Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,japan.comp.toshiba,comp.laptops,comp.multimedia (More info?)

Hi. We've been having some  problems with Toshiba's customer service
and I am writing to ask if I am being unreasonable. My husband and I
both bought Toshiba Satellite laptops last August. His is a heavier
duty model than mine - mine cost approx $799 US. Just over a month
ago, the fan on my laptop became noisier and noisier. The processing
power also became increasingly slower whenever the fan was on. Then
the DVD/CD-RW stopped working completely. There is a Toshiba service
center in the same building where my husband works so he took it in
there. They told him I would have my computer back in about a week. It
has been three weeks and it does not look like I will be getting it
back any time soon. They fixed the DVD/CD-RW within the week but had
to get the fan from Toshiba. Toshiba has yet to send the part despite
the service center repeatedly calling them. I am going nuts! I didn't
realise that so many people had problems with Toshiba's service. Sad
to say, we didn't check that on Google groups before buying. What
should I do? What is a reasonable timeframe in which to expect this
problem to be fixed?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,japan.comp.toshiba,comp.laptops,comp.multimedia (More info?)

You did not mention where you are located: US, Canada, etc.
 
I've had good results with Tosh service, but at a particular place I  
drive it to.  Actually drove: Gave that computer away to the local  
college student.
 
Most recently I also had good luck with Averatec service:  Shipped the  
machine to them and got it back in two weeks (total time) with a new  
CD-DVD and fan.
 
My other laptop, and my favorite, is my Gateway 200X.  No reason to use  
service yet; since I bought the 3-yr policy, I expect it to work for 37  
mos flawlessly :-)
 
Phil
 
Miriam Seshadri wrote:
> Hi. We've been having some  problems with Toshiba's customer service
> and I am writing to ask if I am being unreasonable. My husband and I
> both bought Toshiba Satellite laptops last August. His is a heavier
> duty model than mine - mine cost approx $799 US. Just over a month
> ago, the fan on my laptop became noisier and noisier. The processing
> power also became increasingly slower whenever the fan was on. Then
> the DVD/CD-RW stopped working completely. There is a Toshiba service
> center in the same building where my husband works so he took it in
> there. They told him I would have my computer back in about a week. It
> has been three weeks and it does not look like I will be getting it
> back any time soon. They fixed the DVD/CD-RW within the week but had
> to get the fan from Toshiba. Toshiba has yet to send the part despite
> the service center repeatedly calling them. I am going nuts! I didn't
> realise that so many people had problems with Toshiba's service. Sad
> to say, we didn't check that on Google groups before buying. What
> should I do? What is a reasonable timeframe in which to expect this
> problem to be fixed?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On 28 Apr 2004 17:25:37 -0700, mradha_seshadri@yahoo.com (Miriam Seshadri)
wrote:
 
:>Hi. We've been having some  problems with Toshiba's customer service
:>and I am writing to ask if I am being unreasonable. My husband and I
:>both bought Toshiba Satellite laptops last August. His is a heavier
:>duty model than mine - mine cost approx $799 US. Just over a month
:>ago, the fan on my laptop became noisier and noisier. The processing
:>power also became increasingly slower whenever the fan was on. Then
:>the DVD/CD-RW stopped working completely. There is a Toshiba service
:>center in the same building where my husband works so he took it in
:>there. They told him I would have my computer back in about a week. It
:>has been three weeks and it does not look like I will be getting it
:>back any time soon. They fixed the DVD/CD-RW within the week but had
:>to get the fan from Toshiba. Toshiba has yet to send the part despite
:>the service center repeatedly calling them. I am going nuts! I didn't
:>realise that so many people had problems with Toshiba's service. Sad
:>to say, we didn't check that on Google groups before buying. What
:>should I do? What is a reasonable timeframe in which to expect this
:>problem to be fixed?
 
You didn't mention which model of Satellite you have but if it is one of the
infamous "Built by Compal" units what you are seeing is quite typical.  The
parts availibility on those is terrible, unlike the normally readily
available parts for the "Built by Toshiba" models that the service center
quite often gets the day after ordering from Toshiba.  I've got some friends
that work at Toshiba service providers and they tell me they cringe every
time on of the "Compal Built" units comes in the door.
 
