I'm glad your boyfriend was able to get you a useable notebook. If you absolutely need to use your now destroyed one, and this will help preserve your "new" (used) one too, you can look into one of the USB powered "laptop cooler/stands". The powered ones employ one or more low-voltage fans to move air under the notebook and they *should* help keep it cooler at least for a bit. There are "passive" units that attempt to "wick" away heat, but with a malfunctioning fan I doubt they will work successfully for you.

I have had a couple of strange encounters with Dell service technicians myself. Nothing like the horror story you wrote of. Both were training "new-hires" and I guess they were trying to show off their level (lack of) technical prowess - one actually asked what power my magnetic screw-driver was; as he powerfully pulled the laptop case apart to replace a mainboard before removing that last screw (sad). It's not like I am using an electromagnet removed from a dead MRI machine; just a little magnetic screw-driver bought at the local Lowes; the kind with replacement heads for slotted, torx and phillips screws. He looked positively dumbfounded when I said, "one string enough to hold onto scrwes and weak enough to not damage computers."

I also feel for you regarding trying to explain your trouble(s) to someone from India/Pakistan/Thailand/wherever that obviously speaks English as their 3rd or 4th language while following a carefully scripted troubleshooting manual written by someone with no "real-world" repair experience.

rmerts

Did you read the fucking post(s)?

At all?

e.varden

Besides that, the lass should actually be covered under Dell for a heatsink/fan/processor/heatsink compound, if I remember correctly that was one of 4 systems that had known overheating issues. If it is, its covered outside of warranty, and was entered in as a Dell knowledge base document, for said issue with above resolution.

When I worked at Dell, we had so many reports of on-site abuse on systems. Working with said company is nigh-impossible because they either wont pick up the phone, or will give the run around of so and so will call you back and speak with you. Even when letting them know that an employee from Dell was making the call, they would treat it all the same. (provided Dell badge number). They just do not care.

In all honesty, the depot service is better, but you will still see reports from depot services either not fixing your problem, or causing more issues. A lot of times it will actually be from inaccurate case notes taken from the support phone call, or the wrong resolution put fourth by the tech you speak with. Depot Techs do not diagnose an issue, unless the system either doesnt boot, doesnt post, or has unknown issues. And unless specified with the resolution (ie, what needs to be replaced/fixed) they normally will NOT fix your issue.

Good luck though on being able to see said case notes, as none of the support techs have to, or will, give out said case notes.

Knowing all this, I now own my second Dell Laptop (Inspirion 1501*sold to friend* and now own a Inspiron 1520*). Both have caused no issues. The horror stories that come into light are normally one in hundreds of thousands of positive experiences.

Phreggs

Definitely worthy of a Blame the consumer component.

unklegwar

Kloud

Actually, last week I had two TV (male) repairmen come to my place to fix my brand new Samsung LCD HDTV (be a little leery when you buy one). Their idea of a suitable workbench was my glass-inlaid coffetable.

As I watched them slowly walk to my coffeetable carrying my rather HEAVY TV, it took a second for it to register on me that they were really going to lay the TV down on the glass to work on it.

While I didn't verbalize it in quite the same way, my facial expression and my immediate dashed over to stop them said very clearly, "OH, HELL NO!"

Any fool (except them) could see what the likely outcome would be. They would have very happily whistled while they worked...banging on my TV...until the weight of the TV and vibrations of their actions shattered the glass into a million pieces. Thankfully, it is not in my nature to allow something like that to happen.

The fact that they were two strange men and I was one lone woman didn't cause me to hesitate when I very firmly told them in no uncertain terms that they were not going to put the TV on the table. Nor did I waiver when one of them tried to convince me that the glass would be okay and I was almost silly for being too overly cautious. (Typical male response)

Whatever. This silly, overly cautious woman likes her coffeetable. If two big, strong man are too dumb to realize the error of their ways, I am more than happy to show it to them. They can attempt to prove how right they are on their own coffeetable not mine.

Lambasted

BeFrugalNotCheap

fjordtjie

BeFrugalNotCheap

fjordtjie

1. I submitted this last week, so it's my fault, not Consumerist's, that it's an old story.

2. I am 5'2'', weigh 100 pounds, and I lived alone. It is hard to describe Joel, but bohemian's 'serial killer' is pretty close, and he was about 3 times my size. I didn't ask him to leave because he was big and scary, and because I thought he was intoxicated--it was frightening! I decided to sacrifice my laptop for my own safety.

In response to stopping him when he started hammering, was I supposed to foresee it? And when he started how dumb would I be to piss off an intoxicated hammer-wielding man? I think not saying anything was the safest thing to do.

