Back in August, I was deciding on a computer for college. I had tried Macs throughout the years, but I loved my friend's 12" PowerBook. So, I told my dad that I wanted an Apple for school. However, he didn't want to buy one because of the issues you always hear when people don't know what they're talking about. He told me that it wasn't compatable with anything Windows. So, instead, I get a Dell 5150 notebook. I couldn't really argue because I was lucky enough to get a computer free.
So the Dell was OK, but it was really bulky so I didn't carry it anywhere. It ran fine for awhile but around Thanksgiving I was having so many problems with adware because of people on the network at school that I decided to just reinstall XP. So, I backup all of my files and get ready to reinstall Windows. I pop the CD in and restart the computer so I can change BIOS to book off the CD. Well, BIOS wouldn't run. So, I called Dell, and they wanted me to take out the CD drive, modem, and reseat the RAM. Well, I asked if this would void the warranty, and they said yes. DUH.
So, I keep trying to get into BIOS, and on one reboot, nothing happens. Well, something happens, but an important file for Windows was corrupted, so I had to reinstall, which wasn't possible. So, back on the phone with Dell, and I convince them to send me a replacement system. I tell them that it should not be shipped home, but up here to school. It took me 6 hours on the phone with them to get the address right, because no one changed it when I asked. Dell also promised overnight shipping, and the computer came in 1.5 weeks. By this point I was beyond pissed.
My dad and I talked it over, and we decided to just get rid of the Dell. So, we both start talking to Dell about getting the money back. This is the biggest problem with Dell: they have almost all of their support in other countries. There was no one who would step up and handle the situation. Come Christmas, still no money back from Dell. I sat outside church on Christmas Eve on the phone with Dell support, trying to get someone to solve the problem. Finally, my dad talks to someone in the States, and gets our money back, and then some. They saw the logs of all of the phone calls for the account so they gave us $200. Also, they didn't realize that we had a $250 rebate, so we got that again too. We weren't about to get on the phone again with Dell to fix their mistake that was in our favor.
But it wasn't over yet. Dell says the check will take 3-4 weeks to get to us. I was going back to school in 1.5 weeks, and I wasn't going to spend any more time without a computer. I had already gone a month without a computer. I was constantly going to the labs to check my mail often, because professors send a lot of important information via email. So, more yelling at Dell and we get the check a week later. With the extra money and the drop in price of the PowerBooks since August, I got more than what I wanted.
Instead of a 12" 867MHz 680MB PowerBook, I got a 15" 1.25GHz 512MB PowerBook. We ordered it and had it shipped to school. When I came up to get my new room assignment it was waiting for me at the mail desk. I have been so happy ever since, and have yet to reboot my computer. I take my PowerBook everywhere with me, and I already convinced 2 friends to switch to Mac. It's love.
I'm a computer engineering and electrical engineering major, and now I realize that it would be great to work for Apple. I have switched for only about a month now, and I have more brand loyalty for Apple than I ever did for any PC company. And when I found out that GarageBand was coming out, it was perfect. The only thing I was worried about was getting software to record music, and I got it for only $30 because of an educational discount too.
I am Apple for life now. I see what everyone has been saying about Macs. I have a t-shirt coming with the Apple sign on the front and "Mac Daddy" below it. I'm such a nerd.
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