I've been around computers a long time and still find many things to amaze me. Emerging technology makes products obsolete in a matter of weeks just when you get to the point of adjustment thus creating consternation over the amount of money spent. Many of us still have Zip drives whether 100MB or 250MB that are still extremely useful. I don't put as much information on them as before since the CD/DVD burner hold more and thus a better workout. I began thinking about my computing in this vein one day last week and decided to make a foray into the local economy to check out Alien computers. There's only one store selling them here and the Alien portion is always on as aisle corner where the system can really be worked out before getting the strange sales people glares. Exoticcccccccc!
Journeyed over to Worst Buy to see the Alien and quickly found myself working the keyboard to get this system really up and running. It had good response, top of the line innards and a hefty chip to push everything around. The case look fantastic; just bizarre enough as an alien to be cool, but conventionl to be placed anywhere except in a funeral home where it may cause mass hysteria amount member attending a fundamentalist funeral. Response was excellent and I was just going into the utilities to check when my mind stopped, nose tingled and then, there he was. The young salesperson resembling Carrottop and my first thought was simply: don't have the same voice and sthick. Closed my eyes and thought it was only a dream, but popping them open found Carrottop next to the Alien next to me. He smiled and I wondered what to do.
CarroTTop asked if I had taken the system through the hoops yet and naturally I returned a wise ass remark of not, yet, have to open her up and check all the boards. Sooner that one can squeeze eye of newt through a pinhole, the side was open, computer lying down, and he asked where I would like to start. A flashlight was produced and what followed was the first forensic autopsy of a live computer in a public place with two guys resembling CarrotTop and Wilfred Brimley. Hollywood would have had a field day!.
The case open well and everything was in plain view, easily accessible and well organized. CarroTTop went through the whole spiel in an amazingly similar voice explaining everything in very basic detail. Well, I thought, if he's made that deduction, then I will play dumbo to the hilt.
He was explaining the power unit functions when I inquired when did it work? He stared at me for a few seconds attempting to determine whether I was really dumb about computers or the son of a bimbo. He politely explained it works after being plugged in and the computer turned on. Always than salespeople, they like that and it makes them feel wanted. His slid over to the memory stating the system current had a gig installed, but more could be if desired. Hmmmm, I said, and then I wonder if you could explain all designation on a memory stick. He proceeded to elaborate on kb, mb, gagabye, memory function, and why more memory is usually needed. Is any memory manufacturer recommended over another, I asked. Carrot informed me he usually went with Crucible at www.crucible.com or Viking; but it depended on price at the time. Almost mentioned PNY had an excellent reputation, but told me stay away from swap meets, etc., since those may be castaway problems someone decided to dump at a low price. Hmmmm, I though, this guy knows his stuff.
Slowly work our way around to the NIC card and Carrot explained the function to me very thoroughly statng the card used in this system, D-Link, was highly recommended. In fact, Alien Computers use high grade parts and peripherals throughout their invidual computers; and the price reflects it. Anyhow, the topic of broadband service was broached and CarroTTop had DSL at home through Qwest and I have Cox Cable. He had to have an extra line run for DSL to provide service after waiting for Qwest availability for a few weeks. Cox had mine set up and running within 3 days and was I ever happy. Like a kid in an ice cream store run by an Uncle who tells you to eat whatever you want and then be sick for 2 days. I managed to ask how he liked Qwest DSL and a strange gray pall descended down his face resembling a death knell. Quickly told him he didn't have to discuss this, but he relented and offered to do so. CT has been experiencing connection problems with Qwest and has contacted them several times only to be dismayed when he is on hold and then transferred more times than President Bush's excuses about being dropped from Texas Air National Guard flight status. Finally, he asked for a supervisor who transferred him a special IT unit handling DSL who answered his question in 5 minutes, scheduled a maintainenance visit and CT has patiently waited two weeks. Now, I don't normally given out Arizona trade secrets, but this was one of those cases where it was needed to bring more redness to his hair.
Told CarroTTop he needed to contact the Arizona Utility Commission and offer to file a complaint. Suggested the want to do the right thing, but so fed up with all this mullarkey from Qwest attitude with slight symptoms of clinical depression. Guaranteed there would be more technicians running around that place that at the Battle of Gettysberg. Told me he would do that as he closed up the Alien and I thanked him.
Made a special point of going back in a week or so later and there he was laughing with the folks with no sing of decadent gray. Shook his hand and asked how his DSL was going. CarroTTop related he went to the AUC and filed the complaing and was contacted by a secretary of the Qwest regional vice-president's office within 2 days who explained they would be closely monitoring the resolution. 8 Technicians and 4 supervisors should up to find 3 small mistakes and 2 biggies in his line. They proceeded to correct all errors and then gave him a month of free service to compensate for wasted time and 30 more days for inconvenience. CarroTTop said he liked that and appreciated the idea. Said he felt so good he actually went on a Microsoft site using a Linux system just to show a form of dissidence to Microsoft. Had nothing to do with Qwest, I guess, but there was a good purpose somewhere. He's a good guy.
Moral of this story is never endure a problem, contact the company, follow up with a letter, set up a maintainenace visit and monitor what is done. If not happy, contact the supervisor to come by and take a gander at the completed work. And if still not happy, get hold of the same supervisor who will, in turn, bring their supervisor to check it out. Be sure to take complete notes, time, dates, names, rank, etc. for reference and then call your state's version of the utility commission. It's fun to see how fast people react to an official government inquiry and more so to see even supervisors working.