3. I mentioned my boyfriend because I was I know nothing about computer repair and was making sure hammering was abnormal, which I assumed it was. The hammering had begun before he arrived, so it was too late anyway. I was also showing, should Joel find this and try to sue me for defamation, that I had a witness to his shenanigans.

4. I should have called the police. But fear sometimes clouds good judgement. I should have called when he hammered my computer, I should have called when he sat outside of my former aparatment. Thanks, Captain Obvious.

5. I did call Joel's company to file a complaint about him, along with the multiple ones to Dell, but neither company did a damn thing about it.

7. I haven't used my laptop on my lap since the first day. Even when used next to an open window in the middle of winter, it still overheats. The fan would work for most computers, but mine's a goner.

8. I never bought a computer at Best Buy. When I bought the laptop it was highly ranked in Consumer Reports, which is the best advice I could get at the time. So thanks for the insult.

9. The picture of my keyboard frame wasn't posted, which showed it coming all the way through. The dimple on my wrist rest, TheJollyGreenGiant, is from a correctly-sized screw being hammered into the thick plastic.

10. I WILL get a Mac next time.

fjordtjie

1. I submitted this last week, so it's my fault, not Consumerist's, that it's an old story.

2. I am 5'2'', weigh 100 pounds, and I lived alone. It is hard to describe Joel, but bohemian's 'serial killer' is pretty close, and he was about 3 times my size. I didn't ask him to leave because he was scary and because I thought he was intoxicated--it was frightening! I decided to sacrifice my laptop for my own safety.

In response to stopping him when he started hammering, was I supposed to foresee it? And when he started how dumb would I be to piss off an intoxicated hammer-wielding man? I think not saying anything was the safest thing to do.

3. I mentioned my boyfriend because I know nothing about computer repair and was making sure hammering was abnormal, which I assumed it was. The hammering had begun before he arrived, so it was too late anyway. I was also showing, should Joel find this and try to sue me for defamation, that I had a witness to his shenanigans.

4. I should have called the police. But fear sometimes clouds good judgement. I should have called when he hammered my computer, I should have called when he sat outside of my former aparatment. Thanks, Captain Obvious.

5. I did call Joel's company to file a complaint about him, along with the multiple ones to Dell, but neither company did a damn thing about it.

7. I haven't used my laptop on my lap since the first day. Even when used next to an open window in the middle of winter, it still overheats. The fan idea would work for most computers, but mine's a goner.

8. When I bought the laptop it was highly ranked in Consumer Reports, which is the best advice I could get at the time. I never bought nor will ever buy a computer at Best Buy. So thanks for the insult, it was grade A.

9. The picture of my keyboard frame wasn't posted, which showed it coming all the way through. The dimple on my wrist rest, TheJollyGreenGiant, is from a correctly-sized screw being hammered into the thick plastic.

10. I WILL get a Mac next time.

fjordtjie

He may be a highly competent IT tech, but he isn't DELL'S highly competent IT tech, which means they probably don't trust him to work on the thing while it is under warranty.

TechnoDestructo

heavylee-again

Before responses to responses, I meant to say "the cd they'd sent me WAS for a different wireless card" in case someone wanted to judge me for bad incorrect grammar too.

1. I just got a Consumerist account this week, and it was written like 4 days ago. They haven't been holding it, it's my fault.

2. I am 5'2'' and weigh 100 pounds and at that point, I lived alone. He was at least a foot taller, and weighed probably 3 times as much--if you saw the man, you'd understand why I didn't want to piss him off by telling him to leave. I didn't have time to say anything before he whooshed by me into my apartment. I didn't smell the alcohol until he was already inside my apartment. I could have tried when he returned from 'getting his tools' but it didn't seem safe for me to confront a man three times my size whom I believe to be intoxicated. I figured my best option was to let him do whatever, and have dell replace whatever he breaks, and get him out of my apartment as soon as possible. I was afraid what would happen, outside of him just getting mad and yelling at me or storming out, which I can deal with. I was afraid for my safety.

In regard to the hammering, seriously--do you think I expected it AND would it be wise to interrupt someone you're sure now is intoxicated and wielding a hammer??!!

3. My boyfriend was mentioned because I was making sure hammering was abnormal, which I didn't know for sure, as I know nothing about computer repair. He arrived during the hammering, so it was too late to stop him. Also, if say, Joel, found this story and decided to try to sue for defamation of character, it is also so that they know I have a witness to his shenanigans.

5. I DID call his company to file a complaint about Joel, in addition to the one to Dell, but neither company did a damn thing about it.

6. I didn't call the cops because I was scared. I should have. But sometimes fear clouds good judgement. I should have asked him to leave, I should have called the cops. Thanks Captian Obvious.

7. I haven't used my laptop on my lap in years. It overheats next to an open window in the middle of winter so although the advice with the fan is reasonable for most laptops, this one is a goner.

8. The picture of the screw coming up through the keyboard frame wasn't posted. That is the most prominent, and the dimple in the wrist rest is where a screw of the correct size was hammered into the plastic but didn't break through.

8. I WILL get a Mac next time, this is ridiculous

fjordtjie

First, ditch dumbass boyfriend. Clearly he's a highly incompetent IT tech and he's blind and probably into freaky laptop abuse.

Second, dump laptop in nearest trash can. It's a Dell for crying out loud.

Pfff.. she'd probably just go to Best Buy and by a new one.

StellaSquash

TechnoDestructo

Pro-Pain

In short, Dell computers are junk. EVERYONE I know with a Dell has had some type of problem with them, including one of my Mom's friends whose Dell I had to fix one time, and my Grandfather who bought a crappy Dell that runs XP so slowly that he actually called the tech line (where he got a heavily accented Indian (no offense to Indians, but no matter where you come from, we need to understand what you're saying)) and received the bad news that nothing was actually wrong with it was and it was just junk (in so many words).

I swear to God, my Emachines (the butt of many jokes from my friends) that I bought in 2001 with an 800mhz Celeron processor runs XP faster than his computer. It's kind of sad actually. Anyway, from my personal experience and horror stories that I've heard about Dell, I will never, ever buy a Dell. I suggest you do the same.

gomakemeasandwich

Blue Screen, you left me stranded at home
Without the doc that I wrote
Without a dock for my boat

But suddenly there appeared before me
A tech named joel who reeked and stammered
And when he left my laptop too was hammered

SCROTUS

And we're only talking about laptops here. I've heard far worse and costly horror stories out of the contruction industry.

deedrit

TheJollyGreenGiant

Word of the wise, anyone who ever is treated in such a way whether it's incompetent techs on the phone or a harrasing tech in person, call Dell up and don't back down till you get what you want.

grep

DWI, Harrasment, property damage. Pretty cut and dry to me.

BuddyGuyMontag

LUV2CattleCall

Pro-Pain

Btw, just get a Mac!

djanes1

Ditto

BTW it is a lot easier to banish somebody from your house the moment they arrive and complain to the company regarding the reasons you banished the employee then it is to wait until after the work is done and then complain.

Try it sometimes. Just say he behaved drunk and smelled of beer and you refused to let him come into your home. For most businesses that have traveling employees or contract workers the refusal to allow the employee to work because of alcohol will nearly always result in immediate dismissal of the employee as the risk of liability is far to great to the business. Those that keep the employee will have him/her go pee in a cup to prove he/she is sober.

Complaining AFTERwards just sounds like a whinny customer and peeing in the cup is not going to be conclusive.

StevieD

k6richar

Buran

bohemian

chuloallen

ceejeemcbeegee

Smashed Dell tech smashes Dell laptop.

dweebster

MelL

TheDude06

The only time I'll EVER show up to someone's house smelling like smoke is if my last customer smoked. Its either the tobacco tar ridden dirt inside their PC. Or because they lit up right next to me.

MrEvil

MrEvil

The other thing that exacerbates it is that these are usually flat-rate jobs. At $50-$60 a job, you try to work as fast as possible, and mistakes happen. I've even read some postings by Dell on Monster and they only want to pay $35 a call, scary. Before you start complaining, that's a flat rate from which you have to pay your taxes, gas and whatever is left is yours.

christoj879

ivanthepig

Seriously, though, his behavior was wrong on so many levels, and Dell's lack of motivation to make up for it (like, I dunno, firing a drunk tech who uses a hammer?) is disturbing.

erica.blog

gregcuc

When my old Dell kept overheating, I propped it up on my desk and put a desk fan next to it. Problem solved. It wasn't really portable, but I dealt (I have since rid myself of said laptop for a newer, shinier one).

Who the hell would let someone who reeks of booze repair their system? I mean, Dell is fully responsible for this and for getting this guy off of the tech route...but sometimes a consumer needs to have discretion. Especially if he takes out a hammer?!

And I agree with above commenter...where the heck was "IT Boyfriend"? It seems like there was ABSOLUTELY no reason for him to even be mentioned, since he didn't do anything at all (I thought he would save the day, but he failed).

Wreckoner

chuloallen

nyaz

mikemar42

Pylon83

Tzepish

why is a story from 2006 posted any way? no new news?

chuloallen