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weaseled386
join:2008-04-13
Port Orange, FL
 ·Verizon Wireless B..
 ·mybrighthouse
| reply to weaseled386
Re: Ordered a new laptop....
By a couple of years, I mean between 2 & 3... IMO the laptops, and Dell, has held up their end of the bargin. The only issue her laptop has had is the CPU fan went out. I could have sent it in for warranty, but decided to buy one off Ebay for $10 and fix myself (quicker that way). I attribute this to her keeping it under the couch (and turned on) when not in use. My chocolate lab's hair was all up in the heatsink!
My laptop is a different story. I work in the telcom field, and put my systems through hell. I live in Florida, so it see's extremely hot temps in my work van. I'm constantly up and down ladders accessing our underground facilities. It's used in a [dirty] warehouse environment on a regular basis. Then there's home use: checking mail, programming Cisco 2621XM & Aironet 1200, compiling downloaded music & video, etc. I'd say the D620 gets opened & closed around 50+ times daily. Although made of aluminum, the hinges are a weak link of this design.
My intentions are to reduce the work load my XPS sees. I also recently bought a metal attache case to carry it in. I'm going to take the best of both D620's and make one. The worst laptop will go into a m0n0wall build.
The XPS will be my 5th Dell (6th overall) laptop: Toshiba Satelite 1555CDS, Inspiron 8600, Inspiron E1705, two Latitude D620's and the XPS M1530. The 8600 was bought around 2001 and my sister is still using it. The E1705 is a MONSTER, and is about to replace my father's desktop. Dell does often get a bad rap, but I just don't see it. I do completley understand, and agree, that a laptop should last a minimum of 4 years under light to moderate use. I built the XPS with the best now so it won't be completely out dated in six months. Having bought the four year warranty plans I have every intention of sitting on this one a while. | |
PeteC2
Ballad Of A Thin Man
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-20
Bristol, CT
clubs:
 ·AT&T Yahoo
| weaseled386...nuthin' like an honest guy! I see so many "My (name your poison) laptop was a POS, only lasted 8 months, I'll never buy another one" etc....when it turns out that the dude would toss his laptop in the back seat of the car without a case, stepped on it twice, and spilled coffee on it while it was running...
Laptop longevity really is so dependent on what we do with 'em, and how gently, or ungently they are treated! I am without a doubt a bit "over-cautious" with both my work and home laptops, so they tend to last a good long time...but that's just me!
I am not knocking how you use your machines, but saying that you acknowledge that based on your usage 2 - 3 years is not unreasonable, and I'd agree with that!
There are a few notebooks really built to take hard daily use, that are "ruggedized" for being yanked open and closed dozens of times a day, used in less than ideal environmental conditions etc., but they tend to fall on the high end cost wise, so most of us do not have those tough beasties...
I have a budget-level Compaq business notebook...although I travel with it daily, it goes everywhere in a very well-padded case, that I do not toss around, and it is used on a solid, stable desk-surface, not any undue heat/dust/humidity, and doesn't get opened/closed more than a few times a day. No wonder that it holds up well!
Although I like this inexpesive business laptop just fine, I do not think that it is built any better, if as well, as the Dell...just has a gentler life that yours has had!
The biggest structural weaknesses of most laptops are...the operators! 
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones? | |
weaseled386
join:2008-04-13
Port Orange, FL
·Verizon Wireless B..
·mybrighthouse
| You couldn't be more right by saying the biggest weakness is the operators! I **NEED** one of the D620 ATG's, but (as usual) my WANTS were otherwise. The D620 ATG is just a super rugged version of what I already have.
Ugh, this is eating away at me. Patience has never been my best virtue! I'm just chompin at the bit to get this new one. Hopefully it'll be here prior to the June 4th ship date... | |
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