Averatec AV3220H1-01 Amd Athlon XP-M 2000+/256MB | List Price: $999.99
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Platform: Windows XP Home Edition
Brand: Averatec
Binding: Personal Computers
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features: - 1.33GHz, 512MB RAM, 30GB
- 12.1'' XGA, DVD/CD-RW, XPH
Great little machine [Posted on 2005-02-02]
Part I (February, 2005)
I bought this laptop a month ago. I looked for a small but no so expensive solution for mobility and performance. Wow! I am impressed how light and good it is. I was a little worried about the brand, but if you buy a Sony it would cost almost double. It's fast enough for my needs, good hard disk drive, three USB ports, wireless integrated and battery lasts long enough for me. Yes, it gets pretty hot (why ventilation in the bottom???), but after reading the reviews (yes i read them BEFORE, that's what they are for) i also bought a Targus PA248U Tornado Notebook Chill Pad, also from amazon. It works GREAT!!!!!!! After doing some surfing, viewing a dvd, working on a Office document or editing some family photos, the laptop stays almost as cool as if I just started it! I certainly recomend buying both at once, specialy if you will use it on your lap and even if you are using it on a desk as I am.
I would also recomend getting 256MB more of RAM, you can never have too much and it will probably make the laptop faster and cooler.
Part II (16th July 2005)
Six-seven months now, and I certainly love this toy. Two problems: one USB port does not work properly (the laptop does not detect the attached device) so I use it for the ventilator pad , and second: 256MB of RAM is really low, recomend upgrading to 512. About the performance, weight and look... I LOVE IT. I wouldn't spend double the price in a Sony or other brand just for the name.
Great value - "Fussy" DVD/CD Burner [Posted on 2005-02-05]
I love this computer but the CD burner did not work from day one. Both my techie friend and I spent hours with settings and even a different CD burning program than provided as well as calling Avaratec support. We found the resolution posted on an internet discussion group. This notebook is extremely fussy about the brand of writable CDs. I purchased TDK--which was recommended by the person having the same difficulty online. From the time I put a TDK CD in the drive, I have had NO problems. I had been using Memorex. So please help spread the word and save yourself tons of aggravation. Before going through hours of troubleshooting, try TDK discs. I am very happy I can enjoy ALL of my new computer. I absolutely love the size. Great value!
Good product marred by customer service issues! [Posted on 2005-03-17]
In principle, and often in use, I love Averatecs. My first one had a 30 gigabyte hard drive with 256 megabytes of ram and had upgradable memory, of which I took full advantage. I purchased it from a store with a six month return policy. Shortly before the six months expired, the PCMIA port burned out, making it unusable for Sprint Merlin card usage. The store exchanged it with me for a HP-Compaq with which I have experienced no problems. Frankly, all things being equal, I like the Averatecs better because of the compact size. When a new and improved model (40 gigabytes, wireless) presented itself, I purchased that in April 2004. It carried a one year warranty. I purchased a Targus chill pad for use with the computer and that seemed to solve overheating problems. I advocate purchase and use of the Targus or equivalent product to be on the safe side). When the 80 gigabyte wireless hard drive became available with a DVD read write drive at that, I was ecstatic! I purchased that as well, and have also combined it religiously with cooling pad use. The product itself well deserves the PC Magazine award it received for 'Laptop Best Buy.'
THE PRODUCT, HOWEVER, IS UNFORTUNATELY MARRED BY SERVICE ISSUES!
The manufacturing and design department gets A's. The "customer care" department has been in my experience, to put it kindly -- lacking! The power supply suddenly went bad on the 40 megabyte 3200 series model. I called, miraculously located my receipt and an RMA was issued. The service technician repeated it to me twice and I read it back to him, and recorded it in my permanent journal. The package was duly taken to the Post Office, insured and tracked. The USPS website indicated they delivered to Averatec offices in Fremont, California on February 10th, Year of Our Lord 2004, at 1:22 p.m.
Initially, I could not track the RMA on screen. It turns out I was given one too many digits by the initial number provider. However, the company acknowledged both to me and twice to my secretary (who made followup calls when I found it too frustrating an exercise) that they had located the package and either the repaired unit or a replacement would be shortly enroute to me. Several times we were asked to give them "a few days to get to the bottom of it." Every time, we get charming people bereft of answers.
Now, I am reasonably certain they are not out 'repairing' the defective power supply. They still offer that power supply. For nearly six weeks, I have been deprived of the effective use of a computer ,while the warranty period on anything else that might go wrong is perhaps conveniently running for Averatec!
The company has a product that almost sells itself. Its various 3200 models run efficiently and well (with the proviso that the cooling pad is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). Had the service department been in the least effective/responsive, I would unhesitatingly give the product 5 stars. But, without a power supply, the laptop is nothing more than a potential doorstop.
The quality of the product is obvious. Let's hope that soon the quality of their customer care matches!
Great notebook, very very poor customer service [Posted on 2005-09-27]
I have had the 3200 series for about 8 months. It works great, though the fan is loud and comes on a lot, otherwise it's excellent...small, slim, light weight and enough RAM and memory for everything I need. I have experienced a hot power supply and have been trying to get it replaced, since the unit is under a one year company warranty (always, always buy the extended b/c I have a feeling that I'll have to wait for that to begin to get this issue resolved) and Averatec refuses to help out. Their options for the consumer is to either send in the defective part and they'll ship out a new part, taking around 4 weeks according to one CSR, thus giving you no way to charge the battery and rendering the unit dead for the duration or to keep the fire and safety hazard of a power supply and hope nothing happens. I recommend the actual notebook, but if you experience any problems with any part, expect a fight from the customer care dept.
runs hot and somewhat slow, but good for the price [Posted on 2006-12-02]
I got this little computer for its size. It has worked well except for the fact that it almost constantly has its rather noisy fan on because it seems to run hot. It can not handle doing many things at once, and will run very slowly (I will admit here that it might be Comcast's fault??).
I was disappointed when I wanted to by a card modum -- there is no slot for one.
I do not like the placement of the manual volume control -- right where the computer would hit your belly (if it were in your lap)-- I have inadvertently turned the volume both up and down without wanting to.
For the first time, I also have tried to move information to a CD and it failed. I see that a previous reviewer mentioned CD prpoblems, and wonder if this is an inherent problem.
All in all, however, for my basic writing purposes and internet cruising, it has worked very well, and one can't beat the price. The small size is great also.
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