Well, it depends, if you are very active in those organizations that should be your first mode of action. But if you aren't really close to one of those groups then I would call and talk to the Dell people, ask for everyone's manager and get to the highest person you can. Ask them if they ever have thought of having any kind of training for their field tec people in regard to blindness, then let them know what happened with most focus on the tec guy's fear of your talking computer and how scared they got when you asked them to touch your hand and set it where the line was to sign. I wouldn't be degrading of their services, just make it kind of embarrassing for the boss. Make him laugh and see that there is something quite wrong with the way they see blind people. Then I'd ask them if they'd like you to help them design a little training program for their employees so you can be served fully and fulfillingly. Thanks, Brandon Keith Check out MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/brandonkeithcom Also add me on facebook! brandonkeith From: Dorothy Ingram-Gorban Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 4:44 PM To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Dell Agony but you have sighted people around I know from your past emails and if you are alone and you make mistakes,you are stuck also if you buy a costly machine with on site warranty you want decent service and need to insist on it by telling dell about being members of other lists like bcab and a world wide list it may only may have some impression but should be first port of call in my opinion Dorothy ----- Original Message ----- From: Yadiel Sotomayor To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 11:09 PM Subject: Re: Dell Agony This is why I prefer as much as possible DIY (do it yourself). I am teaching myself how a computer works. Both on software and hardware. That way I can piss the guy off telling how to do his job right. hahahahaha From: Farfar Carlson Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 2:57 PM To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Dell Agony Alan, As much as you dislike the ribbons, they are not only here to stay in the Office suite, they are also prevalent in the Windows 7 environment and the more mundane applications that come with it. Like it or not, you'll be better off getting Office 2007, learning the ribbons, and if you migrate to JAWS 12 be able to take advantage of the virtual ribbon feature. Time to come out of the 90s and into the new millennium. And as for your experience with AT&T, it's also dangerous to have their remote tech support grab your computer to do the fixing for you. Yes, they did fix my DSL modem setup problems but they left behind their mirror display driver, which subsequently messed up how JAWS was working. I had to remove the Dameware Mirror Driver before thing got right again. But at least it was free. Now don't ask me about my wife's Sony VAIO and getting a crashed hard disk replaced. She's been complaining ever since that it no longer works as well as originally. We're looking at buying a new laptop soon. Dave Created in the Audio Recording and Mixing Studios, San Jose, California ----- Original Message ----- From: Alan Dicey To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 11:50 Subject: Dell Agony Dear Dorothy, Your experience sounds just like the one I had with A T and T's "In-Home" Technical Support! The guy that came over acted like this Blind person was a devil or something, he just reinstalled my Dell Computer Systems Disk and wanted to run away as fast as his legs could carry him, and at a charge of $179 to my credit card! Folks, I cannot tell you how kind the A T and T Customer Service Technical Support people were, when they said the tech would do this, and do that, and do this and do whatever was needed for me to have him do, and he did absolutely nothing except reinstall my Windows XP! On the other hand, I had to order my Dell Computer Systems disk, and those Dell Customer Service People were the greatest, I cannot say enough about them. They even sent my Systems disk out the same day I called, FedEx! No Charge whatsoever! Incredible! I am still stunned at how professional and courteous, yet personal and kind they were! I do not have the issue you had with JAWS, as I simply called Freedom Scientific and explained the situation, got lucky and had one of the old-timers in Technical Support on the telephone, a gentleman I knew for about 10 years, and he gave me my 20 digit authorization number and sent me out another JAWS Disk, then walked me through the process of updating JAWS 11 when I received my Disk from them. But Friends, I am despartely trying to fine Microsoft's Office 2003, as that which was on my Dell Computer was just a "Courtesy" version, and Dell could not help me there. Anyone have any ideas? I refuse to use Office 2007! Ribbons? Ribbons? We don't need no Ribbons! We don't gots to use no stinking Ribbons! LOL! Sorry you had problems with your In-Home Technician, perhaps that is the nature of those In-Home Technical support guys, but I must tell you Dell was so fantastic, even wonderful with me! But look out for A T and T! With Best Regards, Alan Miami, Florida Alan Dicey, President United States Braille Chess Association - USBCA "Yes, Blind and Visually Impaired People, Can, and Do, Play Chess!" United States Braille Chess Association Home Page: http://AmericanBlindChess.org ----- Original Message ----- From: Dorothy Ingram-Gorban To: org, jfw@freelists. Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 2:17 PM Subject: dell agony I had a visit from dell engineer today he was very unpleasant indeed, wouldn't listen said he had only come to replace a CD draw, he pulled out my 2 external drives and I had to get a stranger in from street to find them, jaws says it is only working in demo mode, it was my last update to jaws 12 I do have the 20 digits on a tape somewhere if I can find it the dell man only wanted a signature and to tear off I have sent a sharp email to dell support, meanwhile I understand from fellow jaws users that any change of hardware makes jaws think I have a new machine and thus it works in demo mode. I am typing this from my old XP laptop mercifully still running,but the local engineer phoned and he was baffled but will come on Thursday evening I am wondering if I will have problems getting another reset if that is what I need, my friend in UK says he had good service from dell,but the man only wanted a signature on paper,he had to put my hand where to sign I asked him to"read to me what you have yelled at me to sign he shot off and slammed door, then I couldn't find the router or 2 external drives and a stranger helped me well that is often the case I hope the email I have sent back to dell support will get a reply Dorothy