HP is aware of defective motherboards in their 2515NR and similar laptops. HP claims to have notified owners, by email, of hese defects but a lengthy (and documented) e-chat shows that the cannot prove that the notification was sent to me. HP recognizes that this computer has two related defects: (1) the wireless network subsystem fails and (2) the computer is eventually unable to boot. These defects are freely admitted by HP on their website. They operated an extended warranty no-charge repair program but this closed some time in 2009. They now want hundreds of dollars to perform, presumably, the same repair they performed for free under the extended warranty for those owners who did not know to contact HP or for whom the faults were late in manifesting themselves.
This issue must surely relate to fitness of merchantability and I am surprised there is no class action.
This computer cost over $750 in August. We first noticed a problem with the wireless subsystem in the Summer of 2007 and I just switched to a USB wireless adapter instead. It was not until early 2010 that the PC ceased to boot, thus now exhibiting BOTH failure modes. This laptop should have a usable life of 5 years (my trusty Toshiba Satellite is well past 4 1/2 years) and thus this HP failed completely about halfway through its expected life. HP should either repair it or credit $375 against the purchase of a replacement.
Until now I had held HP to be a trustworthy and honorable company. This experience proves me wrong.
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