Fed UP with HP

[rea[k]tor]

I bought a Hewlett Packard computer for the price... It was reasonbly cheap, and came with a few features I wanted... Also because I have a hard time putting and configuring everything with a barebone...

So, when I get my computer, I find out that AOL is PERMANENTLY implanted on my motherboard. At first I thought it was just in my registries, but when I called to land a complaint, I found out it got even worse. Also, the free Microsoft Office 2003 that was CLEARLY WITH Encarta stated on the site ended up to be a 60 day trial of Microsoft Works and Money. It gets worse. They never sent me a copy of the OS (XP home) so in case I needed to reformat or get a new hard drive, it would fail to work. Instead, they send me a "recovery disk" as long as I pay the shipping and handling. They also added a partition so the small 40 GB hard drive got even smaller. When I call customer service AGAIN, they give me a 10 minute wait limit. After 15 minutes, no answer. I call again, and they argue over why I want to return the computer. Now I'm able to return it, but now have to take another entire day out of my life searching for a new computer, then wait another few weeks for it to get here. w00t.

Anyone had a good experience with any vendors? It's a 2 hour drive to the closest computer shop, and I hate building the computer myself... Had a bad time doing it, and i'm not going back.

 

[4keatimj]

Don't feel too bad. Companies do deals that are too good to be true, but really they aren't. Sometimes its in the fine print, sometimes it isn't. the only problem with buying through big companies is that you don't always get what you want. I always buy through small builders, you ask for certain hardware, and you get it. The same with software. More hassle at the start maybe, but defininitely less later on.
Unfortunately, you probably can't do anythnig to get any complaints heard. Big companies always use tricks to save money and get their way. Think of Dell...

 

[Nazo]

Lol, this is why most of us here build our own, even if it is a bit costly. When something is cheaper, they have a way of making a profit in the end. Always. That way might not be obvious, but, watch out... No one starts out operating at a loss, merely they just don't make enough sales or something when they are.

I remember my aunt got an e-machine (despite my protests) that required her to sign up for something like 4 years of prodigy. Ok, it was a real ISP at the time, not america off line, but, still, having a contract bind you like that sucks bigtime. Of course, then right in the middle of it, they switch over to SBC Yahoo and the problems begin piling up left and right so that I'm over there trying to fix this or that every other day. She only just this year got out at long last and switched to a real ISP that she can cancel if she ever needs to.

BTW, that restore disk is supposed to be able to restore the os and everything to precicely the state they were in when you bought the PC. Of course, that means aol back on there. Maybe yours worked differently, I don't know, merely that all the "restore disks" I've seen with namebrand PCs did that.

 

[rea[k]tor]

Another thing... Getting a Pentium could open up a ton of options for a new computer... Is there much gaming performance difference between AMD's and Intels?

 

[DiscoStu]

Another thing... Getting a Pentium could open up a ton of options for a new computer... Is there much gaming performance difference between AMD's and Intels?

If you're going the manufactured route i say get a dell. Easy to order, easy to customize.

There is a difference when it comes to gaming, but nothing you'll probably notice as long as the procs from each company are comparable. A decent videocard will make all the difference.

 

[OldBuzzard]

I know of at least 3 guys the got systems from here http://www.cyberpowersystem.com/default.asp and they were all happy with the price/performance. All are using them for Flight simulators (CFS2, CFS3, IL2 FB) which probably stress a system a lot more than the FPS games do.

I ordered the parts for my current system here: http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv and I was happy with the pricing, and pleasently suprised the the salesman actually knew something about hardware, and that I wasn't talking to someone in India/Pakistan/Bangladesh. They also sell 'packaged' systems, and will custom build one if you wish They have a good reputation, and ship via FedX which is a definate plus

 

[djnes]

I bought a Hewlett Packard computer for the price... It was reasonbly cheap, and came with a few features I wanted... Also because I have a hard time putting and configuring everything with a barebone...

