Comments on: HP Pavilion Laptops Suck

By: Flisha

Flisha — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:49:16 +0000

@RiverRat, my life has taken a twist since last I wrote this and, what do you know, I now work in HP.

I don’t work in hardware though, so I don’t have any inside info on laptops.

I’m now loyal to HP products and services, but on a condition. I say: If you want something pretty and you’re not planning on using it hardcore — buy a nice, cheap HP.

Otherwise… well… there are other options.

By: RiverRat

RiverRat — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:39:32 +0000

My DV8305US was having problems with corruption creeping into the OS,most likely via the registry and many registry scans and cleaners weren’t finding the problem. I think I picked up a rootkit also. I say this because one day I had 18gb of free space on the drive, the next I had zero. And the most I could free up was 3 or 4 gb. So, I reinstalled the XP32 it had, even though I have a 64 bit processor. HP says they won’t be putting out any 64 bit drivers for my system. So,I was stuck using a 32 bit OS with a 64 bit processor for awhile, especially since my internal dvd died. Outside of warranty by a little over a year, of course. And no Boot from USB option in BIOS.

Spin ahead one year and introduce Windows 7. I find an upgrade disc that will install from my external dvd burner. And lo and behold, my system willnow boot from the external dvd AND my internal works again! However, my Realtek modem and audio will not work. I’ve tried literally hundreds of drivers to fix the issues. Downloaded OVER a GB of drivers. No help. Talked with HP. They say they don’t support Windows 7 on my laptop series at all(DV8305US), so I need to speak with Realtek. Realtek says, you guessed it, talk to HP since the drivers are specific and modified by the manufacturer. I finally went out and bought a $6 USB audio device and have flawless sound through headphones and/or external speakers.

The moral of the story? Buy Dell or Gateway whenever possible. And to think when I used to work in IT, I used to recommend HP systems. Not anymore!

The m

By: Flisha

Flisha — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:23:42 +0000

@Carey,

Here is the address:
HP Service Center GF Accelerando Building, 395 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City Tel. No. (632) 888-6100

You're lucky with your unit...

By: carey @ happy steps travel blog

carey @ happy steps travel blog — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:27:00 +0000

Hi Flisha! My laptop is an HP Pavilion too, it's a dv2518 which will be 3 years old this August. I really have no problems with it except for the overheating too. Somebody even teased me that I can fry eggs with it.

I use a cooler as well but my laptop just heats up a lot, so whenever I leave it to have some break, I put it in sleep mode to cool it down when I return. Anyway, I plan to have it serviced by an authorized HP dealer soon. Got any idea where their service center in Manila is located? Would appreciate some help on this!

Hope your laptop will be up and running again soon.

By: savey spender

savey spender — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:11:05 +0000

I have not had any problems with my hp dv6000 but I’m checking that link anyway.

I actually love my laptop and have really no problems with it, but maybe I’m lucky and have one that’s good.

By: Flisha

Flisha — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:14:10 +0000

@Punzi, I’m a Windows programmer, which makes it a bit hard to switch so easily. But I have lusted for a Mac for a long long time, hehe!

@Rahul, it was HP which took care of my laptop since it was under warranty, so I guess you can’t get any better than that. I sure hope they honor that extended warranty!

By: Rahul

Rahul — Sat, 23 May 2009 17:12:40 +0000

Laptop user mostly use their laptops in whatever they feel comfortable and mostly it is the uneven surfaces due to which there is this overheating problem. Also you’ve mentioned you tried to get it fixed a year before. But are you sure they do their job correctly? Good technicians don’t give you all this nonsense problems.

Hope you get to work with your laptop soon. Cheers.

By: Punzi

Punzi — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:46:10 +0000

One more reason to get a Macbook. I've given up on other notebooks years ago and I've never regretted switching ever since.

I know the desktops are expensive but the notebooks are already competitively priced.

Plus if you need Windows, the Mac can dual boot or run Windows (and Linux) under Parallels.

And the after-sales service is superb. And if Apple discovers a defect after the warranty period, they still fix it for free.

I know this sounds like a plug but believe the saying "Once you go Mac, you can't go back." Heheheheheheh!