new Gigabyte P35K

It didn't bend--but it still flexed, which could be a problem, but seems to be fine otherwise. Still confused as why they didn't put the bay on the right or left side...don't fix what ain't broke, I say.

I'm still trying to decide whether I should get this notebook or the unbranded MSI GS70 (Battallion 101 Ultra Thin: ~$1500). I love that SteelSeries keyboard and I won't probably ever use all 4 drive bays on the P35K, but I prefer a 15" screen over the 17" and hear the battery life is better too.

 

That's a 5 year warranty on that one defect only. Which is pretty good but it's only on that one defect.

Bending and flexing aren't a problem for most laptops, the force should be first absorbed by the rubber feet. Anything beyond that goes directly on the chassis. As long as it bends back then you shouldn't have a problem. Most things are engineered to contain some sort of flex anyway to prevent damage from benign forces.

 

What WiFi card did you buy?

 

The first shipment was not and the laptop itself has not changed. If it bent before it can bend in the future.

Mine was bent as well, which is why I returned it: PhotoGlow Photography | Gigabyte P35K laptop unboxing

 

Only time will tell.

It'd be interesting to see GenTech's testing without the centre section supported

 

Any laptop can bend if you don't take care of it...
Hell my roommate ed up his MacBook Pro by slamming his backpack on the ground, lucky the screen did not crack.
I've also read about the samsung laptops not sitting flush in less than a year.

I got the intel AC 7260

 

They can't put the bay on left or right side because there is dual fan cooling system.

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

Will test it tonight.

 

I hate to be a buzzkill but the gigabyte testing might have actually caused a bit of flex in their systems.



The two red lines are parallel to each other. You can see that the bottom it not exactly parallel with the top cover. It might be a couple of mm at most. If I had a better picture I'd be able to tell for sure. It might still be a good idea to get extra feet for your system.

 

You're a star. Don't bend one on my account

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

 

Such a buzzkill...lol Notice how the "bend" is not in the center of the laptop. That makes me think it might just be distortion or angle of the picture.

I'm gonna sit still and decide between this and the "GS70' but I'm still leaning towards the p35k.


Geez people, it's not like we're THAT mean to our laptops! Maybe I can get some kind of shell for it...

 

You're right. The only real way to find out is to have the laptop on a flat surface and seeing if the rubber feet on both sides are flush against that surface.

We're really pushing GenTech PC into the upper echelon of customer service, so I'd like to take this opportunity to really thank GenTech for the AWESOME support. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
Do you guys also know when the new packaging will make it into shipments? There should be a lot of shipments still on the boat and still Work In Progress. Would it be safe to say that orders maybe a month out will have this new packaging or maybe sooner?

To be honest, I think it's good to have the OD on the front, it's more innovative, better than not having 1, and they are also ways to improve structural support for the laptop (ie. AL bottom instead of plastic). If the OD was in the side, then you'd get the bending from the side as well. Also, the position of the track pad and the OD don't have to line up perfectly, removal of material for the track pad reduces the overall strength of the chassis, they didn't need these right next to each other to further reduce strength. Could've mirrored the battery, OD, and HD.

Heck, since most people are right handed, un/loading the OD would've been easier, same way that the track pad leans more to the left side for right handers.

 

My Xoticpc order just went to phase one, re: they charged my card, probably meaning they received the laptops. Though I'm expecting at least 3 days delay before my order is possibly shipped out, due to additional components purchased.

 

Did you get your order rushed?
And keep us up to date with what XOTIC says.

 

At this point I haven't chosen to Rush it and likely will not. Too much money for something that should follow a reasonable time line; at any rate, I'd rather there be more time so they can sort out the shipping issues, given that Gigabyte has visually depicted the changes and now Xotic has something to go by. They still didn't say for certain if they'd accomodate that but they are looking into it with the shipping department.

 

Well in that case that's 5-16 days before they ship the laptop out to you. Which sucks. They do that to stock ones as well but I got told it can take less since no work has to be done on it but no guarantee.

