Cheap Laptop At Tesco

[Smithson]

I've just come back from Tesco, where they have HP520 laptop for B8,800. It's a demo model, the staff tell me it hasn't had Windows installed and it just displays a message "Power on Password". Is it a dud or a good buy? A friend said it's probably been 'locked' by one of the customers entering a incorrect code.

Any suggestions on whether to buy or not? The original price is B16k. There is no guarantee at all.

[kamalabob2]

Here is a link to that computer on the Hong Kong site of HP.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/hk/en/sm/WF...15-3375952.html

Perhaps the Thailand headquarters of HP can answer your questions about that model and if the MANUFACTURER will cover the warranty.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/th/en/sm/WF...=reg_R1002_THEN

above is the link on the Thailand web site for Hewlett Packard listing this as a discontinued product.

"No guarantee at all" because of why? Not that computer repair has to be expensive in Thailand, but why not just a manufacturers warranty? You might consider taking a friend who is experienced with computers to see if this particular unit functions at the store PRIOR to giving Tesco money. I would not buy a 799 baht dvd player at Tesco (or most mass market retailers) without them plugging it in and testing the unit, even brand new current model from an unopened box.

I own an HP desktop and the service for the one minor repair it needed while the unit was UNDER the warranty went smooth at no cost and the one repair it needed AFTER the warranty expired costs the princely sum of 200 baht in Buriram at "IT RELAX" computer repair / sales shop by the night bazaar.

[malcolmswaine]

Buying electronics at Tesco has always been a bit of a lottery I've found. It's true that sometimes you can get decent stuff at bargain prices, but the after sales support you get is just appalling. If it goes wrong, and you have to take it back, expect appalling service and staff who know nothing and don't give a sh*t. If your item is under warranty, expect AT LEAST 3 months for a repair turnaround.

In my opinion, if its something you can live without, like a juicer or the new wonder-blow 2009 to make your gf's hair more bouncy, then by all means go ahead and buy one. I wouldn't advise buying a life support machine from them though.

[Smithson]

There is never any warranties on 'demo models', normally the discount is only small, but in this case it's close to half.

The machine starts up, but is locked with a BIOS (blue) message saying "Power on Password". After searching it appears this is tricky to resolve, depending on the model. I think HP or someone in Panthip could get around it, but I'm not sure.

[monty]

There is never any warranties on 'demo models', normally the discount is only small, but in this case it's close to half.

The machine starts up, but is locked with a BIOS (blue) message saying "Power on Password". After searching it appears this is tricky to resolve, depending on the model. I think HP or someone in Panthip could get around it, but I'm not sure.

Not sure on a laptop, on a desktop it's quite easy to resolve!

Take out the lithium battery (the small round disc on the mainboard), and use the jumper on the board to reset the bios.

A laptop is already a major headache to get open without breaking anything in the process

Any laptop service center should be able to do this for you though for a couple of hundred Baht.

I bought some steals in situations like that, but I guess I'm a tad more techno savvy then average

[spacebass]

I have come to believe that any product with a genuine price reduction in a store like Tesco is or has been faulty and somone has 'fixed' it which means they cannot offer you any guarantee. My wife will not permit me to buy anything that does not have a guarantee , and I have come to respect this.

[h90]

There is never any warranties on 'demo models', normally the discount is only small, but in this case it's close to half.

The machine starts up, but is locked with a BIOS (blue) message saying "Power on Password". After searching it appears this is tricky to resolve, depending on the model. I think HP or someone in Panthip could get around it, but I'm not sure.

Not sure on a laptop, on a desktop it's quite easy to resolve!

Take out the lithium battery (the small round disc on the mainboard), and use the jumper on the board to reset the bios.

A laptop is already a major headache to get open without breaking anything in the process

Any laptop service center should be able to do this for you though for a couple of hundred Baht.

I bought some steals in situations like that, but I guess I'm a tad more techno savvy then average

I got told on laptop it can't be resolved with taking the battery out. But i am not sure I only got told

[NHJ]

taking the battery out will do nothing, the last known state is stored in an eeprom.

only a shortcircuit on this eeprom or extraction the content or a replacement will solve this issue.

[JSCM2012]

Dont know about HP models but most desktop pc's simply shorting all the capacitors on the m'board is sufficient to reset the CMOS but occasionally a dongle is required instead, its a gamble, I wouldnt take the risk.

[Guest Reimar]

Even Laptops having a CMOS Battery! But to reach that battery you've to open the Case and that can be a pain in the ar*e if you don't know how to do that!

If lotus will give a Warranty for let say 7 day's, that should be enough for to go to an service from HP and let them reset the computer. Under such terms I may would buy such Laptop!

Cheers.

[edgarfriendly]

this is interesting, i recently fauned over a couple of jvc camcorders in a lotus that were up for 70% discount, current HD models.

ahem - NO batteries, no warranty, no guarantee, nothing.

i went and enquired about a new battery, cheap as chips, but the girl selling batts said, that camera wud be a bad move.

i lost my enthusiasm and left, regretted it a bit until now.

ef

[David006]

I've just come back from Tesco, where they have HP520 laptop for B8,800. It's a demo model, the staff tell me it hasn't had Windows installed and it just displays a message "Power on Password". Is it a dud or a good buy? A friend said it's probably been 'locked' by one of the customers entering a incorrect code.

Any suggestions on whether to buy or not? The original price is B16k. There is no guarantee at all.

I bought an Acer 4720z last year in Canada for the approx equivalent of 10,000 Thb, complete with Vista Home Premium and all sorts of unwanted software....

There must be a million deals out there without getting into buying unsupported or guaranteed product from a grocery store.."up to you" but suggest you might want to keep your Baht in your pocket and do a bit of homework ...first relying a knowledgeable mate to assess your specification needs first? Newer laptops can include 3G access too. Vista needs a Gig of RAM to work well...so the gurus say..