-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Design flaw ruins computer

The original TINYURL link you gave me worked fine, THE FIRST TIME. As =
soon as I tried to go in again with the same URL, it required =
membership. I think that the links you are creating are only for =
ONE-TIME use. That would make sense why it seems to work at first and =
then it doesn't. Also, I'm assuming you have a membership and are logged =
in. So, you can click on it all you want and it'll work, because you are =
still logged in.

Either way, I went ahead and created a free account so I can get the =
article for people here on the list. Here's a copy-n-paste directly from =
the site:

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Design flaw ruins computer
This Dell's definitely a dud
  =20
   Hey dude, before you buy a Dell, listen up: The computer giant has =
been cashing in on two well-known design flaws in one of its laptops. =
The defects, which have surfaced on hundreds and possibly thousands of =
Dell Inspiron 5150 notebooks, render the model useless right after the =
warranty runs out.
   But instead of issuing a recall, Dell charges $179 to "diagnose" the =
problems and then hundreds more to fix them.
   No wonder Dell reported record-setting revenues of $11.7 billion in =
the second quarter of 2005 - 20 percent higher than in the same quarter =
a year ago.
   That's small comfort to Maritza Vasquez, a 13-year-old honor student =
from New Windsor who saved every nickel of her allowance and birthday =
cash to buy a Dell laptop.
   "There were several other brands I would have preferred, but she had =
to have a Dell, which I attribute to their aggressive advertising," says =
David Levy, Maritza's stepfather.
   On Aug. 9, 2004, Maritza purchased the Dell 5150 Inspiron notebook, =
which came with a one-year warranty. Levy says he went along with her =
choice because she was using her own money, and because he thought Dell =
was "a decent and reputable company."
   Fast forward 14 months - to last Monday afternoon. Maritza was typing =
a report about Julia Bowman Robinson, a renowned 20th-century =
mathematician. Suddenly, her cherished computer shut off. Kaput.
   "The problem is it will not turn back on," says Levy, who made =
several attempts to fix it by following Dell's Web site instructions on =
what to do if your Inspiron 5150 craps out.
   Gee, you'd almost think the company expected it.
   "It was obvious to me that there were documented problems," Levy =
says.
   And indeed, there were.
   Joe Kabalan of AQS Computer Services in Tonawanda says he has =
repaired about 500 of the 5150 Inspirons, which came out in 2003 and =
have since been discontinued by Dell.
    "They should do a recall," Kabalan said, explaining that the laptop =
has two factory defects that cause permanent power shutdowns. "But very =
rarely do (computer manufacturers) recall anything. It just costs too =
much money."
   The Inspirons 5150 "have a big design flaw in them," agrees Mike =
Prisinzano of Computer Experts, a Buffalo firm whose Web site offers a =
flat-fee repair of "the Dell 5150 power cut-off problem."
   "We're seeing more and more of the Dells," Prisinzano said. "I have =
about a half-dozen right now, and a few came in today."
   One of the problems is a faulty jack that loses contact with the =
plug, shutting down the power. The other is a poorly designed =
motherboard that easily overheats and then warps, usually after about 14 =
months of use.
   "And unfortunately, there's nothing people can do," Prisinzano said, =
"because the warranty is one year, it's beyond that, and they're stuck =
with either getting these fixed, buying new ones, or getting replacement =
boards."
   In fact, an Internet search yields hundreds of complaints from =
hapless Inspiron 5150 owners, some of whom have even started a "Dead =
Motherboard Club." Maritza might become its youngest member. Her stepdad =
followed all of the instructions on Dell's Web site, with no success. He =
called technical support and reached a guy in India, who gave him a case =
number and transferred him to the "Out-of-Warranty Department."
   Translation: Get out your credit card.
   Levy was told that for $179, he would receive a box to ship the =
computer back to Dell for a diagnosis. Levy said "no thanks."
   That same evening he got a call from Dell offering a discount on the =
diagnosis. Again Levy refused.
   On Tuesday, I contacted Dell. Two hours later, a media-relations =
