HP support services. The worst?

http://laptopmag.com/Features/Tech-Support-Showdown.htm


Tech Support Showdown
When something goes wrong, who delivers the best service? Our undercover agent found out.

by Michael S. Lasky
From July 2006 issue of LAPTOP magazine

PS: You might want to consider a HP business model, if you're running a "business". Business models seem to get a level of service a step above the consumer line. (and rightfully so)

Have no idea what a dv5220us is..
The dv5000 line falls into (2) camps, the AMD chipped machines, which would be dv5000z

Or the Intel chipped machines, dv5000t

All those weird model numbers are just one vendor (CircuitCity, BestBuy, etc) ordering the Z, or the T and getting their own model number so you can't do a "price match".

So keep that in mind when looking at review, looking for info.

Here's some info on a business model that may interest you. Read thru this thread on a poster who was deciding between several models, finally going with a business model: http://www.notebookforums.com/thread169825.html

Link to HP's page: "Why Buy an HP BUSINESS Grade Notebook?"
http://www.hp.com/sbso/solutions/pc_...ons/index.html

Link to HP's page about Shock and Vibration Protection:
http://www.hp.com/sbso/solutions/pc_...em3d/demo.html

No diff in support: biz vs consumer

I agree with you... one can only hope for better service for a biz model. However, an HP sales droid called me a couple days ago because they noticed I'd put about 7K of stuff into my cart (I was just storing it there for comparison).

I told the guy that with Dell biz-boxes, you get a support drone in Nashville. I also told him that I won't talk to the indian helpless desk.

He said that all their support is in india.

As many people have heard, there are many horror stories about these jackasses being unable or unwilling to properly order and track the shipping of defective machines. I have a friend that has had this happen, too.

The sales droid did not specifically say that there was any difference in level of support between business and consumer products.

If you know of a resource that I can read to learn how HP's biz support is better than consumer, I'd sure like to know it.

Thanks!

The sales droid did not specifically say that there was any difference in level of support between business and consumer products WOW.... So far as where to check, search around on HP's site for their polices.... OR you could always call BOB, or Susy in India Business line has to have something in writing that states the terms, how long it takes to get service. If I was the IT guy (or the boss) at a business and I was looking to order some HP's, that would be important to me. Business's aren't cool about being jerked around on service. Home user can wait on a machine more so.

Yeah, I looked around the HP site some more, and found a link about service level agreements. That's some major buckage there, you know! Me... 3 yrs + accidental coverage will do. I'm about ready to call that sales droid and start dickering about and nx9420.

Rokhead... Hp's got a "good" deal on 2 gig memory modules for the nx9420...

HP Partsurfer
http://www.partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/main


Only $ 1446.00 a piece, two needed if I'm reading it right.

You know, business machine and all the price is going to be a "little" higher...


409967-001

$ 1446.00 2GB, 667MHz, 240-pin, PC2-5300, DDR2 SDRAM SO-DIMM (Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module)
REQUIRES RETURN OF DEFECTIVE PART

$ 1262.00 a piece for the 533 spec'd ram.

Seems you don't like my reasoning, but you can't realistically deny that business lines will generally charge more than consumer lines. Regardless, I'm not going to play Holy War about it.

It was a joke..

2 gig memory modules (2 gig each) are allot more expensive than (1) gig chips.

(That beig said I saw/posted in a thread about 2 gig chips thru DELL, them comming down in price to I think around $1,500 for 2 , 2gig modules (4 gig)

Yes of course the business line is going to be more money, as they know that businesses are going to write-off costs that an individual cannot. They also know that a business loses far more money by the machine being down, businesses willing to part more for the EXACT same part, if that part was also used in the consumer line.

About DVI and Advanced Docking Station

Ya. I know that nx9420 will support 2x2048, but hell... I'm used to a whopping 392 MB!!!!!!!!!

I'm about ready to spring for a nx9420 and advanced dock.. Just discovered that the advanced dock has a DVI out jack, but the lappy doesn't. Presumably, the nx9420 will spew DVI through the dock's multi-pin connector. The specs say the nx9420 is compatible with the advanced dock. Conversely the specs are careful to point out that a couple of lesser lappy's don't support the DVI.

Link to docking station information, and a short excerpt follows:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/q.../12075_na.HTML
Compatibility \tThe HP Advanced Docking Station is compatible with HP Compaq 4200, 4400, 6120, 6125, 6200, 6320, 6325, 6400, 7400, 8200, 8400 and 9400 series Notebook PCs and HP Compaq 4200 and 4400 series Tablet PCs.
Notes:
Some notebook models do not support the docking feature.
DVI is not supported on the HP Compaq 6100 and 6300 series.

