Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

[Pony]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

It's not exactly a disposable camera...I mean, heck $450.

.

$450 was 3 yrs ago. That same camera now in a brand new model would be half that cost if not less...

and, we're back to, that's what you get for buying a camera from a computer company.

In the mind of the budget-minded consumer a $450 camera 3 years ago is still a $450 camera. In the mind of the computer company a $450 camera should be tossed out within 3 years.

[but, "rip-off"? Mark? a bit of hyperbole maybe? surely you got a $450 camera for your $450? dismal customer service maybe? just my 2¢]

No different then the fact that the value of a car decreases the second you drive it. You could buy a car in 2000 and not drive it once. Do you think you are gonna get the price you paid back even though to you its the EXACT same car................I doubt it.

If you bought that Hp camera for $450 and never opened the box you couldnt sell it for that 3 years later, you have trouble selling it for $250........As the technology comes out the old stuff decreases in value regardless. Its not an Hp specific thing, and the fact that they are a computer company HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

Well Mark, I have learned from this that if I want a camera, I'll get one from a camera company. And If I want a computer, I'll get one from a computer company.
nuff said, by me.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

to the final consumer, fair market value is irrelevant. Drop half a grand on a camera he likes, he expects to keep using it.

The camera company knows this and meets his expectations. I could take my Canon AE-1 (vintage 1983) to a camera shop and they could repair it with genuine Canon parts.

Computer user expects obsolescence within two-three years. Computer company knows this and meets his expectations. [edited - not a complaint...I have no problem with this aspect of the industry]

No support beyond warranty period is computer company standard. [edited - also, not a complaint, just what I think is a fact, correct me if I'm wrong]

I think a camera is computer-assisted optical device...computer company thinks a camera is a computer with optical peripheral device.

Two words for mark42: duct tape!

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

Ouch! I was told several years ago by an industry exec that they do the product run and bean counters calculate spares for exactly 18 months of warranty claims.
This applied to laptop computers although he strongly hinted that it wasn't confined to just laptops.
I argued that they then couldn't give 3 year warranty's on the laptop and he said "Yes we can, but when we can't source the parts we persuade the customer to upgrade to a new one".
I argued this wasn't fair on the customer to which he replied.............."but all customers are greedy and want the latest models at the discounted rate" :'(

In Europe there are moves to bring the computer industry into line with automobiles when it comes to spares: all parts must be available for 15 years from the last date of production.

On the subject of HP themselves...............six HP printers so far and not one of them has worked properly from day one. We've kept buying HP on the basis of recommendation and the promise that they have improved.
They are all different models and all have the same fault: chewing up the printed paper as it exits the printer. Not even the techs can figure it out and they've said it's the most common problem they see on HP home printers.

Our latest printer is a Samsung and has had no issues in two years, unlike the HP printer sat beside it which is three months old!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

Two words for mark42: duct tape!

Yeah, I tried that but the battery spring force is too strong for even genuine duct tape! I wouldn't mind having duct tape on the camera, its a badge of use! The design is one where it slides about 1/4" then hinges open. It has three small hooks to hold it closed when slid that 1/4". All 3 hooks broke off the door so nothing holds it closed. My ultimate solution is to drill a small hole in the door and use a small screw to hold it closed. Problem is there is nothing solid for the screw to grip. So I will have to fill a small cavity with epoxy, and drill/tap threads in it for the screw to grip. A genuine micro engineering project.

Like I have oodles of time for this stuff.

 

[llfish]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

HP started out making computers that were used for scientific use and the added scientific calculates. One of there first computers was a model 80. A 6" x 6" crt. No floppy drives just two cosset drives. Drive A ran the program and B was for data collecting. Still have it.

 

[eeboater]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

So yes, on a relative scale and compared to what AMC built, Chrysler's Jeeps are, in fact, "junk."

Meh... I think we'll have to agree to disagree here. While I think that the AMC era of Jeeps are historic by themselves... I have to say that the "chrysler-era" of Jeeps have qualities that are much better than the AMC era Jeeps. This is coming from someone who has a 1979 CJ7 "Levi Edition" sitting in my driveway with 72k miles on it. The modern Jeeps are lighter, they don't rot, they are safer - and I bet that you can get many YJ and TJ owners to say that the modern Jeep is more capable off road.

