Refurb Madness!

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Ever get a refubished computer? How'd y'like it? I just got a refurb HP and it's a complete dud. Power supply light comes on but it doesn't power up, so it's going back to HP to get examined again. Under warranty, at least, but still. This is the first refurbished anything that I've had trouble with. What luck have you had?

My dad got a refurbished Packard Bell computer in 1997, and it kept breaking in strange new ways. Eventually, the monitor lost the color blue, so the whole screen was tinted green. It had nothing to do with Windows, the PC BIOS, or the video card because the monitor itself had a sort of screensaver when no display was being piped into it. Even that was tinted yellowish.

From what I remember, even new Packard-Hells used to be that way.

The first computer I ever had was a Packard Bell and I had alot of problems with it too, including the green tint monitor problem. No wonder the company went out of business.

My computer is a Packard Bell. They are still in business. Did they go out then back in again or something?

I looked on google and apparently they are still in business, just not in North America anymore...hmm.

I used to have one that I bought new in 1998 for $200.(P-5, 166 MMX) It died 4 months later. The Motherboard was non standard, and had a really wierd Bus setup.

There was a singular PCI slot on the Motherboard, that was connected to a daughtercard that had three ISA slots and a singular PCI slot. (the box proudly proclaimed that it had 2 PCI expansion slots. (! !!) --I will subject myself to a Packard Bell NEVER AGAIN!! !!

For what it's worth though, Some refurbed computers aren't that bad, provided that you can replace hardware. I've had bad luck with Bargain bin computers from CompUSA. Buyer beware, though for the most part.

I suspect a lot depends on where you buy from. I went direct from the manufacturer, who's 2-daying my PC back to me today already. I'm waiting to read their great explanation of some really dipwad thing I could've fixed myself.

PS: Just saw packard Bell's stuff. Not bad-looking boxes - kind of a mix of Gateway, hp and Sony. Didn't know they were part of NEC.

Packard Bells were better in their pre-pentium days.

My dad bought a 486 machine in July 1993, I still have it and it still works and runs windows 95 quite well.

Forgive me if i prefer my new one.

I never said you wouldn't

At least it's not an E-machine. I've heard all kinds of awful things about them.

Say, is it true the rumor that E-machines are built with parts that work, but don't pass quality control specs?

Im not sure about that rumour but it could be true given their reputation.I was nearly tempted to buy an E-machine given how cheap they are and how they are advertised everywhere but everyone i have spoke to said how bad quality they are and are always breaking down. It seems they are cheap for a reason.

I know of Packard Bell's poor history but the computer magazines i read said they had reinvented themselves and gave them good scores, i like the design of them and i got a good deal so fingers crossed this one will last. Probably the best thing i should have done was get somebody to build a computer for me as that is supposed to be the best value for money.

Funny, I was just on a Linux board and someone was complaining about their E-machine hardware messing up, so they called tech support and complained and the tech person told them that installing linux voids their warranty.

From what I hear, the best computer you can ever get is one you build yourself or have a friend build for you. It's also cheaper as you are cutting out the middle man.

You can put together a better computer but it's not cheaper And you can upgrade not have to get a whole new system. The big guys like dell buy in bulk and use gimped/werid clock speeds ram that only works with there computers. With a little help I put my own computer system together

From what i understand this is not the case, although Dell is one of the cheaper brands. I know of loads of people that have got far more powerful computer than mine for cheaper because they built it them selves or got someone else to do it. You are cutting out the middle men this way.

Building a computer is fairly easy, and can also be fairly cheap, but the problem with building a copmuter is that if something goes wrong with it, you have yourself to blame. One of the Advantages of getting a Dell or other Name brand computer, is that they do provide Tech Support. --You may want to take this into account.