/ #blog 

80% new Laptop

After the switch of the graphicscard last week, the problems with my laptop persisted. That meant that the friendly technician went out of the door and came back a day later with a new mainboard for my computer. After exchanging that - the weirdness on the screen was gone - finally. So I’m left with a 80% new computer: The case, HD, DVD and battery are old, the rest is new ;-) I think that Dell is working on their support processes to minimize the occurence of another case of changing three components before their computer starts working again - a call from their service center an hour after the technician left, leads me to believe that. ...

Jens-Christian Fischer
/ #blog 

Saving a Dell, part II

After all in all one hour on the phone yesterday with Dell support, flashing of the BIOS, unplugging and plugging the LCD cable and other chant and incantations, today a technician arrived with a brand new LCD panel and switched it for the old one. After switching on the laptop - the same display problems persist…. So it’s not the panel, but the graphicscard that is faulty. I’ll get a new one tomorrow morning - sigh… ...

Jens-Christian Fischer
/ #blog 

Free the last mile, part II

I grudingly accepted a change in ADSL plan last week and was looking forward to 512/512 soon. Until 5 minutes ago, when I got a call from my ADSL ISP. The lady told me, that my phone lines wouldn’t be able to handle 512 upload, so I had the choice of staying (staying? You sent me a letter last week that told me I had to change) at 1024/256 - but for an additional CHF 100 per month. Or I could go to 512/280 (which seems to be the best upload speed I can get) for - get this - the same price as they are offering 512/512. ...

Jens-Christian Fischer