Is your Laptop dying?

[chet]

From Yahoo-

"1 in 3 laptops die in first three years
Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:31PM EST

So your new laptop computer died in inside of a year. "I'll never buy a computer from [insert manufacturer name here] again!" I've heard the protests time and time again.

Yeah, maybe you got a lemon, but no matter which brand you bought, you truly are not alone in this situation: An analysis of 30,000 new laptops from SquareTrade, which provides aftermarket warranty coverage for electronics products, has found that in the first three years of ownership, nearly a third of laptops (31 percent) will fail.

That's actually better than I would have expected based on my experience and observations on how people treat their equipment.

SquareTrade has more detailed information (the full PDF of the company's study is available here) on the research on its website. But here are some highlights about how, why, and which laptops fail:

> 20.4 percent of failures are due to hardware malfunctions. 10.6 percent are due to drops, spills, or other accidental damage.

> Netbooks have a roughly 20 percent higher failure rate due to hardware malfunctions than standard laptops. The more you pay for your laptop, the less likely it is to fail in general (maybe because you're more careful with it?).

> The most reliable companies? A shocker: Toshiba and Asus, both with below a 16 percent failure rate due to hardware malfunction.

> The least reliable brands? Acer, Gateway, and HP. HP's hardware malfunction rate, the worst in SquareTrade's analysis, is a whopping 25.6 percent.

None of the numbers are overly surprising. As SquareTrade notes, "the typical laptop endures more use and abuse than nearly any other consumer electronic device (with the possible exception of cell phones)," so failures are really inevitable.

Want to keep your notebook running for longer than a few years? Ensure your laptop is as drop-proofed as possible (use a padded bag or case, route cords so they won't be tripped on, lock children in another room), and protect it as best you can from heat and dust."

[chet]

I have a Toshiba I bought from Circuit City about four years ago. Haven't had too many problems with it- none really.

Hope it stays alive a few more years. They're too expensive to be buying for me right now.

I should just quit using the internet at home anyways.

[CDKopf]

I have a HP pavilion Ive had for about 5 years. Pretty much top of the line at the time. I was told from one of my more computer-savvy friends that it was a "pre Compaq owned" model. That thing has been around the world with me...literally, used and abused with tons of music and recording software. Strawberry daquari spilled on it, used to download and play music at parties, While overseas Id go to the wi-fi spot after work and as soon as Id get a signal and start browsing everyone around me would lose thier signal. Like it sucked all the bandwidth from the room. Awesome computer. Im starting to get a bit nervous due to its age. I need to get all my stuff backed up before it goes to computer heaven.

[jjkrause84]

Backup NOW....always now.....TRUST me!

I have a nice Dell that's been going for 4 1/2 years now. I see no reason why it shouldn't see 6 or more (even if within 2-3 years it gets demoted to a "word processor only" sorta computer)

[Wardpike]

my last apple macbook pro lasted 3 years after i spilt a full 10 oz cup of greentea with honey in it.

my latest apple macbook pro, just a couple months old, is mad at me since i spilt about 3 oz of bourbon and coke into it, the night before last. the left shift key no longer works and blue tooth is kaput.

I can't blame apple. I blame the bozo typing this reply.

[rdchapman]

Lets see....I've had 7 laptops. My original Ps2 Model 700 (think 486 16mhz) lost the screen, still works though. I had 1 Dell that did have a motherboard failure. My other PS2's (800 and 900 mhz) both still are used almost daily. All three 1.6 ghz Toshibas are a-ok. I would have to say that they last a bit better than that in my experience.

[still_fiddlin]

Full disclosure: I work for one of the OEMs mentioned in that article.

I have to say I'm skeptical. If Square Trade wasn't in the business of selling after-market/3rd party warranties, it might be more credible, but when the failure rates (save Apple - known for better customer satisfaction *and* higher prices) tends to track market share, you have to wonder if there's anything wrong with either the study or data analysis, or (suspicious viewpoint), any business advantage to making the higher volume OEMs have a higher failure rate?

