Buy New Laptop or Try to Repair?

tunaroll123 on 31/03/2015 - 13:50

Hi guys,

I bought my ASUS UX31E Zenbook early 2012. First generation zenbook. Has lasted me for my entire postgrad degree (starting early 2012 and ending early 2014). It's also my desktop at the same time as I plug it into my 21" Dell monitor when I'm at home. Has worked wonderfully up until 2 days ago so a full 3 years. I regularly clean it (computer-wise) so it's more or less remained quite zippy through this whole time. Also battery life hasn't degraded noticeably either, can still go for 2.5 hrs on highest performance and maximum brightness (just under 6 hours on battery saving and minimum brightness). In other words, a great university laptop.

The problem: it's suddenly stopped charging. The charger itself (which has the green light on when it's not plugged into laptop but plugged into power source) appears to be fine. However, my zenbook does not appear to detect it, even though it's plugged in. From what I've read on the internet, this is not the common problem where the laptop says "Plugged in, not charging". This is where the laptop is literally thinking it's not plugged in and therefore not charging. From this, I think the power jack may be broken or loose, i.e. something not connecting no matter how much I try to shift the angles.

So, should I repair my laptop? Is the problem what I think it is? Will it cost much?

Or should I cut my losses and buy a new laptop? Since I'm working FT now, I don't really need to buy an ultrabook anymore. I essentially need a portable desktop replacement (the screen isn't an issue as I plug in an external monitor anyway). What is the best I can get that is between $600-$1000? I can't fully justify buying an expensive high end lappy as I don't game much. I'll just use it for word processing, excel spreading, surfing the net and watching movies.

Any advice would be great, cheers!

Poll Options

  • 3
    Buy New.
  • 1
    Repair Old.
Computing

Comments

  • Colombian on 31/03/2015 - 14:36

    It is probably the battery. It needs to be replaced.

    • geoffellis on 18/04/2015 - 13:35

      or probably not. the charger will still be detected even if the battery is dead. Hell you can take the battery out and the laptop should function fine just plugged into the power…

  • pjetson on 31/03/2015 - 14:48

    I fixed my daughter's Asus laptop by replacing the DC power socket, just a few bucks from eBay as I recall. Months before the socket failed, she also had trouble with the DC power cord, both where it leaves the power adaptor, and where it connects to the plug, which I also fixed.

    It'd be a shame to replace an otherwise reliable computer just because of a minor problem like that.

    Do you know anyone else with the same computer, or the same power supply? Perhaps even the people you bought it from? A simple changeover test will show where the problem is.

    • tunaroll123 on 31/03/2015 - 16:41

      Was your daughter's Asus a zenbook? Just looking at my machine, it appears difficult to take apart. If it is a zenbook, I would welcome any tips on how to do it.

      I don't know anyone else who has the same unfortunately.

      • pjetson on 01/04/2015 - 15:46

        It wasn't a zenbook, but Google helped me work out how to open the machine and do the job.

  • Axelstrife on 31/03/2015 - 14:56

    How about a third option, Repair it and sell it as a fully working unit and also buy a new desktop or whatever you feel fit's your needs.
    you end up with something new and not having to spend as much as the old with give some cash back to you.

    This is what i do with phones for example buy a phone sell before it's value it too low and add some cash and bam i have a top of the line device without spending too much money.

    That is if it doesn't cost too much or isn't too hard to fix.

  • battler on 31/03/2015 - 14:57

    will computer work without battery?
    if problem persists with battery not in slot then might eliminate battery.

    • tunaroll123 on 31/03/2015 - 16:39
      +1

      Unfortunately the zenbook doesn't have a detachable battery. It's inbuilt, making it really slim and streamlined. Great because it's not bulky but difficult to take apart and repair. It's also very thin so I'm not game enough to try and do a self-repair.

  • JimB on 31/03/2015 - 17:25

    I'd try to find another charger to test it.

    It doesn't have to from the same laptop, but a charger with the same plug and voltage.

  • kaz09 on 31/03/2015 - 21:13

    i have the exact same laptop as you, if i were you i would just buy a new one.
    Mine had problems before (wouldnt turn on) and our local comp store couldnt even fix it, saying everything was soldered in so we had to send it back to asus to get it fixed (not cheap). If mine ever has problems again i would get a new one, saves the hassle and expenses.

    • mrmarkau67 on 01/04/2015 - 20:34

      Damn Apple Asus with their soldered on parts.

  • Geekomatic on 01/04/2015 - 23:20

    I hope I'm not the only one who truly resents these manufacturers creating these poisonous, non-biodegradable, high-price items designed to be impossible to repair so they continue to add to the earth's landfills?

    They could make the weak points (power & fans) user replaceable. It sh*ts me— totally irresponsible & horrible.

    • scrimshaw on 01/04/2015 - 23:56

      True. But it's how they make money. If things were made to last, I'm sure most people would use their laptops for years on end, so long as the performance suited their needs and the battery keeps holding a charge, and laptop sales would indeed be very slow.

      Laptop manufacturers tend not to release service manuals and repair guides to the public, thereby reducing the probability of a successful laptop repair without causing further damage to it's components. You'd either pony up the cash for an expensive out of warranty repair or buy a new one.

      However, the strategy of planned obselescence in computing items only works when you are able to lock in your customers into buying your brand again the next time they shop. Apple can because they have a walled garden and it is relatively difficult for a customer to break away from them and move their services and data along with them. ASUS can't, as there's nothing really, to keep you coming back to buying another ASUS laptop when your Zenbook fails.

      There is an upside of having a non-serviceable design though: having less removable parts such as maintenance hatches means that
      1. The product can be thinner and lighter (benefit to the consumer)
      2. Less parts overall means a few less steps in the production process, making it cheaper to make (not really a benefit to consumer)
      3. The device looks aesthetically pleasing (a critical component in designing an iFruit device) (a benefit to the consumer)

      • Geekomatic on 02/04/2015 - 00:18

        That doesn't excuse the poisonous motherboards & rest of it in a landfill & their responsibility for it landing there.

        And I've never swallowed the, "they wouldn't make any money" bit either. There are plenty of wealthy or "gotta have it when it first comes out" people around & the global population continues to increase. The trouble isn't not making enough money- it's that the people for whom big dollars matter are sociopaths devoted to their own needs & d*mn the rest.

        Imho

        • tonyjzx on 02/04/2015 - 00:31

          mate, i'm with you all the way with ultrabooks and laptops only being repairable at their main office

          i get that

          but the thing is people buy that shit because people want slim alloy bodied ultrabooks with non replaceable parts and no service manuals

          i dont doubt that the manufacturer can fix it but it may cost money

          there's a way around this but no one wants to do it

          i only buy Lenovo Thinkpads and HP Elites and Dell Latitudes or that type of professional spec laptop

          they DO publish repair documents you can download

          you CAN purchase parts for them cheaply off ebay and the like

          downside is they can be quite expensive and they are not thin or trendy like ultrabooks

          people do not look at serviceabiltiy for a laptop, its a laptop, it it lasts outside of its warranty you are lucky

  • JuryWheel on 05/04/2015 - 14:01

    Dont really have an opinion on the repair/replace, but my sister is after a similar type of new laptop that you are after. Let me know if you/anyone else has a suggestion. Chris

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