Im getting a replacement laptop

golden_blunder · 14th November 2008, 21:01

For those of you who have been following my exciting Dell exploits; you'll be pleased to know that they have agreed to swap it.

Quick recap. Bought a lovely Dell XPS 1710. Which has been a monster of a system (when its not broken)

About a year ago
Laptop is overheating badly. Fans going mad. scalding to touch. Apparently a known issue with the video card, engineer comes out to replace.

4 months later
Overheating again. This time motherboard, battery and PSU replaced.

few months later
Problem with the RAM - memory replaced

Month later
N key stops working. Keyboard replaced

2 weeks ago
PSU makes a sizzling noise. Dies. Wont power up. I ask for system swap. Dell refuse. They send a new PSU. Works on mains but battery dead. Dell refuse to send new battery saying that its a 'consumable' out of warranty (even though it worked before the PSU died). After much arguing, i speak with customer relations and they dispatch new battery.

Laptop now working ok but fan is noticeably louder with new PSU than before.

I noticed that plastics around screen are starting to look warped... a few days later (last night), the screen appears very loose when upright. I try to close the lid down and the plastic comes apart on the screen. I can now see inside the screen on the right hand side. There is a burning smell.

Today
Call Dell. Be very nice to agent. He starts troubleshooting & decides i need to update the BIOS. I try not to laugh. I ask for a system swap, he says no because my system is working fine (apart from the gaping hole). At the end of the call i ask him for a copy of my calls to tech support. He asks why? I tell him because i am entitled to them. He tells me that i am not because it is Dell Centric property. (huh??) I assure him that i am very much entitled to a copy of all notes relating to me. He says that his supervisor can read them out to me. I agree that i am sure he could very well do that but i want a printed copy of them because i was going to write to Dell Ireland. He says he will get his supervisor to speak to me. I tell him to explain to the supervisor that i was making a "subject access request". 5 mins later he comes back "ok sir we will swap your system"

M1710 are no longer in production so i am getting the upgrade M1730

Dr. Dwayne · 14th November 2008, 21:02

get an IBM.

RandomHer0723 · 14th November 2008, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden_blunder

2 weeks ago

PSU makes a sizzling noise. Dies. Wont power up. I ask for system swap. Dell refuse. They send a new PSU. Works on mains but battery dead. Dell refuse to send new battery saying that its a 'consumable' out of warranty (even though it worked before the PSU died). After much arguing, i speak with customer relations and they dispatch new battery.

Viagra cured this problem for me.

Dr. Dwayne · 14th November 2008, 21:13

and congratulations on your victory over a large multinational corporation.

golden_blunder 1
globalization 0

Paz · 14th November 2008, 21:16

proves the point:
Sony Vaio>>>>>>Dell

beauty....and brains

EZee · 14th November 2008, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden_blunder

For those of you who have been following my exciting Dell exploits; you'll be pleased to know that they have agreed to swap it.

Quick recap. Bought a lovely Dell XPS 1710. Which has been a monster of a system (when its not broken)

About a year ago
Laptop is overheating badly. Fans going mad. scalding to touch. Apparently a known issue with the video card, engineer comes out to replace.

4 months later
Overheating again. This time motherboard, battery and PSU replaced.

few months later
Problem with the RAM - memory replaced

Month later
N key stops working. Keyboard replaced

2 weeks ago
PSU makes a sizzling noise. Dies. Wont power up. I ask for system swap. Dell refuse. They send a new PSU. Works on mains but battery dead. Dell refuse to send new battery saying that its a 'consumable' out of warranty (even though it worked before the PSU died). After much arguing, i speak with customer relations and they dispatch new battery.

Laptop now working ok but fan is noticeably louder with new PSU than before.

I noticed that plastics around screen are starting to look warped... a few days later (last night), the screen appears very loose when upright. I try to close the lid down and the plastic comes apart on the screen. I can now see inside the screen on the right hand side. There is a burning smell.

