Angelo Consulting - September 15, 2005 - News Letter

The Old Blue E ain't what it use to be.

My last experience with Hell was the worst ever.  Rather than dive into the grueling details, suffice it to say calling Hell for help is a crap shoot.  I will start out by saying that there are some great support staff on the phone lines; I'll also say everyone I speak with at Hell support is polite and courteous; however, the large majority of Hell's support force seem to be ill equipped to handle computer problems.   

Can you imagine speaking with a computer sales person that has to ask you what a Network Card is and what it is used for?  Come 'on, a person selling computers should know what a network card is. 

Rather than ranting and raving about my disappointments with Hell computer Co.; I decided to turn my bad experience into a positive by creating a list of things to watch out for when buying a computer; not just from Hell, but from any company.

Do you want a steering wheel and tires with your new car?

Now it's not that they are trying to hide anything from you; all the information is right there a bouts.  With automobiles, we have come to expect a certain standard.  We expect the car to have an engine, but how about a spare tire.  Use to be you got a real tire as your spare; now you get a doe-nut that is good for about 125 miles at a speed of no more than 45 mph.  The truth is, computers are getting stripped down to the bare minimum.  Floppy Drives, PS2 (9 pin DIN) mouse & keyboard ports, and Software CD's are gone forever.  USB is king now and FireWire is just around the corner.

Can I super size that fry for you?

I have been wondering just how do computer companies manage to sell computers so cheep.  Why you can buy a brand new brand name PC for $299 bucks.  How do they do that?  I have a theory.  I think the $299 computer is like the Trojan Horse of Troy.  Every computer comes with lots and lots of free software, that isn't actually all that free.  Now I wonder, just how does that free software find it's way onto my new computer?  Somebody is getting paid royalties and fees for the right to get smack in the middle of my brand new 19 inch flat screen.  I didn't ask for it, but when I first start up my new PC, I get 10 programs at once asking me to try and buy.  It's worse than some WEB sites I've seen.  My new computer has 5 free internet offers, 2 limited version CD/RW software programs, a limited version Graphic Editor, Limited spyware, limited anti-virus and on and on it goes.  The only thing that isn't limited is the onslaught of try and buy programs.

To a carpenter, the solution to every problem is a hammer and a nail.

Hell's one solution for all problems is (System Restore).  Hee Haul.  It's like taking a ride in the Way Back Machine.  The truth is, your on your own in this world little man and don't expect the Government to bail your back yard out unless a levy they built broke.  The good news is you have 30 days to check Hell out; and after that, you can go to Hell and scream all you like but your gone 'a live with what you've got.  Oh sure, you have that handy dandy 1 yr limited onsite support; for hardware that is; not software.  If your problem is with the software, you pay by the minute.  Oh yes my friend, the get out of jail free card is gone with the game that made it famous.  If you go to Hell for help, the problem better be hardware related; and if you admit to installing any software of your own, or (get this) downloaded and installing any Microsoft Security or Operating System patches, or Office Updates, then you have modified Hell's system and that's a no no; it's System Restore for you pal.  Then if everything works ok, you don't have a problem anymore do you, and please sir, be sure to fill out the email survey rating my service for this call.

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