibrated the fan last night).

Thanks for the help. I'm sure I'll have other questions, like about the battery, but will ask when I have more time.

Thanks again.

 

Yes, most laptops do run at least warm but the Averatec 3200 series seem to be the champ in that dept. judging from about half a dozen different notebooks I've owned over the years. If you do not want to go with the Targus just yet, for the first 4 months I had my 3250, I used one of those plastic coated grids you find in the kitchen dept. of Walmart. to put under the Averatec. The one I have measures about 11" by 12". It was very useful when on my lap, especially for protecting "vital male body parts" verheat: Later someone gave me the Targus as a gift.

But since you've done the fan calibration and if the power plug on yours is easy to insert and remove without having to wiggle it, then I would say that you're good to go.

I was also concerned with the "case cracking issue" that many have reported, so I handle mine very carefully - I don't lift it by one corner, but hold it in a "balanced" position when carrying, if not in it's bag.

Enjoy your Averatec.

 

LOL, yes, those parts do tend to overheat easily.

Anyway, I'll try those Walmart thingys so thanks for the very practical suggestion. I used my son-in-laws Apple today for quite some time. It actually was as warm as my Averatec, though not as much as from the back. It certainly was a good deal more quiet.

Thanks so much, again, for your help. It is very much appreciated!

 

Boy! I left myself wide open for that one!

You're welcome. I have found the Targus device to be more effective. In fact I'm out of town now for a few weeks and forgot to pack the Targus and am using a borrowed "one of those Walmart plastic covered kitchen grids". The fan in the lappy is running at a higher speed (not it's highest though) than if I was using the Targus. So the Targus does keep the lappy cooler. The downside to using the Targus, though, is that because it gets its power from the lappy's usb port, if you are on battery only, battery duration will be less.

 

Yup, you sure did. Hee, hee!

Well the battery has been a bit disappointing. I can't even watch a DVD move without the battery running out. So much for using it on an airplane to watch my own movie. I hope Avaretec develops a higher capacity battery for it. I don't want to buy a lightweight laptop and have to lug around a few pounds of extra stuff...doesn't make sense to have to do that.

gail

 

Don't count on an extended battery. Averatec doesn't make an extended batt for any of there models, they just sell extra ones.

One other reason the ibook is quiter is that apple doesn't use one big fan, they will stick in more smaller fans so that there is sufficeint air flow, but less noise. If you were to hold the ibook to your hear you would hear the fans.

 

You've "discovered" the other weakness in the Averatec ... battery run time. If you're a frequent air commuter and need to use the Averatec for a movie, you will get a little extra mileage from the battery by copying the movie on to the hard drive instead of watching it via the dvd player. Running the player will use up the battery faster.

My 5-month old 3250HX which started off with a battery run time of 2 hrs 50 mins, is down to 1 hr. 45 mins approx. and I don't play any games on it, just surf the net and email. This morning I just re-did the battery calibration - it took 4 hours and 10 mins to complete it and am now testing the run time once more.

So if you need a laptop with the best battery run time, you may have to change the Averatec. There are other topics in this forum where the laptops with the longest battery run time were discussed. These would probably cost more than the Averatec.

 

Fortunately, we don't need it for travel; We use is mostly at home. I got it for my husband, set it up for wireless communication with my PC broadband connection, and now he doesn't bug me and interfere with me working on my website. We can both surf at the same time.

All we use it for is surfing the net and email; and I edit photos in photoshop, Most of the time we use it at home, but these issues are still a disappointment. Maybe a movie, but rarely and only when we are away.

I read some favorable reviews and some folks in another forum spoke well of the brand. I sure wish I found this forum before purchasing it, as I probably would have paid extra and gotten something else.

I've only had my unit for about 5 weeks and hardly ever use the battery. Fully charged, I'm only getting about 2 hours on average.

Averatec tech support said I should calibrate the battery every three months. Should I do it more often?

I don't want to sound like I'm badmouthing the 3270; there is a lot to like about it imho. Part of my disappointment is because I've never owned a laptop before and didn't really know the things to look for (and to avoid). None of the reviews I read pointed out any of the issues we're now discussing. Too bad.

 

Why in the world would they not make extended batteries; would the notebook go on fire? Are there any third party extended batteries available?

What Windows -based computers are known to have quiet fans?

Thanks everyone for the very fine help you've given me.

 

My recalibration I mentioned earlier did not improve my battery run time one bit. Let's hope my experience is not typical but I doubt it. Follow what Averatec suggests and see if you will at least maintain the 2-hour run time. If I were to review my 3250 as a NEW system, it would no doubt be a "glowing" one. However 5 months down the road is another story. And that is what all the computing magazines do - review a system when it is NEW.

