Beware of HP dv8000

[straca]

I wish to share and warn whoever wishes to listen from buying HP dv8000z with WSXGA screen (somehow the WXGA does not have the same issue).

I have bought 4 of these laptops (can you say I really liked the notebook), but had to return them all due to bad CD/DVD drive (1st one, same day fell apart) and bad screen (the remaining 3).

The screen condition was disaster. They all had greasy fingerprints and smudges all over, some had chips (like when a rock hits your car windshield), scratches, with one also had something stuck to the screen (I think food; like someone was eating oatmeal and sneezed). Disgusting. It also makes me think HP uses reclaimed-from-returns or second hand screens since I doubt they would arrive in a conditions like that from the suppliers.

I contacted HP about this issue, wrote to Mr. Hurd but got useless paper pusher instead who could do nothing but apologize for everything. I do not understand why people apologize about something they have not done or are responsible for, but welcome to this is the kinder, gentler, asinine corporate culture. Makes me sick! After 3 months of calls, messages and emails I spoke with moron (actually Quality Care Control Manager) who said that is normal because she has to clean her screen every day and who actually accused me of being the problem (and not some slaver laborer in China who knows nothing of general hygiene, never mind proper manufacturing / quality control) by returning these notebooks rather than have the screen either replaced or cleaned. If I wanted to buy refurbished notebook I would not pay new, retail price but this did not dawn on her. And how she is still employed is even more puzzling.

Without boring you with the idiocy and ignorance of what is HP corporate and customer service, what can be done about this? I bought the notebooks because I wanted reasonably priced 17" laptop with 10-key and AMD chip. I also fell prey to the buy from established manufacturer to ensure quality, parts availability, you know the drill, nonsense. But instead of what should have been fun time turned into 3-month nightmare and I want the time back.

My old Toshiba has to soldier on till the new MSI 17" with dual core Turion and ATI X1600 will come out in the middle of the year. Am I concerned about buying from somebody like MSI and the local resellers? Not a bit. I am actually looking forward to be dealing with people who can make decisions not endless absurdity named HP (or insert other name here). Lack of parts down the road? With the laptops lasting 3+ years I do not think so plus in the age of Internet, eBay, Newegg I think I will manage just fine.

So the question still remains, what can be done about this? Once enough people will start voting with their wallets the companies may notice and start doing something about it. But I am not holding my breath. What worries me that HP started way back when small, just like lot of other companies I plan to do business with, are now. It did not become the den of retards it is now over night. And it will take years to rectify it regardless the corporate propaganda it spouts out endlessly about quality, customer is number one, blah, blah, blah. And unfortunately I am not very hopeful it will ever change.

Let’s just hope someone can learn from my experience and avoid the same error I did.

[ramificatio]

MSI has just released a Turion 64 17" WSXGA+ X700 256MB VRAM DVI notebook.

[?uestion]

I just got mine a weekago and its flawless.

[straca]

Originally Posted by ?uestion

I just got mine a weekago and its flawless.

Glad you have no problems. But remember, the one I encountered problems with had WSXGA screen. WXGA seems to have none of the issues.

And hope you never have to deal with the HP corporate office.