Everyone wants the person who answers their Tech Support call to be a computer guru, but no one wants to pay extra for that privilege. The world has changed, the computer support model has changed.
Dell is actually the only company I know that caters to this with their Gold Technical Support (an upsell added to the service contract for business customers). At a few jobs I have had to work with them, regular Dell business support and Dell Home support (India).
Having worked with all of the choices, I would never hesitate to spend the extra money to get Dell's Gold Support. Even if I get a guy on the phone who isn't a "guru" he has access to someone who is. And, just about everytime I've called I've gotten either Dell headquarters in Round Rock, TX or somewhere in Idaho.
Dell has to be worried about two things (I would think).
1. Can AMD manufacture and supply enough processors to Dell and deliver them on the timetable that Dell requires. If you aren't familiar with Dell's manufacturing model, it's ridiculously efficient. It defines the standard of efficiency in the industry. However, in order to maintain that, Dell requires it suppliers to be able to meet some very specific and stiff guidelines. Can AMD meet those? Are they geared and prepared for it?
2. What kind of support costs is this going to entail? Now Dell will have to support more system configurations, more BIOS configurations, more diagnostic systems. Adding AMD as a processor to their mainstream systems would mean a serious amount of time and effort invested in revamping their support program to account for this.
Considering the above two concerns, is Dell going to really reap enough rewards from adding AMD as a processor choice to warrant the risk and expenditure? Yes, processor selection matters to the/. crowd, but how much does it matter to the mainstream? How much does it matter to large corporations that Dell supplies desktops too?
I'm not convinced that adding AMD to their mainstream lines is the best business move for Dell. I am convinced however that adding AMD to their top of the line gaming systems and servers is a good idea.
You know...you do realize that commercials pay most of the costs related to all of those TV shows you love. I'm not saying you should be obligated to watch a commercial for the latest herpes ointment..but if masses of people continue to find ways to skip commercials, they will stop supporting all of that TV we love so much.
No more NFL, sitcoms, crime dramas, sci-fi shows and other fairly expensive shows. We'll just be down to reality tv and other forms of 'cheap' tv.
At the risk of sounding like a fanboy. I have to say that I have been very impressed with the CWNE certifications from Planet3 Wireless. I'm a CWNA (Certified Wireless Network Administrator) and a CWNT (Certified Wireless Network Trainer). I am looking very forward to getting a CWSP (Certified Wireless Security Professional).
You know...I find this hilarious. Everyone who barely has a life away from their computer is bashing the people who play Table Top RPG's for having no life.
Meanwhile, let's ignore the fact that a table top rpg requires you to socialize face to face with other people normally.
A significant portion of these "other people" are gamer, geek females. A subculture of geeks that 90% of you would cream yourself to just meet...and I hang out with 3 of them, all single, on a weekly basis. The last 10 girlfriends I've had over numerous years, including the most recent, my current wife, have all been gamers.
News flash, bashing rpg's for being too geeky went out of style in the late 1980's..when something more geeky came along, the PC.
Quarterly team building off-site events. We decided months ago that our team building event this quarter was going to be Revenge of the Sith + a pizza buffet on the 19th.
IBM is a business, and no matter what we may think they owe the PC community, it's still about doing sound business.
IBM has the largest and most profitable Services business in the Tech industry...and anyone who thinks they aren't a LOT more than just a PC manufacturer has no idea who IBM is.
When you get down to it though, Dell has proven that theirs is the only business model that really works in the PC industry as it stands currently. IBM would be faced with the decision of spending billions of dollars to completely change their PC business to try to compete with Dell...or sell that part of their business and concentrate on things at which they excel.
I applaud them for having the courage to move beyond this part of the tech sector and concentrate on things they do better than anyone else does, Services and Proprietary solutions.
Re:Doesn't seem like a Ham approach
on
Wi-Fi Toys
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
user scrougeable WIFI parts seem few and far between...
Well, you can make a CanTenna (Yagi Semi-Directional High Gain antenna) from a Pringles Can (or other suitable can), some pieces of plastic, some washers, some standard copper wire and a few connectors you can buy at Radio Shack pretty cheap.
Judge for yourself, but I'd say that's reasonably scroungeable.
I have two desktops at my desk. One of them is my 'main' system and is setup with you keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc...and two 17" monitors running extended desktop.
However, where it gets strange is that my second desktop has no keyboard, mouse or monitor. I just connects to the network and is kept on all the time.
I then remote desktop into that computer from my main one and pull the window to my second monitor. That way I am working on two computers at once (and yes, my work requires that) while only using one mouse/keyboard setup. It works great for me!
But find me another company that'll initiate a recall of almost 1 million ac adapters, because of 7 reported problems...none of which resulted in injury.
