BR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (6 years 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1739 times:
Hello everyone.
Ok, So is it just me, or can anybody else share experiences...
In January, 2005, I purchased a Hewlett-Packard a845w-b from... WALLLLL-MARRRT. Well, this was a little going-away present, when I moved to WI. So I get to my new apartment, plug it in, and it automatically starts to load all of this trial shit, and a bunch of anti-spyware programs and pop-ups from the internet, and about 2 weeks into it, I somehow, magically have all this shit downloaded on my new computer that I never authorized.
Well, 1 year later, This computer is running slow as shit in sub-zero temperatures, and I can barely surf the net without having to shut down and restart every 30 minutes. I HAD HAD ENOUGH!!!! Some stats on this P.O.S.
60gb HD, 256MB ram, 64MB Shared Video Memory
Enter April 2007. Just like the USAF replacing the VC-137B with the VC-25A, It was time for a new machine.. Well, I learned my lesson never to buy a computer from Walmart. So I went to Dell, and I ordered a Dell XPS 710 Level 1. I get it, power it on.. and there are NO un-necessary programs downloaded on it, it runs smooth as silk, and even today, it is working fine. It operates on Windows Vista, and no problems so far.
So here is my rant/question... Is it Walmart, or Hewlett-Packard... Why was that computer such a hunk of shit. My girlfriend's mom recently bought a Compaq SR2013WM from walmart (gee, wonder what the WM stands for), and it is only 3 months old.. Already that hunk of shit has a bunch of worms and runs slow, and yep, it even came installed with the unnecessary crap.
Can anybody else share experiences with me? What if I were to go to Best Buy and buy a Hewlett-Packard? Would I get a better computer? Would I get better peace of mind?
I look forward to EVERYBODY's computer input... Even if you don't have a Hewlett-Packard or a dell, Use this thread to tell everybody what you do have, and what you do use. Have fun everybody.
My new Dell XPS 710... With Logitech G5 Laser Mouse, and Eclipse Backlit Keyboard
BR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (6 years 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1727 times:
Here's another pic for you... The insides...
2-120mm fans
250gb HD (expandable by up to 2tb)
1gb RAM (expandable by up to 4gb)
nVidia 7900GS 256mb Graphics Card (expandable to 768mb)
Intel Core 2 DUO Processor (I've noticed this runs a LOT cooler than the pentium)
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 2, posted (6 years 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1724 times:
Well for one you're comparing apples to oranges here. You go from a bargain basement Wally World special to a high spec Dell machine. I'd hope your new Dell would outperform the old HP.
That aside one of the things I do not like about purchasing a PC from a traditional retailer is that you have little choice in how it is optioned out and what software that comes on it. Dell (and Gateway) seem to be much better about this, as their PCs are built to order and usually do not come preloaded with a ton of trial software.
Quoting BR715-A1-30 (Thread starter): Can anybody else share experiences with me? What if I were to go to Best Buy and buy a Hewlett-Packard? Would I get a better computer? Would I get better peace of mind?
Not really sure, it is likely what you got at WalMart was speced by them to be sold at a specific price. Whether or not you could find the same exact model number at Best Buy or Staples is up in the air. Best bet would be to uninstall all the preloaded stuff you don't want once you buy the machine. Or if worse comes to worse, wipe the drive clean and reinstall the OS.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
MD11junkie From Argentina, joined May 2005, 3091 posts, RR: 60 Reply 3, posted (6 years 4 days ago) and read 1716 times:
It's like comparing a Yugo and a Cadillac. There's no point.
Two different computers.
And, btw -- if you don't want to have that POS downloaded, don't go to Wal-Mart. The OS images are preloaded to the desire of the Marketing department of the retail store you go to.
That's why going to buy HP directly is much better for you than to buy at Wal-Mart.
I have a Compaq Presario F505 and even though it's an entry level notebook is a VERY reliable computer.
At work, I use an HP Compaq dc7700 with an HP 1955 monitor.
No complaints, I'd buy HP again.
Gastón - The MD11junkie
There is no such thing as Boeing vs Airbus as the queen of the skies has three engines, winglets and the sweetest nose!
AirSpare From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 589 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (6 years 4 days ago) and read 1710 times:
I was cruising the HP site looking for a laptop, they only come with Windows Vista. No thanks, I'll pass.
Another problem is that they don't come with serial ports. the machines are semi useless without one to me. I need to connect to console ports, if just about every ATM switch or UNIX box has a DB9 Console connecter, any laptop without one is just a toy. Don't even ask me to buy a POS USB to DB9 adapter.
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 5, posted (6 years 4 days ago) and read 1710 times:
Quoting MD11junkie (Reply 3): And, btw -- if you don't want to have that POS downloaded, don't go to Wal-Mart. The OS images are preloaded to the desire of the Marketing department of the retail store you go to.
