I confess to Rolls-Royce tastes on a Geo budget. Those contrasts are a train-wreck waiting to happen, and it often happens with me. And it was that set of contrasts that lured me into purchasing the Sager NP8550; and believe it or not, I am glad I did. I was searching for something that had the spark and sizzle of a great DVD, and the memory and resources to run whatever I felt like running. This is a tall order for a laptop, and so I was thrilled to read the specs and price of the Sager.
I ordered it, I started it, and I loved it. The screen is astonishing for a laptop, much better than my two previous ones (one of which was a Sager.)
It does everything that I need for taking it on the road, and I take it on the road a LOT.
Now, here are the warnings. (And there are some!) For one thing, I have NEVER been able to get the laptop to work well on my network at work. Some days it logs right on, other days the Network doesn't recognize it, and there are even days when the network says that it cannot log the computer on, and yet I am able to fully access the network anyway! Considering this to be a bizarre compatibility problem, I have learned to live with it, since my network administrator (a real pro) is baffled by the phenomenon.
So let's talk about the mystery. One day, after about a year of use, I noticed that sometimes the computer wouldn't turn on. When I hit the power on button, it would immediately go into sleep mode, and STAY there, no matter what I did. After an hour or so, it would suddenly work fine again, and work fine for maybe a week or two before misbehaving. At first I thought it was the battery, but it did the same with the battery removed and the AC power in use only.
Eventually, through trial and error, I narrowed it down to the fact that the computer's AC power input was not permitting adequate power through to either charge the battery properly, or to run the computer, so it immediately thought it was out of batteries and entered sleep mode.
Here's where it gets interesting: I called tech support, and spoke to a non-English-speaking person. He told me over the phone that the problem was the mother-board, and that basically I was screwed. Just as cheap to buy a new computer, etc.
When I explained to him the self-diagnostic work that I had done, and my conclusions (although I am no techie... just using logic and trial and error) he was completely unconvinced, and told me that there was no way that that was the problem. I didn't even know for sure if he had UNDERSTOOD what I said, so broken was his English. To make a long story short, I sent the computer in, but I taped a typed letter to the cover, stating what I believed the problem to be, and why. I waited 10 days, and
received a phone call from a techie there. (I'm not sure if it was the same guy, since they didn't identify themselves, but the accent was definitely the same). He told me, "I have good news for you! The problem was not the mother board! We have traced it to the 'battery board!'" I said, "What does that mean to me?" and he replied that apparently, the part of the computer that allows the DC power through was bad, and that they could replace it for only $85 dollars, instead of hundreds for the mother board. I said, "Great! Do it!" and then he tried to "suggestive-sell" me on some upgrades, which sounded fine, but I politely declined.
A week later, the computer arrived, and has worked perfectly ever since. (I am typing to you on it right now.) So the interesting question is... were they trying to scam me at first into believing that I needed to replace the motherboard, or were they inept in concluding over the phone that the power could not be the problem? DECEITFUL, OR INEPT? Which do you prefer in a computer's tech support department?
Here's my conclusion: if you have the same problem I do... Rolls-Royce tastes, Geo budget, then roll the dice on this machine, because when it works, it is WONDERFUL, and honestly, I have had only one problem with it.
Bottom line? Consider this computer a talented orphan. It brings many charming features into your home, but has no family whatsoever to provide support and comfort when needed.



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 3000
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium II
Processor speed: 401-500
Screen Size: 15"
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 9-12