Personally, having 2 teens who have had the same opportunity to thrash computers for a dozen years or more - one kills a notebook every year, and the other can use the same system until I decide to replace it. All my systems are several years old, and they get toted all over. Our daughter uses the notebook in bed, on the rug, falls asleep with it plugged in, rolls over on it, you name it. It gets broken or cooked in record time.

So, my opinion is that notebooks fail because of abuse, more than any cause. Just guessing, but many inexpensive systems (HP, Gateway, Dell, routinely have a $299 - $399 notebook at Walmart) probably land in the hands of people least likely to know how to take care of them, or care enough to learn how.

You want durability? Get a solid state drive, and keep the system cool.

[mistermullens]

I've had my Toshiba for about 4 or 5 years now, and its just now starting to act up. I really need to delete some large files, but it is slow as Christmas. Defrag should be done tonight. I do like Macs, but if I was to buy another PC, and I probably will, it will most certainly be a Toshiba.

[emu!]

Sounds like hype to me. SOMEBODY wants us to purchase a laptop every 3 years.

What are they dying from anyway? The flu?

[ibobunot]

My MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.0, PowerBook G4 400 Titanium, iBook G3/500 are all going strong used everyday.

My PowerBook 100 shorted out last year I should have known to replace the battery after 18 years so my fault...

My Mac Plus and Mac SE/30 still boot up though...

[Alamo]

Get one of these - they seem to last a hundred years.





http://www.datamancer.net/steampunkl...punklaptop.htm

[DocG]

As a former tech support guy / computer-related-stress therapist (same job), I have to say:

If your data is not in two or more physically separate places, it will be lost. Sooner or later the hard disc will die, the power supply will blow up, you'll leave the laptop at the coffee shop, whatever. Whether the computer lasts three years or six, if you lose important data it will hurt just as much.

Last week I repaired a PC for a friend. His son's work for his bar mitzvah (a week away) was inaccessible and the family was completely freaked out. If there was a backup on a flash drive or an external USB disc, they could have saved themselves a ton of grief. Oh yeah, and their tax returns for the last four years were on the disc too. And hundreds of bucks worth of MP3s they'd bought.

It was nice I got the data back for them and was the hero, but it would've been nicer still if they had spared themselves all the aggravation.

[Tim Armstrong]

My Dell Latitude D610 is still working great. I honestly don't remember when I bought it, definitely over two years ago...

Tim

[chet]

Originally Posted by DocG

As a former tech support guy / computer-related-stress therapist (same job), I have to say:

If your data is not in two or more physically separate places, it will be lost. Sooner or later the hard disc will die, the power supply will blow up, you'll leave the laptop at the coffee shop, whatever. Whether the computer lasts three years or six, if you lose important data it will hurt just as much.

Last week I repaired a PC for a friend. His son's work for his bar mitzvah (a week away) was inaccessible and the family was completely freaked out. If there was a backup on a flash drive or an external USB disc, they could have saved themselves a ton of grief. Oh yeah, and their tax returns for the last four years were on the disc too. And hundreds of bucks worth of MP3s they'd bought.

It was nice I got the data back for them and was the hero, but it would've been nicer still if they had spared themselves all the aggravation.

I store anything I want to save on a stick drive or cd. I clear out everything on the computer every couple of months anyway.
I only use mine for internet browsing.

[PrivateIron]

Currently using a Dell XPS M1530. Must have had it one and a half/two years. Technically it seems fine, though recently the letters have started coming of some of the keys (I've lost most of my m, l, a and s...) and the left mouse button has lost its clickyness - I can still click on things with it but there's no resistance from the button, the slightest brush of the button counts as a click.

So other than minor annoyances, its mostly fine. Even survived having water spilt over the touchpad and mouse - maybe explaining the aforementioned mouse troubles but the events were a fair bit apart.

