[malcolm347]

Is HP a proprietary company(like you can only fix/upgrade their computers with their stuff) like apple? Because my Dad thnks they are. And this is probably is the deciding factor between an apple and pc for my laptop.

Thanks,
Malcolm

[iomatic]

All companies are proprietary, but for this to be a factor in deciding which platform is a bit of a stretch, in my opinion. It would help more to know what uses he plans it for, than the probable cost of ownership?

[fisherKing]

remember, apple makes it's software AND hardware.
on an HP, you'll be running microsoft's os.

so, no...not really.

also, there are plenty of hardware options for all laptops (including macs).

what's the deciding factor between the mac and the hp?

(osx would lean me towards a mac... )

[bighead]

Originally Posted by malcolm347

Is HP a proprietary company(like you can only fix/upgrade their computers with their stuff) like apple? Because my Dad thnks they are.

Almost all warranties for any device you purchase stipulate that damage caused by equipment not installed by the manufacturer or from the manufacturer by an authorized technician will void the warranty.

That means if you have an authorized technician install parts NOT from Apple (or HP for that matter) your warranty is in effect so long as the, say, RAM card or new hard drive doesn't nuke the mainboard. Now, if the mainboard does fail, they'll have a bitch of a time trying to prove that your Crucial memory card or 7200 RPM Travelstar killed it, and I've never seen it happen before. In theory, though, it is possible. Installing your own parts is technically not reason for the warranty to be voided under most circumstances, but if you're not careful when opening machines like the 12" PowerBook or iBooks, it's easy to screw things up fast by breaking small parts or losing screws. That's when it pays to have an authorized tech do the work for you. We screw up, we pay for the fix. You don't.

This is the same deal with cars. If you put a Fram oil filter on your Camry and the cheap paper on the inside comes loose and kills your engine, it is NOT going to be covered by Toyota. If you were using a Toyota OEM filter from the dealer you should be covered if something like that did happen. (I buy Wix filters.)

[mduell]

Laptops are generally proprietary to the same extent that Apple's are.
Desktops on the other hand are usually pretty common. If your powersupply dies after warranty, you can replace it with a standard ATX PSU. If your motherboard dies after warranty, you can replace it with a standard ATX mobo, although some of the connectors (like a special front panel) may or may not be there.

HP's systems are proprietary in some ways, but not as much as Apple.

[goMac]

Apple laptops don't have any proprietary parts anymore. The RAM and hard drive (which are the only parts you'll ever be able to replace in any laptop) are standard parts. You'll void the warranty replacing the hard drive, but it's a standard part.

HP is the same way.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by mduell

If your motherboard dies after warranty, you can replace it with a standard ATX mobo, although some of the connectors (like a special front panel) may or may not be there.

This isn't usually true. I pretty much think putting a non-Dell mobo in a Dell won't work too well.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by goMac

Apple laptops don't have any proprietary parts anymore. The RAM and hard drive (which are the only parts you'll ever be able to replace in any laptop) are standard parts. You'll void the warranty replacing the hard drive, but it's a standard part.

HP is the same way.

The screens, mother boards, etc. are proprietary in both. If yours dies after warranty, you can't just grab one at NewEgg.

Originally Posted by goMac

This isn't usually true. I pretty much think putting a non-Dell mobo in a Dell won't work too well.

The last couple Dell's I've cracked open were bone-standard ATX.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by mduell

The screens, mother boards, etc. are proprietary in both. If yours dies after warranty, you can't just grab one at NewEgg.



The last couple Dell's I've cracked open were bone-standard ATX.

Sure, I was trying to say no PC laptop has a non-proprietary motherboard either. There is no such thing as a non-proprietary PC laptop.

My friend has a newish Dell that has a crazy cooling system (it's a P4). I highly doubt it would fit any ATX board. The Dell board is probably an ATX, but you know how ATX goes. Just because it's ATX doesn't mean it will fit.

[CatOne]

Originally Posted by mduell

The screens, mother boards, etc. are proprietary in both. If yours dies after warranty, you can't just grab one at NewEgg.



The last couple Dell's I've cracked open were bone-standard ATX.

All their uber high-end systems (XPS gaming rigs) use proprietary mobos and power supplies. Dells in general are proprietary. You can replace the drives, the cards, and things, but the mobo is proprietary as a general rule... unless that has changed in the last 6 months.

[itguy05]

Originally Posted by mduell

The last couple Dell's I've cracked open were bone-standard ATX.

It may look like ATX, but chances are the mounting screws and back bezel will not fit. Also, Dell's power supplies have a habit of being semi-ATX with a funky bolt pattern, fan location, and possibly connectors. Yet another reason Dell is a POS. That and the fact that the bits and parts are the cheapest junk they can find.

That being said, most all laptops are proprietary, Apple, HP, IBM, Dell, etc.

[tooki]

"Most all"? No. All.

There are no such things as standard laptop parts, beyond the optical drive, hard disk, RAM, and in some cases wireless cards. Every laptop motherboard is proprietary, as is effectively every battery and screen assembly.

There is zero difference in hardware proprietary-ness between Apple laptops and any other brand, because aside from the aforementioned few components, all laptop parts are custom made, regardless of platform.

tooki

[pat++]

Originally Posted by tooki

"Most all"? No. All.

There are no such things as standard laptop parts, beyond the optical drive, hard disk, RAM, and in some cases wireless cards. Every laptop motherboard is proprietary, as is effectively every battery and screen assembly.

There is zero difference in hardware proprietary-ness between Apple laptops and any other brand, because aside from the aforementioned few components, all laptop parts are custom made, regardless of platform.

tooki

100% True.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by tooki

"Most all"? No. All.

There are no such things as standard laptop parts, beyond the optical drive, hard disk, RAM, and in some cases wireless cards. Every laptop motherboard is proprietary, as is effectively every battery and screen assembly.

There is zero difference in hardware proprietary-ness between Apple laptops and any other brand, because aside from the aforementioned few components, all laptop parts are custom made, regardless of platform.

The Pentium M CPU is also non-proprietary, although the motherboards they sit on are.

[Tweak3D]

Originally Posted by bighead

This is the same deal with cars. If you put a Fram oil filter on your Camry and the cheap paper on the inside comes loose and kills your engine, it is NOT going to be covered by Toyota. If you were using a Toyota OEM filter from the dealer you should be covered if something like that did happen. (I buy Wix filters.)

has nothing to do with computers haha, but this is not a good analogie. Parts on cars can be replaced with any brand and if they kill your car they are covered via your warranty. Do a good search for SEMA and you can read about it. talk about off topic for me =P

[tooki]

Originally Posted by mduell

The Pentium M CPU is also non-proprietary, although the motherboards they sit on are.

Nor is a PowerPC processor proprietary. But since laptop CPUs are normally soldered onto a custom board, and that laptop users never buy CPUs as a separate part, they aren't really a commodity component.

tooki