Need a cheap laptop? Good luck!

[Jake]

2 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

 

 

Follow up to my post above about my Dell laptop touchscreen going bad.  I think I had better start shopping!  In addition to the problem in the upper corners, it now has a gray stripe, about the same color as the corners, right down the middle!  This picture is of one corner and the middle, with red lines to show the problems areas.  I'm not sure how well you can see the gray parts.

 

I agree Don, you better start shopping for replacement.  How often do you use the touch screen?  You can get a laptop with more enhanced features at a lower price without the TS.  

If you have the curiosity, tools and the patience, transfer all your data to the new laptop and then perform a surgical operation on how to take an LCD panel apart.  Possible issues: moisture still between the TS and the panel.  Cut the tape holding the TS in place, inspect then clean.  Another issue might be the delicate flat connector (about 2" wide) to the panel.  One or more pins are corroded or loose. 
   
Don't forget to use profanity while taking a laptop apart.   
 

[OnMyWay]

15 minutes ago, Jake said:

I agree Don, you better start shopping for replacement.  How often do you use the touch screen?  You can get a laptop with more enhanced features at a lower price without the TS.  

If you have the curiosity, tools and the patience, transfer all your data to the new laptop and then perform a surgical operation on how to take an LCD panel apart.  Possible issues: moisture still between the TS and the panel.  Cut the tape holding the TS in place, inspect then clean.  Another issue might be the delicate flat connector (about 2" wide) to the panel.  One or more pins are corroded or loose. 
   
Don't forget to use profanity while taking a laptop apart.   
 

Actually, the touch screen gets used quite a bit, with my wife and kids.  Me, not so much.  They don't use it very often but I really like this computer and would like to keep it highly functioning.

I have curiosity.  I have tools.  Patience, well, I should post a picture of my old HP laptop.  It literally has a dip in the keyboard area where my fist used to go!  

I was thinking more along the lines of getting the part(s) then paying a local shop to put it in.  Labor is cheap!  I will have to see if I can get the proper Dell screen here.

Thanks!

[Jake]

46 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

Actually, the touch screen gets used quite a bit, with my wife and kids.  Me, not so much.  They don't use it very often but I really like this computer and would like to keep it highly functioning.

I have curiosity.  I have tools.  Patience, well, I should post a picture of my old HP laptop.  It literally has a dip in the keyboard area where my fist used to go!  

I was thinking more along the lines of getting the part(s) then paying a local shop to put it in.  Labor is cheap!  I will have to see if I can get the proper Dell screen here.

Thanks!

OK, hopefully the replacement panel is readily available.  Or perhaps, there are some after market that is compatible to your Dell.  I would love to see those guys taking your laptop apart without doing a butcher job, like I usually do.  

As always, I'm at your disposal.  My ultimate troubleshooting tool is a 12" crescent-hammer.  You know....to put it out of its misery.  

[sonjack2847]

On 8/19/2020 at 7:56 PM, OnMyWay said:

This is a follow on to my previous thread:

So, for a while, I thought I was not going to need to buy a laptop for my daughter.  Long story behind that.

We finally decided that we better get one so I went shopping today at two malls and one other place.  Cheapest I found in stock was 35k.  All of them in my price range 18-21 k, were out of stock!  The shelves were bare in most places, except for 40-50+ k machines, so they even sold the display models.  The malls were relatively empty, but the computer stores had lots of people trying to find something for their kid' online schooling.  Octagon had several desktops and 1 laptop, for 33k, and I saw a few being sold in the 5 minutes I was there.

Online, Abenson and Silicon Valley are out of stock on almost all laptops.  There are some available on Lazada, but I don't need one bad enough to go that route.  We have an old laptop and desktop to get us by for a while.  My daughter started 11th grade online this past Monday, and so far, it is working out.

 

When I read this post a few weeks ago I was skeptical about the price quoted. Having been out and (now) about I see that this price is under-quoted for what is available. Wow for what I had ten + years ago in the UK which cost me 400 quid is now 2k quid here. OK PH we can do online schooling yeh right.

[GeoffH]

14 hours ago, sonjack2847 said:

OK PH we can do online schooling yeh right.

I don't think any of the children in the family are using laptops for schooling, the children (and some of their friends) are mostly using phones for their online lessons.  An Auntie bought a phone for our nephew and I bought one for our niece (lower end Vivos) and SWMBO loaned her iPad to her young cousin.

How effective it is remains to be seen but they are doing lessons at least.

[OnMyWay]

On 9/27/2020 at 11:01 PM, Jake said:

I agree Don, you better start shopping for replacement.  How often do you use the touch screen?  You can get a laptop with more enhanced features at a lower price without the TS.  

If you have the curiosity, tools and the patience, transfer all your data to the new laptop and then perform a surgical operation on how to take an LCD panel apart.  Possible issues: moisture still between the TS and the panel.  Cut the tape holding the TS in place, inspect then clean.  Another issue might be the delicate flat connector (about 2" wide) to the panel.  One or more pins are corroded or loose. 
   
Don't forget to use profanity while taking a laptop apart.   
 

This is my screen now!

[Gandang Smile]

@OnMyWay

If you live in or around Manila, the IT shops near Gilmore LRT station are worth a visit. There is a large building full of computer shops, which include at least 4 separate shops that specialise in 2nd hand refurbished (and tested, with return/replacement on fault) laptops.

My favourite is one called "No. 1 PC Winner", tucked in a corner on the 2nd floor, which sells desktops and monitors sourced from Japan and Korea at rock bottom prices. If you can do with a desktop, rather than a laptop, you can have a decent and functioning PC for around 6,000/7,000 PHP, including monitor.

Edited November 11, 2020 by Gandang Smile

[OnMyWay]

9 minutes ago, Gandang Smile said:

@OnMyWay

If you live in or around Manila, the IT shops near Gilmore LRT station are worth a visit. There is a large building full of computer shops, which include at least 4 separate shops that specialise in 2nd hand refurbished (and tested, with return/replacement on fault) laptops.

My favourite is one called "No. 1 PC Winner", tucked in a corner on the 2nd floor, which sells desktops and monitors sourced from Japan and Korea at rock bottom prices. If you can do with a desktop, rather than a laptop, you can have a decent and functioning PC for around 6,000/7,000 PHP, including monitor.

We have a small version of that in Olongapo.  Lots of repair shops in one building.  I'm going to have my wife do a tour in there soon to ask if any can get the Dell touchscreen I need.  If they can't, I will order one from the U.S.

[graham59]

Well, I did manage to fix one of our TVs... a 40" Sharp, struck by lightning a while back... after a bit of research on YouTube, and parts ordering from Shopee.  Not something I've tried before...but you're never too old to learn, is my view. 

Now to persevere with the unresponsive laptop, all in bits on my work bench, that I'd given to the Mrs... and she managed to break.  

Edited November 11, 2020 by graham59

[Shady]

1 hour ago, OnMyWay said:

  I'm going to have my wife do a tour in there soon to ask if any can get the Dell touchscreen I need.  If they can't, I will order one from the U.S.

You can still go through official Dell warranty channels to fix it in the PH, even if you aren't covered they will still repair it for a fee.

Dell EMC | Dell Tech L3
Office Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM MNL Time
Direct Hotline: 1-800-160-10059 || 1-800-1601-0061 (Tollfree)
Dell Basic Warranty Support hours of Operation: Mon-Friday 9AM - 6PM
Direct Hotline: +632 883 0677 (Local Line)

Last time I did that they sent an authorized technician from https://villman.com/