This was supposed to be a much happier entry. It was first envisioned as such. But Dell has really miffed me. Eventually, the result of this day will reach a happy end, but for now, I shall remain displeased.
Really, I am most unhappy with my Averatec laptop of two years. As though $1200 wasn't enough to spend on it to begin with, I've spent around $250 over the last year for various repairs, in particular to the power port, a component quite critical to its operation. But for the third time the power port has gone inoperable on me, meaning I have an otherwise decent laptop with a dead battery that will not charge. And I simply refuse to spend another dime on it. I just can't justify it. I had hoped to get another year out of it before replacing it, but necessity has forced my hand.
So, hopefully not unwisely, I've gone and spent $1500 on a nicely stocked midrange Dell (2Ghz Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD) I hope will last me 3-5 years. And I was completely ecstatic to be only a week away from laptop nirvana. That is, until Dell killed my buzz. I'm still pleased as can be with my new laptop configuration, but I didn't realize that one of my device selections could cause Windows Vista issues. So just a few minutes after my order went through, I called Dell to have my order tweaked slightly. We're talking about a $40 configuration change. But four phone calls and three online chats later, I am no closer to completing my change (which I was hoping to do BEFORE the laptop was built). I've been put on extensive hold, transferred, dropped, and flat ignored (was promised a call-back in 2-3 hours, but that never came). No one has been able to help me, for what I believe to be ridiculous technicalities.
Hopefully this will all get resolved tomorrow and I can go about my happy-laptopping way this time next week (with a fully Vista compatible unit of course). But I'm not exactly confident in "the system" at the moment, and I fully intend to write a strongly worded letter. Or... letter-like blog.
Update, 3 Jan: As hoped, all was resolved this morning after about 15 minutes on the phone. While I think it should have gone this way the first time around, I'm just glad to be getting a kick-butt (for me) laptop in the next week or so. It will be SO nice to have some substantial period of time with no significant laptop issues. It has been quite long since I've known that feeling.
Update, 4 Jan: SNAFU! While I have no significant regret with regard to my laptop configuration, I had a head-smacking revelation today. I have rendered my PC(MCIA) Cards useless. I did not realize the new laptop did NOT have a PC Card slot. ONLY Express Card. When did THAT start happening. I have ordered many laptops, be it for friends, family, myself, work, and never have I had a laptop NOT have a PC Card slot. It's a good thing in a way, as I'm prepared for the future as PC Card is phased out, BUT now I have a useless media card reader and smart card reader. AND, I took the time to look around at CompUSA today (while there for other tech immersive goodness) for Express Card peripherals, only to find they are not yet plentiful. Bleh. Yet another buzz kill.
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