Laptop problems, should i return it?

Arcadia · 18th June 2006, 6:40 PM

I bought a toshiba p100 today from dick smith.

However, once i got home i noticed the box had been opened and the cables were not even in their plastic wrapping. Also, the computers name is 'DSE'.

Should i be concerned?

A problem I have identified is that there is some light bleed from the top and bottom of the screen.

Here is a pic, taken in the dark: http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1...htbleed6ok.jpg

Is this normal?

Also, my system properties indicate the cpu speed is only 989 mhz, is this normal?

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1790/speed4uy.jpg

THELTD · 18th June 2006, 6:44 PM

Turn off power saving/cpu throtling if you want full speed.

If i got something 'new' and it was opened and had fingerprints/accessories obviously used/out of order/missing bits, i would take it back.

<< J o Y i >> · 18th June 2006, 6:58 PM

clearly it was used as a demo.

did they sell it as new or as a demo? if it was sold as new, u should go and complain...

BuuBox · 18th June 2006, 7:50 PM

Take it back. Obviously floor stock.

Unless it was sold as such?

Arcadia · 18th June 2006, 9:07 PM

I dont think it was floor stock.

Just concerned mostly about the light leakage issue.

splosh123 · 18th June 2006, 9:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcadia

I dont think it was floor stock.

Just concerned mostly about the light leakage issue.

It's floor stock if it has DSE as computer name. And it's been used. I don't think Toshiba would call their computers all DSE. Take it back!

-=Alfonzo=- · 18th June 2006, 9:35 PM

Light bleeding just looks like the cathode in the LCD panel itself.

I'd be a little miffed too if I opened a box I was sold as 'brand new' to find it was already tampered with, and the system name someone else's. Unless they specifically said it was already opened I'd be taking it back for that reason first.

I've been sold a HP iPAQ PDA in the past that had some other customer's complete personal details in it. I was not impressed, and took it right back.

A new one couriered to the shop in question the next day.

Arcadia · 18th June 2006, 9:38 PM

My first thought was to take it back, but then i realised no weird programs or anything had been installed, all the sticky plastic protection things were in place, and no dead pixels or marks were anywhere. Just concerned about the light leakage issue which im not sure is normal with laptops or not.

splosh123 · 18th June 2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcadia

My first thought was to take it back, but then i realised no weird programs or anything had been installed, all the sticky plastic protection things were in place, and no dead pixels or marks were anywhere. Just concerned about the light leakage issue which im not sure is normal with laptops or not.

Imagine how many little shits would come over to that computer with greasy hands, and slap that keyboard. And press the enter key millions of times....

bungfritz · 18th June 2006, 10:14 PM

as mentioned before, the light leakage is caused by the cathodes in the lcd screen. Usually leakage occurs because they have a cathode at the top and one at the bottom of the lcd screen. Its generally brighter at the top and bottom since its where the cathodes reside, hence the apparent leakage evident. I've got a compaq laptop with a brightview screen, and its got light leakage on the bottom of the screen as well. Think more expensive laptops dont seem to exhibit the problem, since they somehow get more even backlighting. Dunno, this was what someone told me a while back so yea

Hope that helps you a bit

Regards

Bungfritz

yorky · 18th June 2006, 10:32 PM

When you first turned it on, did it come up with the Windows user agreement and so you can enter your username and such?

Arcadia · 19th June 2006, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorky

When you first turned it on, did it come up with the Windows user agreement and so you can enter your username and such?

Nope, just booted to windows.

stmok · 19th June 2006, 3:41 AM

Its been used. Return it. Ask for a new one.

yorky · 19th June 2006, 8:38 AM

Yep, it should NOT have booted to windows, you must accept the license agreement on Windows before using it, which has obviously been 'done' already. This unit is very much used.

Colonel Panic · 19th June 2006, 11:30 AM

From experience (having worked in a computer retail environment).

Yes, it was a demo model, so you are probably buying an item that is just starting to go out of rotation.

The amount of crap I had to clean off the demo laptops where I worked was phenomenal.

Keys got pried off
Drinks spilled over them.
Finger prints and scratches on the screen.

Personally I prefer to break my new toys in myself, but if you are ok with a 'slightly used' model, go back and threaten to return it unless they give you a reasonable discount.

If they didn't tell you it was an ex demo, and weren't trying to pull a fast one on you, they will be happy to exchange or discount it.

