I had a DELL Latitude CpT which decayed rapidly despite tender loving handling. For example, The power cable insulation was brittle and cracked and its leads broke. The screen hinge mechanism was inadequate for the weight of the 15" screen and the case creaked and finally cracked when the top was opened. This also caused the mother board to flex. This may have cause the computer to suddenly die one day... never to awaken.
Worse, Dell did not acknowledge a single letter that I sent them informing them of these problems. (with copies to the European and US customer service centers). The single response I did get was an 'offer' from Dell service to replace the mother board of this $1500 300 Mhz computer for $700.
Perhaps the other manufacturers are just as bad? Perhaps not... I have been unwilling to take that risk to find out.
A little over 2 years ago, I bought a Dell Latitude CPt-C, 400 MHz Celeron with a 14" screen, an extra battery, memory, and a 2 year warrantee for about $2000. The computer had its little quirks like all technology, but aside from its flimsy case which could not support the weight of the oversized screen, the stiff power supply cable which broke, the computer functioned well.
Until... shades of Blade Runner, 2 months after the warrantee expired, the computer went absolutely dead. Not a sound, not a blinking light. I wrote Dell and they offered to fix the computer by replacing the motherboard for $700. I thought that this was a bit excessive and wrote them back asking for other alternatives (e.g., a good deal on a reconditioned laptop etc...).
Well... it has been over 3 months and apparently the folks at Dell are still laughing so hard that they can't physically write an answer to me. This is a more than a little curious behavior however considering that I work at the largest hospital in Europe and part of the national University and the volume of business we do with Dell is truly astounding.
The bottom line is that you should consider the hidden costs of owning a laptop and of doing business with companies like Dell.
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I had a DELL Latitude CpT which decayed rapidly despite tender loving handling. For example, The power cable insulation was brittle and cracked and its leads broke. The screen hinge mechanism was inadequate for the weight of the 15" screen and the case creaked and finally cracked when the top was opened. This also caused the mother board to flex. This may have cause the computer to suddenly die one day ... never to awaken.
... I have been unwilling to take that risk to find out.
Worse, Dell did not acknowledge a single letter that I sent them informing them of these problems. (with copies to the European and US customer service centers). The single response I did get was an 'offer' from Dell service to replace the mother board of this $1500 300 Mhz computer for $700.
Perhaps the other manufacturers are just as bad? Perhaps not
A little over 2 years ago, I bought a Dell Latitude CPt-C, 400 MHz Celeron with a 14" screen, an extra battery, memory, and a 2 year warrantee for about $2000. The computer had its little quirks like all technology, but aside from its flimsy case which could not support the weight of the oversized screen, the stiff power supply cable which broke, the computer functioned well.
... shades of Blade Runner, 2 months after the warrantee expired, the computer went absolutely dead. Not a sound, not a blinking light. I wrote Dell and they offered to fix the computer by replacing the motherboard for $700. I thought that this was a bit excessive and wrote them back asking for other alternatives (e.g., a good deal on a reconditioned laptop etc ...).
... it has been over 3 months and apparently the folks at Dell are still laughing so hard that they can't physically write an answer to me. This is a more than a little curious behavior however considering that I work at the largest hospital in Europe and part of the national University and the volume of business we do with Dell is truly astounding.
Until
Well
The bottom line is that you should consider the hidden costs of owning a laptop and of doing business with companies like Dell.