My neighbor called today to let me know she got a new laptop. “It’s a Dell with Windows 7 and all the bells and whistles. Only cost me $800. Can you please help me set it up?”
I go over and this is where the shitstorm begins….
The laptop looks nice and sleek and starts up easily. It has Windows 7, JBL surround sound, a nice camera, a “Media Package” and more. My task: to get the wireless router working with the laptop, set up Facebook and Yahoo! accounts and walk my neighbor through programs and sites she uses most often. No sweat I think, as I have done this many times before and I attempt to start this task.
The damn thing freezes up with anymore than 2 programs running or windows open at a time. Internet Explorer won’t load completely and will continue to lock up the computer forcing me to use Task Manager to End Task again and again. The programs and system tools are difficult to find and though it looks pretty and has some slick wallpapers and icons, it is utterly useless from a functionality perspective. It takes some looking around and clicking on some vague menu items that have been condensed to find what you are looking for and some of the things you are looking for are no longer options.
With all of the consistent crashing/forced restarting/freezing issues, my neighbor got fed up (after a little over 2 hours of me trying). I was determined to get it done but to no avail.
My neighbor then calls Geek Squad to ask about the laptop/Windows 7 issues and they said to bring it back and they will either exchange it or reload the OS. She went in and is getting a new one. Less than 8 hours after purchasing the laptop with “all the bells and whistles” it is broken. I wasted over 2 hours of my time so far and my neighbor has wasted over 8 hours and has driven back and forth four times now.
PC=Piece of Crap. Windows 7 can suck a bag of dicks.
I use both PC and Mac on a daily basis. For ease of use and anything creative, Mac is the only way to go. They are turnkey operational fresh out of the box and you can use nearly any program you can on a PC. Windows 7 consistently fails at their vain attempt to clone OSX. They are missing the point every time (i.e. XP, Vista, et al).
PC’s are the business workhorse, no doubt about it. You can plop anyone with any level of computer experience in front of a PC and they can clod away at the keys and produce. They are easier to replace parts and are far more expendable than Mac’s are. Mac’s aren’t as easy to repair/replace parts on because they don’t need to be. They cost more because they are a better product. That is basic business. You get what you pay for. Quality has a price tag.
Too often, lay-people will get sticker shock upon seeing the price difference between a Mac and a PC and let that be the end all of their buying decision. They don’t take into account the constant issues, breakdowns, freezing up, maintenance, anti-viral software, anti-spam software, additional disks to load, labor, downtime, etc. that adds and adds and adds to the bottom line price of the computer. You can not use a PC fresh out the box like you can a Mac. Plug it in and you are ready. You need to download software, drivers, tons of disks worth of busywork before you can operate the machine you saved so much money on. What is your time worth?
Overall, the experience was horrible with this “bells and whistles” Dell and Windows 7 as an answer to Snow Leopard (or Tiger for that matter). I will use a PC for work because my company deems it so and provides me with the “tools”. Anything beyond the free computers used for work reasons will be strictly Apple. Streamlined, highly effective, user-friendly, sleek Apple. Once you go Mac, you never go back.
I will continue to try and get this damn thing up and running for my neighbor once she gets her new one. I hope the new(er) one works this time…
This post was submitted by Steve Z..
Update: My neighbor went to Best Buy and showed the Geek Squad her laptop. They couldn’t get it to start up or open IE, so they got her a new laptop and started that one up to test it. It had major issues also, so after over an hour at Best Buy my neighbor got her money back and left without a computer.
Windows 7 may be able to allow a 6 year old who is primed by Microsoft to make a crappy Powerpoint slide show with cartoon bubble quotes, but it can’t seem to perform the most basic of functions; Turning on and working.
Needless to say, my neighbor who argued with me that the PC was a far better deal for the price is headed to the local Apple Store to get a Mac. Not only will the support be better, but the product will be as well.