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General discussion

HP vs Toshiba

Jan 24, 2005 4:31AM PST

I am looking to buy a new laptop and have narrowed it down to either the HP zd8000 or the Toshiba P30. When I cofigure them to about the same price (~$2200) the HP has better stats than the Toshiba but I have heard alot of bad things about HP and am wondering if I am better off with the reliablity of the Toshiba.

I do not live in the U.S. but my purchase will come from there so I am not keen on having to send in my laptop for repairs at any point in time as it would take too long, hence why reliability matters alot. It has to work right from the start.

I will be using the laptop for gaming and also misc. work (and hopefully some programming soon Silly )

Thanks Alot
Jordan

P.s. Please dont tell me to consider a Dell. I simply do not like that company.

Discussion is locked

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oh, i almost forgot
Jan 24, 2005 4:35AM PST

I made this post because I wanted to hear your opinions on this and help me decide which laptop to go with. So, what do you guys think?

Thanks Alot
Jordan

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Same Problem
Jan 24, 2005 10:51AM PST

Please advise on HP or Toshiba.
Les

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HP/Compaq and Toshiba are similar for support
Jan 24, 2005 11:59AM PST

Dell, HP/Compaq and Toshiba all are rated nearly the same for notebook service (mid pack below Apple and IBM) -- Sony is dead last.

That refers to the service quality and not the reliability itself.

I think in the past at least Toshiba overall may have better reliability but note all the static problems recently posted here on their A70 and now supposedly A75 notebook lines.

Also, Toshiba has an excellent reputation for its Business Techra line but the Satelite line is not built to that standard. The M35X Pentium M notebook is a good Centrino model but ran much hotter and had the fan on more than the Compaq X1000/HPZT3000 I got.

So, if you have specific information on a certain model that you like with Toshiba or HP/Compaq go for it but both of those and Dell are mid pack in service so you are not getting a clear winner here.

Are you sure you want a hot and heavy Pentium 4M notebook at all ?? The new Sonoma Pentium M's are releasing now and the Athlon 64 Turions are coming so I wouldn't want a 9 pound behemoth that it over 12 pounds with the A/C adaptor myself.

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I was also considering a Toshiba... but now I'm not so sure
Jan 24, 2005 2:34PM PST

I was debating between the Toshiba M35X-S329 and the Gateway 4540GZ... but the more I read these message boards about the problems with Toshiba and the lousy customer support, I think I'll get the Gateway. I'm beginning to wonder if there even IS a "right" one! There are so many mixed opinions about all of them!

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Reliability not Service
Jan 24, 2005 10:35PM PST

My problem is not really the service, its more the reliability of the hardware itself. I have read a few reviews where people say the parts that HP uses in their computers are cheap and will fail on you easily. I dont know how true this is but I have heard it several times (or at least sugested) so I figure there must be some truth to it. So long as the hardware is good, then I wont need service. Software issues I always troubleshoot myself.

And the size and weight is not a big issue. I wont be carrying it for more than maybe 2 minutes at any one time. I only need it to go from room to room and over to friends houses and maybe even to work.

Also, I am now wondering how new the Toshiba P30's are. I dont want to buy one and a week later a new version comes out. That would piss me off :S .

Thanks again,
Jordan

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warranties and consumer reports
Jan 25, 2005 6:12AM PST

Before my i bought my new toshiba lastt week I checked on Consumer Reports and it said there that toshiba is second only to apple on notebook reliability, and the same for support. HP was down on the lists. Also, if you decide to buy an extended warranty, toshiba is cheaper if you buy the warranty that covers everything, but they don;t come pick it up at your house (which is fine by me since I'll be moving out of the US soon), HP warranty comes out more expensive bc they both cover everything, and pick it up at your house, which you won;t need since you're of the US.


those are my 2cnts!

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Toshiba adverse to replace lemons-Costco 6 month return
Jan 25, 2005 12:04PM PST

Keep in mind that the Toshiba rating is overall. The Techra notebooks are built better and are very durable in business use but they are very pricey also. The problems you are seeing are in the Satelite consumer line that is much cheaper. The Toshiba M30/M35 Pentium M model had heat issues in the past and that is on a Pentium M model -- that was one of the main reasons I got a Compaq X1000/HPZT3000 instead as the fan is never even on in normal use let along no hot areas on around the touchpad.

The disconcerting thing with Toshiba is that I have read that they either won't exchange out lemon units or are very adverse to doing so. HP/Compaq and Dell will swap out a lemon unit (though you still have to fight though their service also).

This case with the static problems on the A75 mean people are stuck with a chronic problem and can't return the notebooks.

Note that if you buy a notebook at Costco -- either custom HP/Compaq or Dell at www.costco.com or the retail prebuilt models in the store -- you get a 6 month return policy.

Therefore, no matter what company you buy -- if you face an issue like this you just return the notebook and Costco gives you that protection not the manufacturer. The normal warranty applies for warranty (1 year limited) but again the Costco return policy is the best out there bar none for issues like this static A75 shutdown.

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Costco Computers
Jan 30, 2005 7:50AM PST

I too am researching laptops and have decided that purchasing a computer through Costco is more important than which manufacturer you choose. I will buy the computer, put it through some intense video editing trials and if it over heats, freezes, or fails to satisfy I will return it to Costco no questions asked. You can't find a better warranty anywhere.

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Go with the HP
Jan 30, 2005 10:25AM PST

Hey Jordan,

Take it from an A+ cert tech, go with the HP. You'll find posts on this forum, including one from myself that will tell you that Toshiba is experiencing problems with parts of notebooks being vulnerable to static. Unacceptable in a portable computer. I have a Toshiba A70 believe me I know. The toshiba, although a great computer usually, hence the reason I bought it, has been plagued with problems on the last few models. I also own a HP ZE5560. Awesome machine. THe HP P4 2.6 is almost just as fast as my P4 3.06 Toshiba, and unfortunately, runs a lot better.
For gaming the cooling performance on both machines is equally adequate, I game on both machines and find the Toshiba more comfortable, but that's preference. Depends on your keyboard config preference. Happy