Feedback wanted on 2x Laptops- HP/ACER

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MallAudio

95 posts

Master Geek

#31230 9-Mar-2009 18:27

Hi..

Have been offered a replacement Laoptop from Bond and Bond because they/Acer can't fix the one i bought...

I know which one i'd prefer, but wanted some input on the two...

Option 1
HP Pavilion dv5-1209AX NotebookSpecifications

2.10GHz AMD Athlon? X2 Dual-Core Processor
2GB DDR2 (1 Dimms) Ram
250GB Hard drive
15.4 WXGA High-Def Widescreen
LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD±RW with Double Layer Support
ATI Radeon? HD 3650 Graphics with 512Mb Dedicated graphics memory
Windows® Vista Home Premium
Wireless LAN 802.11a/b/g/n, Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN

OR Option 2
Acer AS5735Z-344G32Mn NotebookSpecifications

2.0Ghz Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200 processor
4GB DDR2 (2 Dimms) Ram
320GB Hard drive
New 15.6" WXGA Wide Screen
DVD SuperMulti (Dual Layer)
Intel GMA 4500M Graphics
Vista Home Premium
802.11b/g/N WiFi
Integrated Bluetooth with EDR 2.0

Any known issues with these models?
Havent had a good experience with Acer support in the past.. Whats HP like??
Whats the difference in graphics between the two?

Will mainly be used for Uni work. Music. Movies/Youtube and the occasional game (FSX)

Appreciate your input!! Cheers

grant_k

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#200232 9-Mar-2009 19:57

MallAudio: ...Havent had a good experience with Acer support in the past.. Whats HP like??
Whats the difference in graphics between the two?

I have had 2 Acer Laptops fail now, within 2 years and 3 years from new. They were poorly designed thermally, getting so hot that they couldn't be used on your lap without a tray underneath.

The mainboard failed on both, making them uneconomic to repair. Tech. Support I found was OK, but after these 2 bad experiences with quality, I would never buy another Acer again. Having said that, my 4-year old Acer Ultra-portable is still going strong.

Recently I bought a Toshiba laptop for my wife and she is really happy with it. Runs very cool compared to the Acers, and is quite comfortable to have directly on your legs.

I have had another Toshiba in the past and that was great too. Have never owned an HP laptop, so can't comment directly, but am not impressed with the design quality of their printers. For that reason, we went and bought a new Epson Multi-function printer today.

My 2c worth anyway, hope it helps.

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zocster

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#200235 9-Mar-2009 20:15

Personally have had my Acer laptop, for hmm 3 years now .. no issue, mine's still a Pentium M 1.6 with 512 MB RAM lol.

Posting this as we speak.

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Damager

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#200245 9-Mar-2009 21:34

I'd go with the HP.

Only because i have the DV5 1004AX model which the only difference specs wise i think is mine is 2.0Ghz.

Very happy with the HP. Can't comment unfortunately on the Acer as i've never had any experience with their laptops.

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heavenlywild

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#200259 9-Mar-2009 22:59

If you want to play FSX, go for option 1 as the second option just wouldn't work at all with that game.

You may want to upgrade the RAM to 3GB too.

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MallAudio

95 posts

Master Geek

#200315 10-Mar-2009 11:02

Cheers for your responses...

I was more inclined to go with the HP from the start as Acer have been stuffing me around for 6 months now and i really dont know if i could handle it if the laptop crapped out like the last one... Probably go on a rampage or something...

Have spoken to a few people with HP's and they all said the tech support is great etc so defnitely going with that option with an extra 2GB RAM as suggested...

Again- many thanks for your input...

MallAudio

95 posts

Master Geek

#202149 19-Mar-2009 12:43

Just a quick update...

Went with the HP... had problems with it from day one (surprise surprise)

Wifi was cutting in and out every 2 mins or so (also was only running at 100kbps)
When trying to play music off a USB stick, song will play for approx 5 seconds then it freezes and laptop requires reboot...

Decided i can l live with those two issues- internet still works when wired in (and can buy a wireless USB dongle for wifi) and i can still put the music over to the harddrive and play it fine so no biggies...

what i have been struggling with however is extending my warranty through HP...

Rang thier 0800 and was tranfered to someone who put me through to someone else who again fowarded me on... passed around a bit more then finally told i was being patched through to a representative then they cut me off...
Theyre hopless! spent 3 days trying to extend my warranty.. each day after pissing around chasing people literally for hours; they'd eventually tell me someone would call me back within the hour and you wouldnt hear a word.. 90% of the phone numbers they gave me were non-existent/disconnected numbers... tried calling the Christchurch office, Auckland Office, numerous 0800 numbers, an australian number... no-one seems to know anything...

How is anyone supposed to get anything done if no one listens and they keep palming you off... i feel like the parcel in a giant game of corporate pass the parcel!

Eventually just went in to Bond and Bond and paid for it over the counter; i just hope this isint a sign of things to come and i dread the day i actually come accross a real issue and need technical support...

nathanbarlow

48 posts

Geek

#205083 3-Apr-2009 10:09

you shouldnt have to buy a wifi dongle - get it sorted - its a new laptop man. If you dont get it fixed now, they are less likely to fix it in future as you could have broken it - they will fix it now - they have to - its a fault. Same with the other problem with music (although this sounds more a OS issue)

Damager

2125 posts

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#205197 3-Apr-2009 18:08

you really arent having much luck aye!

your model is the next one up from mine and mine's running superbly.. im running windows 7.. maybe it might make a difference to your one?

lxsw20

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#206607 12-Apr-2009 23:04

Do a backup then a system restore if that does not fix it then call the number and get some help. Weird how you are being given the run around like that. While the laptop is less than 28 days old they can still do a DOA.