La Bene Vita

Monday: Laptop Woes

I took my laptop into a shop for repair. They thought it was a video card failure (so did I), and of course, the video card is integrated into the motherboard. So it looked like I would need a new motherboard, and since I bought the laptop around August of 2008, I was pretty sure the warranty was expired. It figures that the thing would die at fifteen months, just after the twelve-month warranty expires, right? So I asked how much a new motherboard would cost.

Well, according to the shop, it would be almost as expensive to replace the motherboard as the whole computer.

(My laptop was very expensive.)

It turns out it's not that expensive, but he can sell me a laptop for just a little more than the motherboard would cost.

So, I asked a few questions.

Me: What software will be installed on the laptop you want to sell me?
Shop Guy: Windows 7.

Pause.

Me: That's it?
SG: Yeah, most of the business people we get don't want a bunch of stuff on their computers.
Me: Most business people want MICROSOFT OFFICE.
SG: Well, yeah, they can buy that.
Me: But most people want it, so why isn't it installed?
SG: Well, it is, if you buy it.
Me:

Suddenly, it's looking like the laptop and software might be a tad more expensive than a new motherboard. I know what you're thinking: It's a laptop! Who needs software?? (snicker)

Me: No thanks, I'd rather replace the motherboard.
SG: I'm not an authorized Dell dealer, so you need to contact Dell to get the mb. When you receive it, I can install it in a day (for like $120.)
Me: Great, thanks, thumbs-up, see ya.

Then I logged onto to my Dell account to get contact information, so I could get a price on a mb. While I'm online, I casually check my warranty information, just to be sure.

OMG, I bought an extended warranty!?!?!?!

Yeah, I never buy extended warranties. Because who ever actually uses extended warranties? But I seriously bought an extended warranty, somehow, and what the hell do ya know? I need it.

After a long chat with a nice, helpful, English-speaking technical service rep, I have managed to get life out of my laptop again. I am to take two pills and call her in the morning. Pill #1: Back up your entire hard drive right now while you have access. Pill #2: Run hardware diagnostics and note any errors.

Wheeee!! My faith in Dell is restored... for now. We'll see if the problem actually gets resolved.

By the way, it's a good thing I have plenty of time for this stuff.