 

nope.... they charged everyone, i asked them today if they will ship it. they said it will need 1 week for cf2 and 2 weeks for cf2. but they just charged people today.
i know its tough news

 

It's not tough news... I already know because my order went through to phase one

 

They haven't charged me yet...

And I pre ordered the night it was up.

 

Would it be better to buy just the vanilla laptop and add the upgrades in myself to reduce the wait time?

 

Yes, and much cheaper.

 

Some of the options at Gentech are the same as OEM. Their 16 gig ram upgrade is only $55, it probably isn't name brand but that shouldn't matter too much. Also their wireless cards are about the same as OEM as well. Other drives are probably cheaper elsewhere.

 

I received mine today, and I believe I will be returning it and trying to get a full refund. The laptop has a design flaw, plain and simple. The metal is too flimsy, the plastic is not well reinforced. The packaging update they are talking about is just a snow job, because it's very clear upon handling the laptop that the bending would happen on its own under normal use. I'm a bit miffed because I'd be quite happy keeping the laptop if I knew that Gigabyte would be offering a fix for it, but to blame it on the packaging as though there's no underlying structural issue is simply insulting.

The laptop is flawed, due to the DVD drive slot. That much open space in the middle of such a wide and thin laptop was bound to cause structural problems, and Gigabyte does not seem to have designed enough bracing into the laptop. You can look into the hole when you take out the DVD drive and see there is virtually nothing in there but extremely flimsy metal and plastic. It should have been obvious this is a problem, and it's just incredibly frustrating to see them blame this on packaging instead of just owning up to the mistake.

 

All the laptops I've tested at bestbuy flex near the DVD, it's just apparent here so much since the DVD drive is so close to your hands.

Keep in mind that the bent unit is softer and the non bent one is stiffer.

If I were in your feet I would keep the laptop as you got till December 31st to RMA for a refund, and wait for a fix to come in or not.

 

I have a feeling I'm talking to you elsewhere at the moment.

I still say it was a mistake to place the DVD drive at the front, and that this type of bending is just as (or frankly MORE) likely in your laptop bag as it was in the original packaging. It's going to happen eventually, and once it does, you'll be SOL. As they mention, once the bending starts, it's less stiff. Perhaps something in the laptop is snapping or breaking which causes it to bend more easily? I don't know, but I know if it can happen surrounded by foam in a box, it can happen in your laptop bag.

 

I received my laptop today. It has a bulge under the optical drive and a concave gap between the lid and the rest of the chassis when closed.
It will be returned and i will buy a custom MSI GS70 instead. I'm from Norway, so this only adds to the global, negative feedback on the P35K : /
Too bad, because I really like the design and properties of the unit.

 

Right when I was sure about buying this laptop.

Is it possible you guys are receiving the rumored engineering model, or is this the real thing?

 

I don't think I've got the engineering model. It came in retail packaging and its covered in stickers just like a retail model should.

It's very frustrating.

 

It is definitely not an engineering model. Why would they send that to the only distributor in Norway? The engineering model had a different colour too, if I remember correctly.

 

Guys let's relax for a second... Gigabyte pulled back all the units and will be shipping the new ones next week and they are sure non will be damaged. You had the older unsupported units. You can exchange them for the newer ones and have till the end of the year to do that.

So see what suits you and do it

 

Wbs the packaging won't make a jot of difference.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

 

You don't understand. The root cause of the damage isn't poor packaging, they are damaged because they are weak and the metal/plastic is too flimsy. All the new packaging is going to do is make sure they get to you without being damaged, so that you can damage them from simple use and Gigabyte can blame you and not have to warranty it. The laptops have a design flaw: the DVD player area doesn't have enough bracing for such a large open area in such a wide and thin laptop. Trust me, I'm typing on it now and not all of the feet sit on the ground but the weight of my hand makes the whole thing flex up and twist. It's simply not strong enough.