Gray

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,japan.comp.toshiba,comp.laptops,comp.multimedia (More info?)

Miriam Seshadri wrote:
> Hi. We've been having some  problems with Toshiba's customer service
> and I am writing to ask if I am being unreasonable. My husband and I
> both bought Toshiba Satellite laptops last August. His is a heavier
> duty model than mine - mine cost approx $799 US. Just over a month
> ago, the fan on my laptop became noisier and noisier. The processing
> power also became increasingly slower whenever the fan was on. Then
> the DVD/CD-RW stopped working completely. There is a Toshiba service
> center in the same building where my husband works so he took it in
> there. They told him I would have my computer back in about a week. It
> has been three weeks and it does not look like I will be getting it
> back any time soon. They fixed the DVD/CD-RW within the week but had
> to get the fan from Toshiba. Toshiba has yet to send the part despite
> the service center repeatedly calling them. I am going nuts! I didn't
> realise that so many people had problems with Toshiba's service. Sad
> to say, we didn't check that on Google groups before buying. What
> should I do? What is a reasonable timeframe in which to expect this
> problem to be fixed?
 
Toshiba for my money has always had good service, but my requirements
were major components like keyboards and an LCD panel.  One of the
problems with OEM imported parts is the high import duty imposed,
something like 25% of the value, which inhibits vendors of cars to
computers keeping a large inventory of parts on hand.
 
Q

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

You see, this is why people pay more money and buy IBM.
I have had probably at least 50 Thinkpads in for factory service (NOT
because they are bad machines, I just have jurisdiction over many machines,
and machines do break). Typically, I can call for service on Sunday, the box
arrives via Airborne on Monday, off it goes to Memphis, and Wednesday AM (or
at the latest Thursday), the machine is back, all fixed. The worst I ever
had was two weeks, that was a parts hold for an LCD on a machine that really
was probably not even under warranty, but they honored it anyway and get the
part from (who knows). This is why used IBM's cost more than most new
machines. You gets what you pay for. $799 won't get you out the door with a
ThinkPad, but what you get will be fixed quickly.
"Miriam Seshadri" <mradha_seshadri@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:587ddd12.0404281625.2ef7a59@posting.google.com...
> Hi. We've been having some  problems with Toshiba's customer service
> and I am writing to ask if I am being unreasonable. My husband and I
> both bought Toshiba Satellite laptops last August. His is a heavier
> duty model than mine - mine cost approx $799 US. Just over a month
> ago, the fan on my laptop became noisier and noisier. The processing
> power also became increasingly slower whenever the fan was on. Then
> the DVD/CD-RW stopped working completely. There is a Toshiba service
> center in the same building where my husband works so he took it in
> there. They told him I would have my computer back in about a week. It
> has been three weeks and it does not look like I will be getting it
> back any time soon. They fixed the DVD/CD-RW within the week but had
> to get the fan from Toshiba. Toshiba has yet to send the part despite
> the service center repeatedly calling them. I am going nuts! I didn't
> realise that so many people had problems with Toshiba's service. Sad
> to say, we didn't check that on Google groups before buying. What
> should I do? What is a reasonable timeframe in which to expect this
> problem to be fixed?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Gray Beard wrote:
 
> You didn't mention which model of Satellite you have but if it is one of the
> infamous "Built by Compal" units what you are seeing is quite typical.  The
> parts availibility on those is terrible, unlike the normally readily
> available parts for the "Built by Toshiba" models that the service center
> quite often gets the day after ordering from Toshiba.  I've got some friends
> that work at Toshiba service providers and they tell me they cringe every
> time on of the "Compal Built" units comes in the door.
>  
> Gray
 
Do you know if there is a way to determine if a Toshiba was built by Compal?
Ted/

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 05:43:40 -0700, Badaboom <badaboom@sysmatrix.net> wrote:
 