flack called Levy and offered a free diagnosis, but not a free repair.
   On Thursday, after many attempts to reach someone at Dell, I finally =
spoke to Venancio Figueroa III at the company's Texas headquarters.
   "The issue has been brought to our attention," Figueroa said, "and =
first and foremost I will apologize for any inconvenience this may have =
caused the customer."
   Customer? How about "customers" - hundreds of them?
    "It's due to a design flaw," I told him. "It's a well-documented =
design flaw."
   Figueroa: "Well, uh, the issue, I mean, it, it's, the system =
functions as designed and so, um -"
   "What do you mean, the system functions as designed?"
   Figueroa: "So basically, you know, the way our systems are designed, =
you know, when they detect overheating systems, which is what this =
particular inquiry was, you know they're gonna shut down automatically."
    "And you can't turn it back on again," I reminded him.
    Very long pause. "Uh, well, uh, I don't know about that, uh..."
    "What is Dell doing for this design flaw?" I asked.
   "Uh, we have improved, uh, the fan vent design which is going to =
impact air flow into the system, you know, so we've done that."
    "What are you doing for the customers who bought the computer with =
the design flaw, who paid $2,000 for a computer that only lasts one =
year, just past the expiration date? What are you doing for those =
people?"
   "We're advising customers, as we have with our direct business model, =
that uh, uh, they can certainly contact us directly."
   Contact Dell directly? Didn't Levy try that? Let's make sure I have =
this right: The customer pays $2,000 for a laptop that has =
manufacturer's defects. The laptop dies after 14 months, and the =
customer has to call India, only to get hustled out of more hard-earned =
cash to diagnose this well-known defect.
   "Is it going to cost them $179 to diagnose the problem if it's past =
one year?" I asked Figueroa. "This well-known design flaw?"
   "If the system is out of warranty, there is a fee we charge for the =
diagnosis. We will also charge for the repair if it's out of warranty."
   Hear that, Maritza? Sorry, kid. Better luck next time.
   Levy says he's probably going to send the laptop to a private =
computer expert, such as Prisanzano or Kabalan, both of whom do the =
repairs for about $200. If Dell fixes it, the cost will be about $500 =
and won't last anyway. "If they put the same exact board in there, it =
will have the same problem," Prisinzano explained. "We modify the board =
so it doesn't happen any more."
   For Maritza, the purchase price of $2,000 over the 14-month life of =
the Dell amounted to about $142 per month.
   "She would have been better off leasing one," says Levy. "The bottom =
line is, shame on Dell for selling a product they will not stand behind =
and then actively marketing it with "Dude, you gotta get a Dell!"
    Hey, dude - no, you don't.
  =20
   Been ripped off? Too busy to stay on hold? If you're having trouble =
with a product or service in the private or public sector, let me know. =
I'll see what we can do about it. Send me the details - who you're mad =
at, why, their address and telephone number (and yours) at =
ContactChristine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Or write to me at Contact Christine, =
Times Herald-Record, 40 Mulberry St., Middletown, NY 10940.

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---Troth



-----Original Message-----
From: pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx =
[mailto:pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Don
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 11:09 AM
To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: -=3DPCTechTalk=3D- Re: Design flaw ruins computer

This tinyurl WILL work.

http://tinyurl.com/b5kxt


It works on my computer and one just like it works on another persons=20
computer.


Don

----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Ange" <locustchewed@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 5:31 AM
Subject: -=3DPCTechTalk=3D- Re: Design flaw ruins computer


>I think the whole point of the request was that many of us cannot =
access
>the
> link and converting it to a "tinyurl" makes no difference ~ I for one
> still
> cannot access from tinyurl so a pointer to the archives would've been =
more
> use.
>
> Hopefully those of us who still want to see it or see it again will =
head
> to
> the archives.

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