First of all, while Dell doesn't advertise who makes their printers, it's also not a big secret. Furthermore, Lexmark is not the only printer manufacturer they partner with.
Of course, it's also just entirely possible that you'll get someone on the phone who just doesn't know who makes the printers. The internal documentation available to sales and most tech support reps doesn't call this information out, it's not relevant to what they do.
As for legacy drivers. Why should Dell be obligated to provide Driver support for Operating Systems they don't sell and haven't sold for years? Dell never sold printers at the same time it sold Windows 98. Most people do not "just" buy a Dell Printer, they buy it with a system purchase.
Lastly, the support information for the printer and basic information available on the website clearly states which Operating Systems the printer can use. Note further down the page on the right under Compatibility.. where is says, Compatible only with Windows 2000 and Windows XP. http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/compare.a spx/allinone?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd
But I don't understand why the system has to be at all accessible. Granted, I know jack about these systems. But it seems that everything necessary could be placed on the hdd, have a separate system outside that validates voters.
Then process the vote on the hdd. Later the hdd's are removed from the systems by security personnel and taken under watch to a secure location where they are loaded into a database. Then the votes are tallied.
The system has no network connections to exploit, no interface ports to make use of and anytime the cover is tampered with an alarm would sound.
Perhaps I am being naive, but I really don't see the multiplayer support as being that big of an issue.
Unreal Tournament and others have filled the niche of playing head to head rather well. No one cares as much about the graphics quality, the omg lighting effects, the dark horror of the story...they care about fragging that bastard who just got the rocket pack you were headed for.
Doom 3 seems much more a single player game and well appreciated for it. I expect that in time, multiplayer will be beefed up some and become more viable. But for the time being, this is a single player game that seems to be kicking ass at showcasing great effects, great design and a good story-line.
Slashdot Mirror
Everyone wants the person who answers their Tech Support call to be a computer guru, but no one wants to pay extra for that privilege. The world has changed, the computer support model has changed.
Dell is actually the only company I know that caters to this with their Gold Technical Support (an upsell added to the service contract for business customers). At a few jobs I have had to work with them, regular Dell business support and Dell Home support (India).
Having worked with all of the choices, I would never hesitate to spend the extra money to get Dell's Gold Support. Even if I get a guy on the phone who isn't a "guru" he has access to someone who is. And, just about everytime I've called I've gotten either Dell headquarters in Round Rock, TX or somewhere in Idaho.
Dell has to be worried about two things (I would think).
/. crowd, but how much does it matter to the mainstream? How much does it matter to large corporations that Dell supplies desktops too?
1. Can AMD manufacture and supply enough processors to Dell and deliver them on the timetable that Dell requires. If you aren't familiar with Dell's manufacturing model, it's ridiculously efficient. It defines the standard of efficiency in the industry. However, in order to maintain that, Dell requires it suppliers to be able to meet some very specific and stiff guidelines. Can AMD meet those? Are they geared and prepared for it?
2. What kind of support costs is this going to entail? Now Dell will have to support more system configurations, more BIOS configurations, more diagnostic systems. Adding AMD as a processor to their mainstream systems would mean a serious amount of time and effort invested in revamping their support program to account for this.
Considering the above two concerns, is Dell going to really reap enough rewards from adding AMD as a processor choice to warrant the risk and expenditure? Yes, processor selection matters to the
I'm not convinced that adding AMD to their mainstream lines is the best business move for Dell. I am convinced however that adding AMD to their top of the line gaming systems and servers is a good idea.
Why are you looking here...hmm? The eye is watching you, citizen!
You know...you do realize that commercials pay most of the costs related to all of those TV shows you love. I'm not saying you should be obligated to watch a commercial for the latest herpes ointment..but if masses of people continue to find ways to skip commercials, they will stop supporting all of that TV we love so much.
No more NFL, sitcoms, crime dramas, sci-fi shows and other fairly expensive shows. We'll just be down to reality tv and other forms of 'cheap' tv.
At the risk of sounding like a fanboy. I have to say that I have been very impressed with the CWNE certifications from Planet3 Wireless. I'm a CWNA (Certified Wireless Network Administrator) and a CWNT (Certified Wireless Network Trainer). I am looking very forward to getting a CWSP (Certified Wireless Security Professional).
http://www.cwne.com/
Well...I would like to point out that most everyone who thought it was an awesome SatAM cartoon, now has a job and kids of their own.
You know...I find this hilarious. Everyone who barely has a life away from their computer is bashing the people who play Table Top RPG's for having no life.
Meanwhile, let's ignore the fact that a table top rpg requires you to socialize face to face with other people normally.
