Strange, i'm still using a 2008 HP with no problems, it is a mid-high range, and since 2012 i'm not using it as desktop replacement anymore, only sometimes, when i travel (twice a month) or when i'd like to relax on my roof and enjoy some wind and some cold (i'm odd, i know).
On the other hand i've bought a ASUS on early 2007, and its monitor stopped working after less than 6 months. I had been using it for other 6 months with an external monitor, couldn't afford to stay 1-2 months without my laptop and couldn't afford to buy a temporary one, then tried to change some parts but the bug was mechanical, that specific model had a glitch in the construction, gradually damaging the internal VGA cable. This known problem has been confirmed by ASUS only at late 2009, when the warranty was over.
Then i just removed the monitor, and still using it like it is a very slim desktop.
Yes, the DVD player stopped working too. And i have only 2 USB 2.0 working of 4. AND i need to hold all the pieces together with scotch tape, but.... it's working fine. Seriously, it's working fine. Used it for more than 1 year as media player for HD movies (1080p x264), but then i bought a new Smart TV and for last 18 months it has been placed into a box. Then, 2 months ago, i brought it to my office, connected to the network and to one monitor, and, et voilà!, a new workplace.
I heard about some problems with HP laptops, but also about fully working ones after years and years.
However, for me, Lenovo, Sony Vaio and Asus are better than HP.
The best i've ever tried, however, are the Dell's. Don't matter if low range, mid range, high range or enthusiastic range, they're quite solid, stable, and last like forever.