Re: How long do XP laptops last?

On 10/16/2009 9:02 AM, Mark Shapiro wrote:
> I got a Dell XP laptop 3 years ago.
> Have firewall, virus protection, do
> all updates, don't open attachment,
> don't use file sharing, don't move it.
> Every year, the hard drive dies with
> no warning. It is gone. Twice I
> replaced it. This time I'm not going
> to replace the hard drive.
> Why do PC laptops die so quick?
> I have a 10-year old Mac laptop that
> still runs fine - if I don't go to modern
> web sites. Why do hard drives die
> so fast on Windows laptops?
> Or is my experience rare?

I think its luck of the draw. I have a Compaq Presario R3000 that I
ran over with my car (accidentally) and the only thing I've ever had to
do to it is replace the LCD screen (because of the car) and buy a new
battery, because of age. Still works great, and I find it more
responsive than my newer HP DV6000. Although its much heavier.

Somewhere on teh intarwebs Ryan P. wrote:
> On 10/16/2009 9:02 AM, Mark Shapiro wrote:
>> I got a Dell XP laptop 3 years ago.
>> Have firewall, virus protection, do
>> all updates, don't open attachment,
>> don't use file sharing, don't move it.
>> Every year, the hard drive dies with
>> no warning. It is gone. Twice I
>> replaced it. This time I'm not going
>> to replace the hard drive.
>> Why do PC laptops die so quick?
>> I have a 10-year old Mac laptop that
>> still runs fine - if I don't go to modern
>> web sites. Why do hard drives die
>> so fast on Windows laptops?
>> Or is my experience rare?
>
> I think its luck of the draw. I have a Compaq Presario R3000 that I
> ran over with my car (accidentally) and the only thing I've ever had
> to do to it is replace the LCD screen (because of the car) and buy a
> new battery, because of age. Still works great, and I find it more
> responsive than my newer HP DV6000. Although its much heavier.

LOL, this cracks me up! How do you run over a laptop accidently? Do you use
it for a parking brake and forgot to move it? Did you drive over the couch
it was on? Or are you just in the habit of leaving it in the driveway?
Hehee, amazing....
--
Shaun.

"Give a man a fire and he's warm for the day. But set fire to him and he's
warm for the rest of his life." Terry Pratchet, 'Jingo'.

On 10/17/2009 5:35 AM, ~misfit~ wrote:
> Somewhere on teh intarwebs Ryan P. wrote:

>> I think its luck of the draw. I have a Compaq Presario R3000 that I
>> ran over with my car (accidentally) and the only thing I've ever had
>> to do to it is replace the LCD screen (because of the car) and buy a
>> new battery, because of age. Still works great, and I find it more
>> responsive than my newer HP DV6000. Although its much heavier.
>
> LOL, this cracks me up! How do you run over a laptop accidently? Do you use
> it for a parking brake and forgot to move it? Did you drive over the couch
> it was on? Or are you just in the habit of leaving it in the driveway?
> Hehee, amazing....

It was during the process of packing up my truck while moving from my
apartment to my new house. I had a whole armful of stuff, so I leaned
the laptop case against the rear wheel, packed the truck, got distracted
by something, took care of the issue, got in the truck, shifted into
reverse, and didn't hear the laptop fall as the rear wheel stopped
supporting it, but I did feel the front wheel roll over it as I backed up.

But, thanks to ebay, $40 later, it was impossible to tell I ran over it!

Somewhere on teh intarwebs Ryan P. wrote:
> On 10/17/2009 5:35 AM, ~misfit~ wrote:
>> Somewhere on teh intarwebs Ryan P. wrote:
>
>>> I think its luck of the draw. I have a Compaq Presario R3000
>>> that I ran over with my car (accidentally) and the only thing I've
>>> ever had to do to it is replace the LCD screen (because of the car)
>>> and buy a new battery, because of age. Still works great, and I
>>> find it more responsive than my newer HP DV6000. Although its much
>>> heavier.
>>
>> LOL, this cracks me up! How do you run over a laptop accidently? Do
>> you use it for a parking brake and forgot to move it? Did you drive
>> over the couch it was on? Or are you just in the habit of leaving it
>> in the driveway? Hehee, amazing....
>
> It was during the process of packing up my truck while moving from my
> apartment to my new house. I had a whole armful of stuff, so I leaned
> the laptop case against the rear wheel, packed the truck, got
> distracted by something, took care of the issue, got in the truck,
> shifted into reverse, and didn't hear the laptop fall as the rear
> wheel stopped supporting it, but I did feel the front wheel roll over
> it as I backed up.
> But, thanks to ebay, $40 later, it was impossible to tell I ran over
> it!

Ahh, bad luck (and a bit of carelessness thrown in) then. I've fixed enough
laptops so that I've learned to never, even for 10 seconds, put one in such
a dangerous situation. No point making work for myself.

Still cracks me up though. Imagine explaining that to an insurance company.
"I accidently ran over my laptop". I don't think they'd wear it somehow.

Pleased you got it fixed though.
--
Shaun.

"Give a man a fire and he's warm for the day. But set fire to him and he's
warm for the rest of his life." Terry Pratchet, 'Jingo'.