So, when I get my computer, I find out that AOL is PERMANENTLY implanted on my motherboard. At first I thought it was just in my registries, but when I called to land a complaint, I found out it got even worse. Also, the free Microsoft Office 2003 that was CLEARLY WITH Encarta stated on the site ended up to be a 60 day trial of Microsoft Works and Money. It gets worse. They never sent me a copy of the OS (XP home) so in case I needed to reformat or get a new hard drive, it would fail to work. Instead, they send me a "recovery disk" as long as I pay the shipping and handling. They also added a partition so the small 40 GB hard drive got even smaller. When I call customer service AGAIN, they give me a 10 minute wait limit. After 15 minutes, no answer. I call again, and they argue over why I want to return the computer. Now I'm able to return it, but now have to take another entire day out of my life searching for a new computer, then wait another few weeks for it to get here. w00t.

Anyone had a good experience with any vendors? It's a 2 hour drive to the closest computer shop, and I hate building the computer myself... Had a bad time doing it, and i'm not going back.

Okay, please excuse me as I tear apart the ignorance here. I can assure you, if you bought an HP and it did not come with a restore CD, you need to immediately blame the store who sold it to you. All of ours leave the company with those CDs. Some stores have kept them for their own purposes, illegally. If you bought direct, call and ask for your CD.

Second, AOL is not installed on a motherboard. If your having trouble uninstalling AOL, it's not our fault. Learn where to assign blame.

Third, if we install trialware, it is clearly stated in the documentation, and by law, the retail outlet needs to make yuo aware of this. Our website clearly states this if you bought direct, and if you bought from a store, and they didn't make it clear you need to blame them....not HP.

I am so fucking sick and tired of seenig people blame OEMs (not just HP)...any OEM for something that is completely not their fault. Nothing you have stated is in ANY way HP's fault. Pardon my anger, but ignorant people really need to learn where to direct their complaints. If you feel I am wrong, or could use some inside assistance, please feel free to PM me. I do not work in our consumer division, but I have some contacts who do.

 

[djnes]

Oh, and I should add the restore CDs that OEM use are for the 99% of the population who couldn't load an OS themselves. When you run a succesful business you try to cater to the masses. We, as enthusiasts, are not the masses.

 

[towert7]

My only two recommendations are this.
Eaither Build your own computer piece by piece... (i know you said you did'nt want to).

OR
www.cyberpowerinc.com

They are GODLY! they have near wholesale prices, awsome support (support for the "real" computer questions.), and great component selection. I recommend them 100%

All the way from a celeron @ 227$US, to dual Xeon or amd FX53. They even sell notebooks.

Im also very sorry to hear that HP was so bad to you, they mostly all are [im glad i don't own hp stock]. And hey, that "recovery disk" is standard issued equipment from the Main Brands such as Dell. But boy do they charge you for the full version ^_^.

When buying from a company such as cyberpowerinc, you won't be getting a million of pre-installed software packages that are pointless................. no hidden spyware.... just what you want! Basically no set-up at all, you just unpack the computer, set it up, and your done. [no software set-up required for the most part]

My dad bought a cheap budget computer from them, he's very happy with it. My friends at school have also done business with them. They are very happy. When i goto college, ill be getting mine from cyberpowerinc ^_^

If you need help picking the "parts", just post a message here at [H]ardForum and we will be glad to help you.

 

[towert7]

Also, with the person who claims to work for HP.

Its HP's choice to bundle pre-installed "trial" software........... whether for the masses or for just one lonley person.

The problem is not that we were "unaware" of the pre installed software........ its just that fact that it came with it....... POS software. Let the consumer get the software is my opinion.. i can see an OEM trying to "help".... but when the "help" causes more problems then its worth........... and making it hard to uninstall..... then its just BULL.

Also the fact that the "main" companies charge about a 130% what they paid for it on the average computer............... just way to much money.

That's why im ashamed to see my local high school go with these companies, espeically seeing how we have SUCH a TIGHT budget................ they could have got so much better, for so much cheaper. And The Tech support that comes with the computers is awful. Dell = 110.9% Indian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! & Indian + Me = no progress. hehe

Just all the more reason to support small companies such as cyberpowerinc ^_^

 

[rea[k]tor]

Okay, please excuse me as I tear apart the ignorance here. I can assure you, if you bought an HP and it did not come with a restore CD, you need to immediately blame the store who sold it to you. All of ours leave the company with those CDs. Some stores have kept them for their own purposes, illegally. If you bought direct, call and ask for your CD.

