<p>That video chip sounds like it's flakey. I would plan on a new system over repaires (a major grouse factor with laptops - hard to fix).</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Jul 11, 2011 2:05 PM, "David Tomaschik" <<a href="mailto:david@systemoverlord.com">david@systemoverlord.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution">> Thanks all for the feedback.<br>
> <br>> I don't think the display issue is inverter or CCFL, because the<br>> effect is really more like static than a flicker. (I described it<br>> poorly in my original message, sorry.) Sometimes it will display 4<br>
> versions of the screen, each occupying 1/4 of the screen, but with<br>> snow on top of them. (Typically, the snow is grouped in horizontal<br>> bands -- if anyone knows what that might be, let me know.)<br>> <br>
> There is only one supplier for the battery on eBay, and their reviews<br>> are mixed but mostly good.<br>> <br>> If I were to replace the laptop, I'd be inclined to go with the Dell<br>> Vostro 3350 (in a Core i5). 13.3" screen, Core i5, 7-8 hours battery<br>
> life, for $689 shipped.<br>> <br>> <br>> David<br>> <br>> <br>> On Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 1:44 PM, Michael B. Trausch <<a href="mailto:mike@trausch.us">mike@trausch.us</a>> wrote:<br>>> On Mon, 2011-07-11 at 11:22 -0400, David Tomaschik wrote:<br>
>>> A new battery would be ~$150 shipped from System 76. 3rd party<br>>>> suppliers from eBay can be had for about $75. The laptop is in mostly<br>>>> good condition, though the screen occasionally flickers, but closing<br>
>>> and reopening the screen has fixed it thus far. (I've tried reseating<br>>>> the video ribbon cable, but the problem persists.)<br>>>><br>>>> Does it seem reasonable to spend $75-$150 on this laptop, or is it<br>
>>> throwing money away? Does anyone have experience with 3rd party<br>>>> battery suppliers on eBay they'd like to share?<br>>><br>>> Depends on what you would replace the laptop with and the overall health<br>
>> of the remainder of the laptop's components.<br>>><br>>> If it's in good shape and you can still use it for quite a while, then<br>>> yes, a battery would be worth it. However, if you think you're going to<br>
>> be replacing it in the next year or so, it's probably better to just buy<br>>> a new system (assuming that you have the cash or credit available to do<br>>> so, of course).<br>>><br>>> --- Mike<br>
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>> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at<br>>> <a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo</a><br>>><br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> -- <br>> David Tomaschik, RHCE, LPIC-1<br>
> System Administrator/Open Source Advocate<br>> OpenPGP: 0x5DEA789B<br>> <a href="http://systemoverlord.com">http://systemoverlord.com</a><br>> <a href="mailto:david@systemoverlord.com">david@systemoverlord.com</a><br>
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> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at<br>> <a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo</a><br></div>