Re: Dell laptops are junk...

[chasbo@xxxxxxxxx]

On Thu, 6 Dec 2018 08:44:02 -0600, RTS <gafa@xxxxxxx> wrote:

>On 12/5/2018 12:27 PM, Jim Davis wrote:
>> On Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 11:15:05 PM UTC-5, RTS wrote:
>>> On 12/4/2018 7:48 PM, Jim Davis wrote:
>>>> On Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 1:55:42 PM UTC-5, RTS wrote:
>>>>> just back from the repair store
>>>>>
>>>>> it seems wife's Dell laptop had died again..
>>>>>
>>>>> third processor gone bad in 2.5 years...
>>>>>
>>>>> wouldn't be so bad if it was being used.
>>>>>
>>>>> But it mostly just sits on the shelf as a backup..
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Time to shit-can this thing...
>>>>>
>>>>> (((just letting off a little steam)))
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>> *Rocky T. Squirrel, esq.*
>>>> I've had a Dell since 2009 and it's still working. Used for up/downloading panels, starlink connect programing, Ubiquity access  points, Home theater remote control programing, CCTV NVR programing etc for all those years. Replaced the hard drive once as preventive maintenance and the standby battery once. the figures are just about worn off of the keys after all these years.
>>>>
>>>> Just up graded to a Dell notebook from Costco. But, once I got it home, I realized that the screen was too small for these weary eyes so with the 90 day return policy, I retuned it and for $100.00 more I got a laptop with a 17 inch display. It's big and heavier than the notebook but still fits in my case and I only use it for work. New Laptop has a built in DVD record/playback and a couple of more USB ports. Had to get the wireless mouse though. I couldn't get the touch pad adjusted to respond like my old one. The old laptop had a touchpad and a left and right button. The new one doesn't have buttons and the "tap" response isn't that good. I'm still in the process of transferring data from the old to the new and loading apps. It's really fast and the video resolution is great.
>>>>
>>>> Hope I don't have any problems. I got the 3 year extended warranty.
>>> Best of luck with yours..
>>>
>>> I got am old eMachine E627 I use for work.
>>>
>>> bought it second hand, but is a work horse..
>>>
>>> Needs a new battery  but does all the stuff I need and then some...
>>>
>>> even got a thumb drive with "Rufus" i use for all old DOS programs..
>>>
>>> ---
>>>
>>> The bitch about that Dell was it was never used,  just sat on a shelf,
>>> started once a week for updates and such..
>>>
>>> bought it back in 2016, within the first 6 months it was back at the
>>> factory shop, had all the guts replaced twice..
>>>
>>> and even had the extended warranty, (which today they told me, it ran
>>> concurrently with the factory warranty)
>>>
>>> so was actually just 1 year long.. (thanks Office MAX)
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> *Rocky T. Squirrel, esq.*
>> Yeah, I got caught with that concurrent warrantee scam on something I bought a long time ago and so now I always ask if it's concurrent or not. If not ?.. I don't get it.
>>
>> Costco is an additional time after the factory warranty. It was just a $100..00.
>>
>> I'm hearing some good things lately about Costco.
>> I went to Costco with one of my customers who is building a sports media room with three TV's, a 6 channel Tivo and four Tivo mini's through out the house.
>>
>> He purchased an 65 inch LG OLED TV for $2600.00. about a month ago. Last week he noticed that the price had dropped $300.00. He brought his receipt back and they credited his account for the difference.
>>
>> If you have a Costco near you, you may want to take a look at what they have. Here, in my area they have a lot of HP and Dell.
>>
>> ANNNNNND What the hell are you using that still needs DOS ?????
>> If you tried to use DOS on that Dell maybe that's the reason it broke down ?. out of disgust! BUT ..... Bill Gates would be proud of you!
>>
>> Doesn't that eMachine have a windup key on the back instead of a battery? :-)
>>
>I don't usually get those warranties, but this one was a gift (at the
>time) for the wifie..
>
>Don't know of any CostCo's in this area,  the daughter would be the one
>for that  (LOL)
>
>As for DOS,  we still use parts of an old Alpha 4 data base and the
>upload/download software for
>
>FBII's, Moose, even a few DSC's, and a couple of Summits from Israel..
>
>After 45 years we have quite the selection of equipment still working
>out there...    (LOL)
>
>(even got a few Ademco 612 dialers around) (try finding replacement tape
>cartridges for those) (LOL)
>
>as for the "Key"  mine didn't come with a key, but again it was 2nd hand..
>
>I did notice the hole in the back for one..
>
>That might be why it says the battery needs replacing..   ;-)


I always wondered if anyone in our industry used or still uses Alpha4
or Alpha 5. Been using A4 since the mid 1980's and A5 in the late
90's.  I use A4 for customer info, zones, billing, service calls. I
use A5 for printing forms and reports.  I can pull up service calls
for customers going back to 1995 or as recent as yesterday. The A4
software was a good product, enabling me to create my own forms, etc.
Of all the many technical manuals that I have seen, read, and groaned
over in my 55 years in this business, the A4 manual was/is the best;
the index at the rear of the book is tops , bar none. If I have a
problem, I go to the index, and then to the page to get my answer.
Alpha Software is located in Burlington MA, ten minutes away from me.
They no longer support A4 and A5. They cater more to developers.

I admire technical writers who are able to present in printed form
instructional material that is clear, well indexed, makes sense, well
ordered, and KNOWS everything about the product. I get the feeling
sometimes that manufacturers don't  invest much thought and money in
their technical writing departments. Some of it is obviously
outsourced to China, or some other country where mangling English is
the norm.