 

There isn't anything we can do honestly, the investment has been made and they can't produce something else till next year models, there is no point in us complaining, speaking for myself I'm getting it and just deal with the consiquences.... So make a quick decision on keeping it or changing cause honestly there isn't anything as powerfull slim and cheap on the market.

Plus I have a solution in mind, which I'm waiting for mine to make sure it works cause it will help support the laptop

 

Anybody know if GentechPC refused the first shipment of CF1's? While I do want my laptop asap, I guess it'd be better to wait until they get the reinforced shipment. It'd be super nice if Gigabyte gave out stuff for having such long delays.

 

I didn't know you could foresee the future. What will be next winning lottery ticket? (PM it to me)




It's bad to hear that your orders were bent when you've received them, that's not acceptable at all. But from looking at Gentech's video you cant just say "oh even if it wasn't bent it its going to bend with normal wear and tear". In his video you can see that the bent laptop has exaggerated bends when he tries to flex it compared to the "OK" model. So yes your laptop is going to be a lot more flimsier than a model that is not bent.

Finally I don't get why so many of you are worried about the laptop bending when you get it. You should be taking care of your Electronics. Any laptop will get defects if you are mistreating it, just like if you drop your phone and the screen cracks. Are you going to blame that on the company or yourself?

Also it wont bend in your bag unless you are slamming your backpack on the ground, unless you are the type of person that And about it getting bent in shipment have you ever had to stop an egg from breaking when it falls from 2 feet in one of your science classes? If you don't do it correctly, and all the force goes to one side its going to break.

Unless you guys are afraid of it bending while you are using the keyboard, I can understand that.

So no this is not a good sign for this laptop, and I'm not trying to defend it for having a bad launch.
I'm just tired of all the biased information you guys are giving, yes you got a defective unit RMA it or if you don't feel confident return it for a refund.

Am I still going to order it?
Yes, XOTICPC inspects each laptop for Quality Control before shipping it out. So I know for sure I wont be getting a bad one unless it bends while on transit to me.

Edit: What WhiteBoyShady said is so true, this is one of the best laptops you can get with this slimness and specs without paying $600-$1000 more.

 

The best solution is to send the unit back so that Gigabyte gets the message clearly. There is always a point in complaining when the fault lies with the maker of said product.
If you want a similar product, go for the custom variant of the MSI GS70. It is priced fairly, even cheaper than the P35K here in Norway, at least.

The most stupid thing you can do is to hold on to the product. The guarantee you get from Gigabyte only covers the design flaw, which can lead to stress on other parts of the laptop due to the bending and poor build quality in general. I would not feel safe knowing that any error or damage that can be viewed as not in relation to the flaw might be anyway. How are you supposed to prove anything at all? We all remember how Microsoft treated their customers after the design flaw of the Xbox 360 where the discs got scratched by the DVD drive - the customers were blamed.

Vote with your wallet, always!


That being said... If the seller of the P35K can guarantee you free service for any error/ damage that may be caused by the fault, it could be worth it for the ones who do not like the alternatives out there.

 

Ret - wait for gentechs new video. I would honestly put your order on hold.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

 

@BlkKnight
Its just a pre-order for me at the moment, so yeah its on hold.
Lets go Gentech

I have also no problem RMAing for a refund.
Honestly I may go with the ibuypower MSI GS rebrand, but 17" is a little to big.


Meanwhile any one who has the laptop instead of giving us more info of a known issue can you tell us a bit more about the laptop?
How good is the IPS screen?
What kind of temperatures are you getting?
Battery Life?

 

Retro... You so funny.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA "LOTTERY TICKET!?!?"
FWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I don't know where you get your material, but it's great. Hehehe because IF he could see the FUTURE, then you'd want to know the lottery numbers.... Because then you'd have a lot of MONEY. HAHAHA! it's funny AND true. LIKE, HAH!


Retro... You so funny.

I'm assuming it's a joke, because being condescending to Blk expressing his logical opinion would make you seem like a jackass. Seriously, he's only stating the obvious: you'd be 'literally' insane to blindly throw your money at this product.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
.......... Sorry... I just thought of your lottery joke again.... Heheheh it's so funny.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

 

Yeah, it took me an hour to think that joke up, glad you appreciated it.

