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Dear Dell,

By hulver (Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 07:30:08 AM EST) (all tags)

You suck.

I'm buying an Acer instead.

Regards,

Hulver.

So, I spent a while futzing around on dell's site, looking for a new laptop. The "home" choice was a bit limited, so I looked at the small business stuff instead.

17" vostro, core 2 duo. 2gb memory. Ordered, submitted credit card details. Looking forward to new machine.

The next frigging day I get an email from them saying my order's been cancelled because of a problem with the credit card.

The next day! Can't they check it when you actually order the thing instead?

So, I try again. Make sure my address details are correct, make sure the credit card details are correct. Never had a problem before. Submit the order.

Again, the next day "We've cancelled your order".

So, I ordered one of these instead.

I briefly considered a MacBook, but then I saw the price of them and changed my mind. £700, and you don't even get a dvd writer? You're having a laugh.

Update [2007-12-5 7:48:48 by hulver]:
InRainbows

My InRainbows box turned up yesterday. I'd forgotten how big Vinal covers are. Huge! A standard CD is shown for scale.

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Acer Aspire 7720G Notebook, Core 2 Duo T5250 1.5GHz, 17" TFT, 2048MB RAM, 2x120GB Hard-drive, DVD±RW, GeForce 8400 Graphics, Integ Webcam, WiFi, Vista Home Premium - Acer (0 comments)

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Dear Dell, | 25 comments (25 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

From my experiences with Dell, by yicky yacky (4.00 / 3) #1 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 07:43:42 AM EST

you'll now receive two brand-spanking-new machines in the post and be plagued with after-"service" calls for the next few months.

----
A cynical, mercenary, demagogic, corrupt press will produce in time a people as base as itself - Joseph Pulitzer

: Dear hulver: by greyrat (4.00 / 1) #11 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 09:49:43 AM EST

If this indeed comes to pass, please PM me so I can send shipping instructions and money to cover shipping costs...
~
There is absolutely no correlation or causation amongst intelligence, power, talent and wealth.
Kha-Nyou
[ Parent ]

Strang, by ksiaz (4.00 / 1) #2 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 08:28:11 AM EST

I assume you don't have a problem with your credit card else where.

I never used to have by hulver (4.00 / 1) #5 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 08:41:31 AM EST

I've just had to ring the credit card company up to get this sorted.

Because they first purchase was for a larger amount than I normally spend on my credit card, they were waiting for Dell to ring them up. Dell didn't they just cancelled the order.

The credit card company then put a stop on any further payments until it was sorted.

Double fuckers.
--
smart, pretty, sane. pick two - georgeha
[ Parent ]

: I had the same issue by cam (4.00 / 1) #15 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 10:37:25 AM EST

when buying the desktop through my business card. I also had ecost have issues when I entered in my cell phone number for a card rather than my home number.

cam
Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic
[ Parent ]

IAWTD by R Mutt (4.00 / 1) #3 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 08:31:55 AM EST

As someone who's also had to cancel a Dell purchase after they screwed up.

Can't understand why they're so crap at this stuff. You'd think checking card details would be something they do enough to get good at it...

credit card checks by Merekat (4.00 / 1) #4 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 08:34:26 AM EST

Try living in a country that doesn't do zip/post codes...

[ Parent ]

: *A* country? by ambrosen (4.00 / 1) #13 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 10:02:42 AM EST

As far as I know, there's only one country without them. I guess they were invented by Oliver Cromwell or something.
And the minute I wrote that, autistic part of my brain pipes up with "CR0 was the first postcode area in the world". So I'm half right.

[ Parent ]

Just had to ring the credit card company by hulver (4.00 / 1) #6 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 08:42:20 AM EST

Because Dell hadn't rung them for authorisation, they put a stop on the card. :(

I had to clear it off.
--
smart, pretty, sane. pick two - georgeha
[ Parent ]

Wow by Bob Abooey (4.00 / 2) #7 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 08:51:47 AM EST

That's a lot of laptop for 600 stones. I wish I had the need for one, even the smallest need, I'd love to have one.

Curious - did you really want Vista? Or wasn't XP an option?

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

How's my blogging: Call me at 209.867.5309 to complain.

Vista? No. by hulver (4.00 / 1) #8 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 08:57:33 AM EST

XP Wasn't an option, but I'll be remedying that I think.

I've already taken a snapshot of my current laptop into a VMWare image (coolest thing ever). I might leave vista on there for gaming, and stick Linux on it. Then use VMWare when I need to do windows stuff.