Oh yeah, my current PC is a rather entry level model from Gateway... Celeron processor, onboard graphics, all that crappy stuff. But when it came to me clean, no preloaded trial crap. Just the software that I needed to get going and the install discs for MS Office. And it came with the OEM WinXP disks as well.
Unless you absolutely have to have it immediately I see no reason not to order direct from the OEM and spec the system like you want to.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
AirTranTUS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (6 years 4 days ago) and read 1685 times:
I got my HP laptop at OfficeDepot and it came with the pre-loaded crap (Games, Rhapsody (which is a stupid program), and the like). I removed most of that stuff and it is still running great after one year. I do regret not getting a bigger hard drive (only have the standard 60GB) because I had to buy a Western Digital 160GB model a few weeks ago to store my stuff on. I like my laptop and think HP is great, would definitely buy another.
BR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (6 years 4 days ago) and read 1674 times:
I'm not saying I'd never buy another HP, but I'd never buy another computer, or any accessories for that matter at Walmart. I bought a Motorola Cable Modem there (SB5100) a while back, and I've ALWAYS known Motorola to be a reliable company in the field of electronics... This Modem was CRAP. I took it back, went to Office Depot, and got one for $10.00 more, but it works GREAT.
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20859 posts, RR: 55 Reply 10, posted (6 years 4 days ago) and read 1673 times:
"Crapware" (as Microsoft apparently refers to it internally) is added by many hardware manufacturers because it gives them a small additional profit margin ("crapware" manufacturers pay for being included) which the hardware alone doesn't allow on the cheaper machines any more.
It is one of the reasons why your Walmart machine was stuffed full of it and your pricier one wasn't.
Yellowstone From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 3071 posts, RR: 7 Reply 11, posted (6 years 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1668 times:
I use an HP Pavilion dv2000 laptop that's about 9 months old and has never given me any trouble. I'd be perfectly willing to buy HP again (plus it helps that my dad works there, so there's some degree of customer loyalty involved).
Hydrogen is an odorless, colorless gas which, given enough time, turns into people.
N231YE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1624 times:
Quoting MD11junkie (Reply 7): And here's my question: What computer manufacturer still includes serial ports in their computers? (Consumer, not corporate)
For the most part, USB has replaced serial and parallel ports. Same reason why you don't see 3.5" diskette drives in many computers anymore.
As for my experience, I hate HP. I'll never buy another product from them again. Their customer service sucks, and so does the reliablility of many of their products (I.E., printers).
ACDC8 From Canada, joined Mar 2005, 7598 posts, RR: 40 Reply 14, posted (6 years 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1619 times:
I've had 2 HP/Compaq notebooks and 1 desktop. Never had a problem with them at all. Right now I'm using a Cicero desktop and Acer notebook, both of which I bought at the same store as the HP/Compaq's, all I can say is that I really miss my HP's.
BHMBAGLOCK From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 2698 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (6 years 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1605 times:
Quoting MD11junkie (Reply 3): At work, I use an HP Compaq dc7700 with an HP 1955 monitor.
That's a great combination!
Quoting AirSpare (Reply 4): I was cruising the HP site looking for a laptop, they only come with Windows Vista. No thanks, I'll pass.
Another problem is that they don't come with serial ports. the machines are semi useless without one to me. I need to connect to console ports, if just about every ATM switch or UNIX box has a DB9 Console connecter, any laptop without one is just a toy. Don't even ask me to buy a POS USB to DB9 adapter.
When you first enter the web site, click Small Business rather than Home and you'll find what you want. Last time I checked most home users didn't have ATM switches and Unix boxes.
Queso From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (6 years 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1599 times:
Quoting MD11junkie (Reply 3): At work, I use an HP Compaq dc7700 with an HP 1955 monitor.
I take care of 750 of those sets every day where I work. They are trouble-free so far, much better than the d530 SFF's they replaced. The CPU heat sink on the 530's worked as a very effecive lint filter, just like the one in a dryer and they plugged up and overheated the CPU's in no time. We fought those SOB's 3 years, I'm so glad the lease was up on them.
As for my home computer(s), I'd NEVER use a store-bought computer (except laptop) because they simply can't be built to the specs I want. I build all of my own computers.
Springbok747 From Australia, joined Nov 2004, 4387 posts, RR: 13 Reply 17, posted (6 years 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1585 times:
I had a HP craptop, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB HDD, P4m, 1.8 GHz...it was a POS. I had to replace the screen twice, the hard drive once and the CD writer once, and this was done when the damn thing was out of warranty. I also had a HP desktop..it was shit as well. It used to freeze when surfing the net, and when playing Flight sim (even though it as a P4, 3 Ghz with 128 MB video card dunno what the problem was).