A significant portion of these "other people" are gamer, geek females. A subculture of geeks that 90% of you would cream yourself to just meet...and I hang out with 3 of them, all single, on a weekly basis. The last 10 girlfriends I've had over numerous years, including the most recent, my current wife, have all been gamers.
News flash, bashing rpg's for being too geeky went out of style in the late 1980's..when something more geeky came along, the PC.
It's going to be about a year before Congress tries to find someway to outlaw all porn that isn't on a .xxx domain.
Of course, they'll cite the ease with which children could be shielded from the obscenities of the internet...Still, I've heard worse ideas.
But for everyone who says Harrison Ford is too old...why not just make Indiana Jones older?
Set the movie in the late 1950's and you are good to go. *shrugs*
Quarterly team building off-site events. We decided months ago that our team building event this quarter was going to be Revenge of the Sith + a pizza buffet on the 19th.
He said he read the EULA. Be real, we all know that no one has ever read the EULA...
That way no one can work on it, and you're safe from further support calls. I like it!
IBM is a business, and no matter what we may think they owe the PC community, it's still about doing sound business.
IBM has the largest and most profitable Services business in the Tech industry...and anyone who thinks they aren't a LOT more than just a PC manufacturer has no idea who IBM is.
When you get down to it though, Dell has proven that theirs is the only business model that really works in the PC industry as it stands currently. IBM would be faced with the decision of spending billions of dollars to completely change their PC business to try to compete with Dell...or sell that part of their business and concentrate on things at which they excel.
I applaud them for having the courage to move beyond this part of the tech sector and concentrate on things they do better than anyone else does, Services and Proprietary solutions.
user scrougeable WIFI parts seem few and far between...
Well, you can make a CanTenna (Yagi Semi-Directional High Gain antenna) from a Pringles Can (or other suitable can), some pieces of plastic, some washers, some standard copper wire and a few connectors you can buy at Radio Shack pretty cheap.
Judge for yourself, but I'd say that's reasonably scroungeable.
According to the new Microsoft PR spokesman, former Iraqi Defense Minister, Gen. Sultan Hashim Ahmad.
I have two desktops at my desk. One of them is my 'main' system and is setup with you keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc...and two 17" monitors running extended desktop.
However, where it gets strange is that my second desktop has no keyboard, mouse or monitor. I just connects to the network and is kept on all the time.
I then remote desktop into that computer from my main one and pull the window to my second monitor. That way I am working on two computers at once (and yes, my work requires that) while only using one mouse/keyboard setup. It works great for me!
But find me another company that'll initiate a recall of almost 1 million ac adapters, because of 7 reported problems...none of which resulted in injury.
First of all, while Dell doesn't advertise who makes their printers, it's also not a big secret. Furthermore, Lexmark is not the only printer manufacturer they partner with.
.. where is says, Compatible only with Windows 2000 and Windows XP. http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/compare.a spx/allinone?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd
Of course, it's also just entirely possible that you'll get someone on the phone who just doesn't know who makes the printers. The internal documentation available to sales and most tech support reps doesn't call this information out, it's not relevant to what they do.
As for legacy drivers. Why should Dell be obligated to provide Driver support for Operating Systems they don't sell and haven't sold for years? Dell never sold printers at the same time it sold Windows 98. Most people do not "just" buy a Dell Printer, they buy it with a system purchase.
Lastly, the support information for the printer and basic information available on the website clearly states which Operating Systems the printer can use. Note further down the page on the right under Compatibility
Steve Jackson Games did it.
It happened at DragonCon in 1996 when this 260 pound, middle-aged, hairy guy walked past me dressed as Sailor Moon.
Honestly...it's a good technology, why not take it a step farther?
Of course, I'm sure someone here will be happy to point out to me why it's a bad idea.
People ask how we make a profit, I'll tell you...
Volume
If there are any girls there...I WANT TO DO THEM!!!
But I don't understand why the system has to be at all accessible. Granted, I know jack about these systems. But it seems that everything necessary could be placed on the hdd, have a separate system outside that validates voters.
Then process the vote on the hdd. Later the hdd's are removed from the systems by security personnel and taken under watch to a secure location where they are loaded into a database. Then the votes are tallied.
The system has no network connections to exploit, no interface ports to make use of and anytime the cover is tampered with an alarm would sound.
I don't know...that's probably just crazy talk.
Perhaps I am being naive, but I really don't see the multiplayer support as being that big of an issue.
Unreal Tournament and others have filled the niche of playing head to head rather well. No one cares as much about the graphics quality, the omg lighting effects, the dark horror of the story...they care about fragging that bastard who just got the rocket pack you were headed for.
Doom 3 seems much more a single player game and well appreciated for it. I expect that in time, multiplayer will be beefed up some and become more viable. But for the time being, this is a single player game that seems to be kicking ass at showcasing great effects, great design and a good story-line.