For those of you who have been following along my technology state of affairs, you will recall that I was having the strangest of situations with my less than a year old Dell computer. I am going to Twitter this blog AGAIN in hopes that someone in the upper Dell stratosphere hears my call–which I understand might happen as corporations seem to have planted Twitter ears.

So hear you have it:
The computer is less than a year old;

At some point in its life it became a remote test computer because Trend Micro couldn’t get its act together for its Internet Security program, it wouldn’t run on a 64-bit computer and so the techs were logging data off my computer;

•sometime early on I noticed some wonkiness when I typed but it seemed to resolve itself, at least it didn’t constantly interfere with my use of the computer;
•a few weeks ago I had a strange incompatibility with Adobe after an upgrade–I couldn’t read my manuscript;
•a call to Dell and a tech uninstalled the program and installed some reader type program;
•I called Dell again and got another tech for another issue. He felt I should get Windows 7, and do a clean install, wiping off Vista. He felt Windows 7 was infinitely more stable. I heeded his advice and purchased the Ultimate version along with a new external hard drive to back up the laptop;
•Saturday evening I noticed that while writing an email the computer was breaking up words and embedding them in other lines
•Sunday the tech called and helped me FOR HOURS and we installed the new operating system
•he called back Monday to finish–I had several issues, one was the issue I found with the typing
•he told me I would be getting an email and I could write to him and he would call me back–NEVER HAPPENED. In fact that wasn’t the first time I was told that by a technician
•the problem with typing got worse; I typed for hours for techs who watched remotely. It didn’t happen if I typed with an external keyboard;
•a technician was sent to my home and replaced the keyboard;
•the next day I noticed the same problem
•more calls to techs
•the technician returned with a new keyboard and mother board last Saturday. It was working properly while he was here.
•I decided to do a test today

• I have the same problem. As I type, words begin to break up and go to other lines, or the page closes or scrolls down

I am in disbelief–didn’t I say that last week???
I am not typing on said computer or you wouldn’t be able to read this page…If there are any typos it is because I am exhausted and too tired to proof read…

reply welshdoug wrote on Mar 1, ’10 I hope this isn’t viral….

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Mar 1, ’10 I installed a new OS, clean install!

reply shoppingdreams wrote on Mar 1, ’10 You need a new computer, and they should pay for it. This is ridiculous!

reply lfom wrote on Mar 1, ’10 I hope it’s fixed… If not, there is a good group here where you can get some help: computerhelp Cheers

reply pestep55 wrote on Mar 1, ’10 Get a mac or forget Dell, go with Acer or HP /:-)

reply queeniem wrote on Mar 1, ’10 hi just passing through …I had a similar problem to what you wrote about .. Dell Inspirion laptop … ended up reinstalling it and so far so good, however everything was lost off the hard drive.good luck

reply sousonne wrote on Mar 1, ’10 How absolutely frustrating for you!!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Mar 1, ’10 queeniem said hi just passing through … I had a similar problem to what you wrote about .. Dell Inspirion laptop … ended up reinstalling it and so far so good, however everything was lost off the hard drive. good luck Did you have the crazy keyboard?? This is an XPS 1530 high end. Already reinstalled and upgraded the OS.Same issue. They installed a new keyboard twice and a mother board! Still going on! How weird is this??? So glad you stopped by

reply danceinsilence wrote on Mar 1, ’10 It’s obviously a glitch (like an invisible switch) in the mainframe, and no matter what anyone does it’s going to revert back the way it was resulting in more frustration for you. Best thing you can do, is pack it up, ship it back and be more than just emphatic that you want a brand new one or reimbursed for all the issues and time lost. Go with an Acer or HP. I’d say it is time to shop around for something that is far more reliable. Look for something that is already loaded with Win7 or revert back to XP, which in my opinion is still the overall best system developed. XP is still getting support until 2012 or 13.Just so ya know, I’m going on vacation in a few days, gonna see a few peeps, SPQ being one of them. A 10 state run and I am excited.Good luck Sweets. Computer issues always bite. Huggers 8=)

reply starfishred wrote on Mar 1, ’10 Apple is trying to tell you something hehehehehe

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Mar 1, ’10 Well, I agree…however, it’s not so easy to “ship something” back. It’s 11 months old and I just took out a 4 yr extended warranty and just bought and installed Windows 7. Next time around/ They owe me big time. I am using the laptop to type now–always have 2 going. Just as I was typing the word “ship” the keystroke made the page disappear to the bottom. So it’s letters that break up and some keys give a command while I am typing–I just got a pop up asking if I wanted to delete this message. See how nuts?? Have a great trip. You can find me at Bellevue in a padded cell.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Mar 1, ’10 You are probably right!

