Re: Seeking perspectives on a computer purchasing predicament
- From: "Darragh Ó Héiligh" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 14:52:13 +0100
I think the point through all this should be why the hell have GWMicro
and FreedomScientific not added support for 64 bit systems after all
this time? It's not like this is new technology. And the fact that
best buy are only supplying these machines with 64 bit processors
should be the kick we as the customers of these products need to get
us motivated to complain and protest to these A T companies to start
supporting this new technology.
The 64 bit issue extends beyond home users. new servers are now only
supplied as 64 bit at the moment as well. This means that people are
not only losing out on some ram, their having real problems with
employment too! Not to belittle your problems, but you seem to have
some communication with these companies. In my opinion you should use
this experience to relay your frustration. You shouldn't direct at
best buy.
Best Buy are inicent in this as far as their technology offerings are
concerned. It was certainly not the fault of the sales person in the
shop. Standard technology has evolved from 32 bit to 64 bit. Just as
before, it evolved from dos to windows based operating systems. Our
definition of standard in this areena is constantly evolving and
changing.
I agree that the delivery person should have called to inform you that
he would not be there at the scheduled time. That's just bad customer
service but that's not best buy's fault.
I would urge you all to focus on the lack of 64 bit technology by A T
software developers when thinking about this. It should no longer be
exceptable not to support this technology. Certainly when it has
become such a promenent processor specification in the market.
Darragh
www.digitaldarragh.com
Linux recordings at www.digitaldarragh.com/linuxat.asp
2008/10/2 Nimer <nimerjaber1@xxxxxxxxx>:
> As for best buy and geeksquad? I can't stand them with a passion.
> Thanks
> NImer J
>
> Nimer M. Jaber
>
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> Christy Schulte wrote:
>>
>> I sure hope they intend to give you some kind of discount after all of
>> this. What a pain, and very bad customer service. Not to mention you're
>> paying for two and a half gb of memory you can't even use.
>> His refusal to call other best buy stores, and failure to call you before
>> hand in and of itself should be enough for them to give you a cost break.
>> Free installation, perhaps?
>>
>> anyway, looks like your questions got answered in a previous message. Good
>> luck.
>> Christy
>>
>>
>> Freebie Force, a great resource for finding free stuff and even making
>> cash.
>> http://faylen.nocashever.com
>> Or email me for more info.
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jamal Mazrui" <empower@xxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 8:00 AM
>> Subject: Seeking perspectives on a computer purchasing predicament
>>
>>
>>> About 10 days ago, I purchased a new computer from a Best Buy store in
>>> Silver Spring, Maryland. My hope was to get good value on the computer
>>> and from the store's "Geek Squad" service that delivers and installs it,
>>> including a wireless network. I had not bought a new computer in several
>>> years and was not familiar with hardware differences in current
>>> offerings.
>>> I knew I wanted the home version of Windows Vista, and asked the senior
>>> technical representative on duty for a recommendation on a computer that
>>> used "industry-standard" components as much as possible, thereby
>>> maximizing compatibility with the screen reader technology that I used.
>>> I
>>> emphasized memory and hard disk space over a graphics card and monitor
>>> intended for games. The representative indicated that he understood my
>>> needs and recommended a Del computer with relatively large memory and
>>> hard
>>> disk specifications.
>>>
>>> Last Saturday, a Geek Squad technician delivered the computer to my home,
>>> installed it and the wireless network. At the end of the process, he
>>> mentioned that it was a 64-bit computer. I was shocked and dismayed as I
>>> knew that no screen reader worked with 64-bits yet. As evidence, I had
>>> him run a copy of JAWS, which immediately said it would not work on a
>>> 64-bit computer. The technician acknowledged that it had been a mistake
>>> to recommend such a computer, particularly in the context of my request
>>> for industry-standard components, and without even asking me if 64-bits
>>> was an acceptable specification. He said he would return on Wednesday
>>> with a replacement, 32-bit computer.
>>>
>>> It had not occured to me to specify 32-bits because I had perceived it,
>>> although changing over time, as still being a feature of high-end
>>> computers intended for a circumscribed set of resource-intensive
>>> applications, rather than for customers at a Best Buy store with a
>>> typical
>>> consumer interest in running a range of applications, including ones
>>> found
>>> on the Internet.
>>>
>>> The technician was scheduled to arrive between noon and 4 PM on
>>> Wednesday,
>>> yesterday. I took a vacation day from work to be there, though I had not
>>> wanted to lose vacation time for this originally. Despite repeated calls
>>> I made during the day to confirm the appointment, the technician did not
>>> call me until about 4:30 from the Best Buy store, where he said he
>>> discovered no 32-bit computers available. He discussed the problem with
>>> others there and said their recommendation was to load a 32-bit version
>>> of
>>> Vista on the 64-bit computer I purchased. Although they had little
>>> actual
>>> experience with this, and were unable to contact a Del representative to
>>> confirm the approach, they were confident it would work except that only
>>> 3.5 out of the 6 gigabytes of memory would be addressable because that
>>> was
>>> an upper limit for 32-bit Windows. I asked but they were not willing to
>>> call other Best Buy stores in the greater DC area to check if they had a
>>> 32-bit Del computer in stock. I said I would go along with this plan,
>>> now
>>> scheduled for a Sunday installation at my home, but that I would have to
>>> do immediate testing of various programs to assure myself that there were
>>> no compatibility problems. Since it is a few days away, I thought it
>>> best
>>> to schedule the re-install and do some additional research in the
>>> meantime.
>>>
>>> With that background, I am seeking information and advice from list
>>> members on a few questions. Will there be no compatibility problems from
>>> loading 32-bit Vista and drivers on a 32-bit computer. Specifically, it
>>> is a Del Inspiron Model I530-110B.
>>>
>>> Is 3.5 gigabytes the maximum addressable memory in this case? Would the
>>> same limit be true on a 32-bit computer?
>>>
>>> I had also purchased Microsoft Office Professional 2007. They said that
>>> the same version runs on either 32-bit or 64-bit computers. Is that the
>>> case?
>>>
>>> Does anyone have more experience to share about Best Buy and Geek Squad?
>>> The representatives involved say that they usually sell 64-bit computers
>>> now. I find this surprising since I thought a majority of software still
>>> requires 32-bits today. Is their statement credible? Is this the
>>> default
>>> retail practice now?
>>>
>>> Jamal
>>>
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