vpr matrix discontinued???

[Unregistered]

Has anyone noticed that the vpr matrix desktops are not on best buy's website. I haven't read in this forum anything about the desktops being discontinued. Have I missed something?

[flashfire]

I hope the VPR's go the way of packard bells. I've had to fix 5 of those stupid machines for friends lately. They built a power hungry dvd and cd-rw machine and dropped a 300 watt cheap power supply in them. They're laid out well and easy to fix, but the parts just don't seem to last.

[dang]

are you talking about the vpr matrix laptop or one of their desktops?

[flashfire]

the desktops. I've never seen one of the laptops. The crazy thing is that the VPR seemed to have a lot of nice things like lots of USB connections, DVD, etc. They just didn't seem to have very good parts.

[kahleeb]

For a desktop, I would just prefer to build my own. However, in a notebook, I have found that this VPR Matrix has been an awesome system so far. It may have a few issues but you get a lot of bang for your buck.

I hope Best Buy sticks with them.

[CYberDog]

So does anyone here has an answer to the original post? is the vpr matrix (desktop and laptop) being discontinued? if not, is BB cutting their ties with VPR?

Just checked the "buy now!" links of the VPR site and they result to a "WE'RE SORRY, The page you requested can't be accessed right now, or it no longer exists" message on the BB site.

[TampaSushi420]

i heard this too, but from over at infoarena http://www.infoarena.com/vprmatrix/forum/viewtopic.php?t=433 nobody replied to the post, which surprised me cuz i think it would be pretty big news. Can anyone else confirm? Thanks

[CYberDog]

I emailed vpr customer support last night asking them why laptops and notebooks are no longer available at BB sites and this is their reply:

"The vpr Matrix products are being sold in limited availability at limited Best Buy retail store only. If you are interested in purchasing another one, please let me know and we can arrange to have the model shipped to the Best Buy store nearest to you."

So vpr products can still be ordered, but I don't know if their "not being available" in BB websites is indicative of something that is to happen.

[poidog81]

I work for Best Buy (and have gone through 5 220A5's all having bad screens), but yes VPR's have been discontinued. The reason being...Best Buy owns VPR and VPR was sucking a lot of sales away from mainstream manufacturers in Best Buy stores (and the markup on the computers where huge, since Best Buy owned and produced the computers and was not paying a computer company for them). So three large computer makers threatened to pull their products from Best Buy's shelves unless Best Buy stopped producing the VPR's. In business' best interest Best Buy discontiued VPR. What you can find is the stores is the last of them...:(

[kahleeb]

So is the reason why the VPR Matrix line of computers aren't being made anymore is due to other companies, like HP and Sony, getting upset? You would think Best Buy could make more money selling their own line of computers than they could selling HP and Sony machines. Are we sure there is not another reason behind this?

[defylogik]

hey poidog81,

does this mean that the laptops are going to be going DEVO anytime soon? i just purchased one a week ago, i assume the last of the batch!

if it is going to go devo i will hold onto it then take it back for the screen buzz problem or something and get a different model when the prices drop on centrinos.

lemme know
scott

[poidog81]

yep, any that come back due to issues within the 14 day return policy go out DEVO. But if you bring it back after the 14 day policy then they will service it. I have been thought 5 (i get a new one tomorrow) due to other ones having the buzzing screen and bad pixels. All of the ones I have returned have been sent out as DEVO (defective return to vender). Ok, I have to go to work...later all

[chuddy117]

I've never heard of ANYONE having problems with the VPR desktops. I know the laptops had issues with the pixels and keyboards being flimsy, but never the desktops. Are you talking about the older style or the newer ones? I have a 9100 VPR and I absolutely love it, i'll never go back to a compaq or hewlett packard....just junk. My computer runs 24/7 and have never had a problem with the power supply or anything for that matter. I use the dvd burner frequently and play games with it. Man that sucks they're discontinuing these, although I have a feeling this one is gonna last me forever. Thats the beauty of these, they all use top notch parts so they're fully upgradeable. I purchased mine in march of 2003 and it was the last one in minnesota...talk about lucky! I really hope BB at LEAST keeps selling them through their website!!

[defylogik]

took my vpr laptop back and got a compaq x1000. i really loved the way it looked, and i really like metal cases, but the flaws were just too many for me to deal with!

-scott

[chuddy117]

I agree scott. I could really care less how my computer looks, but it better perform. I have heard that compaqs make a decent laptop, but their desktops are just garbage.....its all proprietary. Thats why I love vpr, everything is mainstream goods, easy to get and easy to upgrade.