On a more serious note, that was sarcasm, glad you caught it. Its like if I stated the packaging will fix everything. We don't know if it will, hence why I posted that. And ironically that post about you saying I'm a jackass makes you look like one too.

On topic: Here is some more feed back from the UK.

So just take care of your stuff like I have been saying.

Can any other current owner comment on other aspects of the laptop?

 

Hello.
I have been following this thread for a long time since page ~10. I just want to say thank to you all who have been providing crucial information and useful advices.
Fingers crossed about that bending issue. In my opinion, if it just flexes but not(!) actually bends, that's fine, because right now I have a totally plastic 3-year old toshiba which can be flexed absolutely everywhere to a relatively large extent. Electronics need carefulness.

I wan't going to post here anything, because I am just a reader and don't have much to contribute. However, CaptainSean's last post made me to.

It seems like you either lack for attention or do not have another place to pour out. Do you think that it is pleasant to read such posts full of nonsense and dull humour?..

 

Water off a ducks back.

I really wanted this laptop to be great, however after buying one and playing about with it - the chassis does not inspire me with confidence.

Plastic laptops can flex some as some plastics are elastic. Alu while very strong in some circumstances can be brittle and weak in others. Alu is certainly not elastic. Once it has been stretched there's no going back.

The thickness of the materials is simply not enough to withstand the forces.

The moments involved on the odd based at the front are far greater than if it were at the side due to the length of the body.

Simple physics come into play. Can't argue with forces.


Good luck with your order.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

 

It is interesting to see two almost back-to-back posts saying completely opposite inferences. I wish there were more owners giving feedback.

 

There isn't that many "non-bent" ones in the wild for people to comment. . . .

 

I wish gentech could show what kind of flex there is on the top case, so we know how bad it is.

@BlkKnight
Take this with a grain of salt.
I just thought this was interesting and wanted to share.

There are two ways you can make a chassis, you call mill the chassis out of a solid piece of aluminum, or by stamping each piece out and assembling it. (Or something very similar to that)

If the chassis is made out of one piece its pretty damn sturdy like the macbookpro, However if its made by many pieces of aluminum / plastic it looses it rigidity hence why its easier to flex.
Stamping / Forming sheets of aluminum.


Milling from a solid piece of aluminum.


Edit: Here is how they make the macbook pro's if you are interested. http://youtu.be/lJx6cF-H__I?t=1m33s

I'm no longer going to follow this thread, I've decided to go with the P25W it's thicker but it's quality is better.

 

I'm in the same boat as you. 17" seems a little big! If only it was 15"... You think MSI/ibuypower will come out with a 15'er soon?

 

Hope it's what your looking for. Good luck.

 

@Plex,

Highly unlikely, that's a rebranded MSI GS70. If it does come out I would predict it to be announced during January or June.
(CES or Computex)

@Like butta
Yeah I'm 100% sure. As you can see with my activity today I've been on frequently deciding.
I rather give gigabyte my money on a product that's not a first generation product.


It's a bummer really, but it's a safe bummer.

Temperatures are cool, better GPU, and good reports on the web so far.
There's only a couple of thing that's meh about it, it's lid color, fake aluminum look, no IPS, and finally it's size...
It's battery is pretty damn good for a gaming laptop 3-5 hours.

Best of luck, I had to ditch the P35K due to time reasons and the fact that I've been at college for two months without a computer. I could of waited more but it's cold over here and playing outdoor football is getting pretty bad no one shows up, also them trips to the library are getting bad.

I might still lurk around this thread, but not as much.

Edit: what an achievement I stayed on this thread since page 3 and I am leaving with the 1,000 comment.

 

I just went to the local Gigabyte dealer here in Taiwan to check out the flex in person. Unfortunately, they didn't even have any display models.

 

Anyone know a brick-and-mortar store that might sell this or the MSI GS70 in the US?