Second, AOL is not installed on a motherboard. If your having trouble uninstalling AOL, it's not our fault. Learn where to assign blame.

Third, if we install trialware, it is clearly stated in the documentation, and by law, the retail outlet needs to make yuo aware of this. Our website clearly states this if you bought direct, and if you bought from a store, and they didn't make it clear you need to blame them....not HP.

I am so fucking sick and tired of seenig people blame OEMs (not just HP)...any OEM for something that is completely not their fault. Nothing you have stated is in ANY way HP's fault. Pardon my anger, but ignorant people really need to learn where to direct their complaints. If you feel I am wrong, or could use some inside assistance, please feel free to PM me. I do not work in our consumer division, but I have some contacts who do.

had to call and ask for the CD, I bought it directly from the HP site.

Productivity Software help me decide
Get the tools you need to save time and improve your productivity.

Microsoft(R) Works 7.0/Money 2004/MSN Encarta Plus

Microsoft(R) Works Suite 2004 includes Word 2002
MS Works, Money, Encarta, Word +$15.00

Microsoft(R) Office Basic Edition 2003
MS Word, Excel, Outlook +$150.00

Microsoft(R) Office Small Business Edition 2003
MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint & Office Publisher +$300.00


This is copied from the HP site on the same computer that I bought... No sign of trial anywhere, is there? The computer is the a610e

I called support, and they specifically told me it was implanted on the HD and mobo. How it's implanted, I have no clue. I just know what I hear.

 

[rea[k]tor]

One last question... Does having AOL stuck on your computer affect performance? If it doesn't do much, I can live with the computer....

 

[djnes]

Also, with the person who claims to work for HP.

Its HP's choice to bundle pre-installed "trial" software........... whether for the masses or for just one lonley person.

The problem is not that we were "unaware" of the pre installed software........ its just that fact that it came with it....... POS software. Let the consumer get the software is my opinion.. i can see an OEM trying to "help".... but when the "help" causes more problems then its worth........... and making it hard to uninstall..... then its just BULL.

Also the fact that the "main" companies charge about a 130% what they paid for it on the average computer............... just way to much money.

That's why im ashamed to see my local high school go with these companies, espeically seeing how we have SUCH a TIGHT budget................ they could have got so much better, for so much cheaper. And The Tech support that comes with the computers is awful. Dell = 110.9% Indian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! & Indian + Me = no progress. hehe

Just all the more reason to support small companies such as cyberpowerinc ^_^

You clearly understand little about business. First, we get our parts dirt cheap because we buy so many of them. All OEMs need to make a profit on their machines, so no shit they will charge more than they paid. HP, Dell, Gateway, etc will always be cheaper than the boutiques because they buy in higher quantities. Your school went with a major OEM because the mass discount given to schools and orgs who buy a large number of machines is WAY WAY WAY below what anyone else could do. Major OEMs can also offer support options that small companies can only dream about. Your not understanding how business works, but since your in high school, that is understandable. The software pre-bundled is to help the majority of users. SO here we go again. We on here are not the majority. Go work 7 years in an IT department where you get to deal with a "regular" user base. You'll understand why 99% of the people need their hand help for every little thing.

 

[djnes]

One last question... Does having AOL stuck on your computer affect performance? If it doesn't do much, I can live with the computer....

No, it shouldn't make much of a difference. I would prefer to remove it completely. At one time, AOL had an uninstaller on their site because of their shitty software. As I said before though, none of the above seemed to be HP's fault, but my offer stands....if you think you could use help, let me know.

 

[Nazo]

Kind of reminds me of the way if you do a custom install of windows (starting with 98 or so) and specifically go out of your way to tell it to NOT install any of the online provider things, you will find a folder on your desktop and a folder in the program files directory both of which clearly show that windows did indeed go ahead and install those behind your back. And getting rid of their MSN crap is even harder than AOL. Don't you just love that?

