Yuriy’s Dell laptop conked out last month, and so far the company has said “Dude, you’re NOT getting a Dell” via its convoluted replacement process. All Yuriy has to show for the effort of trying to get the computer replaced is an inferior model.
laptops
![Best Buy "Optimized Laptop" Features Nothing But An Error Message](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/500x_10-6-2009_11-24-58_am.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Best Buy "Optimized Laptop" Features Nothing But An Error Message
Reader L951B951 saw our recent posts about Best Buy’s dubious “optimization” services, so he went to the store armed and ready to demand an unopened laptop. The trouble is — he says Best Buy had opened them all. Did this stop our hero from coming away with a laptop without paying the optimization fee? Of course not.
![Your New Computer's Free Windows 7 Upgrade? Not So Free, Actually](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/thumb160x_win7upgrade1.jpg?w=160&h=104&crop=1)
Your New Computer's Free Windows 7 Upgrade? Not So Free, Actually
Not many people really want a computer with Windows Vista. The sensible thing for customers who need a computer—but not right away—to do is wait until the launch of Windows 7 and then buy a computer with the much-awaited OS pre-installed. Vendors realize this, and are trying to get Vista-laden machines off their shelves with the promise of a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out. A free upgrade that is not, in fact, free.
![Best Buy: That Laptop Isn't "Open," It's Just "Optimized"](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/laptop_01.jpg?w=300&h=150&crop=1)
Best Buy: That Laptop Isn't "Open," It's Just "Optimized"
Shopping for laptops in Missouri, Patrick noticed an odd, unwelcome feature — a sticker on the box, pictured, identified the computer as ‘optimized’ by the staff.
![Behold Dell's "Buy One Wireless Card, Get 120 Free" Promotion](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/wificards.jpg?w=158&h=157&crop=1)
Behold Dell's "Buy One Wireless Card, Get 120 Free" Promotion
Dell accidentally skipped Andy in Canada’s wireless card upgrade while putting together the laptop he ordered. He called them and they sent the card along at no cost to him. Great service! The service was so great, in fact, that instead of just one wireless card, Dell went right ahead and shipped Andy a case of 120 of them.
![So You Want To Sue The Company That's Screwing You Over](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/091809-003-take-that-hp.jpg?w=158&h=158&crop=1)
So You Want To Sue The Company That's Screwing You Over
Jon wants us to recommend a good lawyer to sue HP for screwing him over on laptop repairs. We do not offer legal advice like that. We do, however, believe strongly in the power of small claims court.
![Software Rescues Stolen Laptop From Porn Lover](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/thumb160x_logmein.jpg?w=160&h=144&crop=1)
Software Rescues Stolen Laptop From Porn Lover
When Florida businessman David Krop’s two laptops were stolen from his car back in February, he didn’t have much hope of getting them back. But he decided to try to log in using some remote access software he had installed on one of the computers. The software, LogMeIn, let him in, and he soon found himself seeing the world through new eyes. “Unaware that Krop was spying on his activities, the user of the Toshiba laptop visited porn site after porn site, taking breaks to check e-mail … and place ads to Craigslist.com for what Krop said appeared to be some kind of female modeling business, ” PC World reports. “My eyes just lit up,” Krop says. “Just the fact he was online at that moment was amazing.”
![Lenovo Forgets To Charge Customers, Then Sends Them To Collection Agency](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/picture-6_01.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Lenovo Forgets To Charge Customers, Then Sends Them To Collection Agency
Bart wrote to us about a strange experience he had after purchasing a new Thinkpad from Lenovo. He had a perfectly smooth transaction, until months later when he received a letter from a collection agency. The agency was demanding payment for the laptop he had already paid for. Or so he thought.
![AppleCare Is An Extended Warranty Worth Buying](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/thumb160x_2b2bca3b4145eb68b5e1f37b4fa95a85.jpg?w=158&h=138&crop=1)
AppleCare Is An Extended Warranty Worth Buying
I asked Apple this morning to replace my broken laptop now that they’ve reintroduced the anti-glare option on their 15″ MacBook Pros. Apple agreed, and soon a new laptop will leave China destined for my apartment. This isn’t the first laptop Apple sent me this month. It’s the second. Here’s why…
![Apple Has The Best Tech Support, Dell, HP, Acer Have The Worst](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/aaarrrggg.jpg?w=159&h=200&crop=1)
Apple Has The Best Tech Support, Dell, HP, Acer Have The Worst
After calling every major computer maker with two basic questions, Laptop Magazine determined that Apple has the best overall tech support, while Dell, HP, and Acer have the worst. Though the results aren’t surprising, the depth of the PC makers’ incompetence is truly disappointing…
![Coffee Shop Bans Lunchtime Laptop Users](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/504x_775701003_76ce8283e8.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Coffee Shop Bans Lunchtime Laptop Users
Patrons working on laptops are a fixture of coffee shops, and with electric outlets and free wi-fi, shops aren’t exactly discouraging students and, uh, professional bloggers from hanging out there. Until now.
![Computer Techs Are Still Pervs](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/hiddencamera.jpg?w=158&h=88&crop=1)
Computer Techs Are Still Pervs
Best Buy will face stiff competition if it ever tries to penetrate the UK market, as this hidden camera investigation into peeping tom computer repair shops reveals.
![Free Netbook From Verizon Not Quite Free](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/504x_compaq_netbook.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Free Netbook From Verizon Not Quite Free
There is no such thing, dear readers, as a free computer. Particularly, Ray learned recently, in the case of Verizon’s “triple play” promotion for new FiOs users, where one of the options is a “free” netbook. Sure, you never expect “free” items to be completely free, but his situation is even more complicated than that.
![Microsoft "Laptop Hunters" Ads Changed To Omit Apple Prices](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/thumb160x_04b145db0ced172c2b2ffbf54d65e663.jpg?w=158&h=225&crop=1)
Microsoft "Laptop Hunters" Ads Changed To Omit Apple Prices
Microsoft has changed their latest “Laptop Hunters” ad after a complaint from Apple that the Mac prices cited in the ads are misleading and MacBook Pro have been lowered since the ads were produced. The cheapest model with a 15″ screen only costs $1700 now, not $2000.
![Apple Tried To End Microsoft's Laptop Hunters Television Commercials](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/504x_2098806069_016f14399d.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Apple Tried To End Microsoft's Laptop Hunters Television Commercials
Microsoft’s series of “Laptop Hunters” ads are cute, realistic, and appeal to consumers at a time when our disposable income is limited. Apple doesn’t seem to think they’re so cute, though—the company’s lawyers apparently tried to have the ads stopped.
![Best Buy Won't Let Reader Exchange Money For Functioning Computer](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/504x_3212125156_5410fc1346.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Best Buy Won't Let Reader Exchange Money For Functioning Computer
Best Buy is an electronics store. The purpose of such a store is to allow customers to exchange money for electronic devices, then take those devices home and use them. Unfortunately, the Best Buy in Yuma, Arizona doesn’t seem to take this mission seriously, and has given reader Elizabeth such a run-around that she isn’t interested in buying a computer at all anymore.