Cheers

18th June 2006, 6:40 PM	#1
Arcadia Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 733	Laptop problems, should i return it? I bought a toshiba p100 today from dick smith. However, once i got home i noticed the box had been opened and the cables were not even in their plastic wrapping. Also, the computers name is 'DSE'. Should i be concerned? A problem I have identified is that there is some light bleed from the top and bottom of the screen. Here is a pic, taken in the dark: http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1...htbleed6ok.jpg Is this normal? Also, my system properties indicate the cpu speed is only 989 mhz, is this normal? http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1790/speed4uy.jpg

18th June 2006, 6:58 PM	#3
<< J o Y i >> Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Melbourne, Mount Waverley Posts: 770	clearly it was used as a demo. did they sell it as new or as a demo? if it was sold as new, u should go and complain... __________________ Traded With: Julz, imf, jag121, PuLsE, Atti, MiniDisc, Spoonbender, deranged128, Porkashi, Jordain, adr_an, SwAmPTiGr, tizeyboy, willz, kung-f00-kamel (x2), snuff_007, [CD], Nyquist_Theorem, 16c_Killer, metho_man, RomantiK, UncleRes, nievac, Noonoo, HeardY, Jor8, Frodo, The OC, ArcTan, ---Spy---, krayzeee, Ma Baker, ymcandrew, Stygian Shane, Richie13, KyocEr@~, mental_empathy, tgenesis, BiRDBRAiN, KGB spy, =BiG_TiMMy=, puh_leease... - $4450+* Worth of Successful Trades (75+ trades)

18th June 2006, 9:35 PM	#7
-=Alfonzo=- Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Redland Bay, BrisVegas Posts: 7,191	Light bleeding just looks like the cathode in the LCD panel itself. I'd be a little miffed too if I opened a box I was sold as 'brand new' to find it was already tampered with, and the system name someone else's. Unless they specifically said it was already opened I'd be taking it back for that reason first. I've been sold a HP iPAQ PDA in the past that had some other customer's complete personal details in it. I was not impressed, and took it right back. A new one couriered to the shop in question the next day. __________________ successful trades \| car

18th June 2006, 10:14 PM	#10
bungfritz Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Adelaide, S.A. Posts: 57	as mentioned before, the light leakage is caused by the cathodes in the lcd screen. Usually leakage occurs because they have a cathode at the top and one at the bottom of the lcd screen. Its generally brighter at the top and bottom since its where the cathodes reside, hence the apparent leakage evident. I've got a compaq laptop with a brightview screen, and its got light leakage on the bottom of the screen as well. Think more expensive laptops dont seem to exhibit the problem, since they somehow get more even backlighting. Dunno, this was what someone told me a while back so yea Hope that helps you a bit Regards Bungfritz __________________ Successful Trades: Blue_muppet, Mobester, Chrissara, becker83, Rambler, Saviour, Silverbullet and more....

18th June 2006, 10:32 PM	#11
yorky Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Perth Posts: 2,389	When you first turned it on, did it come up with the Windows user agreement and so you can enter your username and such? __________________ Q6600 G0 @3Ghz\|Zalman 9500LED\|2x1GB Kingston KHX8500D2K2/2G\|XFX GTX280/1GB\|Gigabyte X38-DQ6\|150GB Raptor\|PCDB entry Looking to buy a 3G USB Dongle!

18th June 2006, 6:44 PM	#2
THELTD Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 575	Turn off power saving/cpu throtling if you want full speed. If i got something 'new' and it was opened and had fingerprints/accessories obviously used/out of order/missing bits, i would take it back.

18th June 2006, 7:50 PM	#4
BuuBox Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3,021	Take it back. Obviously floor stock. Unless it was sold as such?

18th June 2006, 9:07 PM	#5
Arcadia Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 733	I dont think it was floor stock. Just concerned mostly about the light leakage issue.

18th June 2006, 9:38 PM	#8
Arcadia Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 733	My first thought was to take it back, but then i realised no weird programs or anything had been installed, all the sticky plastic protection things were in place, and no dead pixels or marks were anywhere. Just concerned about the light leakage issue which im not sure is normal with laptops or not.

19th June 2006, 3:41 AM	#13
stmok (Taking a Break) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 6,271	Its been used. Return it. Ask for a new one.

19th June 2006, 8:38 AM	#14
yorky Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Perth Posts: 2,389	Yep, it should NOT have booted to windows, you must accept the license agreement on Windows before using it, which has obviously been 'done' already. This unit is very much used. __________________ Q6600 G0 @3Ghz\|Zalman 9500LED\|2x1GB Kingston KHX8500D2K2/2G\|XFX GTX280/1GB\|Gigabyte X38-DQ6\|150GB Raptor\|PCDB entry Looking to buy a 3G USB Dongle!

19th June 2006, 11:30 AM	#15
Colonel Panic Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Southbank, VIC Posts: 14	From experience (having worked in a computer retail environment). Yes, it was a demo model, so you are probably buying an item that is just starting to go out of rotation. The amount of crap I had to clean off the demo laptops where I worked was phenomenal. Keys got pried off Drinks spilled over them. Finger prints and scratches on the screen. Personally I prefer to break my new toys in myself, but if you are ok with a 'slightly used' model, go back and threaten to return it unless they give you a reasonable discount. If they didn't tell you it was an ex demo, and weren't trying to pull a fast one on you, they will be happy to exchange or discount it. Cheers