Apparently it's rumoured to be possible to put OS X into a VMWare image, so I might be trying that as well.
--
smart, pretty, sane. pick two - georgeha
[ Parent ]

rumors only by sasquatchan (4.00 / 1) #9 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 09:37:37 AM EST

not fact. At least as best I can tell.

I looked to make a mac VMWare so I don't have an extra machine on my desk back in August. But it seems you need some VERY specific hardware (specific processor models, motherboards etc) to do so, and even then it's not a 100% sure thing.

I guess it makes sense if there's lots of mac specific stuff in the ROMs, and VMWare doesn't have access to the ROMS.

However, if you do manage to get it running, please share the details.

[ Parent ]

: There are hacked kernel versions by hulver (4.00 / 2) #16 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 10:39:42 AM EST

That apparently allow it.
You do need a processor with sse3 instructions to run it though.
I will report back on my progress.
--
smart, pretty, sane. pick two - georgeha
[ Parent ]

I'm getting a similar Acer by nebbish (4.00 / 1) #10 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 09:47:32 AM EST

Second-hand off a mate. I've heard they're very reliable from a few people now.

Wish mine had 2 X 120GB hard drives though. I need a lot of space for my AHEM files.

--------
It's political correctness gone mad!

AHEM files? by Cloaked User (4.00 / 2) #17 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 10:44:12 AM EST

Anisotropic High-Energy Mechanics? If that's anything like particle physics you'll be needing a tad more than 240GB...

--
This is not a psychotic episode. It is a cleansing moment of clarity.
[ Parent ]

No - porn and stolen music by nebbish (4.00 / 2) #18 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 11:31:05 AM EST

And yeah, I probably do need more than 240GB

--------
It's political correctness gone mad!
[ Parent ]

I recommend by hulver (4.00 / 1) #19 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 12:16:01 PM EST

One of these

I've got the 250gb model, and it's just the job.
--
smart, pretty, sane. pick two - georgeha
[ Parent ]

Ah thanks by nebbish (4.00 / 1) #23 Thu Dec 06, 2007 at 05:45:19 AM EST

I've been looking at external hard drives but wasn't sure which ones were reliable (I've got friends who've had them die on them). Ta.

--------
It's political correctness gone mad!
[ Parent ]

Kiss of death this by hulver (4.00 / 2) #24 Thu Dec 06, 2007 at 05:51:32 AM EST

Mines not died yet, but I've only been using it a few months.
--
smart, pretty, sane. pick two - georgeha
[ Parent ]

: Touch wood [nt] by nebbish (4.00 / 1) #25 Thu Dec 06, 2007 at 09:40:13 AM EST

--------
It's political correctness gone mad!
[ Parent ]

My brother has an Acer. by toxicfur (4.00 / 1) #12 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 09:54:43 AM EST

He apparently backed over it with his SUV, and it survived with only a slightly bent frame. Granted, this happened on a grass driveway and not on a highway, but it's still pretty impressive. Based on his experience (and the general reliability he's had), my mom has now bought one for herself, and so far, she's been very happy with it.
-----
If you don't get a Bonnie, my universe will not make sense. --blixco

: Does blixco know about this? by ad hoc (4.00 / 4) #14 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 10:05:40 AM EST

--
The three things that make a diamond also make a waffle.
[ Parent ]

In Rainbows by fluffy (4.00 / 1) #20 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 01:49:49 PM EST

I was pleased as punch to get the "your discbox has shipped" email the other day. Less pleased when they said that it'd take 5-18 days to arrive in the US. Oh well, at least in 5-18 days I can finally listen to In Rainbows without 160kbps CBR artifacting, and also the second disc. And I'll have some nice wall art to hang too! (I don't have a lot of vinyl, as I don't have a turntable. So vinyl becomes wall art. I should look for some of those frames which are designed to accommodate vinyl covers, rather than just using bulldog clips and picture wire or whatever...)
busy bees buzz | sockpuppet revolution

It's a huge book by hulver (4.00 / 1) #21 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 02:31:54 PM EST

The record sleeves and the CD's are contained inside a large book, so there isn't really any record sleeves.

Sounds weird, you have to see it really.

Imagine a hard back book, where the hard back bits are split in two, and the front and back covers contain a record.
--
smart, pretty, sane. pick two - georgeha
[ Parent ]

: So not suitable for hanging? by fluffy (4.00 / 1) #22 Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 08:31:16 PM EST

Well I guess I could get a little shelf for it then.
busy bees buzz | sockpuppet revolution
[ Parent ]

Dear Dell, | 25 comments (25 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback