Let me tell you a little story, there I was 3 days after Microsoft launched Windows Vista, in PC W***d checking out the prices for Vista when, the other half pointed out the benefits to purchasing a new laptop with Home Premium installed.
1. My existing laptop 4 years old, dead battery, 256ram etc
2. Vista o/s retail prices unfortunately high
3. New laptop compared to o/s quite cheap!
Cool! New hardware to me like being a kid in a sweet shop. SOLD!
One brand new HP DV2205ea 14.1”, now this is one beautiful looking laptop, coming with Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2060 1.6GHz with 533MHz FSB, 1GB RAM, and 120GB Hard Drive, 128MB Intel GMA950 Shared Graphics and Dual Layer DVD Rewriter MultiDrive with lightscribe plus some great Cool TOY’s!
Mini remote control (lives in the PCMCIA card slot) and TV tuner card perfect for use with Vista’s Media centre.
Me one happy bunny! But not for long.
1. Built in Webcam 1.3 mega pixels only works using HP Quickplay software as the drivers supplied and the up to- date ones on HP’s site will not work with Vista, contacted HP and there response was just use QuickPlay!
2. First time I plugged in my LAN cable it fell out with small pieces of metal attached. (Yes I was gentle).
3. DVD only ejects when it felt like it. Not when I pressed the button.
Torn between taking the laptop straight back, or the urge to play with Windows Vista, Vista won. I have put up with these faults now for 6 months. The final nail in the coffin came when I noticed the LED light that indicates the battery charging status no longer aluminates.
So back to PC W***d booked in for repair under warranty. (Staff very helpful and sympathetic).
28 days later, yes 28! Still no call to tell me my new baby is fixed and ready for collection. So off I go up to PC W***d for an explanation.
PC W***d staff “Unfortunately sir we have not yet bothered to send your laptop off to HP yet, it’s still in the store somewhere if you would like to take it back unrepaired.”
Me “According to your service agreement if you don’t fix my laptop in 28 days you will give me a new one!”
PC W***d staff “That’s right sir!”
Cool, another new toy for me to play with, unfortunately PC W***d, no longer stocks this model, and none of the other laptops on display floated my boat. So good old PC W***d agreed to let my chose a fantastic new desktop instead! Way Cool!
So here I am at home with a brand new Compaq Presario SR5139 with a stunning 19” HD ready wide screen TFT.
PC spec as follows:
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6550
2.33GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 4MB Cache,
2048MB RAM Memory,
320GB Hard Drive, Dual Layer DVD RW with Lightscribe
256MB NVidia GeForce 8400 GS Graphics.
So what have I learnt from this entire episode new hardware is great when it works, (always listen to your other half and read the small print on all your paper work) thanks dear!),be polite and some time you end up on top with a faster more powerful . shiny new TOY!