Funny how life happens

Whether you want life to move forward or stand still makes no difference. Life will do what it will do. You do have some control over it, but it is only some.

You can live to be 104, only to get hit by a van when you go out to buy the morning paper.

I get these thoughts sometimes. Well, I get many thoughts all of the time, but I get these thoughts only sometimes. I will have made a decision, like buying my daughter a laptop when she graduates, then out of nowhere I buy her one for Christmas instead. Of her sophomore year no less!

And just like that my well thought out plan was out the window.

In 2003 [or thereabouts] I bought my children a very nice and none-too-cheap HP desktop computer with printer. At the time I did not have a credit card, well not one with a limit high enough to buy a none-too-cheap HP desktop computer with printer. I borrowed Dwayne’s and told him I would pay my portion of the bill [in full] when it arrived. I ordered their NTC HP DC with P [that just looks funny] and waited for it to arrive. This was to take them through their primary school years. At least my fingers were crossed that it would.

Some time in 2008 [5 years and 3 kids later] the monitor began to fail. Not a bad run, I thought. The kids used this computer for games [Sims, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Runescape, etc] and homework. They used it for internet access and watching television [I bought the antennae attachment]. I even used it on occasion when my laptop started to fail. Run away from the blue screen of death.

I seem to have a way with computers. They like me for some odd reason. Not sure why since I don’t particularly care for them. I once had a desktop computer that I never put the casing on because I was forever having to wiggle and adjust something. I think it just liked being open.

Then one day the monitor didn’t work. We [read I] jiggled something and it was fine. Then it wasn’t. Then it was. Amanda managed to keep the monitor functioning for awhile. I priced new ones and hated the thought of putting out money for something that was outdated already. Granted, a $100 or even $200 monitor would have been the more economical choice, but their harddrive was small and was pretty much full. The computer ran slow and didn’t run some newer applications. It just seemed like throwing good money after bad.

And then my mind drifted.

Okay, no comments from the peanut gallery!

I remembered finding a Dell laptop that came with Windows XP. We really did not want to get Vista if at all possible. Unfortunately, this was no longer an option unless we were willing to pay extra [we were not].  We found one at a cost we liked. We customized it – Red. We added the matching mouse and speakers. Then we walked away.

I remembered my plan. I was going to get Amanda a new laptop when she graduated. But the NTC HP DC with P [still looks funny] was not holding up its end of the bargain. Amanda still has a few years left in high school. And Stephen, well, he has limited access to the computer [any computer] and I allow him use of my laptop when he needs one for school.

I broke down and bought it. Just like that the plan was changed. No matter. I had been saving quite aggressively and could afford this.

A few days later I was let go from my job.

Life happens whether you want it to or not.

That was just over a year ago.

About a week ago Amanda came to me about her laptop. The screen went black. Every now and then she gets it to work. Maybe 5 minutes, maybe 30. Then it goes black again. It flickers. It wants to work. It fades.

She is annoyed.

I am disappointed.

Mac vs. PC

I did a little math the other day.

I paid about $400 for Amanda’s laptop in November 2008. I paid about $900 for my MacBook in July 2007.

Amanda’s laptop was kept in the box until Christmas 2008. My MacBook was opened immediately and put to work.

Amanda is on her laptop all the time when she is home [she is at school from 8 am - 4 pm M-F]. I am on my MacBook all the time when I am home [I have no job].

Amanda’s laptop cost $400 for 1 year’s worth of use. My MacBook cost $360 for 1 year’s worth of use [$900 / 2.5 years].

My conclusion

Mac’s cost more initially because they last longer, but are the better value in the long-term. PC’s are meant to be disposable; use for a year then buy a new one.

This is not a scientific experiment. Your experience may be different.

I am not saying I am anti-PC. What I am saying is I am anti-crap. Especially when I pay $400 for that crap!

I expected more.

I expect more.

Michael Dell – I am disappointed in your company

I will say that without a doubt Dell has some of the best customer service around. When the mouse that came with Amanda’s laptop was damaged, Dell sent the replacement before they received the damaged one from me.

I remembered someone somewhere saying how CSR’s [customer service representatives] get yelled at and complained to, but rarely thanked. I made sure I sent an email to Dell letting them know how impressed I was with their level of customer service.

Yet, the laptop is out of warranty.

I have gone through your records and I would like to inform you that your system warranty expired on 2009-11-02. I am afraid I would not be able to provide further support. However not to worry, we have several options available for valued customers like yourself. There are free online resources available to assist you at *****, including the One Stop Troubleshooting Tool and Drivers and Downloads. We also have fee-based phone support available from Dell’s Expired Warranty Support team, for quick and easy answers to your questions about your Dell system for a nominal fee. They can be reached at ***** .

Once it is confirmed that the LCD needs replacement the EWS department will be able to connect you to the Out Of Warranty Repair department for the pricing information.

I will be a pleasure to assist you with any of your further concern.

- Reply from Dell customer service

I am told the light needs to be replaced. To replace the light would be a tedious venture. No one around here will touch it. Everyone [Amanda has talked to about this] says to buy a new laptop. The light costs $400 to replace. I haven’t confirmed the cost, but that’s what I paid for the entire laptop. It doesn’t sound right to me.

I can buy a new screen for between $99 & $129 online. There are even instructions on how to do this. I guess the $400 price has something to do with labor [makes sense].

Dell, you promote these laptops to kids, to parents. You even promote to businesses.  You must do research and know how much computers are used by the average person. And then you sell a product whose screen fails after 1 year? I am disappointed. I’m not sure your customer service is enough to keep me as a customer.

I need more.

I need quality.

And so it goes

Amanda wants to be an Architect or an Engineer or maybe both. She feels a PC will be better suited to her future needs. I agree. I just hope the companies stop making them disposable.

Not everyone can afford to buy a new computer every year.

Not everyone cares if they are that technologically current.

After all, my 2 1/2 year old MacBook works just fine for me.

Disclosure: Affiliate link used in this post. Other than that I was not compensated for anything said. All opinions are 100% mine.