"Hanging Up On Dell Tech Support", Business Week 10/10/05 (link)

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...02.htm?chan=tc


Stew

S.Lewis wrote:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...02.htm?chan=tc


Stew


It's really too bad that things are going this way in the computer
industry. The problem is that every mfg is doing it to compete with the
competitors and keep competitive pricing.

Just glad that I have a good deal of computer savvy and can fix most
problems on my own. If a hardware component does fail, it will be a
toss up to deal with Dell or just but a replacement and be done with it.

"S.Lewis" wrote in message
...


http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...02.htm?chan=tc


Stew




"That's one of several ways in which Dell will encourage customers who
want more support to pay extra for it. In November the company will
launch a slate of new offerings, including remote assistance so
technicians can take control of the customer's PC to fix problems. And
early next year Dell will introduce a series of one-year memberships so
customers can opt for various levels of help, at various prices. One of
the options will likely include a quarterly PC tune-up, in which a
techie would remotely clean up the hard drive and check security
settings."

Well that is NEVER going to occur on any machine I have. I don't care
who sold it....



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"Steve W." wrote in message
...

"S.Lewis" wrote in message
...


http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...02.htm?chan=tc


Stew




"That's one of several ways in which Dell will encourage customers who
want more support to pay extra for it. In November the company will
launch a slate of new offerings, including remote assistance so
technicians can take control of the customer's PC to fix problems. And
early next year Dell will introduce a series of one-year memberships so
customers can opt for various levels of help, at various prices. One of
the options will likely include a quarterly PC tune-up, in which a
techie would remotely clean up the hard drive and check security
settings."

Well that is NEVER going to occur on any machine I have. I don't care
who sold it....

And what makes you think you'll even be consulted on this at some future
date? I can't seem to remember who, (OK, so I'm getting old) but at least
one company used to ship their machines with an app that automatically
downloaded their updates and other junk. The app was shipped enabled and
connected when ever you went online. Just like the ads on AOL, NetZero, or
the Fixlets on BigFix.

Wish I could remember the name, I do recall that the app wasn't uncommon
and wasn't a bad idea at the start. But as with any backdoor, to many
people got (aka hacked) a key and it left the machines wide open to any one
with minimal skills and a desire to mess with some ones PC.

On Thu, 6 Oct 2005 07:44:26 -0500, "Kevin Childers"
wrote:

"Steve W." wrote in message
...

"S.Lewis" wrote in message
...


http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...02.htm?chan=tc


Stew




"That's one of several ways in which Dell will encourage customers who
want more support to pay extra for it. In November the company will
launch a slate of new offerings, including remote assistance so
technicians can take control of the customer's PC to fix problems. And
early next year Dell will introduce a series of one-year memberships so
customers can opt for various levels of help, at various prices. One of
the options will likely include a quarterly PC tune-up, in which a
techie would remotely clean up the hard drive and check security
settings."

Well that is NEVER going to occur on any machine I have. I don't care
who sold it....

And what makes you think you'll even be consulted on this at some future
date? I can't seem to remember who, (OK, so I'm getting old) but at least
one company used to ship their machines with an app that automatically
downloaded their updates and other junk. The app was shipped enabled and
connected when ever you went online. Just like the ads on AOL, NetZero, or
the Fixlets on BigFix.

Wish I could remember the name, I do recall that the app wasn't uncommon
and wasn't a bad idea at the start. But as with any backdoor, to many
people got (aka hacked) a key and it left the machines wide open to any one
with minimal skills and a desire to mess with some ones PC.


i'm not the original poster but...when i buy a new PC i either specify
that no apps come pre-installed or I completely wipe the hard drive,
re-install the OS and go from there. might not be an option for mos
folks but it works for me.

73,
rich, n9dko

"Kevin Childers" wrote in message
...
"Steve W." wrote in message
...

"S.Lewis" wrote in message
...



http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...02.htm?chan=tc


Stew




"That's one of several ways in which Dell will encourage customers
who
want more support to pay extra for it. In November the company will
launch a slate of new offerings, including remote assistance so
technicians can take control of the customer's PC to fix problems.
And
early next year Dell will introduce a series of one-year memberships
so
customers can opt for various levels of help, at various prices. One
of
the options will likely include a quarterly PC tune-up, in which a
techie would remotely clean up the hard drive and check security
settings."

Well that is NEVER going to occur on any machine I have. I don't
care
who sold it....

And what makes you think you'll even be consulted on this at some
future
date? I can't seem to remember who, (OK, so I'm getting old) but at
least
one company used to ship their machines with an app that automatically
downloaded their updates and other junk. The app was shipped enabled
and
connected when ever you went online. Just like the ads on AOL,
NetZero, or
the Fixlets on BigFix.

