[NTLUG:Discuss] Dell nightmare

[Merlin]

Wayne Dahl amused Merlin with these comments:

> What about service?  Of course, if they're going to install M$ and force
> you to pay for it, then I would probably go with another vendor as
> mentioned above and install my own or just build it from scratch.  But
> if they can be talked into installing Linux, how is Gateway's service?
> Anyone have any experience with them?

I have had no problems with Gateway's service.

On my 1.8GHz machine, one of the two PS fans died (the one mounted to the
bottom that blows across the CPU).  This was causing overheating/lock-up
problems.  I managed to self-diagnose the issue and then called their tech
support.  Since I was inside my warranty, the shipped me a new PS.  I
spent maybe 30 minutes on the phone to get this done.  When the PS
arrived, it had excellent full-color instructions on how to self-install
it, or I could have taken it to the local Gateway Country store, and they
would have installed it gratis.

The one bad experience that I had with them was when I was trying to use
NetMeeting to remote-control a machine at the office.  Everytime I opened
NetMeeting and tried to connect to the remote machine, it rebooted my box.
 Gateway said that this was a "networking/corporate/Microsoft" type issue
and that they would not provide support for it.  I then explained that if
I called M$, they would tell me to contact my OEM for tech support. 
Gateway acknowledged that this was true, but said they would not help me. 
So, I switched to VNC.

The only thing I would recommend is ponying up the extra money for the 3
year P&L warrant instead of the stock one year.

-- 
Merlin
"Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards,
for they are subtle and quick to anger."