Dude Im gettin a Dell... twice...
A new computer... something that I have not had in many years. When I started my last job they gave me a sweet laptop to use. Soon afterward my last working personal computer died. At that point the laptop became my only computer. When I was laid off they took my computer back. I offered to buy it from them but they never got back to me (imagine that?!) I then had to get used to my roomates fairly old system, It barely can handle what I throw at it. The moment I knew I had a job I immediatly went out and purchased a new Dell Laptop. Sweet system but one of the major things I wanted was Dells UltraSharp monitor. It is one of the best looking and highest resolution screens out there. So this was what I got:
When I got the computer last night i was really kind of dissapointed about the quality of the screen. I had the Ultrasharp on my last Dell and it looked way better than this and it was a smaller screen. Anyway, after hours of talking with Dell on the phone today I (not them) found the discrepancy. This is what I was supposed to be looking for:
Now, truelife is just a coating on the screen so I didnt much care about that my last system didnt have it. Also the only other option that I ever saw was:
I had been watching the Dell outlet for a few weeks because the systems there are always changing (I would check 2-3 times a day) and since you have to take what you get, you cant configure anything I was waiting for the right one. The Ultrasharp monitor was rare to show up on the list, much less one with all the right other components (Ram, HD, Processor, ect...) When I sat this system show up I jumped on it. (good systems only last 5-10 min on the list). Givin that the W in WUXGA means widescreen I assumed that the U meant UltraSharp, therfore the only thing I was looking for was the word UltraSharp. Turns out I was wrong. Not only does the U not mean Ultrasharp, but UltraSharp is just a product name. Its the U in WUXGA that means what I want.
Anyway, I spend most of today trying to figure out what went wrong. Finally after many hours on hold and at least 6 different Dell representatives I endend up placing a whole new order for a new system to be built to my specs with every piece of hardware I want at slightly less than what I paid for the referbished one in the first place (almost $800 off retail.) Also, Ill a full refund of the original price when they recieve this one.
Erickson Rule #256:
When you know exaclty what you really want never compromise, it will lead to regrets later.
I knew exactly what I wanted but because of the limited availability of good deals on the outlet site I acted quickly and didnt look in between the letters. Anyway I am glad Dell worked with me to resolve my problem, although i did feel a little bit like a hot potato.
P.S. You can hear about Erickson Rules #0-255 by growing up with my father. Rules #256 and on can be learned by watching me come up with them in my new book I call, Erickson Rules Version 2: 16Bits ;-)
posted by Larakin @ 7:12 PM
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