 

[bassboy_pete]

Okay, please excuse me as I tear apart the ignorance here. I can assure you, if you bought an HP and it did not come with a restore CD, you need to immediately blame the store who sold it to you. All of ours leave the company with those CDs. Some stores have kept them for their own purposes, illegally. If you bought direct, call and ask for your CD.

Second, AOL is not installed on a motherboard. If your having trouble uninstalling AOL, it's not our fault. Learn where to assign blame.

Third, if we install trialware, it is clearly stated in the documentation, and by law, the retail outlet needs to make yuo aware of this. Our website clearly states this if you bought direct, and if you bought from a store, and they didn't make it clear you need to blame them....not HP.

I am so fucking sick and tired of seenig people blame OEMs (not just HP)...any OEM for something that is completely not their fault. Nothing you have stated is in ANY way HP's fault. Pardon my anger, but ignorant people really need to learn where to direct their complaints. If you feel I am wrong, or could use some inside assistance, please feel free to PM me. I do not work in our consumer division, but I have some contacts who do.

I don't mean to be rude or anything like that, but I work at a retail store where they sell many and many Hp computers. For a few years now, I have never seen a restore disk come with the computer. That is why the Hard Drive is partitioned. The second partition holds the restore information instead of cds. This is obviously to save some more money for Hp. As far as I have seen, and this include Hp tech support, they recommend that you make your own recovery cds. They are too cheap to make them anymore.

I am not happy that you automatically blame the store that sells them. We get them in sealed boxes, and they leave the store in the same sealed box.

Also, not being able to uninstall AOL IS Hps fault. They are the ones that install and configue all the software on the computer, so they are to blame. Who elses fault is it?

Can you provide some evidence that the retail outlet by law has to tell the customer that it has trial software? I have no problem with OEMs including trial stuff in their packages, but don't blame the retail store. We don't make them, we don't open every box to take out recovery cds, so get off our backs.

Pardon my anger as well, because I get pissed when company employees get stuck up on their companies, and think they are all so high and mighty. You may PM me as well if you think I am wrong as well.

 

[DiscoStu]

I work for a school district in Delaware that deals with alot of Dell and HP computers. So, I've had plenty of experience with both. Every Dell and HP we have ever purchased for school and for personal use has come with a restore disc of some sorts. You can thank Microsoft for the fact that you only get a restore disc and not a standalone Windows disc.

No matter which OEM you choose, you're going to get stuck with these trials and other software you dont want. Like it has been said before, it's all about business. They need that revenue to keep prices low. The only way you'll escape it is to buy from a smaller system builder or build yourself.

 

[djnes]

Also, not being able to uninstall AOL IS Hps fault. They are the ones that install and configue all the software on the computer, so they are to blame. Who elses fault is it?

Can you provide some evidence that the retail outlet by law has to tell the customer that it has trial software? I have no problem with OEMs including trial stuff in their packages, but don't blame the retail store. We don't make them, we don't open every box to take out recovery cds, so get off our backs.

First, AOL is installed following the steps provided by AOL. AOL is a bitch to uninstall on any PC, not just an HP. Your credibility just went out the window, because for a little while, I was thinking you knew what you were talking about.

Second, the words false advertising apply here. Part of your purchase price on a retail system is the OS and included software. This one's just common sense. No need to explain that any farther.

Third, I've bought systems in various retail stores for friends and family. All HP or Compaqs, from Best Buy, Staples, and MicroCenter. Each and every one came with a restore CD. It's true SOME of the systems also pack in a restore partition and a method to make your own CDs, but it does come with the restore CDs. And I am quite sure they ship with new PCs....atleast in the past 2 and a half years. I've called my contacts and requested ones quite a few times for people who have lost the originals, and removed the hidden partition on their drives. We ship millions and millions of computers a year so I am sure a few have been forgotten, but they should and do come with restore CDs.

 

[djnes]

You can thank Microsoft for the fact that you only get a restore disc and not a standalone Windows disc.