[kahleeb]

I spoke to the tech support group for VPR Matrix and they told me over the phone that they are not discontinuing the line of VPR machines. Right now they are selling down their stock and will introduce a new model in the near future.

Can anyone confirm if this is true? Would the tech support group just make this up if it weren't true or if they didn't know?

[Ioman]

Originally posted by kahleeb
I spoke to the tech support group for VPR Matrix and they told me over the phone that they are not discontinuing the line of VPR machines. Right now they are selling down their stock and will introduce a new model in the near future.

Can anyone confirm if this is true? Would the tech support group just make this up if it weren't true or if they didn't know?

I would not bet on this. And even if they are introducing new laptops, we have not heard about them here at Designtechnica which means no money has been invested in the press or marketing at this point. I think their first attempt for a laptop was great, but they need to follow through a little better with the problems and other issues people are having with their systems.

[defylogik]

on a side note, i am quite happy with my new x1000 as of this date.

-scott

[jesse_p2000]

i love the performace and power of vpr desktop but i have had nothing but trouble with them. i first bought a 9100 and had to return it within a month because of a bad motherbord. the worst part is i had to send it back to the factoy 3 times before they found the problem. then i traded it in and bought the 9150 and after about 5 months of perfect performance the video card burned out. then when i sent it in they replaced it with a 64 mb card instead of the 128 mb card it should come with. over all i like the vpr but if they start selling them again make sure to get the BB warenty!!!!!!!!!

[Ioman]

Originally posted by jesse_p2000
i love the performace and power of vpr desktop but i have had nothing but trouble with them. i first bought a 9100 and had to return it within a month because of a bad motherbord. the worst part is i had to send it back to the factoy 3 times before they found the problem. then i traded it in and bought the 9150 and after about 5 months of perfect performance the video card burned out. then when i sent it in they replaced it with a 64 mb card instead of the 128 mb card it should come with. over all i like the vpr but if they start selling them again make sure to get the BB warenty!!!!!!!!!

After a record and experience like that, I would not recommend another VPR Matrix laptop I don't think.

I am still happy with my Gateway 200XL laptop and have had no permanent issues with it.

[NTL1991]

I have just called vpr Matrix Support, and infact, they are not making vpr Matrix laptops anymore, but the man said that they might have some in thier warehouse...

I have the VPR Matrix 170B4 and it worked fine for about a year and the power adapter (the Plug) died and i couldn't wait for the adapter to come in and i was using a generic one with the different ends for a eek and it burnt out the power connecter on the back of the laptop and Best Buy said that i would need to buy another motherboard to solve the problem. Well, $450 wasn't the answer I wanted so i am currently browing eBay for the cheapest MOBO for my laptop. Pls. post any suggestions if u know anywhere to go to get a MOBO for a 170B4. Thanks

[dlh]

I bought a VPR Matrix laptop for a present a year and a half ago. It has been an incredible laptop, and I decided to buy another. Couldn't find any at Best Buy, online or in-store. VPR Matrix website was no help. Best Buy parts/tech support was no help, knew nothing (VPR Matrix was a Best Buy "house brand"). Finally, a Best Buy store general manager I know filled me in. According to him, VPR Matrix computers were selling so fast they couldn't build them quick enough. The quality was very high, and thanks to numerous reviews rating them quite highly, were highly sought by consumers. According to him, Sony noticed this, and noticed VPR Matrix outselling the much higher-priced Vaios. So he says Sony made Best Buy corporate an offer: drop VPR Matrix and shut the line down, or lose the right to sell any and all Sony consumer electronics! Personally, I believe this guy, as he's very bstraight-up, and has never blew me any smoke. I'll never again buy anything Sony makes, and hope others do the same. What a bunch of &*%#holes!

[theguy]

Hey NTL1991 I'm selling my vpr Matrix 180-b5.......It'd be a very nice replacement for your 170.......

[Gear Guy]

From what I hear, VPR's were selling good - a little too good and when it came down to it Best Buy had to decide if it wanted to keep selling their inexpensive house brand risking people like Sony and HP pulling out of their stores or shelfing it for a little while. I guess the retail dollar was too strong since sure enough VPR is gone.

[theguy]

That's what about 5 people have already said......

[southplatte]

I was just thinking of purchasing a used vpr desktop (2.1ghz, 512mb ram) for about $500. I am a service tech by trade, so any issues I can fix myself. Would it be worth it? Yes, I know I can buy a dell, hp or other junk for under 500, but if this has a larger hd adn such, no biggie to me. most of the sub-$500 pcs suck any way, and I can get this one pretty easily (limted cash, and I have an avenue to get this one w/o $$ up front).

would it be worth it?

Thanks