Today
Call Dell. Be very nice to agent. He starts troubleshooting & decides i need to update the BIOS. I try not to laugh. I ask for a system swap, he says no because my system is working fine (apart from the gaping hole). At the end of the call i ask him for a copy of my calls to tech support. He asks why? I tell him because i am entitled to them. He tells me that i am not because it is Dell Centric property. (huh??) I assure him that i am very much entitled to a copy of all notes relating to me. He says that his supervisor can read them out to me. I agree that i am sure he could very well do that but i want a printed copy of them because i was going to write to Dell Ireland. He says he will get his supervisor to speak to me. I tell him to explain to the supervisor that i was making a "subject access request". 5 mins later he comes back "ok sir we will swap your system"

M1710 are no longer in production so i am getting the upgrade M1730

and what makes you think that will work any better?

oh and by the way to make a data subject access request doesnt it have to be in writing to legally count?

golden_blunder · 14th November 2008, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by EZee

and what makes you think that will work any better?

oh and by the way to make a data subject access request doesnt it have to be in writing to legally count?

because i've had a lot of Dell stuff over there years and its always been excellent, just this one laptop which is possessed!

yes i think it does, and to be honest if the guy had said (and i was expecting him to say), please put it in writing, i would have had no choice. I played my hand and won

Dr. Dwayne · 14th November 2008, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden_blunder

because i've had a lot of Dell stuff over there years and its always been excellent, just this one laptop which is possessed!

yes i think it does, and to be honest if the guy had said (and i was expecting him to say), please put it in writing, i would have had no choice. I played my hand and won

balls of steel there, gb.

it's more like 2-0 after that admission.

EZee · 14th November 2008, 21:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden_blunder

because i've had a lot of Dell stuff over there years and its always been excellent, just this one laptop which is possessed!

yes i think it does, and to be honest if the guy had said (and i was expecting him to say), please put it in writing, i would have had no choice. I played my hand and won

in fairness i brought my 1st dell about 3 months ago and i just use it for work stuff but its been fine... its only a vostro A86o but as it sees nothing more exciting than word, excel, powerpoint, outlook and one notes its been fine...

and its as light as a feather well as light as a 2kg feather anyway

Eyepopper · 14th November 2008, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Dwayne

get an IBM.

They dont make laptops anymore..

Storm · 14th November 2008, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyepopper

They dont make laptops anymore..

Hello Scout Popper, how are you this evening?

Eyepopper · 14th November 2008, 21:31

Fuck off Barbara

Storm · 14th November 2008, 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyepopper

Fuck off Barbara

I forgot about that name

Thing is though pops, I have proof that you have access to the newbies.

Eyepopper · 14th November 2008, 21:33

Massive Wow

Dr. Dwayne · 14th November 2008, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyepopper

They dont make laptops anymore..

well that sucks.

Eyepopper · 14th November 2008, 21:45

Not if you've enough in your life for it not to matter

Paz · 14th November 2008, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyepopper

They dont make laptops anymore..

not entirely true...Lenovo is the new brand name....had one from work, top machine too

http://www.pc.ibm.com/uk/thinkpad/?en

Dr. Dwayne · 14th November 2008, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyepopper

Not if you've enough in your life for it not to matter

I suppose you're right about that.

thinkpads were very nice.

Eyepopper · 14th November 2008, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paz

not entirely true...Lenovo is the new brand name....had one from work, top machine too

http://www.pc.ibm.com/uk/thinkpad/?en

No its not... Lenovo is a totally separate company (Japanese) that bought IBM's personal computing division a few years back. IBM remained in existence but abandoned the personal computer market to concentrate more heavily on storage and enterprise solutions.

EDIT: Sorry if that's a little pedantic...

GAngel · 14th November 2008, 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paz

proves the point:
Sony Vaio>>>>>>Dell

beauty....and brains

Vaio and quality don't go together. Shunned by most of the business community for continually putting out garbage.

The toughest laptops out there are the thinkpads hands down.

Eyepopper · 14th November 2008, 22:00

Yep.. thinkpads are by far the best laptop on the market

Sparky19 · 14th November 2008, 22:02

whats a thinkpad?

GAngel · 14th November 2008, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky19

whats a thinkpad?

IBM. Looks like a brick. built like a brick.

Eyepopper · 14th November 2008, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAngel

IBM. Looks like a brick. built like a brick.

Lenovo

Sparky19 · 14th November 2008, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAngel

IBM. Looks like a brick. built like a brick.

ah i see

Paz · 14th November 2008, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAngel

Vaio and quality don't go together. Shunned by most of the business community for continually putting out garbage.

The toughest laptops out there are the thinkpads hands down.

