Helpful ReplyWell, well, well...

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spacey
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2016/12/27 09:17:54 (permalink)

Well, well, well...

let me share a nightmare...
 
when I purchased my Alienware it was not owned by Dell.
It's been a great machine with no issues until 2 weeks ago. I'm not a tech so all I know is it cratered.
 
The trip to me was filled with many emotions. I'm proud of myself because I never once got pissed. Maybe it was because I was so completely amused by the people I dealt with, not to mention the ones my wife dealt with; and she agreed with my evaluation completely.
We did talk with our lawyers mainly to hear what they had to say, which was, "as long as they're trying".
(the funny part was it was obvious that they had been down that road...lol...professional experience speaks for itself)
 
Now that was something to ponder. If they truly were trying it was obvious that not only the on-line support people had very serious issues but also the tech that gave it go...on three different occasions. Each of 4 or more hours.
Legally; as long as they had us on the phone following their instructions they were trying; as long as they were sending techs to our house they were trying.
Together, my wife and I, on separate occasions spent a total of more than 30 hrs on the phone. Not with the same people...when one gave up we were transferred. That is not including the time with the techs visits to our home.
 
The tech was a talker. He talked a good game. We all know the "talkers" because they exist in all fields. It's the doers that get results that impress me. Talkers amuse me. I suppose that's why I enjoy this forum- it has both. The tech was just a talker. He couldn't fix ****. He couldn't even communicate with Dell and get the parts he needed...so he said. Dell said it sound like, to them, that he wasn't very swift. I informed them that we finally agreed on something but I also felt that way about their phone support.
 
Anyway- Even though the tech is suppose to show up today - I say "suppose to" because twice he has cancelled and rescheduled and I have to say he had some great excuses. Oh, there was one tech covering for him on one of the scheduled visits that said "no one answered his call" so he didn't show. Yeah, phone calls all that day but our phone didn't work for him....
if he does show he can go back home.
 
I fixed the computer. I lost everything. It wouldn't recognize my system image for whatever reason after I got it working so I had to reload everything. Spectrasonics is the hardest. It takes many hours to load all three of those programs.
 
Fortunately I had other retired computers and salvaged what I needed...even learned how to flash the BIOS. Whoopee...as if I care.
I came out ahead-  Since I was starting over I organized all my notes; passwords and such. Much like a spring cleaning I reckon.
 
Not only but also completed a system image. I don't know why but the system seems like new. It starts fast and as of now has no issues.
 
Most all the software loaded on it is like Cakewalks- which I think is great- you log into your account- download and in some instances, activate. It is easy to say; that was the most impressive part of the trip. I commend them.
 
A few months ago my wife paid $600.00 for extended warranty on two Alienware devices- my desktop and a laptop.
What we have received for the money? To date I can only say...nothing but a waste of time dealing with people that I would fire if they worked for me...of course I wouldn't have hired them to start with.
 
What's it all worth?
Well that's very interesting in itself...at least to me...I'm learning to question the road I'm on with music. It seems that my desire to play guitar has been infiltrated with many distractions. I recently mentioned I would not be spending any money on music this year. "Life" seems to be telling me...or rather screaming at me...that all this technological crap is stealing valuable time away from me. It is quickly becoming no different than those that sit in front of the television/big screen or whatever.
That is very hard to argue with when one spends as much time as I have dealing with incompetent people trying to fix something of questionable value and the only competent one didn't get paid. Good thing he was there though. Welcome to my nightmare. We're all probably glad it's over. Don't call for rates...you can't afford me.
 
 
 
 
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    craigb
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    Re: Well, well, well... 2016/12/27 09:44:29 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby spacey 2016/12/27 09:51:22
    Extended warranties are the under-car rust-proofing of the computer industry.
     
    Good to hear you finally got it fixed yourself, but you would have been better off paying someone from the Geek Squad at Best Buy to come out or just using the money for new parts/gear!  (Perhaps some kind of backups?)
     

     
    (Note that the really bad news is that people are NOT getting smarter, in fact, they are being bred and conditioned to be dumber and dumber so, unfortunately, this type of situation will only become more common...)

     
    Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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    Guitarhacker
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    Re: Well, well, well... 2016/12/27 09:44:33 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby spacey 2016/12/27 09:51:26
    yup...sounded like a nightmare to me as well.
     
    Looking on the bright side.... yes, technology can be a real time waster even though we're convinced we're getting it done faster. Right?
     
    A chance to start from square one with a clean slate is always a good thing.
     