Look at that! Someone pointing blame where it belongs! Holy bejezus I think I just messed my pants!

 

[bassboy_pete]

Second, the words false advertising apply here. Part of your purchase price on a retail system is the OS and included software. This one's just common sense. No need to explain that any farther.

Third, I've bought systems in various retail stores for friends and family. All HP or Compaqs, from Best Buy, Staples, and MicroCenter. Each and every one came with a restore CD. It's true SOME of the systems also pack in a restore partition and a method to make your own CDs, but it does come with the restore CDs. And I am quite sure they ship with new PCs....atleast in the past 2 and a half years. I've called my contacts and requested ones quite a few times for people who have lost the originals, and removed the hidden partition on their drives. We ship millions and millions of computers a year so I am sure a few have been forgotten, but they should and do come with restore CDs.

Well I work at one of those retail stores where I only sell computers. And not just for a few months, for a few years. It is my job to know exactly what the customer is getting. I have many customers come back even with old computers saying that they never got a restore cd, and we have to order the cds for them. Also, rememeber that I am located in Canada, so that may make a difference. All the systems that we sell have no restore cds, only the restore partition. I am not sure why there are no restore cds, but there ain't.

 

[djnes]

Don't know either. I don't know enough about our consumer division to know if US and Canada are considered separate or not. I'm in the services division (that handles outsourcing jobs) and we currently have Canada as a separate entity. I know the restore CDs are sent out in the states.

 

[bassboy_pete]

I see, wouldn't be surprised if canada didn't have restore cds and the states did. Our model numbers are even different.

 

[Cardboard Hammer]

I bought two Compaqs from hpshopping.com and neither of them had a restore CD, so I doubt the HPs bought there have them. There were instructions included on how to make your own, but that doesn't help if you don't have a CD burner (doesn't matter to me, since I have an XP Home CD from a Dell that works fine for rebuilds, at minimum).

Both had way too much crap software installed (especially for the configured specs), so I uninstalled all the junk. I don't recall if AOL was part of it, but I'm not having any troubles with useless software.

EDIT: I'm in the US, BTW.

 

[Elian]

HP... blah

i've been fed up for ages

 

[PhoenixAshes]

And that's the main reason I'll never buy another branded system. I'd rather spend the time and effort to sit down and install exactly what I want on my system according to what I know I'll use. Then if something shows up that I don't want, there are alot less people to blame for it being there. And alot of the OEM's place an image file on the hidden partition for back-up and restoration purposes. The main problem with those is the fact that usually, they get screwed just by defragging the drive.

 

[Cardboard Hammer]

Also, the free Microsoft Office 2003 that was CLEARLY WITH Encarta stated on the site ended up to be a 60 day trial of Microsoft Works and Money.

had to call and ask for the CD, I bought it directly from the HP site.

Productivity Software help me decide
Get the tools you need to save time and improve your productivity.

Microsoft(R) Works 7.0/Money 2004/MSN Encarta Plus

Microsoft(R) Works Suite 2004 includes Word 2002
MS Works, Money, Encarta, Word +$15.00

Microsoft(R) Office Basic Edition 2003
MS Word, Excel, Outlook +$150.00

Microsoft(R) Office Small Business Edition 2003
MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint & Office Publisher +$300.00


This is copied from the HP site on the same computer that I bought... No sign of trial anywhere, is there? The computer is the a610e

I called support, and they specifically told me it was implanted on the HD and mobo. How it's implanted, I have no clue. I just know what I hear.

So which option did you select for yours? I don't see any option there that includes Office AND Works AND Money AND Encarta. If there was a special offer where they gave you an option to get Office and Encarta free, did you select that option? And are you sure that Office isn't on there? They may have ALSO installed Works and Money on there in a trial mode. IIRC, even though I didn't order Office, it was still installed, but it was of no use as there was no key provided. I suspect they may just splat everything on there and only activate the bits and pieces you configured it with.