Vaio's are awesome, powerful and stunning!
I have a personal one (my second one) and love it, but agree re: thinkpads and had one from work, the dream lineup

RandomHer0723 · 14th November 2008, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyepopper

Yep.. thinkpads are by far the best laptop on the market

Are they really that good? I have one for work and really like it but I honestly have no clue how they stack up to other computers

GAngel · 14th November 2008, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyepopper

Lenovo

an ibm with a lenova stamp on it then.

Paz · 14th November 2008, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky19

ah i see

not really, my one was a 12" sized tablet, wasn't heavy or big at all...

14th November 2008, 21:01	#1 (permalink)
golden_blunder Manager Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: In the shadows fighting e-crime Posts: 46,330	Im getting a replacement laptop For those of you who have been following my exciting Dell exploits; you'll be pleased to know that they have agreed to swap it. Quick recap. Bought a lovely Dell XPS 1710. Which has been a monster of a system (when its not broken) About a year ago Laptop is overheating badly. Fans going mad. scalding to touch. Apparently a known issue with the video card, engineer comes out to replace. 4 months later Overheating again. This time motherboard, battery and PSU replaced. few months later Problem with the RAM - memory replaced Month later N key stops working. Keyboard replaced 2 weeks ago PSU makes a sizzling noise. Dies. Wont power up. I ask for system swap. Dell refuse. They send a new PSU. Works on mains but battery dead. Dell refuse to send new battery saying that its a 'consumable' out of warranty (even though it worked before the PSU died). After much arguing, i speak with customer relations and they dispatch new battery. Laptop now working ok but fan is noticeably louder with new PSU than before. I noticed that plastics around screen are starting to look warped... a few days later (last night), the screen appears very loose when upright. I try to close the lid down and the plastic comes apart on the screen. I can now see inside the screen on the right hand side. There is a burning smell. Today Call Dell. Be very nice to agent. He starts troubleshooting & decides i need to update the BIOS. I try not to laugh. I ask for a system swap, he says no because my system is working fine (apart from the gaping hole). At the end of the call i ask him for a copy of my calls to tech support. He asks why? I tell him because i am entitled to them. He tells me that i am not because it is Dell Centric property. (huh??) I assure him that i am very much entitled to a copy of all notes relating to me. He says that his supervisor can read them out to me. I agree that i am sure he could very well do that but i want a printed copy of them because i was going to write to Dell Ireland. He says he will get his supervisor to speak to me. I tell him to explain to the supervisor that i was making a "subject access request". 5 mins later he comes back "ok sir we will swap your system" M1710 are no longer in production so i am getting the upgrade M1730

14th November 2008, 21:02	#2 (permalink)
Dr. Dwayne self confessed womens pantie wearer Join Date: May 2006 Location: form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Posts: 15,377	get an IBM.

14th November 2008, 21:13	#4 (permalink)
Dr. Dwayne self confessed womens pantie wearer Join Date: May 2006 Location: form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Posts: 15,377	and congratulations on your victory over a large multinational corporation. golden_blunder 1 globalization 0

14th November 2008, 21:16	#5 (permalink)
Paz Smudger lover Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: ...corner by Beckham, punched out by James.....CANTONAAAAAA!! Posts: 7,736	proves the point: Sony Vaio>>>>>>Dell beauty....and brains

14th November 2008, 21:31	#12 (permalink)
Eyepopper one-eyed runt with a love for spinach Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lowering the Tone since 2006 Posts: 18,170	Fuck off Barbara

14th November 2008, 21:33	#14 (permalink)
Eyepopper one-eyed runt with a love for spinach Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lowering the Tone since 2006 Posts: 18,170	Massive Wow

14th November 2008, 21:45	#16 (permalink)
Eyepopper one-eyed runt with a love for spinach Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lowering the Tone since 2006 Posts: 18,170	Not if you've enough in your life for it not to matter

14th November 2008, 22:00	#21 (permalink)
Eyepopper one-eyed runt with a love for spinach Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lowering the Tone since 2006 Posts: 18,170	Yep.. thinkpads are by far the best laptop on the market

14th November 2008, 22:02	#22 (permalink)
Sparky19 Walks, talks handbags Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Licking the cream off Gemma Atkinsons nipple... Posts: 7,087	whats a thinkpad?