Sunday, July 1
Playing Catch Up!
Ok, it's been a few weeks now with the Alienware computer. Alienware sent me a $25 Gift Certificate from Amazon due to their failure to include the advertised IR Remote that was listed as a feature on their web site. They also changed their website, and it is no longer listed as a feature. Score one for the little guys!
Now that I've had the laptop for a while, I have to say, it is one of the nicest computers I have ever owned. The keyboard is by far the best laptop keyboard I have ever had, the only annoyance there is that the Fn and Ctrl buttons are backwards from what I am used to in the bottom left corner. This has been driving me nuts, but I think over time I'll get used to the different configuration.
I've upgraded the beast to Windows Vista Business and loaded Office 2007, both are great, but I see endless headaches when our users start upgrading next year. Time to put some real time and energy into looking at Terminal Services and Thin Client computing.
After getting the computer, I realized it was way too cool for the OEM Microsoft Mouse I was running, so I used that $25 from Amazon, plus a couple of my own bucks and got a very cool Razer Diamondback mouse in the Acid Green color. This thing is way cool, and much more sensitive that any mouse I've had in a while. I had an original Razer Boomslang 2000 DPI mouse years ago when I was addicted to Quake III, so I expected this mouse to be excellent.
Finally, last Monday morning, when I got up, my HD Tivo, model HR10-250 had tanked, said the unit was overheated and wouldn't turn on at all. I e-mailed the good folks at Weaknees and they said it was the power suppy and fan, and they could get me replacements for $88. Now, keep in mind, I'm good with replacing this kind of stuff, it took all of 10 minutes to swap out the parts. It might take a normal person an hour or so if they have never done anything like this before. All the tools I needed even came in the kit. A great deal, and they took PayPal payment to boot!
Labels: alienware, home theater, laptop, tivo, weaknees
Friday, May 25
Alienware - An Update
Update 5-29-2007:
Got a message from Alienware late today:
Please be informed that we checked our website and we found that it in fact says that the M5550 comes with a remote control, but it does not specify that the remote control is only included when a Media Center operating system is selected. After finding out about this, we forwarded this information to the respective department so they can take the necessary measurements to solve this. We would like to let you know that Alienware does not have a compensation policy. As well, we have a disclaimer on our website, which you can check on the link below:
http://www.alienware.com/sub_pages/website_disclaimer.aspx
We really appreciate you as one of our customers and we sincerely regret your dissatisfaction. We are going to send you a $25 Coupon for you to spend on Amazon.com for the inconveniences you have experienced.
So, they were unclear on their features, and can't send me the remote, and even though they don't have to do a thing for me, they are sending me a $25 Coupon for Amazon. Ok, sounds good to me then, better than most folks customer service these days anyway.
Original Post:
As I mentioned recently, I ordered a new Alienwre PC a few weeks ago. It finally came Tuesday while I was out of town at a training, so I didn't get to play with it till last night.
While the system is great, it is lacking the Infrared Remote Control that they listed as a "Feature" of the product.
When I called their support, they told me that this is not included unless you specifically ordered the remote, and the only way to order the remote is by upgrading the system to Windows Vista Home Premium for $50, then you can get the remote for $30. You can also get the remote by upgrading to Vista Home Ultimate for even more money.
Something that costs $80 extra is not a feature. This is an option. Everything else listed on the features page came with the system. They insisted that the computer would not function without the rest of the items listed there, I however believe that an External DVI Connector, Battery Control, Wireless Networking, an On/Off button for the touchpad and External Volume contorls are all not essential for a PC to function.
I really just want them to provide me what they said was featured with the PC that I ordered, or some credit for not including the advertised item. I don't believe that this is an unreasonable request.
Their stand is that I did not pay for the item as it was not listed as a separate line item on the invoice. Neither were the other things listed on that page, but I got them for no extra charge.
So beware if you order an Alienware computer, some of the features they list might actually be an otpion that costs money, and you won't see it unless you consier an upgrade of another component. Here is a print of their web page:
Got a message from Alienware late today:
Please be informed that we checked our website and we found that it in fact says that the M5550 comes with a remote control, but it does not specify that the remote control is only included when a Media Center operating system is selected. After finding out about this, we forwarded this information to the respective department so they can take the necessary measurements to solve this. We would like to let you know that Alienware does not have a compensation policy. As well, we have a disclaimer on our website, which you can check on the link below:
http://www.alienware.com/sub_pages/website_disclaimer.aspx
We really appreciate you as one of our customers and we sincerely regret your dissatisfaction. We are going to send you a $25 Coupon for you to spend on Amazon.com for the inconveniences you have experienced.
So, they were unclear on their features, and can't send me the remote, and even though they don't have to do a thing for me, they are sending me a $25 Coupon for Amazon. Ok, sounds good to me then, better than most folks customer service these days anyway.
Original Post:
As I mentioned recently, I ordered a new Alienwre PC a few weeks ago. It finally came Tuesday while I was out of town at a training, so I didn't get to play with it till last night.
While the system is great, it is lacking the Infrared Remote Control that they listed as a "Feature" of the product.
