HP ordered to repair defective Pavilion Elite desktop PCs

Summary: Do you own a high-end Pavilion Elite desktop PC from HP? If it’s suffered from blue screens or lockups, you might qualify for a free replacement, thanks to a court-ordered settlement now underway. But hurry, the clock runs out on March 1, 2012.

I recently retired an HP Pavilion Elite m9600t desktop computer.

Well, “retired” might not be the right word, exactly. Over a period of a few weeks, this once-mighty i7-powered machine had begun failing and stalling, with sudden shutdowns and unexplained lockups, until one day it refused to power up at all. Thankfully, I had had plenty of warning and had migrated the data from this machine so that I could replace it quickly.

All the symptoms pointed to a catastrophic motherboard failure, and because the system was out of warranty I was ready to throw it away. It was literally in the garage, one step away from being carted off to the electronics recycling center.

And then I stumbled across this page:

Limited Warranty Service Enhancement Program for HP Pavilion Elite Desktop Model Numbers e9150t, e9180f, e9180t, m9600t, m9650f, e9280f, e9280t, and e9290f

Pursuant to a court-approved class action settlement, HP is implementing a 90-day Limited Warranty Service Enhancement Program (“LWSEP”) for owners of HP Pavilion Elite Desktop Model Numbers e9150t, e9180f, e9180t, m9600t, m9650f, e9280f, e9280t, and e9290f that were purchased, leased, received as a gift or otherwise acquired in the United States (the “Program Models”). During the LWSEP, owners of the Program Models whose original HP Limited Warranty has expired and who have experienced or who, during the LWSEP period, experience a Lockup Failure or Blue Screen Failure (both of which are defined below) can receive, at no cost to them, a motherboard replacement by contacting HP on or before March 1, 2012. Owners whose Program Model is still covered by HP’s Limited Warranty can receive any necessary repair (including any necessary motherboard replacement) free of charge pursuant to that warranty.

There’s no revision date on the page, but an HP support announcement suggests that this 90-day program began on December 1, 2011, which would explain the March 1, 2012, end date.

I called, spoke to a polite support rep, read off the model and serial numbers, and confirmed that the PC is eligible for a free repair. HP is sending me a shipping box and a prepaid return label. The motherboard replacement and return shipping are on them, too, so I won’t be out of pocket a penny.

If you own one of the potentially defective units, check the Program Notice to see if you’re eligible for a free replacement motherboard.

hp 27" all-in-one PC Omni 27 (Photo Gallery)

hp Omni 27

HP rolls out trio of Pavilion desktop PCs; starts at $299.99

Hewlett-Packard is paying some more attention to its Pavilion consumer desktop collection, and these PCs have been slimmed down considerably.

 

Starting with the smallest, the Slimline s5 series (pictured right) is “less than half” the size of a conventional PC tower. With a $329 starting price tag (and the fact that this computer is directed at non-business/enterprise consumers), don’t expect more than than the basic specs. However, there are plenty of customizable options, including choices between Intel and AMD processors.
Next up on the spec spectrum is the Pavilion P7 series (pictured above). While it’s definitely larger than the s5, it comes with a smaller starting price tag of $299. This machine is ideal for users who need a little more graphics support with an integrated graphics card and built-in support for multi-channel surround sound. Buyers also have the choice between Intel and AMD processors on this machine.
Finally, there is the HP Pavilion HPE h8 series (pictured below), which starts at $599. If you’re looking for a computer for a home office or other more intense computing purposes (i.e. gaming), this is the machine to pick out of these three options. Consumers can choose from Intel Core i7 or AMD Phenom processors as well as NVIDIA and ATI graphics cards. Additionally, the HPE h8 series desktops can support up to two monitors simultaneously with up to 24GB of RAM and up to three hard drives onboard.
There are a number of similar threads running throughout all three of these new Pavilion models. Along with Beats Audio technology (which also popped up on a number of the new HP laptops and netbooks), HP has integrated its signature LinkUp program that permits users to access files wirelessly from a laptop on their Pavilion desktops on the same home network. That could come in handy for home office set-ups or larger households with multiple computers.
Both the HP Pavilion p7 and HPE h8 series will be launched first on May 18, followed by the Slimline s5 series on June 15.

 

HP's desktop, thin client and monitor barrage

HP is one of those companies that seldom announces a single product. Instead it launches a confusing barrage of products. This time, the product launch focused on desktop systems, thin clients and monitors. I must admit that HP’s move is a bit overwhelming.

What HP has to say about their product launch

HP today unveiled new business desktop PCs, thin clients and monitors that deliver performance and value, helping small businesses and large enterprise customers improve productivity and reduce the environmental impact of their technology.

• The HP Compaq 8200 Elite, HP Compaq 6200 Pro, HP Compaq 4000 Pro and HP 100B All-in-One Business Desktops offer a choice of computing power and design that deliver the control, consistency, connectivity and commitment to environmental excellence business customers expect from HP.
• The HP t5550, t5565 and t5570 Thin Clients are ideal for environmentally conscious customers seeking simple, reliable computing for office applications and web browsing for client virtualization or cloud computing.
• HP Compaq Business Monitors feature sleek, modern designs for forward-thinking customers in need of power-saving, adjustable displays.

Snapshot anlysis

HP is one of the few suppliers that has the ability to address each and every one of the segments of the Kusnetzky Group Model of virtualization (see Sorting out the different layers of virtualization for more information about the model) as well as a broad portfolio of desktop and laptop systems, thin clients and servers from small to very, very large.

While the broad array of products and technology allow HP to address just about the broadest list of customer requirements, it also creates a confusing environment for the newcomer.  So, I am not at all sure that I could answer questions about what HP is doing other than to say that they’re trying to do everything for everyone, everywhere, always.  Few companies can actually accomplish that feat. HP clearly can.

If your organization is looking for products in desktops, thin client systems or monitors, HP should most certainly be considered.