 

[CIWS]

And that's the main reason I'll never buy another branded system. I'd rather spend the time and effort to sit down and install exactly what I want on my system according to what I know I'll use. Then if something shows up that I don't want, there are alot less people to blame for it being there. And alot of the OEM's place an image file on the hidden partition for back-up and restoration purposes. The main problem with those is the fact that usually, they get screwed just by defragging the drive.

The last three laptops I've purchased have come preloaded with all kinds of bloatware (all three were HPs). However that didn't stop me from buying the product, I simply repartioned and formatted the drive and installed Windows and apps from scratch.( Also of note, they did come with restore CDs and an actual CD of WinXP from Microsoft) The restore CDs of course got to visit the inside of my microwave oven.

 

[djnes]

The last three laptops I've purchased have come preloaded with all kinds of bloatware (all three were HPs). However that didn't stop me from buying the product, I simply repartioned and formatted the drive and installed Windows and apps from scratch.( Also of note, they did come with restore CDs and an actual CD of WinXP from Microsoft) The restore CDs of course got to visit the inside of my microwave oven.

Don't forget you can usually request no OS, and that lowers the cost of the unit. I have several licenses of Xp for myself, so when I bought my fiancee's Compaq laptop, I requested no OS.

 

[relic]

HP is no better or worse than any of the other large manufacturers.
I'd like to put my $.02 on a couple of issues mentioned here. Most of these comments are not "HP specific" but are common to all major PC maunfacturers.

1.) HP-direct purchaced PCs do not always include a restore CD. I have received and configured many HP systems purchased individually and in large buys for schools/gov't organizations that did not include the CD. Perhaps it is 'supposed to be' included, but often times it is not.

2.) Ordering through a distributor instead of direct can get you a system without all the extra bloat-ware (true for any vendor not just HP) Most major distributors also have faster and more accurate order handling that the manufacturer. For example, many educational and Gov't orgs use CDW's special Education and Government division CDW.G specifically to avoid the delays and mess of dealing with the manufacturers and their glacial, often inaccurate, order processing. (No sales pitch here I am not affiliated with CDW or it's subsidiaries)

3.) You get what you pay for. If the deal looks too good to be true, it is. You can buy packages online that are cheaper than you can 'do-it-yourself' but unless it outdated, don't expect too much in the way of a discount.

4.) If you feel like you've been treated unfairly, call the sales staff and complain. Tech support and 'complaint departments' may listen to you, but the sales department are the people who's wallet is affected by you ire. Let's the sales staff know what their company is doing, be polite, and ask for some free stuff to make up for your mistreatment. I have personal experience with several companies that have a horrible front-end staff but a sales staff that more than makes up for that by taking care of problems in a way that benifits me and ensures my continued business.

 

[GlobalFear]

Just to jump in, A family member of mine bought a compaq pc a couple of months back. Well before his broadband was hooked up he said the computer seemed to be very slow. (no internet whatsoever) So I grabbed a cd that I had made with adaware + spybot on it and installed both on the machine. They found atleast 20 instances of adware from the "HP Company". Do you consider catering to the masses loading adware on the machines? (He owned this pc less than two weeks) He did not recieve a recovery disk of any kind with this computer. So in the end I wiped the harddrive and reinstalled windows and it has worked great ever since.

 

[djnes]

Just to jump in, A family member of mine bought a compaq pc a couple of months back. Well before his broadband was hooked up he said the computer seemed to be very slow. (no internet whatsoever) So I grabbed a cd that I had made with adaware + spybot on it and installed both on the machine. They found atleast 20 instances of adware from the "HP Company". Do you consider catering to the masses loading adware on the machines? (He owned this pc less than two weeks) He did not recieve a recovery disk of any kind with this computer. So in the end I wiped the harddrive and reinstalled windows and it has worked great ever since.

Jesus Christ some of you just don't get business. Okay, here it is clear. If you sold a PC with just Windows on it. Nothing else. Do you know how many people would call back bitching that it had no software on it? Do you know how many people would be pissed that they had take the time to load it themselves??? Get a freakin clue...god damn.

Also, HP was just rated #1 of the Fortune 500 companies in terms of respecting customer's data privacy. Sorry, but it happened.

 

[djnes]

This is going to be a blanket statement for all OEMs...not just HP.

