To top off my complaining over the unusable screen, this system crashed (while doing nothing!) today, then blue-screened and reported several bad clusters --- not just cross-linked files or something but actual bad clusters! Then, while chatting with Dell online complaining about it, the K key popped right off the keyboard! (The keys have that cheap feel where sometimes typing quickly lets your fingertip slide underneath a key above it and "catch" a bit -- in this case it caught and snapped off and landed on the floor.)
That was the last straw for me. I called and asked for a return with a full refund. What's funny about Dell's return staff is that they're clearly reading off a "three-ask" style script, like telemarketers (how about a $20 donation? would you believe... $10?) The conversation went pretty much like this, word for word:
Dell: There won't be a restocking fee, but you'll have to pay shipping back to Dell.
John: That doesn't seem fair.
Dell: Okay, we'll pay for shipping back to us, but you'll have to pay for the cost of shipping the laptop to you in the first place.
John: That doesn't seem fair either.
Dell: Okay, we'll pre-pay shipping back to us and reimburse you your full purchase price, plus shipping.
John: Thanks!
At least Dell's customer support is still first rate, if you ask the right questions.
I'll be honest -- I'm a huge Dell fan. I've purchased 8-9 Dells for myself since 1993 and recommend them almost exclusively to friends, family, and clients. As for the XPS M140, however, those bad clusters and the key popping off while in the midst of trying to get a screen replacement was beyond the last straw. Buyer beware: this is the worst laptop I've ever used, and the worst product I've ever seen Dell produce -- and I owned a first generation Dell Digital Jukebox.
I'm glad some have had good luck with this machine, but I doubt I'll ever trust Dell with my laptop dollars again.
That was the last straw for me. I called and asked for a return with a full refund. What's funny about Dell's return staff is that they're clearly reading off a "three-ask" style script, like telemarketers (how about a $20 donation? would you believe... $10?) The conversation went pretty much like this, word for word:
Dell: There won't be a restocking fee, but you'll have to pay shipping back to Dell.
John: That doesn't seem fair.
Dell: Okay, we'll pay for shipping back to us, but you'll have to pay for the cost of shipping the laptop to you in the first place.
John: That doesn't seem fair either.
Dell: Okay, we'll pre-pay shipping back to us and reimburse you your full purchase price, plus shipping.
John: Thanks!
At least Dell's customer support is still first rate, if you ask the right questions.
I'll be honest -- I'm a huge Dell fan. I've purchased 8-9 Dells for myself since 1993 and recommend them almost exclusively to friends, family, and clients. As for the XPS M140, however, those bad clusters and the key popping off while in the midst of trying to get a screen replacement was beyond the last straw. Buyer beware: this is the worst laptop I've ever used, and the worst product I've ever seen Dell produce -- and I owned a first generation Dell Digital Jukebox.
I'm glad some have had good luck with this machine, but I doubt I'll ever trust Dell with my laptop dollars again.
what is EPP?