I have been using Dell for the last 2 years and I've never had any problems with either my desktop or Inspiron laptop. I love Dell now..and I'm never going back to HP.
Dougloid From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (6 years 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1571 times:
There's a debugging that goes on witha new computer. The first thing I do is open up the add-remover programs area in control panel and start getting rid of shit.
ShyFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (6 years 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1567 times:
As I have never used HP computers, I won't comment on them. But as for buying electronics from Wal-Mart, that I've done. And I will never do so again. Two VCRs and a TV that crapped out long before they should have were enough for me.
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (6 years 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 1549 times:
I recently bought an HP machine (specced out about the same as your Dell), and I'm very happy with it.
In fact, I'm still running it with the same setup it cam out of the box with. For the past 20 years, I have had a habit of reformatting the hard drive and installing what I want from scratch. This HP is the first time I broke that rule, and it's been fine - the few promotional programs that it came with were easily removed.
Trav110 From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 480 posts, RR: 3 Reply 21, posted (6 years 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1532 times:
If you didn't want all the crap on it, why didn't you just do a fresh install of Windows the minute you turned it on? That sure does a hell of a lot better job at getting rid of all the shit you don't want than Add/Remove Programs does.
Not to mention that the only operating system that you could run reasonably well with that little RAM would be Windows 98 or earlier. What were you running on it?
BR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (6 years 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1513 times:
Quoting Cfalk (Reply 22): Not to mention that the only operating system that you could run reasonably well with that little RAM would be Windows 98 or earlier. What were you running on it?
Quoting AirSpare (Reply 4): HP site looking for a laptop, they only come with Windows Vista
Quoting AirSpare (Reply 4): they don't come with serial ports
My new one that I got about 3 weeks ago has XP Professional and a serial port, as well as parallel and 4 USBs.
Personally I wouldn't hesitate to recommend HP, this is my third one and it is shit hot, Dual core 2GHz processor, 100GB hard drive, 2GB RAM, DVD writer, wireless, Bluetooth, fingerprint reader...
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
25 Cfalk: Once all booted up, XP seems to take 250-400 MB of RAM just for itself, forcing it onto the hard drive for virtual memory. You must have been ridding
26 MD11junkie: Even though I consider the Paging File System a total POS -- it becomes very handy when Windows starts loading up everything on RAM memory because yo
27 CaptOveur: Hewlett-Packard.. Wal-Mart wouldn't sell it unless it was a piece of shit. A few years back, under Carly, HP stopped making actual quality equipment
28 BHMBAGLOCK: Not true Unfortunately, very true. If it says Pavilion or Presario on it, then it's a consumer model intended to compete with Acer, Gateway, white bo
29 Lincoln: Hey, I thought I was the only one out there who still used serial ports... Depends on where you draw the consumer line. Dell for example has the utte
30 Andz: It's an nc6320, RH383EA. Not sure if it is available all over, I guess we get the old stuff here! http://www.laptopdirect.co.za/laptop_specifications
31 MD11junkie: Well, each area has their own "product code". I can tell you that the Compaq nc6320 was released March 9, 2006. So, it's not that old. So far, the Se
32 BR715-A1-30: Not to change my own subject, but don't even get me started with eMachines... Those things are the biggest hunk of shit I've EVER seen in my entire li
33 BHMBAGLOCK: Not at all, that's a very current model, out just over one year but with at least one major rev on processors, etc. since intro. The HP 84XX series l
34 LASOctoberB6: hmph...i have a crappy HP Pavilion ZE4933US.......shoulda got the damn EA version.....it does what it wants, when it wants....damn crappy (rumble rumb
35 N231YE: Thought I'd add this to the discussion. For those that tried to glorify Dell by stating it does not sell Wal-Mart PCs like HP have lost an argument: h
36 OlegShv: My experience with HP hardware was limited to a several professional workstations with dual Xeons and Itanium chips. Back in the day the lab paid on t
37 MD11junkie: Are you talking about the HP Compaq nc84xx and nw8xxx? Those are commercial/corporate products, which are NOT Pavilion (Consumer only). Gastón - The
38 Corey07850: I recently bought the same machine, and other than the SD slot not functioning right (see my other thread), it has been a great machine. I've bought
39 BHMBAGLOCK: I made the point earlier that these days it's necessary to go with a commercial model to get serial. I wouldn't expect that to last more than another
40 Vaporlock: We bought a Hewitt-Packard desktop about 3 years ago from Future Shop and we have had no problems with it. It runs great and is not slow at all howev
41 Bh4007: I have a Dell Inspiron XPS M170 (2gb RAM, 80gb hd, Pentium M 2.13GHz). Frustratingly, I bought it in December 2005 right just months before the prices
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For the most part, USB has replaced serial and parallel ports. Same reason why you don't see 3.5" diskette drives in many computers anymore.
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