I'm not 100% sold on the KJ yet - but I've only seen them in Detroit at the auto show and in Daimler's lot under a lot of body clothing in Auburn Hills.

Ok, so they have replaced the traditional "Jeep" dash which was basically a piece of sheetmetal with a bunch of holes punched in it - but these changes would have happened even if AMC managed to survive all these years.

Take the top-of-the-line 1976 Jeep CJ7 and the 2006 Jeep Rubicon - put them on the trail - STOCK - and see which one does better.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

note to stan: as a "bean counter" I strenuously yet facetiously object to the term "bean counter".

note to eeboater: do ya ever get irritated by that Daimler Chrysler "Dr. Z" ad campaign - always about how Daimler improved Chrysler - so smug - I half-expect the next one to be about how crappy the Benz's are now after the merger.

another note to eeboater: what happened to Daisy Duke? Man, I miss her!

another note to stan: I have on my desk at home an HP laserjet IIIp purchased new in 1982 for around $1,000. Last year that model, but HP cartridges were still on the shelves for I bet 5 or 8 years. Generics still available. Burned probably several dozen cases of paper through it. Still going like the day I brought it home.

"Personal" or "home-use" printers nowadays I think are throw-away - lightweight, cheap, wonder what the true design life is for some of those. Sorry to hear that the commercial models aren't better.

Unless things change, I'll never buy an hp desktop computer (even though I'm typing on one right now at work) - on account of all the frustration I had trying to fix my FIL's once...due to the "proprietary architecture" couldn't use off-the-shelf CD drives or off-the-shelf windows...forget about it.

note to mark42: way to go! a complicated camera you know how to use it, you don't throw it away just like that! Bet you didn't expect this thread to generate such a lively discussion! 8)

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

Mark:
please excuse the near hijack, it was not intentional...

Meh... I think we'll have to agree to disagree here. While I think that the AMC era of Jeeps are historic by themselves... I have to say that the "chrysler-era" of Jeeps have qualities that are much better than the AMC era Jeeps. This is coming from someone who has a 1979 CJ7 "Levi Edition" sitting in my driveway with 72k miles on it. The modern Jeeps are lighter, they don't rot, they are safer - and I bet that you can get many YJ and TJ owners to say that the modern Jeep is more capable off road.

Take the top-of-the-line 1976 Jeep CJ7 and the 2006 Jeep Rubicon - put them on the trail - STOCK - and see which one does better.

I guess we will disagree, but I don't really understand your argument. Esp. "This is coming from someone who has a 1979 CJ7 "Levi Edition" sitting in my driveway with 72k miles on it." Seems if you really felt the way you do you would be driving one of Chrysler's products?? I think your own choice of vehicle says a lot. You can get YJ and TJ owners to say anything...but proving it is where it ends. Comparing a 76 CJ to a Rubicon is apples to oranges. Compare a stock 1986 CJ to a stock 2006 TJ Wrangler.
I don't know how much jeeping you do, but there's no way you've compared these rigs on the trail - not with your conclusions.

And this is coming from someone with a stock 1983 CJ-7 Limited daily driver and offroad king with 224,000 miles and still going strong...

 

[Mark42]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

This is too funny:

I go to ebay and look up the camera and the first one I look at has this photo:

That grey thing on the left is "industrial strength" velco to keep the battery door closed because it broke.

So much for shopping for these cameras used on ebay. LOL!

 

[jtexas]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

I can see it now....Tutorial: the mark42 upgrade to your hp camera battery door...adds years to the useful life of your expensive camera...only $9.95...

 

[Mark42]

Re: Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a major dissapointment

I can see it now....Tutorial: the mark42 upgrade to your hp camera battery door...adds years to the useful life of your expensive camera...only $9.95...

Hey! Not a bad idea!
I'm thinking this is a good excuse to go drop $600 on a new SLR camera and stick this one on ebay once I get a fix for it. :devil: