HP Laptop - Faulty hinge design.

smiffy

A year ago this week I bought an expensive HP Envy 13 Touch screen laptop from Currys.
It doesn't get used much, just light domestic use, but in April this year, the hinge popped. I returned to Currys and they sent the laptop away for repair.

However, the same fault has started to appear again this week. 7 days after the 1yr HP Warranty expired.
(HP doesn't want anything to do with laptops purchased from Currys and just refer you to their Knowhow service.)

Curry's have again sent the laptop away for repair again. However, a quick Google of HP Envy Hinge Fault has highlighted just how widespread this issue is. So I've little confidence that it won't fail again in another few months.

The laptop cost £949, so not cheap by any means, it just doesn't seem fit for purpose - it's nice and small but just seems a little fragile.

Where do I stand with regard to what seems to be a faulty design and common issue?

Aylesbury_Duck

Get an independent inspection done.  If it concludes the hinge has an inherent design flaw, Currys have to address the problem.

Bradden

On a prctical level @Aylesbury_Duck .. who would you suggest does the inspection? Would your local computer repair shop be sufficent to identify a design flaw? All laptops by design are weaker at the hinge so diagnosing one as a design flaw would be difficult I think.

Aylesbury_Duck

I'd have thought any computer or tech specialist/technician would suffice.  It sounds as if it's a widespread problem, so looks like an inherent design flaw.  If the lid can't be opened multiple times in the correct manner without the hinge 'popping', as OP describes it, something's wrong.

The only thing to watch for is the natural but lazy habit of opening the lid with one hand on one side or corner, thereby putting torsional/twisting forces through a hinge designed to be opened centrally/in parallel.  If that's what's causing the hinge to fail, it may not be covered.

Jenni_D

@smiffy how are you opening the lid? Are you lifting it via the middle-top of the lid? (A lot of people try to open the lid from one corner - this method is almost bound to lead to problems; either stressing the hinge or the screen).