:>
:>
:>Gray Beard wrote:
:>
:>> You didn't mention which model of Satellite you have but if it is one of the
:>> infamous "Built by Compal" units what you are seeing is quite typical.  The
:>> parts availibility on those is terrible, unlike the normally readily
:>> available parts for the "Built by Toshiba" models that the service center
:>> quite often gets the day after ordering from Toshiba.  I've got some friends
:>> that work at Toshiba service providers and they tell me they cringe every
:>> time on of the "Compal Built" units comes in the door.
:>>  
:>> Gray
:>
:>Do you know if there is a way to determine if a Toshiba was built by Compal?
:>Ted/
 
There are a few things that have been posted here in the past.
 
1.  Compal built units use a 19V AC adapter-Toshiba built units use a 15V AC
adapter.
 
2.  Compal units will have either a "C" or "K" at the end of the serial
number.
 
Null

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Bruce Markowitz wrote:
> You see, this is why people pay more money and buy IBM.
> I have had probably at least 50 Thinkpads in for factory service (NOT
> because they are bad machines, I just have jurisdiction over many
> machines, and machines do break). Typically, I can call for service
> on Sunday, the box arrives via Airborne on Monday, off it goes to
> Memphis, and Wednesday AM (or at the latest Thursday), the machine is
> back, all fixed. The worst I ever had was two weeks, that was a parts
> hold for an LCD on a machine that really was probably not even under
> warranty, but they honored it anyway and get the part from (who
> knows). This is why used IBM's cost more than most new machines. You
> gets what you pay for. $799 won't get you out the door with a
> ThinkPad, but what you get will be fixed quickly. "Miriam Seshadri"
> <mradha_seshadri@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:587ddd12.0404281625.2ef7a59@posting.google.com...
>> Hi. We've been having some  problems with Toshiba's customer service
>> and I am writing to ask if I am being unreasonable. My husband and I
>> both bought Toshiba Satellite laptops last August. His is a heavier
>> duty model than mine - mine cost approx $799 US. Just over a month
>> ago, the fan on my laptop became noisier and noisier. The processing
>> power also became increasingly slower whenever the fan was on. Then
>> the DVD/CD-RW stopped working completely. There is a Toshiba service
>> center in the same building where my husband works so he took it in
>> there. They told him I would have my computer back in about a week.
>> It has been three weeks and it does not look like I will be getting
>> it back any time soon. They fixed the DVD/CD-RW within the week but
>> had to get the fan from Toshiba. Toshiba has yet to send the part
>> despite the service center repeatedly calling them. I am going nuts!
>> I didn't realise that so many people had problems with Toshiba's
>> service. Sad to say, we didn't check that on Google groups before
>> buying. What should I do? What is a reasonable timeframe in which to
>> expect this problem to be fixed?
 
There's a world of difference between your corporate maintenance
contract with IBM and a consumer contract.  First, your company pays a
premium on that contract which, interestingly, gets IBM's immediate
attention.  The consumer doesn't have that option and accesses support
from an entirely different entry point and with significantly different
leverage.  Having dealt with IBM on a corporate level, the cost of the
equipment is often incidental to the cost of the support contract; in
many cases the equipment is on one of IBM's mysterious evergreen leases
and the total cost of support and the equipment costs are not
identifiable.  IBM didn't get to where it is by providing corporate
services and equipmrnt at at a consumer price and warranty point.
 
Q

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,japan.comp.toshiba,comp.laptops,comp.multimedia (More info?)

"Pinball" <ppinball@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xh9kc.17324$e4.6721@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> "Real" Toshibas have a 15V power pack. If you AC pack is anything other
then
> 15V then it is a cheap POS Compal.
>
That is quite a broad statement which is not true in all cases....
 
Here is my two cents worth.....
 
Especially over here in UK/Europe where some of the "Top End"
models are usually supplied with 19V power supplies.
Toshiba supply two markets - the Corporate Market - and the
Retail Market. One way that we can tell the difference between a
Corporate and a Retail model is to check the BIOS.
Corporate models are supplied with a proprietary Toshiba BIOS
and Retail models usually have a Phoenix BIOS. This could
also be true about sales in your country.
 