Some of you need to learn a little about business. Key word there being some, not all. To run a successful business, you try to cater to the masses. You do what's best for the average person, not a unique, DIY group like us, on here. Some of you fail to realize what we look for in a computer is vastly different than what HP, Dell, Gateway, etc sell. We are not the target audience. So stop expecting us to be!!!!!!!!! I myself don't use an OEM machine at home, and I get a great discount. The average person wants to buy a PC and take home, and have it just work. The don't want to tinker, they don't want to troubleshoot, etc. Same thing with electronics, cars, etc. Do you know what AOL used to be the most popular ISP??? Because it was easy to use. Was it the best? No. Did it suit the needs of the average Joe Q Customer? Absolutely. Would any of us use AOL? No fucking way in hell. My point is I am getting tired of seeing ignorant people bitch at HP, Dell, Gateway, E-Machines, etc for ridiculous reasons. Those companies don't market to you (us) and don't have you in mind when they design and sell their products. They all do a wonderful job of what they set out to do.....sell computers for the masses. They do NOT cater to enthusiasts, so do not bitch because they don't sell enthusiast type products.

 

[CIWS]

Don't forget you can usually request no OS, and that lowers the cost of the unit. I have several licenses of Xp for myself, so when I bought my fiancee's Compaq laptop, I requested no OS.

Perhaps if you're ordering direct through HP, but not if purchased from Sam's Club. You get what's preloaded and in the box. However that's not an HP specific thing (preloaded bloatware), I do that with ANY machine that comes preloaded, very simply I don't want what some other person thinks my machine needs to be loaded with, I'll take care of that myself.

 

[CIWS]

My point is I am getting tired of seeing ignorant people bitch at HP, Dell, Gateway, E-Machines, etc for ridiculous reasons. Those companies don't market to you (us) and don't have you in mind when they design and sell their products. They all do a wonderful job of what they set out to do.....sell computers for the masses. They do NOT cater to enthusiasts, so do not bitch because they don't sell enthusiast type products.

Perhaps maybe you need to take a step back from this forum and relax. I'm getting tired of seeing you call people ignorant, stupid, or whatever because they have some kind of a beef with HP and may not completely understand what's going on. If you want to assist them by giving them good acurate information, please do, that's always welcome. But your growing attitude and shortness with users is growing old. The complaints here having nothing to do with HP not catering to the enthusiest market. Preloaded bloatware, AOL, and other crapware and the issues around them are not limited to enthusiasts only. I know people who can't spell computer and still complain about "all of this useless crap" being preinstalled on their new computer from Best Buy or wherever.I won't even go into the fiasco of restore disks. Since you are in the computer business world everyday then you should already realize how many calls, e-mails, etc come into a company from customers who do not understand the workings of the computer, but still have to be addressed. You cannot stay in business by insulting their lack of knowledge about the machine or how it works, but have to work through it the best possible way and try to leave that customer satisfied. Please keep this in mind while addressing the questions here as well.

 

[Masterphool]

I'm so sick of reading about us dumbfucks who, according to djnes, don't have a clue about business.

If people are complaining that the business practice or the company policy currently in place makes them want to take you out to an alley and pump you full of hot molten lead, then maybe there's something wrong with that business practice or policy?

The fact is the thread starter got his PC and found that it was INACCEPTABLY full of useless crap that he didn't need/want and it didn't have the things he wanted. So when he wanted to return it, he got the runaround and was blamed for being "ignorant in business". Just refund his money and quit bitching about the fact that he had the balls not to stand for such underhanded practices.

Maybe if enough people did that, companies who do that would tank, and others wouldn't be too quick to follow

EDIT: I don't consider myself ignorant in business related things as 3 years of college in BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION will attest to. Yeah I probably have a lot to learn, and am probably less qualified than many people out there, but I think I'm past ignorance in this field and I still beilieve that if the customer believes it's crap, you're doing something to give him/her that impression.


Edit CIWS - Closed for growing lack of usefullness.

Thread author - You are welcome to try again with another thread and any assistance you might be seeking with the system.