reply starfishred wrote on Mar 1, ’10 sanssouciblogs said You are probably right! you know the same sort of thing happened to Kelly 5yrs. ago and finally dell sent her a brand ne 4thousnrd dollar computer- and she bought a Mac has never had much problem with it but the dell is dead lol

reply 5fang wrote on Mar 2, ’10 I’m sorry about that, Sue. I use Acer and I have problem with the screen that sometimes chance to white. Electronic stuffs are always like that.

reply billatplay wrote on Mar 2, ’10 And my Mac sent me a message from it’s height up there in the clouds after opening one of your posts. Bill lad, they are nice to me, Do your really want to give all your memory to this hungry download from Adobe? I though, Blimey, its gobbled enough already so I dumped your post. And now through the mist of time, 5 days, the message and perhaps your problem is clear. Click it into touch. By the way read your mail.

reply pestep55 wrote on Mar 2, ’10 sanssouciblogs said using the laptop to type now–always have 2 going. uh — that might be another reason to go with mac, you can view multiple files, work in multiple windows, etc. very good for text work.

reply philsgal7759 wrote on Mar 3, ’10 I have a almost 4 year old IBM /LENOVO lap top and love it. might be worth a look if you can get a rebate on this one.

reply philsgal7759 wrote on Mar 3, ’10 Dell has a pretty bad reputation at least as far as costumer service these days.http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2007/05/the_numbers_beh.htmlhttp://news.cnet.com/2100-1042-5162141.html http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/dell_svc.html http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/dell_tech_support.html

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Mar 3, ’10, edited on Mar 3, ’10 Well, my son’s laptop is still going strong after 5 years. I have 6 Dell computers and really haven’t had major problems and have found the technicians fairly well-versed in the issues. The articles that you gave links to–thanks I am glad I read them–said that Compaq and HP customer support is worse!!! So this is the state of affairs of customer service. Work is farmed out across the ocean. I had an Inspiron 8200 dell laptop and that lasted about 7 years, that’s when I replaced it with the computer in question. I received a response from the Philippine techs this morning and Dell is going to REPLACE my computer with an upgraded one. It will have Windows 7 which I just purchased last week as the tech who strongly suggested I do so said it would “solve” all my problems. Well, now I am going to call customer support and try to get a refund on the software which cannot be used on any other computer. That’s $350 smackers. At least someone is finally listening. Then again, there’s always the guy on TV who gets on these companies’ cases. Wish me luck…I’m going in. wonder how long I’ll be put on hold…update to follow!

reply josfreshlybrewedmood wrote on Mar 3, ’10 Ever seen the movie The Exorcist??? 😉

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Mar 3, ’10 josfreshlybrewedmood said Ever seen the movie The Exorcist??? 😉 Yes, that’s what the computer needs. Everyone is baffled by it. Hope it doesn’t start typing weird messages to me by itself! Ouija Computers by Dell.

reply opossumd wrote on Mar 9, ’10 Me too, Sue. I have had my Dell with Windows Vista for two years and I am not happy with it. Some of the problems you have had are mine as well: the keyboard breaking words and embedding them into other lines. I’m sure it has something to do with the pad device interfering with the mouse.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Mar 9, ’10 Are you kidding, you had the same problem??? Well I had it with Vista, with Windows 7, the keyboard was replaced twice and the mother board once. WTF??? A while back a tech disabled the touch pad thinking it had something to do with my finger interfering. But I tested it and it is not related. All I know is they are replacing my computer and upgrading parts if need be. it’s too inconceivable. Was your issue resolved, if so how, very curious. I spend half my life with computer issues!

reply opossumd wrote on Mar 10, ’10, edited on Mar 10, ’10 Not really. I have put up with it, since it is not a frequent occurrence: it is mostly related to e-mail writing and a few other things. I’ll just wait a while longer before replacing the beast with something other than Dell…

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Mar 10, ’10 Well, mine is being replaced under warranty. You should complain! They should know!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Mar 10, ’10 As a matter of fact, the next time the tech calls me with an update on my new computer that is being built, I am going to tell him; maybe they’ll want to contact you.

reply opossumd wrote on Mar 10, ’10 That’s a good idea. Please do. Mine is out of warranty and there is no point in complaining now. At the beginning I thought it was my fault, rather than the computer’s, this is why I didn’t complain in time. Also Windows Vista is the worst operating system I’ve used but, then again, I thought that I’d need a little time and patience to get acquainted. My opinion that it is rubbish still holds.