I too, use my system for surfing and email and making web pages of my grandchildren for the other relatives to see. I never play games on it and travel only infrequently. When we do, we are not far from a 120 ac outlet - the car has one. At the time I bought the 3250, it was the best value for money. But in the space of 5 months, there are several other brands that have come down in price. However, it is still one of the lightest laptops for a 12-inch screen. The only feature I would have liked is the "brightview", "truebright" type of screen which makes the image on the screen look like a glossy photo. Does the 3270 have this type of screen?

There IS an external battery which will give you a longer run time, but it costs around $180 and to me that is not worth it. Check eBay. On the other hand, a replacement battery goes for around $60 on eBay.

 

No, but their 13" model does. I had originally ordered that one but cancelled after I saw that it was white. I didn't like the color. Also, I found the brightview screen to be much too glossy, with too many room refelections.

I would never spend that much for a battery, at least for my needs. I'm relatively happy with my purchase, particularly with the features for the price, but my next laptop will NOT be an Averatec: runs too hot, fan too loud. I'll get one which is quiet and which doesn't burn the private parts of users when using it on the lap...which I think you should be able to do without purchasing accessories. I actually think for the unsuspecting user, a laptop such as this one poses a potentially dangerous, if not fatal, risk. I have no idea why manufactures can get away with producing products which can burn people.

http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=1924&date=20050820

Now I know why Averatec doesn't call their computer a laptop...they would be sued for false adversting.

 

Have you tried the plastic coated kitchen sink grid to give the laptop some more airflow beneath it? It really works well - the Targus chill pad works even better. Both will keep whatever heat there is from getting to your lap. And the loudness of the fan is really only on startup. The battery run time seems to me to be a bigger problem. Mine is down to 1 hour 40 minutes.

 

Not yet. I recently arrived home after being away for almost a month and have lots to catch up on. Just haven't gotten to it yet but I will. It really stays quite cool when it's on a flat surface. Now I know why they no longer call these things "laptops."

Is that even with [re]contitioning? How "old" is the battery?

I can live with the other stuff, but the battery life is really very, very disappointing especially with all the hype about AMD's processor that's supposed to use less energy.

 

Yep, even after running the battery calibration. This system, 3250HX, is just shy of 6 months.

 

Have you called Averatec, or is this par for the course for laptop batteries.

I think I'm going to order the Targus Traveler CoolPad, not the chill pad. It's just a lightweight platform without extra fans. I suppose I don't want to drain anything more from the battery.

 

If you're not going to go with the one with the fans, then you should try the plastic covered grid thing. I don't really know if I want to hassle with speaking to someone in India about the battery. Also I don't travel as much as I used to and am never too far from a wall outlet.

 

LOL! I know what you mean. I recently bought a Dell computer and it's the same...their service is so bad (my son-in-law warned me not to buy a Dell because of the lousy service. I should have listened to him).

I suppose we all keep wanting things cheaper with more goodies so, unfortunately, something has to give somewhere.

OK, I'll check out WalMart sometime this week.

Now I'm searching the forum for info about sleeves. We have a softcover briefcase-type bag that is perfect for carrying a laptop and accessories, but has no padding. I'm trying to determine if they are padded enough to do what I want it to do.

 

I've had my 3270 notebook for only a month or so, and already I got an error message upon booting up, saying CPU fan error. Please check it. I'd hit ok, and the computer would come on fine and work, but the fan did not and it ran pretty hot after only a short time. That is when i discovered this forum. Lots of helpful info here, guys. I had to register. I am currently calibrating the battery, which is taking a VERY VERY long time discharging. I've finished the fan.
(By the way, what is calibrating? What is it doing, exactly when in this process? )
My other question is, how often are you supposed to do it?
If more than once, how do you know when its time to do it again? When it starts acting up?
Hopefully they will come out with a fan and/or a battery that you can replace the bad ones with, that will work better. If these are the worst of its problems, I'd say I did a good job selecting it, however impulsive it was.
Technology is always progressing. Unless they just want you to keep spending money on replacing fans, and extra batteries.
How old is Averatec? Did it derive from another company?
My review for this computer is: Regardless of the short battery life, the fact that the fan has its issues, I think it is an excellent deal for what you are paying. Lots of HD space, dvd/cd burner, wireless card... Most computers with those kind of specs, are much more expensive than the 799 I paid for the 3270. Just be sure to get a warranty, and an extended one, just in case. The only thing that really bothers me is that the burner only goes at 10x, and if I wanted to, I couldn't put a game on it. Beyond that, I usually keep mine plugged in, so the battery doesn't bother me. As long as the fan keeps working, the heat and constant running doesn't bother me either.
Does anyone have tips on care taking of this notebook? Its the first I've owned, I've always had PC's.
Also, if you have trouble figuring out the burning program, I recommend getting Roxio easy cd creator. It is the best program I've ever used for burning cd's. I'm sure they have a version that does DVD's too. Its much better than the one already installed.
Jen
Congrats for getting through that post... I've had this info stockpiled after reading many pages of posts.