What do you know about Compal - did you know that they
also supply to Dell and Fujitsu? To markets in Europe and USA?
 
A quote from www.taipeitimes.com  Saturday April 10 2004
"In an effort to cut production costs, Toshiba, the world's No.3 maker of
laptop computers after Dell and Hewlett-Packard Co, plans to move all
production of notebook computers to its factory in Hangzhou, China, next
year and to increase outsourcing to Taiwanese manufacturers, the Nikkei
English News reported yesterday"
 
Compal Electronics Inc and Inventec (another supplier for
Toshiba) are in Hangzhou!
 
30 Per Cent of Toshiba's total computer shipments this year
are from Taiwanese computer OEMs - which includes
Corporate models as well as Retail models - so to say that
if you have a Compal/Inventec made PC you have an inferior PC is
actually false.
 
It is true to say that the Retail models are usually less expensive
than the Corporate models.
 
For example - a Top End Retail Satellite P10-804 with a P4 3.06Ghz
processor costs only 1,197 UK pounds while a Mid Range
Corporate Tecra M2 with a P M 1.7Ghz comes at a whopping
1,499 UK pounds.
 
I think a more truthful statement would be on the lines of...
"The quality/reliability of the equipment you purchase is
usually proportional to the amount of hard earned cash you
have to part with to purchase it!"
 
I am a Toshiba Accredited Service Engineer. I get to
see a wide range of Toshiba notebooks/laptops with
various faults/perceived faults.
Usually the spare parts we order are delivered to our workshop
next day - and we have an approximate 5 day turnaround.
(The biggest problem we have is getting the customers to
arrange collection of their repaired items - usually the
customers who have said that "their notenook is vital to their
existence/business/marriage/whatever"!)
That said - we have noticed since the introduction of
some "less expensive" (I think that sounds better than "cheaper"!)
models that the waiting times for replacement parts for them
is starting to increase. Perhaps the popularity of these "more
competitavely priced" models, while still maintaining the
same sale:failure ratio, is putting a strain on the suppliers?
 
Have a look around google for the term toshiba+compal+laptop
There's tons of stuff!
 
Have a good day.
 
Michael in Glenrothes, Scotland
>
> "Lynn W" <lynn.williamson@btForeverRedinternet.com> wrote in message
> news:c6qvpg$7pv$1@titan.btinternet.com...
> > I would be interested to know which models of Satellite are made by
Compal
> > then?
<BIG SNIP>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,japan.comp.toshiba,comp.laptops,comp.multimedia (More info?)

Rick Blythin wrote:
> Lynn,
>  
> A few easy signs that a system is a Compal unit:
>  
> a) Compal uses 19v AC adapters whereas true Toshiba's use 15v
>  
> b) Compal serial numbers end with 'C' or 'K' (mine ended with K)
>  
> c) The big 'made in China' sticker on the bottom is a give away as well.
 
Toshiba even supply a nice little "hidden" utility on some of the  
recovery CDs called "BIOSCHKN.EXE" which queries the bios and returns  
the string "Toshiba Machine" or "No Toshiba Machine" as appropriate
 
 
Lee
--  
Email address is valid, but is unlikely to be read.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,japan.comp.toshiba,comp.laptops,comp.multimedia (More info?)

Michael Strefford wrote:
 
snip
 
> What do you know about Compal - did you know that they
> also supply to Dell and Fujitsu? To markets in Europe and USA?
 
> It is true to say that the Retail models are usually less expensive
> than the Corporate models.
>  
> I think a more truthful statement would be on the lines of...
> "The quality/reliability of the equipment you purchase is
> usually proportional to the amount of hard earned cash you
> have to part with to purchase it!"
>  
> I am a Toshiba Accredited Service Engineer. I get to
> see a wide range of Toshiba notebooks/laptops with
> various faults/perceived faults.
 
If you know from experience that the "high end" Compal manufactured  
machines are made to the same quality of build and materials specs as  
the other machines, then who am I to argue.
 
