JohnBurke986
Member
The laptop arrived and is of good build quality. I followed instructions in the manual to install my version of windows. By following these instructions, it resulted in a fan running constantly at 100% speed. I had to reinstall windows to resolve this (which a lot of the information on separate websites recommend, but is contradictory to the information provided in the manual). I have had the laptop for 3 months and the SSD appeared to cause a booting error which I could fix by ringing up PC Specialist without much difficulty once I got through, but I was waiting for 90 minutes on hold.
I then had an issue with the right-click not working as smoothly as it should. This required the laptop to be returned to the base to be fixed. I live in the Republic of Ireland, and I waited for 120 minutes on hold (started out as 14th in the queue) to issue a returns request. There was no issues with getting the laptop returned. However, their system wouldn't let them enter the correct details for the courier to actually collect the item, hence the on-going difficulties. It is now a week later, I have re-issued the returns request following another 90 minutes on hold trying to get through. The laptop still isn't collected, and there is also a lead time of 2-3 weeks for fixing what was described as a very simple 20 minute fix once it gets to a technician. All in all, the laptop is good, the warranty is followed though on, but the actual process is an absolute nightmare, particularly for someone living in Ireland.
I am writing this review to get 3 months free warranty extra and am doing so whilst I wait on the phone for the 5th time this week trying to get the laptop collected by the courier.
I have attached two pictures of the laptop - reboxed for shipping as it has been for about 8 days now. I will update this if it actually gets collected and they don't screw us over somehow with the warranty.
TLDR: Laptop is good, seems to be best value for the components provided. The only issue I have is that the clicks are actually a little bit 'loud' from the trackpad. Warranty works, but it's a complete pain if you live in Ireland, or if you have a job that doesn't allow you to sit on hold for 2 hours to resolve something tiny. Get free international calls before you buy a laptop from them.
Happy Christmas to me, from PC Specialist.
Update March 2021:
We received the laptop approximately 6-7weeks after originally sending it for repairs.
Since it has been returned, we have had several software issues, particularly with the booting system. This sporadically introduces itself and you have to press F7 on every boot from start/from sleep, otherwise you have no choice but to turn the laptop off (losing all of your work that hasn't been formally saved).
It is extremely difficult to get support for this type of issue and you typically wait 10 days+ for an email response from PC specialist, so you end up just resolving the issue by googling yourself. This has actually happened on three occasions in the last 2 months, with 3 separate issues relating to the booting system.
We also have significant issues trying to connect the laptop to standard printers, when phones, tablets, other laptops and PCs connect to it without difficulty.
In short, it has been really unsatisfactory and I would recommend just buying a standard laptop from well-known brands. Don't be fooled by the great specs of the machines by PC Specialist here as I was. It's so bad we have asked can we return it - we will of course be waiting for a couple of weeks to receive a response.
P.S. The webcam on the laptop is like something from the 90s. It is absolutely horrendous and this is one of the places this company makes cost cuts in order to reduce the cost of the increased RAM sizes and other specs when compared to the standard laptops available on the market.
I then had an issue with the right-click not working as smoothly as it should. This required the laptop to be returned to the base to be fixed. I live in the Republic of Ireland, and I waited for 120 minutes on hold (started out as 14th in the queue) to issue a returns request. There was no issues with getting the laptop returned. However, their system wouldn't let them enter the correct details for the courier to actually collect the item, hence the on-going difficulties. It is now a week later, I have re-issued the returns request following another 90 minutes on hold trying to get through. The laptop still isn't collected, and there is also a lead time of 2-3 weeks for fixing what was described as a very simple 20 minute fix once it gets to a technician. All in all, the laptop is good, the warranty is followed though on, but the actual process is an absolute nightmare, particularly for someone living in Ireland.
I am writing this review to get 3 months free warranty extra and am doing so whilst I wait on the phone for the 5th time this week trying to get the laptop collected by the courier.
I have attached two pictures of the laptop - reboxed for shipping as it has been for about 8 days now. I will update this if it actually gets collected and they don't screw us over somehow with the warranty.
TLDR: Laptop is good, seems to be best value for the components provided. The only issue I have is that the clicks are actually a little bit 'loud' from the trackpad. Warranty works, but it's a complete pain if you live in Ireland, or if you have a job that doesn't allow you to sit on hold for 2 hours to resolve something tiny. Get free international calls before you buy a laptop from them.
Happy Christmas to me, from PC Specialist.
Update March 2021:
We received the laptop approximately 6-7weeks after originally sending it for repairs.
Since it has been returned, we have had several software issues, particularly with the booting system. This sporadically introduces itself and you have to press F7 on every boot from start/from sleep, otherwise you have no choice but to turn the laptop off (losing all of your work that hasn't been formally saved).
It is extremely difficult to get support for this type of issue and you typically wait 10 days+ for an email response from PC specialist, so you end up just resolving the issue by googling yourself. This has actually happened on three occasions in the last 2 months, with 3 separate issues relating to the booting system.
We also have significant issues trying to connect the laptop to standard printers, when phones, tablets, other laptops and PCs connect to it without difficulty.
In short, it has been really unsatisfactory and I would recommend just buying a standard laptop from well-known brands. Don't be fooled by the great specs of the machines by PC Specialist here as I was. It's so bad we have asked can we return it - we will of course be waiting for a couple of weeks to receive a response.
P.S. The webcam on the laptop is like something from the 90s. It is absolutely horrendous and this is one of the places this company makes cost cuts in order to reduce the cost of the increased RAM sizes and other specs when compared to the standard laptops available on the market.
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