    I did something similar when I built my own DAW now close to 10 years ago. I only installed the things I needed to get the job done. A "spring cleaning" as you put it. I kept it off line except to authorize software as needed.... which was rarely.  And it still runs rock solid and steady.  It's XP pro 32 so I am so far behind technology now it's not even funny anymore..... but it still works. Being so far behind now has it's advantages. I can't buy many of the new software offerings and updates coming out because it's not supported on XP and quite a bit of it doesn't function on 32 bits.   Win/Win situation. No frustration and I get to keep my money.
     
    As far as wasting time on technology......  Getting a farm and working on it has been a great thing. It gets me off the technology and out into the fresh air.  Although my GPS has been useful.
     
    Sounds like you're getting it sorted out a bit. 

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    #3
    spacey
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    Re: Well, well, well... 2016/12/27 10:13:00 (permalink)
    craigb
    Extended warranties are the under-car rust-proofing of the computer industry.
     
    Good to hear you finally got it fixed yourself, but you would have been better off paying someone from the Geek Squad at Best Buy to come out or just using the money for new parts/gear!  (Perhaps some kind of backups?)
     

     
    (Note that the really bad news is that people are NOT getting smarter, in fact, they are being bred and conditioned to be dumber and dumber so, unfortunately, this type of situation will only become more common...)




    I agree with everything except; I didn't get the extended warranty- my wife did. I wouldn't have paid for it and I wouldn't have hired a geek squad either. I don't think I would have done as I've done in the past which is trash it and get a new one. She now agrees...enough of this BS.
    I do think what I would have done is purchase a cheap laptop and found out if it would handle what I do.
    It's no doubt that I am in the process of burning out on all the "technology" crap being sold. Also becoming of less use to me.
     
    Guitarhacker
    yup...sounded like a nightmare to me as well.
     
    Looking on the bright side.... yes, technology can be a real time waster even though we're convinced we're getting it done faster. Right?
     
    A chance to start from square one with a clean slate is always a good thing.
     
    I did something similar when I built my own DAW now close to 10 years ago. I only installed the things I needed to get the job done. A "spring cleaning" as you put it. I kept it off line except to authorize software as needed.... which was rarely.  And it still runs rock solid and steady.  It's XP pro 32 so I am so far behind technology now it's not even funny anymore..... but it still works. Being so far behind now has it's advantages. I can't buy many of the new software offerings and updates coming out because it's not supported on XP and quite a bit of it doesn't function on 32 bits.   Win/Win situation. No frustration and I get to keep my money.
     
    As far as wasting time on technology......  Getting a farm and working on it has been a great thing. It gets me off the technology and out into the fresh air.  Although my GPS has been useful.
     
    Sounds like you're getting it sorted out a bit. 

     
    I can relate to the satisfaction that "working on a farm" can bring. I too spent time building and rebuilding. When I spend money and I'm in control it has fortunately worked out in my favor. It's when the money is spent and other people are involved that seems to be a total waste.
    Oh well, I lucked out - I don't know squat about computers- it's working and I learned more about the direction I'm going.
     
    I enjoy people most of the time. It's just a big let down when one realizes that they are very possibly dealing with a malfunctioning unit...and it isn't the computer at all.
     
     
     
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    Randy P
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    Re: Well, well, well... 2016/12/27 12:40:12 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby spacey 2016/12/27 13:06:41
    I can relate to your frustration. I'm not a technical kind of guy when it comes to computers. When I started my business about 4 years ago, I hired a guy to build my website and provide tech support. Of course it all started well enough, but after almost 2 years he went sketchy. Website was down repeatedly, and his response time got longer and longer. I made some calls to some trusted friends and found a different guy. We had a meeting and I explained what I needed done. I had him build my own server for my website and set it all up. When everything was done and he presented his bill, it was exactly what he said it would be. I cut him a check on the spot and asked him a straightforward question." If I paid you $500 a year to provide tech support for any computer issue I have both business or personal would you be interested?" I told him I would want immediate response and total honesty. Done Deal! He's been a total pro and we both couldn't be happier.

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    #5
    spacey
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    Re: Well, well, well... 2016/12/27 13:50:12 (permalink)
    I imagine many may relate Randy. I think it's great that it is an issue that you have resolved to being comfortable. That is something that many may not be able to say.
     
    My desktop is over 4 yrs old too. It may be that a relatively cheap disposable laptop would handle my needs.
    I haven't kept up with the market but I know I will be "shopping" the next time it craters...looking for a disposable computer. To hell with support is where I'm at.
     
    I'm glad I did pay attention to the techs' rambling and the processes support had me doing. That is how I learned enough to figure out what was wrong and how I could fix the problem without them. Plus luck I guess.
    Once I eliminated them things seem to fall in place. I credit that and an external caddy for salvation LOL...but what do I know? Zip. Lucky guessing driven by desperation for resolution fixed it.
     
     
     
     
     
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