Sunday, February 9, 2020

HP Notebook Breaks


Last summer I received as a gift a HP notebook computer (model 15-db0015dx). This is a low end machine but it was fine for web browsing and checking my email. However after about 6 months of normal use it developed a flaw in the upper left hand corner of the screen (which I am told is due to a crack in a internal glass sheet). Although the machine was theoretically still within the one year warranty period HP refused to fix it. Their position appears to be that any problem that could conceivably be due to customer abuse of the product isn't covered by the warranty. Which of course makes the warranty of little value as I not sure what if anything would be covered.

In my case the problem could easily have been due to a manufacturing defect, the machine could have been assembled slightly out of spec with the glass jammed into a position where it didn't quit fit and was under stress which eventually caused it to crack. Or the design could be inherently defective, unable to withstand normal use. According to internet sources some of the newer lightweight machines are so flimsy that just holding the display part by the top corner instead of the top center to open it can crack the screen. Which in my view is a defective design.

This has left me considerably annoyed with HP and I will be reluctant to buy their products in the future. I will also think twice about extremely lightweight designs. I bought a Dell Inspiron laptop about 10 years ago. While a little clunkier it has held up fine with similar use. 

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