[Saxguitar]

Man mine is closing in on the three year mark, actually within two weeks it will have been three years, lately it has been making some really weird clip and chirp, hopefully that isn't anything to drastic to face. I never really used it until I got Wi-Fi at my house this past March so hopefully it won't croke on me.

[-Vampyre-]

My laptop is 6 years old and running strong. Sure the screen has some lines, and I am too lazy to replace it. I have a newer laptop with a dead motherboard, but I just need to find the time to take it apart. Damn playing guitar and Ps3 taking up all my free time.

[studio1087]

I have bought a new Dell for home use every other year for 10 years.

As super sales came out at Dell, I would sell the old one on ebay and buy a new one.

They have all been fine except the last one.

The Dell that I have now is 12 months old and the mouse pad sticks an the cooling fan ticks like it is near death. My newest Dell seems to be going through rapid aging. I'll try an HP next.

John

[Saxguitar]

Originally Posted by studio1087

...the cooling fan ticks like it is near death.

Crap sounds like what mine is doing, of course it has been doing it for over a year and a half so maybe it isn't the same problem. Fingers crossed that it isn't the same problem.

[otterhound]

I don't have a laptop , but my butt is hurting .

[BritishBluesBoy]

My Apple G4 powerbook is 5 or 6 six years old (can't remember exactly) and still going strong...

[flatout9]

Originally Posted by BritishBluesBoy

My Apple G4 powerbook is 5 or 6 six years old (can't remember exactly) and still going strong...

An Apple will be coming near me very very very soon. It will not leave when it is near me.

[Tdot]

More marketing with the fear strategy.

Oh no, YOU say my laptop will last less than three years?
What about my warranty?
One year?
Well, could I buy an extended warranty?
Really, YOU sell extended warranties?

I had the first model white G3 iBook(made in 2001) that I used for a few years, then passed it on to a friend (and it's still working) because I got a deal on a discontinued model G4 PowerBook(made in 2003). I still use it almost every day. I replaced the HD for a bigger one, but I keep waiting for it to die so I buy a new MacBook.

[Jerolin]

I just bought a Toshiba Satellite...one of the $380(ish) cheapies. It's a stellar laptop considering I just do my photography work and editing on it, and I'm by NO means a "hardcore gamer". I hope it lasts longer than 3 years, but if it doesn't then oh well...I mean $380 is nothing to sneeze at, but it's still fairly easily replaceable...I think.

[prawnik]

I have had an old HP for many years. It has given reliable service throughout that time, in spite of having various liquids spilled on it and being dropped from great heights several times.

When they started tightening currency controls here in December, I bought a new top-of-the line Toshiba (I wanted to buy something while there were still goods available). It has given me nothing but fits and been in for service several times.

The HP still works.

[chet]

Originally Posted by prawnik

I have had an old HP for many years. It has given reliable service throughout that time, in spite of having various liquids spilled on it and being dropped from great heights several times.

When they started tightening currency controls here in December, I bought a new top-of-the line Toshiba (I wanted to buy something while there were still goods available). It has given me nothing but fits and been in for service several times.

The HP still works.

What's the problem with the Toshiba. Mine works perfectly. (knock on wood)

[J-man]

I wouldn't worry, Chet. Toshiba laptops are pretty much invincible, if my friend's laptop is anything to go by..

This thing has been thrown across rooms many times in its life, fallen off tables, had cigarettes put out on it, and in it, as well as getting beer/cider/god knows what spilt all over it regularly..

The only thing to have been affected in any way is the wireless which finally gave out after it was drowned in Carlsberg Export a couple of weeks ago.

[chet]

I'd probably be better off. Then I wouldn't have to pay the internet bill every month.

[stratology]

Originally Posted by BritishBluesBoy

My Apple G4 powerbook is 5 or 6 six years old (can't remember exactly) and still going strong...

Same here, typing this on a PowerBook built in 2003.

Completely agree with DocG - always have at least 2 backups of current data.

What is the easiest, most hassle free backup solution in the industry?