What a Waste
04/02/2008 06:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
izmeinaThe best way out of a hole is to stop digging and that is exactly what the Izzie intends to do
Spent an hour filling in an application form back in Mid January and was most happy to have snagged a certain special offer almost at the last minute
When the postman arrived with the packet last Tuesday, was most excited indeed. But was unable to play with our new toy due to a promised visit to Petunia that evening (and the one that followed)
So finally got out the pretty little package on Saturday morning around 10.20 am having no idea that some two hours later would still be farting around with it and no progress in sight
The very helpful folks at the technical support centre suggested bringing the gadget into the shop and asking them to try both a different usb modem and a different installation disk in order to eliminate various possibilities
Unlike most Mondays, worked a morning shift today rather than the usual 3-9 so that was the perfect excuse to pop into the shop
But returning from work after a horrid hot and sticky day, was most tempted to hit the hay instead and leave the stupid computer for tomorrow. Was well aware of it being exactly a year ago that dopy Dodo dial up did the dirty on Izzie by changing their dialup numbers but without bothering to divert incoming calls to the old ones. (took 3 hours of so of phone calls to find that out) Why not - they'd just let the clock run on your prepaid time and provide nothing for it
So packed up the Preciousss and the cranky modem and pottered off downtown to visit the nearest 3 shop.
None of the staff knew much about Macs but did let Izzie try the variables of a different modem, sim card and installation disk. Had already explained about the tech folks suggesting this and they said to try one more time ringing the techies for instructions to remove the modem driver and to come back tomorrow to try a new disk. That failing - they'd get the contract cancelled for us.
Then had the bright idea that there might be some Mac heads in the other shop. One nice young man was fairly familiar and rang up the tech folks and actually went through that procedure. But yet again the damned thing would not connect and the thing kept crashing
He said in the end that although the Izzie's computer did meet the system requirement - it was only just on the operating system front and maybe that's why it's so cranky. Did have the inspired idea of asking if the modem could be used on Windoze 98 - thinking that we could give the gadget to the ma. It would be such a shame to waste the possibility of fast wireless web for only $$14.50 per month
So it looks like will have to cancel the damned thing after all. So so peeved. All the shop front folks and the techie people were very friendly and helpful way beyond the call of duty even if their efforts were to no avail.
So this thing has cost up to now 6 hours of Izzie time, 2 hours of call centre support time and about 1 and a half of the people working in the two stores. It's nice to find a company that is so helpful to its customers after they get the sales. So totally unlike Dodo. But in spite of all the pretty flashing lights and things, the gadget will never be a proper functioning Portkey for this particular model.
So it was all for nothing. Will have to go back again tomorrow to return the toy in its original packaging and try to get the thing cancelled.
One sneaky mean little trick we did not like - apparently if you buy online - they base the 30 day return warranty on the acceptance date and not the delivery date and in our case - that makes a difference of 9 days. If we'd known that - could have gotten it in the store. Would have probably ended up with the same lousy result but it would have been much quicker.
So it's back to stupid sucky old dial up and the World Wide Wait. It's enough to drive a serpent into exile from Cyberia
PS Still no rain - just more icky sticky weather from hell and more shrivelled up little garden critters
Spent an hour filling in an application form back in Mid January and was most happy to have snagged a certain special offer almost at the last minute
When the postman arrived with the packet last Tuesday, was most excited indeed. But was unable to play with our new toy due to a promised visit to Petunia that evening (and the one that followed)
So finally got out the pretty little package on Saturday morning around 10.20 am having no idea that some two hours later would still be farting around with it and no progress in sight
The very helpful folks at the technical support centre suggested bringing the gadget into the shop and asking them to try both a different usb modem and a different installation disk in order to eliminate various possibilities
Unlike most Mondays, worked a morning shift today rather than the usual 3-9 so that was the perfect excuse to pop into the shop
But returning from work after a horrid hot and sticky day, was most tempted to hit the hay instead and leave the stupid computer for tomorrow. Was well aware of it being exactly a year ago that dopy Dodo dial up did the dirty on Izzie by changing their dialup numbers but without bothering to divert incoming calls to the old ones. (took 3 hours of so of phone calls to find that out) Why not - they'd just let the clock run on your prepaid time and provide nothing for it
So packed up the Preciousss and the cranky modem and pottered off downtown to visit the nearest 3 shop.
None of the staff knew much about Macs but did let Izzie try the variables of a different modem, sim card and installation disk. Had already explained about the tech folks suggesting this and they said to try one more time ringing the techies for instructions to remove the modem driver and to come back tomorrow to try a new disk. That failing - they'd get the contract cancelled for us.
Then had the bright idea that there might be some Mac heads in the other shop. One nice young man was fairly familiar and rang up the tech folks and actually went through that procedure. But yet again the damned thing would not connect and the thing kept crashing
He said in the end that although the Izzie's computer did meet the system requirement - it was only just on the operating system front and maybe that's why it's so cranky. Did have the inspired idea of asking if the modem could be used on Windoze 98 - thinking that we could give the gadget to the ma. It would be such a shame to waste the possibility of fast wireless web for only $$14.50 per month
So it looks like will have to cancel the damned thing after all. So so peeved. All the shop front folks and the techie people were very friendly and helpful way beyond the call of duty even if their efforts were to no avail.
So this thing has cost up to now 6 hours of Izzie time, 2 hours of call centre support time and about 1 and a half of the people working in the two stores. It's nice to find a company that is so helpful to its customers after they get the sales. So totally unlike Dodo. But in spite of all the pretty flashing lights and things, the gadget will never be a proper functioning Portkey for this particular model.
So it was all for nothing. Will have to go back again tomorrow to return the toy in its original packaging and try to get the thing cancelled.
One sneaky mean little trick we did not like - apparently if you buy online - they base the 30 day return warranty on the acceptance date and not the delivery date and in our case - that makes a difference of 9 days. If we'd known that - could have gotten it in the store. Would have probably ended up with the same lousy result but it would have been much quicker.
So it's back to stupid sucky old dial up and the World Wide Wait. It's enough to drive a serpent into exile from Cyberia
PS Still no rain - just more icky sticky weather from hell and more shrivelled up little garden critters