When I called their support, they told me that this is not included unless you specifically ordered the remote, and the only way to order the remote is by upgrading the system to Windows Vista Home Premium for $50, then you can get the remote for $30. You can also get the remote by upgrading to Vista Home Ultimate for even more money.
Something that costs $80 extra is not a feature. This is an option. Everything else listed on the features page came with the system. They insisted that the computer would not function without the rest of the items listed there, I however believe that an External DVI Connector, Battery Control, Wireless Networking, an On/Off button for the touchpad and External Volume contorls are all not essential for a PC to function.
I really just want them to provide me what they said was featured with the PC that I ordered, or some credit for not including the advertised item. I don't believe that this is an unreasonable request.
Their stand is that I did not pay for the item as it was not listed as a separate line item on the invoice. Neither were the other things listed on that page, but I got them for no extra charge.
So beware if you order an Alienware computer, some of the features they list might actually be an otpion that costs money, and you won't see it unless you consier an upgrade of another component. Here is a print of their web page:
Labels: alienware, bad support, laptop
Sunday, May 13
Hectic Month
I haven't been posting much here, not for the lack of things to post about, but just from being so busy I'm never sure if I am coming or going most of the time.
Kids are doing great, twins are over 10 months old and close to walking, and saying dada, mama, baba, ball, very simple stuff. I recently took my three year old to his first Astros baseball game. We had to sit in the cheap seats, but he had a great time. His favorite part of the game was the train that runs along the top of the outfiled fence when the 'stros hit a homer. Only problem is he really wanted to ride the train. My father in law went along on that day, and we all had a good time.
Meanwhile my lovely wife was spending the weekend in New York City with her sister and mom. Her sister lives there now and really seems to be doing well, so we're all very happy for her.
At work things are going well, I got a raise, then a couple of weeks later was promoted to Information Security Officer. Now I'm a bank officer, I got stock options, and lots more responsibility. Yeah! I'm still doing my old Network Analyst job till we find a replacement, I need someone like Jake for this job, but we aren't finding anyone right now. I hope we find someone soon, I'm gettting worn way out doing two jobs.
I went to a funeral for a friend's 21 year old son that was killed in a horrible car accident. Between the time I was 16 and 22, I had 8 friends die, and went to lots of funerals, so while this experience wasn't so new, it was the first time since I've been a parent. I'm also 39 now, and the sense of just what this young person had missed out on is very different from when it was my friends I was burying. All in all a very sad week.
I'm finally retiring the laptop I've had for almost 6 years. It was great when I purchased it, but it is starting to show it's age. I'm getting an Alienware Area 51 m5550 with an upgraded processor and DVD burner. I'm really psyched, it will be nice to have a modern, fast computer. It also comes with Vista, which I will try out, but expect to replace with XP Pro pretty quickly. Maybe for fun I will also load Office 2007. Never know.
Going to hit the road and go to Vegas next weekend. I need a vacation, can't wait to loose some hard earned cash in a slot machine. We also have tickets for They Might Be Giants at the Hard Rock Hotel and Spamalot at the Wynn hotel. Should be a great weekend.
Kids are doing great, twins are over 10 months old and close to walking, and saying dada, mama, baba, ball, very simple stuff. I recently took my three year old to his first Astros baseball game. We had to sit in the cheap seats, but he had a great time. His favorite part of the game was the train that runs along the top of the outfiled fence when the 'stros hit a homer. Only problem is he really wanted to ride the train. My father in law went along on that day, and we all had a good time.
Meanwhile my lovely wife was spending the weekend in New York City with her sister and mom. Her sister lives there now and really seems to be doing well, so we're all very happy for her.
At work things are going well, I got a raise, then a couple of weeks later was promoted to Information Security Officer. Now I'm a bank officer, I got stock options, and lots more responsibility. Yeah! I'm still doing my old Network Analyst job till we find a replacement, I need someone like Jake for this job, but we aren't finding anyone right now. I hope we find someone soon, I'm gettting worn way out doing two jobs.
I went to a funeral for a friend's 21 year old son that was killed in a horrible car accident. Between the time I was 16 and 22, I had 8 friends die, and went to lots of funerals, so while this experience wasn't so new, it was the first time since I've been a parent. I'm also 39 now, and the sense of just what this young person had missed out on is very different from when it was my friends I was burying. All in all a very sad week.
I'm finally retiring the laptop I've had for almost 6 years. It was great when I purchased it, but it is starting to show it's age. I'm getting an Alienware Area 51 m5550 with an upgraded processor and DVD burner. I'm really psyched, it will be nice to have a modern, fast computer. It also comes with Vista, which I will try out, but expect to replace with XP Pro pretty quickly. Maybe for fun I will also load Office 2007. Never know.
Going to hit the road and go to Vegas next weekend. I need a vacation, can't wait to loose some hard earned cash in a slot machine. We also have tickets for They Might Be Giants at the Hard Rock Hotel and Spamalot at the Wynn hotel. Should be a great weekend.
Labels: entertainment, funeral, in-laws, laptop, review, travel, vacation, work
Number of people who will never get their time back from reading this page:
