DOA: Dell On Arrival
The good news: I didn't have to wait long for tech support.
The bad news: the touchpad is very sick. And of course they wanted to repair it. I insisted the system was going to be replaced, and will call to schedule a return on Monday. I spent hours yesterday loading software, tweaking XP, setting up My Document folders and such--that will all have to done again.
So. That's two Dell systems in a row that have gone back within the first week of use. This sure calls into question my disregard for this experience and the groundless hope things would be different this time. My only consolation is that, once my desktop was finally made to work almost two years ago, it has performed flawlessly ever since.
Meanwhile, it is absolutely the PEAK of spring, and Goose Creek never looks any more picturesque than this third week of April. Wish you were here.
Comments
What a bummer about your new Dell. I'm sure I'm not the only reader who is noting this for future reference next time a Dell product is under consideration.
I bought a Dell for the first time about a year ago, and it has been fine. But there was a mixup about my order, and neither the sales rep or anyone else responded to my repeated phone calls and e-mails (for 3 days) to change it before it was shipped, so I was stuck with paying more for what was not exactly what I wanted, or else sending it back and waiting for another one.
And no one even apologized.
So I would not do business with Dell again. Bet you won't either.
Ah well, get out and enjoy the spring and try to forget about it.
Posted by: LinB | April 23, 2005 10:16 AM
Hi Fred. I just came across your blog site on the Roanoke Times listing. Your picture reminds me of Dick Clark with a beard. And I mean that as a compliment!
I've had a DELL computer since 2002 and it's been flawless. I have Windows XP Professional and I haven't had any trouble with it. Maybe you are just experiencing bad luck. Or else maybe DELLs are made like they used to.
Have a good day.
Mike
Posted by: Mike | April 23, 2005 10:46 AM
so do I :-)
Posted by: cindy lee | April 23, 2005 1:48 PM
Apple - Apple - Apple
Fred Resistance is futile
Posted by: robert Paterson | April 23, 2005 2:44 PM
I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut on this one ;-)
Posted by: Marie | April 23, 2005 4:22 PM
Man, I hate that you were so excited and it didn't work. Kinda like being a kid on Christmas morning and Santa bringing you broken toys. Or something.
Posted by: Trey | April 23, 2005 4:55 PM
Shoulda gotta Mac...........:)
Posted by: Dottie | April 23, 2005 9:21 PM
You are just bucking the odds, Fred. Too bad you had to be that point in the curve. Statistically speaking, my experience is closer to the norm than yours. Of the three computers that I've owned (Sharp, Toshiba, HP), and 15-20 that I've had at work (Compaqs, mostly), I've had a hardware problem with only one--at work (don't recall the brand.) Software is a whole 'nuther issue!
In addition, I own an HP-1910 iPAQ hand held computer, and three scientific HP calculators (35, 19C, and 48GX--the 48GX is smarter than I am), and have had a problem only with the 19C. After a few years, the small, built-in thermal printer died, which HP fixed pronto. Later it lost continuity of memory in the y, z, and t registries. The registry memory thing is not a big deal, so it's not been fixed in the 15-20 years since first occurrence.
Posted by: Cop Car | April 24, 2005 10:22 AM
Fred, I'm so sorry to hear this. I had hoped you'd have good luck this time. Love today's photo of Tsuga, the mighty mole mole-ester!
Posted by: lauragayle | April 25, 2005 8:04 AM
Fred you seem to have bad Dell karma! Or maybe your UPS man is just out to get you.
Posted by: Rurality | April 25, 2005 3:13 PM
I've also had a horrible experience recently with Dell technical support, who diagnosed a hardware problem as a software problem, leading me to an unnecessary reformat and OS reinstallation (and lost me all my email since October, although that's my fault for improperly backing up). Now the system's off to the repair depot, and I'll probably not have it back for a couple of weeks. I am not happy, and will certainly not buy Dell again.
Posted by: Dave Trowbridge | April 25, 2005 7:52 PM