Wish I could remember the name, I do recall that the app wasn't
uncommon
and wasn't a bad idea at the start. But as with any backdoor, to many
people got (aka hacked) a key and it left the machines wide open to
any one
with minimal skills and a desire to mess with some ones PC.



That was/is Backweb. One of the first items that I check for and destroy
on any machine I work on. I'll treat any new program like it the same
way.



----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

"Steve W." wrote in message
...

"Kevin Childers" wrote in message
...
"Steve W." wrote in message
...

"S.Lewis" wrote in message
...



http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...02.htm?chan=tc


Stew


"That's one of several ways in which Dell will encourage customers
who
want more support to pay extra for it. In November the company will
launch a slate of new offerings, including remote assistance so
technicians can take control of the customer's PC to fix problems.
And
early next year Dell will introduce a series of one-year memberships
so
customers can opt for various levels of help, at various prices. One
of
the options will likely include a quarterly PC tune-up, in which a
techie would remotely clean up the hard drive and check security
settings."

Well that is NEVER going to occur on any machine I have. I don't
care
who sold it....

And what makes you think you'll even be consulted on this at some
future
date? I can't seem to remember who, (OK, so I'm getting old) but at
least
one company used to ship their machines with an app that automatically
downloaded their updates and other junk. The app was shipped enabled
and
connected when ever you went online. Just like the ads on AOL,
NetZero, or
the Fixlets on BigFix.

Wish I could remember the name, I do recall that the app wasn't
uncommon
and wasn't a bad idea at the start. But as with any backdoor, to many
people got (aka hacked) a key and it left the machines wide open to
any one
with minimal skills and a desire to mess with some ones PC.


That was/is Backweb. One of the first items that I check for and destroy
on any machine I work on. I'll treat any new program like it the same
way.

That's the one, shortly after it became popular, various hacks came out
and so on with each upgrade in the app, a new hack came out. Now who was it
that loaded in all of their OEM installs and what genius decided it's
factory default state should be enabled/on? Your solution seems to be the
general consensus of everyone I know of who ran into it.

"
"S.Lewis" wrote in message
...




http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...02.htm?chan=tc


Stew


"That's one of several ways in which Dell will encourage
customers
who
want more support to pay extra for it. In November the company
will
launch a slate of new offerings, including remote assistance
so
technicians can take control of the customer's PC to fix
problems.
And
early next year Dell will introduce a series of one-year
memberships
so
customers can opt for various levels of help, at various prices.
One
of
the options will likely include a quarterly PC tune-up, in which
a
techie would remotely clean up the hard drive and check security
settings."

Well that is NEVER going to occur on any machine I have. I don't
care
who sold it....

And what makes you think you'll even be consulted on this at
some
future
date? I can't seem to remember who, (OK, so I'm getting old) but
at
least
one company used to ship their machines with an app that
automatically
downloaded their updates and other junk. The app was shipped
enabled
and
connected when ever you went online. Just like the ads on AOL,
NetZero, or
the Fixlets on BigFix.

Wish I could remember the name, I do recall that the app
wasn't
uncommon
and wasn't a bad idea at the start. But as with any backdoor, to
many
people got (aka hacked) a key and it left the machines wide open
to
any one
with minimal skills and a desire to mess with some ones PC.


That was/is Backweb. One of the first items that I check for and
destroy
on any machine I work on. I'll treat any new program like it the
same
way.

That's the one, shortly after it became popular, various hacks
came out
and so on with each upgrade in the app, a new hack came out. Now who
was it
that loaded in all of their OEM installs and what genius decided it's
factory default state should be enabled/on? Your solution seems to be
the
general consensus of everyone I know of who ran into it.



Compaq/HP, had it running by default. I believe Gateway also ran it that
way. Not sure who made the decision to "help" their customers with that
"useful" program but they should have been drawn and quartered....VERY
SLOWLY...

Dell had it on some machines but it was not enabled by default, although
it was REALLY easy to enable it by mistake. Kind of like MS Find Fast is
in Office....

Oh well it could be more interesting. Just had a cry for help from a
person who bought a used G4 Mac... He wanted to know why he couldn't get
Win XP to load on it........







----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

I said it over a year ago. Dell's Tech Support has gone totally to pot and
ONLY when their customers get angry enough and start walking away in large
numbers will Dell take action.

It happened with the business division and Dell acted.

Now it sound like it MAY be happening with the consumer division.
What that action will be and how far it goes remains to be seen. So far it
is mostly speculation and half promises. But one thing I am sure of; the
final result will depend primarily on just how many customers Dell has walk
on them and how fast.

It is going to take a lot to get this former loyal customer back.

Irene

"S.Lewis" wrote in message
...

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...02.htm?chan=tc


Stew

S.Lewis wrote:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...02.htm?chan=tc


Stew


Be very careful. The DellBots on this group will attack you for saying
anything negative about the great Dell!