It just seems that there are a lot of "cheap" Compal machines, whatever  
badge they carry, which are not of very good build or design - but who's  
fault is that anyway...
Presumably whoever commissions these machines sets standards for their  
construction?
 
Lee
--  
Email address is valid, but is unlikely to be read.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,japan.comp.toshiba,comp.laptops,comp.multimedia (More info?)

Doh! Ignore my other stupid comment, I was alseep
 
I meant to say there is a check made to ascertain whether the machine is  
a Toshiba or Compal, beacause there is this line in the recovery script:
 
IF [%NOTEBOOK%]==[YES] sciset 11d 0 >nul
IF [%NOTEBOOK%]==[COMPAL] BTSEQ01.EXE /C 2 >NUL
 
Just not the program I stupidly suggested
 
Lee
--  
Email address is valid, but is unlikely to be read.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,japan.comp.toshiba,comp.laptops,comp.multimedia (More info?)

Some Toshiba models are made by Toshiba.  Others are made by Compal in  
Taiwan FOR Toshiba (as opposed to BY Toshiba).
 
My experience (I service computers including laptops) is that the Compal  
models are cheaply built to meet a selling price objective, and that  
service for them can be a HUGE problem.  I know from people who used to  
post here that worked for Toshiba, that they often cannot easily get  
replacement parts for the Compal models.
 
Now I'm speculating that your machine is one of these.  There is a  
fairly easy way to tell, the Toshiba models use 15 volt power supplies,  
the Compal models use 19 volt power supplies.
 
If this is the case, I don't know what to tell you.  If a part is not in  
stock, 3-4 weeks is not out of the question, but I'd start to raise hell  
if it goes on much longer than that (for one thing, you only have a  
12-month warranty).
 
Actually, overall, Toshiba service is pretty good.  But I always advise  
people not to purchase any "Toshiba" laptop models that use a 19 volt  
power supply.  Others have been very happy with these units, but I know  
that my own perceptions and experineces are not unique.
 
 
Miriam Seshadri wrote:
 
> Hi. We've been having some  problems with Toshiba's customer service
> and I am writing to ask if I am being unreasonable. My husband and I
> both bought Toshiba Satellite laptops last August. His is a heavier
> duty model than mine - mine cost approx $799 US. Just over a month
> ago, the fan on my laptop became noisier and noisier. The processing
> power also became increasingly slower whenever the fan was on. Then
> the DVD/CD-RW stopped working completely. There is a Toshiba service
> center in the same building where my husband works so he took it in
> there. They told him I would have my computer back in about a week. It
> has been three weeks and it does not look like I will be getting it
> back any time soon. They fixed the DVD/CD-RW within the week but had
> to get the fan from Toshiba. Toshiba has yet to send the part despite
> the service center repeatedly calling them. I am going nuts! I didn't
> realise that so many people had problems with Toshiba's service. Sad
> to say, we didn't check that on Google groups before buying. What
> should I do? What is a reasonable timeframe in which to expect this
> problem to be fixed?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,japan.comp.toshiba,comp.laptops,comp.multimedia (More info?)

Thanks for all your replies. I suspect I do have the 'el cheapo' model
although my serial number does not end with a C or K. My husband's
cost twice as much and just felt much sturdier. He also had a real
Toshiba CD-RW/DVD-RW installed whilst mine had a Matshita and didn't
perform as well when playing DVD's. Since I hardly ever played them ,
I didn't care too much. Well, I am in Australia but actually bought
the laptop in the US. We purchased an extended warranty for three
extra years on top of the one already given. I called the service
center yesterday where I was told that a technician would get back to
me with the name of the expected part and the estimated date of
delivery(henceforth EDD). Noone called back. I then called Toshiba
Australia's main number this morning and was redirected by the sales
agent to their support line, where I remained on hold for twenty
minutes. A support representative told me that he would need the name
of the part, the part number and the order #. He also told me that if
I called the service center again, Toshiba has " a new system just put
in place" where they can call the parts number and " 100% of the time"
get the EDD. I called the service center again. They kindly gave me
the name of the part, it's number and the order #. They told me they
would ring the parts number and try to get the EDD and call back. With
cynicism in my heart, I hung up expecting that they would not call
back. They did. Toshiba's parts center can't give them an EDD. ARGH!
It's not the service center's fault, it's Toshiba's! If they are going
to do business with all these crumby little companies, they better
make sure they come up to scratch with delivery! At the same time, it
always has been my experience that you get what you pay for and in a
way, we had it coming. We went cheap and cheap is what we've got.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,japan.comp.toshiba,comp.laptops,comp.multimedia (More info?)

