Monday, August 25, 2008

I hate computers...

...and they hate me. Seems no matter what brand, model or program- I have the uncanny ability to freeze the system. Friends are hesitant to let me use their computers for this reason and I wish I had some way to explain it. Technology and I just do not get along.
Recently, my thoughts were confirmed when I purchased a new laptop in December (tea had spilled on my last one renduring most of the keys useless). My new dell arrived and it was so pretty. I turned it on a marveled at the display (I had gotten an upgraded graphics card). Everything was bliss until I tried to transfer over my files from my old computer. Apparently the program that came with the laptop to do this only worked if both computers used the same operating system. Why would someone buy a new computer with the same OS- isn't the point to upgrade? Anyway, my first call to dell ended up with them telling me I had to transfer everything manually.
A few days later, my system was running really slow- ridiculously slow. Like, you would click the start button and you could have a cup of tea before it would open the menu. Three system restores, four default resets, sending in the system, two new memory chips, and a new harddrive finally fixed that problem. It had cost me about six months for them to correctly identify and fix the issue. When I had asked to return the system because it didn't work they said I had passed the 20 day limit. (I had reported the problem in about 14 days but THEY had taken so long to fix it so now it was too late). Then my power cable wasnt working to charge the battery. Got a new one of those two. I thought my problems were a thing of the past and my new laptop and I would dance into the sunset hand in hand as I transfered my files over for what I thought would be the last time.
Cut to today- I'm getting a new motherboard because my Nvidia display chip/driver is malfunctioning. Seems like one problem gets fixed just as a new one begins. Yet again I will have to reset my settings, pick a background, add my internet favorites, download aim and begin the neverending process of transfering over my files.
I've teried my best to be cordial to the representatives I have to deal with- it's not their fault I got a lemon. What bugs me the most is at the end of every call, every online tech support chat, every dell connect session, they end with the line "Thank you for choosing dell- have a nice day."
Well, Dell, I am NOT thankful I chose you. In fact I regret it. And I would have had a perfectly fine day had it not been for you and this crappy computer. I wish I would have gotten a Mac. (They're prettier too)