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Dell support service can’t tell between a 720p and a 1080p display

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Re: Dell support service can’t tell between a 720p and a 1080p display

#11
post #3

I heartily support these sort of viral "would you get a load of these assholes" public shaming about large companies that become like the DMV with the way they deal with customers. It seems like one of the few ways for the little guy to fight back.

In 2001 when I was shopping a for a new computer I was talking with the Dell Rep. over the phone about different types of monitor. There was one that was 200 dollars more expensive than the other. I asked the Rep. what was the difference and this was her response "mmmm, one is more espensive" in a couldn't care less kind of tone. Horrible customer service. And the comparison to an incompetent government employee is pretty apt. Dell deserves to be ridiculed for this.

Re: Dell support service can’t tell between a 720p and a 1080p display

#12
I also purchased one of the new XPS 13 1080p models as a replacement for a 15" MBP. From everything I had seen about this model, it was one of the first "Ultrabooks" that approached the MacBook Air in terms of build quality, pleasing and stylish aesthetics, and of course the 1080p screen.

The first unit they sent had horrible backlight bleed in the upper right and lower left corners of the screen. Dell's first 'solution' was to offer to send out a tech to replace the screen. I requested a new laptop, since after all, it was only about a week old at that point.

I received the 2nd unit, and while there was no backlight bleed in the upper right or lower left, there was similar bleeding on the lower right and upper left this time.

I'm truly disappointed at what is otherwise a fantastic piece of hardware. It seems that Dell was more concerned with getting a 1080p model in their catalog than ensuring that they could actually build the things successfully.

I'm trying for a 3rd, after which I'll stop trying and go buy an MBA.

Re: Dell support service can’t tell between a 720p and a 1080p display

#13

> In conclusion: don’t EVER send your laptop to a Dell lab. Simpler: Don't buy Dell. I thought this was common knowledge.

"Don't buy Dell" has been my rule for years, but the XPS 13 was supposed to change that. This is the same hardware used in their "Project Sputnik" Linux Developer laptop running Ubuntu.

Most reviewers gave the 720p model very good ratings. It's very unfortunate that the 1080p model seems to be having issues (see my top level comment).

Re: Dell support service can’t tell between a 720p and a 1080p display

#15
post #4

Sounds miserable. If they'd give you a loaner for the duration it'd be a little better. I and others have recently had employees at the Apple store encourage us to utilize their no restocking fee policy to effectively get a "free" loaner laptop while ours were under repair. Maybe Apple should encourage people to do this even when they're having computers from other manufacturers repaired. How often do people end up j…

Not to be "that guy", but you mean "loaner" as in "something on loan", rather than "loner", which is "someone that prefers to be alone." Having just come back from a conference where I was humbled by the other delegates' ability to speak English, I was hesitating to offer corrections. However, I was told in no uncertain terms that they wanted to improve, so provided it didn't interrupt flow, I offered corrections. I…

Unfortunately, corrections don't help people improve.

Consuming language (reading, listening) does. Producing and getting corrected doesn't.

I can dig out some sources for that, if you are interested.

Re: Dell support service can’t tell between a 720p and a 1080p display

#16
I am with you on this one, but bear in mind, the technician who is supposed to replace your display possibly only knows the part numbers instead of their specs.

I faced a similar situation too (some years back) - I own a Sony Vaio and my display had some issues too. Basically, under the hood, the display is either an LG or a SAMSUNG if your laptop is by a good brand (LG/SAMSUNG makes the best displays, Apple, Sony, everyone else uses displays made by them), or it's made by some cheap Chinese company if your laptop's brand is not so reputed.

Also, the same laptop has multiple replacement parts for the same item. In my case, my display was originally a Samsung, but my replacement was an LG. But the appearance of the parts looked exactly the same, but underneath, my replacement display was 1080p, whereas originally it was 720p. Though, my maximum display settings still allow me to use only 720p.

Think about it, just a slight variation in part numbers could mean a LOT!

This is when I learnt that despite a laptop belonging to the same model number, it could have various part numbers for the same item. Hence, these technicians end up memorizing the part numbers instead of the technical specifications of the parts. I am not talking in support of the technician though - By all means, he IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW what technical features are inside, but given the appearance and complexity of the part numbers, this could be very difficult for one when dealing with thousands of components every month. Give the guy some benefit of doubt, but don't forgive Dell, ever.

Cheers!

Re: Dell support service can’t tell between a 720p and a 1080p display

#17
post #4

Sounds miserable. If they'd give you a loaner for the duration it'd be a little better. I and others have recently had employees at the Apple store encourage us to utilize their no restocking fee policy to effectively get a "free" loaner laptop while ours were under repair. Maybe Apple should encourage people to do this even when they're having computers from other manufacturers repaired. How often do people end up j…

Not to be "that guy", but you mean "loaner" as in "something on loan", rather than "loner", which is "someone that prefers to be alone." Having just come back from a conference where I was humbled by the other delegates' ability to speak English, I was hesitating to offer corrections. However, I was told in no uncertain terms that they wanted to improve, so provided it didn't interrupt flow, I offered corrections. I…

Definately! More folks should loose there inhabitions and speak up. If noone points out grammer and spelling errors, than how will people ever learn? I think your a saint, its really grate that you took the time to right this down. Thanks alot.

Also: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/misspelling

Re: Dell support service can’t tell between a 720p and a 1080p display

#18
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to be "that guy", but you mean "loaner" as in "something on loan", rather than "loner", which is "someone that prefers to be alone." Having just come back from a conference where I was humbled by the other delegates' ability to speak English, I was hesitating to offer corrections. However, I was told in no uncertain terms that they wanted to improve, so provided it didn't interrupt flow, I offered corrections. I…

Unfortunately, corrections don't help people improve. Consuming language (reading, listening) does. Producing and getting corrected doesn't. I can dig out some sources for that, if you are interested.

That's interesting - the people I was talking with made a point of using the corrected version multiple times over a short space of time, and seemed to assimilate the change. Anedotes aren't data though - if you have evidence to contradict that observation I'd be interested to see it - yes.

Thanks.

Added in edit: you were downvoted - I don't know why, so I've upvoted you.

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