Miriam Seshadri wrote:
> Thanks for all your replies. I suspect I do have the 'el cheapo' model
> although my serial number does not end with a C or K. My husband's
> cost twice as much and just felt much sturdier. He also had a real
> Toshiba CD-RW/DVD-RW installed whilst mine had a Matshita and didn't
> perform as well when playing DVD's. Since I hardly ever played them ,
> I didn't care too much. Well, I am in Australia but actually bought
> the laptop in the US. We purchased an extended warranty for three
> extra years on top of the one already given. I called the service
> center yesterday where I was told that a technician would get back to
> me with the name of the expected part and the estimated date of
> delivery(henceforth EDD). Noone called back. I then called Toshiba
> Australia's main number this morning and was redirected by the sales
> agent to their support line, where I remained on hold for twenty
> minutes. A support representative told me that he would need the name
> of the part, the part number and the order #. He also told me that if
> I called the service center again, Toshiba has " a new system just put
> in place" where they can call the parts number and " 100% of the time"
> get the EDD. I called the service center again. They kindly gave me
> the name of the part, it's number and the order #. They told me they
> would ring the parts number and try to get the EDD and call back. With
> cynicism in my heart, I hung up expecting that they would not call
> back. They did. Toshiba's parts center can't give them an EDD. ARGH!
> It's not the service center's fault, it's Toshiba's! If they are going
> to do business with all these crumby little companies, they better
> make sure they come up to scratch with delivery! At the same time, it
> always has been my experience that you get what you pay for and in a
> way, we had it coming. We went cheap and cheap is what we've got.
Hi,
My son was given older Japanese made Sattelite PIII 850MHz used laptop  
when he started college 3 years ago. He uses it for many different  
things(music recording, video NLE using firewire external 100GB HDD)
on top of usual school works.
Never let him down. Not a single problem so far. (knocking on the wood!)
I use an older Thinkpad T21 and was rock solid from the day one.
Daughter is an iBook nut(medical student). Won't come near M$ stuffs,
LOL.
Tony

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 23:29:44 +0100, Lee <cyberwitch@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:
 
:>Michael Strefford wrote:
:>
:>snip
:>
:>> What do you know about Compal - did you know that they
:>> also supply to Dell and Fujitsu? To markets in Europe and USA?
:>
:>> It is true to say that the Retail models are usually less expensive
:>> than the Corporate models.
:>>  
:>> I think a more truthful statement would be on the lines of...
:>> "The quality/reliability of the equipment you purchase is
:>> usually proportional to the amount of hard earned cash you
:>> have to part with to purchase it!"
:>>  
:>> I am a Toshiba Accredited Service Engineer. I get to
:>> see a wide range of Toshiba notebooks/laptops with
:>> various faults/perceived faults.
:>
:>If you know from experience that the "high end" Compal manufactured  
:>machines are made to the same quality of build and materials specs as  
:>the other machines, then who am I to argue.
 
Except that, at least with Toshiba, Compal does not make any "high end"
models.  I checked with a close friend who's the service manager at a
Toshiba Premier service center and has been working on Toshibas since the
very first models came out.  Compal only manufactures "low end" models in
the Satellite line for Toshiba.  All of the "high end" or corporate models
(Tecra, Portege and Satellite Pro) are manufactured by Toshiba with the
exception of a few models manufactured by Inventec.  Unfortunately Toshiba
has confused the issue because some of the Satellites are actually built by
Toshiba.
 
:>It just seems that there are a lot of "cheap" Compal machines, whatever  
:>badge they carry, which are not of very good build or design - but w