Don't know that I care a lot about DVI, but I found an HP page that said something like "Intenal video has to be converted to analog, resulting in degradation. The DVI allows the digital signal to pass straight to a DV monitor" (paraphrased). Anyways, I figure it would be nice, but again... hell, I'm used to a 20" Dell CRT which is already degraded.

What is your opinion about DVI? Really, I'd like to know your perspective.

Thanks!

DVI gives a pure digital signal, less noise in the signal, less chance of interferance., and one less conversion on some devices.

That's why I was interested in the dv9000t with the HDMI out. (To be able to hook it up to a DVI panel.... AKA a BIG SCREEN TV...Plasma, projector... HDMI output not only providing a digital signal, but also it should if it adheres to the HDMI spec, carry audio....

So.. the business models DON'T have a DVI port on the lappy itself?

(Dell's do)

Makes sense as most of the time when using an external panel you would be docked... But at the same time if you were using the machines for presentations it makes the machine less "useful" than a similar machine which did.

DVI comparison: Dell M90 vs HP 9440

I did not find a DVI port on any edge of the nx9240. Started looking for it, cuz I found a Dell M90 that had the DVI, and they were offering a free 19" flat screen monitor. That got me all wrapped around the axle for an evening, while I compared it to the HP 9440.

Turns out that, pricing it all individually, it was still cheaper to go with an HP nx9440 + 19" flat + dock.

Note the diff in RAM. I am not going to buy the "extensively tested and expensive vendor RAM", since I can get it LOTS cheaper at www.newegg.com. I think a pair of 667 MHz 1024 SIMMS is about $160
I config'd the M90 with 512 MB so I could keep the cost down. I guess nx9440 comes with a single 512 SIMM, and it was not much to add a single 1024. But I don't remember the exact cost now... marginal.
------------------------------------------
DELL m90
T2500, 512 MB, NVIDIA 1500 / 256 MB, 80 Gb / 7200 HD, bluetooth, wireless, 3yrs on-site w/accidental
"Free" 19" external digital monitor, ($250 value)
D/Port replicator $180
Total package: $3381 w/shipping & tax
------------------------------------------
HP nw9440
T2500, 1.5 GB, NVIDIA 1500 / 256 MB, 80 Gb / 5400 HD, wireless (no bluetooth)
extras: dual pointing devices, fingerprint reader
$2299
3yrs on-site w/accidental $139
"Advanced" Dock w/multi-bay support for an extra drive (no drive though) $269
sub: $2707
19" 1940T flat monitor, digital / analog $279
Total package: $3254, w/shipping & tax
------------------------------------------

I have pretty much decided on an nx9420 w/Advanced dock containing a 160 GB drive, + 3 yrs coverage + accidental.

Regarding the DVI... perhaps later I'll buy a DVI monitor to hook to the dock. For now, I have five 20" Sony CRT's, so I don't need to spend $$$ on a flat screen monitor.

nx9420
XP Professional, T2500 (2.0-GHz)
1024MB 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM (1 DIMM)
ATI® Mobility™ Radeon® x1600 with 256MB of dedicated video memory
80GB Hard drive (7200 rpm)
17.0-inch WSXGA+ display
DVD +/- RW Drive (fixed)
8 cell Li-Ion battery
Integrated Intel® 802.11a/b/g wireless
Integrated Bluetooth
HP Biometric Fingerprint Sensor, Integrated Smart Card Reader & Embedded Security Chip (TPM 1.2)
1 Year Worldwide Limited Warranty

HP 3-in-1 NAS Docking Station, including 160 Gb drive. ($349)
This "advanced" dock is normally $399.

There's a cheaper "non-advanced" dock with a single multi-bay port. But adding to that the cost of the 80 Gb drive that fits the multi-bay port actually exceeds the cost of the "advanced" dock... totalling about $420... for a smaller dock with 1/2 the drive space!

The whole package is in the cart at $2497. Add shipping & tax... ~= $2700 total.

After talking with the HP sales droid the other day, it was apparent that he was interested in making some concessions. I think I'll call tomorrow and yank his chain a bit and see how much he'll shave the price.

If you are specifically looking for bad support, be sure to buy Dell or Sony. Their support reaches new depths in bad.

HP India Helpless Desk

Talked with an HP sales droid 4 days ago, who assured me that HP's helpless desk is in india. I also learned that Dell business machines are supported by the helpless desk in Nashville, TN. So, you have your choice of either chick peas and rice, or meat and three veggies with sugary ice tea.

Or, you can just follow the message boards, and do your own support, which will be better anyway.

HP has one support center in North America at the moment for consumer notebooks, and another one or two are going to be added in September when the Canadian and American support lines are merged.

I read somewhere something about HP closing down some "India" call centers... Merging, enlarging call centers I think in Texas?