Inspiron 1000 Satanic Laptop! NEW IMPROVED UPDATE
Written: Aug 23 '05 (Updated May 16 '07)
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Pros: Low cost, until you discover that low quality comes with it.
Cons: This is a good one word summary of the operations being conducted by Dell.
The Bottom Line: Avoid Dell and avoid insanity. Do NOT recommend to any friends you wish to keep.
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| dixie_penguin's Full Review: Dell Inspiron 1000 (i1000s1) PC Notebook |
I bought a Dell Inspiron 1000 based on reputation and past satisfaction with Dell computers. Can you say "TIMES CHANGE"? The price was cheap, unfortunately I only later discovered this also extended to the quality of the machine. Where to begin? Dell and this machine will offer a multitude of irritations, malfunctions, and sanity challenging interactions. From the high pressure attempts to have you buy the more expensive laptop, to the generally anemic performance, the torture never ends. An example of the well thought design? The cooling fan is carefully positioned on the bottom of the laptop where it can be blocked by nearly everything. The machine reaches a comfort level approximately equal to ironing your clothes while wearing them. Quality control? Due to minor wiring difficulties, my power supply eventually melted the plug on the back of the machine. The CDRW worked flawlessly for roughly a month then became increasingly moody and choosy about the media used and eventually sank into catatonia. The headphone jack also detached and was useless and wass a poossible shorting hazard. Tech support? You had better brush up on southern Asian dialects if you hope to communicate via telephone as the call center is located in India. On-line tech support by chat is better, but unfortunately nothing you can told can be relied upon. Also be ready to retell and retype the problems you report on every contact with Dell, information is apparently on a need to know system, and knowing what has been previously reported is against the rules. If you send the machine in for repair, Dell repair centers can countermand any promises made to you by tech support personnel. When you get your machine back from a trip to the repair center, be ready to warm up your psychic abilities for there will probably be no indication of what work (if any)has been performed. It may also be missing a few items (such as odd screws or the power supply they instructed you to send along for the ride). It also may be in worse condition that when it was shipped (mine returned with a broken LCD which they cited a cause to not honor any warranty, not bothering to tell me they received it that way until a year later. Which of course made it impossible to file a claim against the shipping company. Eventually, you may also be treated to Dell production of Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde, featuring a total change in the manner in which you are treated by tech support. This will likely include the revelation that Dell decided when you first contacted them that you are responsible for any and all problems and thus the warranty doesn't cover any of the repairs needed. The primary aim apparently is to draw out the process until either a) the warranty expires, b) you simply give up trying to get the thing fixed, or c) Osama Bin Laden becomes a regular on Dell commercials (It's an infiDELL, Dude!). Which won't help you but may at least provide some entertainment.
(For additional fun, read the online information concerning the class action suit brought against Dell in California over their business dealings with their "valued" customers).
Seeking revenge on a coworker, former spouse, an annoying TV evangelist? Buy them a Dell Inspiron laptop.
Addition:
After giving up on getting service for the original problems, I used the laptop with an external monitor for just under a year. The harddrive went, big time! I contacted Dell, and yes, it was under warranty. Not wishing a repeat of the futile shipments to repair depot, I told tech support I wanted the harddrive exchanged and I would install. After three contacts to tech support and assurances I would get a shipping box, I was finally told that the laptop had to be returned for the harddrive to be installed as it was a depot function. This seemed odd since THEY HAVE YOU REMOVE THE HARDDRIVE IF YOU SHIP IT TO THEM FOR OTHER REPAIRS. I gave in and shipped the laptop. I waited and received no reply. I called and was told that it needed a new motherboard at $375. I told them that was crap since I was a tech and the only part that had failed diagnostics was the harddrive. Eventually I was assured that the harddrive would be replaced. Another period of waiting for contact from Dell. I contact them, and now am told that they will not repair the harddrive because the lcd screen (remember back in my first battle)is broken and they will only repair the entire machine(including $$$ for the broken lcd). I go ballistic at this point and instruct them to return the laptop so I can part it out. I am contaced by Dell tech support who assure me the hard drive will be repaired. Roughly an hour later I am called by someone else at Dell (US division this time) and told that the laptop will NOT be repaired. I give up and start planning to use the laptop for target practice when it finally gets back. Now for the insane conclusion. A week later I get the laptop back WITH new harddrive installed and...A NEW LCD SCREEN. Ironically, they still did not repair the headphone jack which had been the minor problem 2 years before.
Have I changed my opinion on Dell and its products? NO, they have played games on this laptop for over two years. No one gives a dependable answer. Whoopee, they fixed something but only after over 2 years of ridiculous delays and countless contacts, lies from corporate offices, and frustrating contradictory messages from everywhere else. I recommend anyone who values their sanity to look elsewhere.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 699
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Celeron
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: 14 inches
RAM: 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 13-20
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dixie_penguin
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