Official Computer Talk Thread

[RobSBP]

Yeah, most of problems will happen within the first month if anything at all when get new laptop. After that, it should be ok. That is why most places offer something like 30 days warranty or even replace it for free.

 

[FooBird]

This! I agree.

It's also depends on the user.

I try to think I'm a good user. I think it was a bad batch of stuff. My twin brother had an identical HP machine and he had his in for warranty work some 20 times too (and I lived in NY to his CA) so I wasn't destroying his machine.

If I remember right, AMD processor and Nvidia graphics.

 

[Bulkybear]

I have a hp laptop with an amd cpu and ati graphics chip. It's 2 years old and still running strong. My old fell company laptop was crap, but worked. This new one is a fell with an Intel I5 processor and Intel graphics chip and it runs pretty well. Dropped it off a ladder the other day on a concrete floor. Couple of scratches and a dent but still works fine.

 

[CivicCanuck]

My first laptop was a Compaq.... with an AMD Turion X2 processor and discrete graphics. 3gb of ram, and I think the processor was running at 2ghz on that one. I used to drop a DVD into the tray, make an ISO file out of it, then mount that and re-encode to an MKV file with H.264 video set to the highest quality settings as well as DTS audio when available or DD if not.

It would take on average 4 hours running full out, re-encoding files, and I did this non-stop almost every night for months to almost all of my collection. The rear plastic was discolored around the fan discharge outlet, but it never gave me a BSOD or any other issue at all. Battery life wasn't as good as my Acer but for what it was, it was decent.

There are lemons in every brand, but my Compaq ( HP ) was great to me.

 

[Kurt Muehlbauer]

I guess it's just personal experience, because I have an HP desktop that's been running smooth for 7-8 years, it's now my parents. I had an HP laptop for 3 years with no problems, sold it to a friend and a year later still working.

Got my Alienware (made by Dell) and I love it.

Technically Alienware was bought out by Dell... Does not mean Dell makes them... Dell wanted that segment of market and bought instead of doing it... they paid for brand.. as far as I last saw they are independant built but under Dell name

 

[Kurt Muehlbauer]

See, I wouldn't touch an HP or Dell with a 10m pole. My last HP laptop was in for warranty repairs 29 times in 40 months I owned it. Dell desktop I had kept dying on me until the only thing left of it was the case and motherboard.

Lenovo laptop I've had has zero problems. Kinda pricey but a great business machine for my work.

My last place used Lenovo we were replacing them like no other... I went through 2 in 4 months

 

[Kurt Muehlbauer]

Screw brand names... they load it with crap applications they get paid to put on.. would you buy brand name desktops? The answer is no or should be... custom is way to go.. always cheaper can upgrade whenever you need and 100% more reliable...ask any builder they only build new or upgrade because they want . If a motherboard dies they do not have to buy a whole new system..
Custom is by far best way to go either build yourself or have help.... but stop buying mass production machines.. hand built = more care and adapability.
My 2 cents... still have 3 custom built desktops running from 06.. and one custom laptop

 

[Bulkybear]

Screw brand names... they load it with crap applications they get paid to put on.. would you buy brand name desktops? The answer is no or should be... custom is way to go.. always cheaper can upgrade whenever you need and 100% more reliable...ask any builder they only build new or upgrade because they want . If a motherboard dies they do not have to buy a whole new system..
Custom is by far best way to go either build yourself or have help.... but stop buying mass production machines.. hand built = more care and adapability.
My 2 cents... still have 3 custom built desktops running from 06.. and one custom laptop

Some truth to this. But when I can have cyberpower build and warranty a machine for me at the same price as I could do it then I'd rather them do it. And when talking laptops its always easier to but one premade.

 

[innoAR]

Screw brand names... they load it with crap applications they get paid to put on.. would you buy brand name desktops? The answer is no or should be... custom is way to go.. always cheaper can upgrade whenever you need and 100% more reliable...ask any builder they only build new or upgrade because they want . If a motherboard dies they do not have to buy a whole new system..
Custom is by far best way to go either build yourself or have help.... but stop buying mass production machines.. hand built = more care and adapability.
My 2 cents... still have 3 custom built desktops running from 06.. and one custom laptop

that's true. if i were to buy brand name windows based pc/laptop, i would just reformat it and re-install windows on it. there's several custom windows that doesn't include any of that bloatware and actually thins down windows.

 

[Kurt Muehlbauer]

I bought my laptop premade but it was custom from a laptop specialist.. I do not build laptops.. Get to pick what I wanted and was empty when I got.. put my own OS on it if I need to upgrade I can anything because it is not integrated.

Cyberpower is same kind of company I got laptop from... they build all their own with care and non integrated parts.. I would do same.. but I love building and love computers.... I can not tell you how our engines come apart... but I can rip a computer down find issue and fix it

 

[RobSBP]

Only few options to custom build laptop. asus, msi, avertec, ...

 

[RobSBP]

that's true. if i were to buy brand name windows based pc/laptop, i would just reformat it and re-install windows on it. there's several custom windows that doesn't include any of that bloatware and actually thins down windows.

Same here.

 

[Bulkybear]

that's true. if i were to buy brand name windows based pc/laptop, i would just reformat it and re-install windows on it. there's several custom windows that doesn't include any of that bloatware and actually thins down windows.

Would strongly recommend against any torrented copies of windows (legal as long as you have a license for it btw). Things like black edition, or debloated editions and such. I once was told by the maker of windows xp black addition (years ago),"if I compile it I can get into it." Referring to the security of such OS'es. Didn't know of this is what you meant or not. Just felt like sharing my experience on that issue

 

[Bulkybear]

Also would like to say the cost advantage for building your own disappeared a few years ago. I build, rebuild, troubleshoot, and fix PC's daily for work. With the cost difference being negligible I would much rather have cyberpower (or similar company) build mine for me. For one I just don't want to deal with it at home. But also you get a warranty. And everything is covered by 1 company. I hated having to reach out to different companies depending on which piece of hardware failed. If you're not needing anything specific, just a general computer, off the shelf systems serve that purpose fine. Heck I used to get an off the shelf hp or something with decent specs and just slap a low-midrange graphics card in it for family that wanted to game. Worked just fine. These days, for the most part, all computers are fine for there price ranges. You really can't go too wrong in this day in age.

 

[innoAR]

Would strongly recommend against any torrented copies of windows (legal as long as you have a license for it btw). Things like black edition, or debloated editions and such. I once was told by the maker of windows xp black addition (years ago),"if I compile it I can get into it." Referring to the security of such OS'es. Didn't know of this is what you meant or not. Just felt like sharing my experience on that issue

wow. i didn't know that. it's been awhile since i last used one of those. good to know though!

 

[RobSBP]

Some of them actually just thin down the windows. Tweaked so that windows will start up faster. I used to custom build windows image from scratch. Just put the wpe key license back after finished. Make sure it's the same windows edition.

 

[Bulkybear]

Some of them actually just thin down the windows. Tweaked so that windows will start up faster. Just put the wpe key license back after finished. Make sure it's the same windows edition.

Yeah but you can never be certain that's all they did. And I've seen my share of those thinning and tweaking methods break reliability a good bit. There's not really too much I would want to strip anyways. To each his own, but my versions of windows either come from my computer manufacturer or microsoft.

 

[RobSBP]

wow. i didn't know that. it's been awhile since i last used one of those. good to know though!

yap, I try those black edition once and I removed within 5 min.

 

[RobSBP]

Yeah but you can never be certain that's all they did. And I've seen my share of those thinning and tweaking methods break reliability a good bit. There's not really too much I would want to strip anyways. To each his own, but my versions of windows either come from my computer manufacturer or microsoft.

I never like those torrent version anyway.

 

[Bulkybear]

I never like those torrent version anyway.

Same here