How old was your old Dell when they replaced it?

I'm wondering how old your laptop was when Dell replaced it with another under warranty? I bought my E1705 in April 2006 with 4 yr in-home service and complete care accidental replacement coverage. My E1705 is currently mangled after several repair attempts, the parts they used were physically damaged or defective and my video card was downgraded (GeForce Go 7900 to Radeon X1400) and I can't even run any 3D applications or games anymore. They are telling me they want to replace it now and that the replacement will be refurbished because of it's age, only computers that are 3 months old or less qualify for a new replacement they said. Did they tell anyone this and still give you something new? My system was otherwise in such great shape, these refurbished parts I have gotten are a lot worse.. certainly not equal or better.

Thanks!

 

They say they will give you a refurbished one but they end up giving you a brand new one in most cases. Play along and I am pretty sure they will send you a new studio 1737 laptop with far better specs.

Hope it goes well for you. Do post what you end up with.

 

Remind them about that downgrade, and tell them they need to make this right.

BTW, my laptop was replaced about a year after I bought it. I ended up getting a brand new one because they bungled the first replacement (not providing an equal). I had to escalate the issue, but they finally fixed it. Sold the replacement locally, now I'm shopping around Dell Outlet and other companies for options.

 

Yeah, Dell wants to replace it. That's the only real option, the nVidia graphics card is expected to be on back order for more than two months, that's probably why I got the Radeon X1400 instead. I'm a picky though I want this new system to be awesome. The thing is I know my system inside and out and I don't think they can match the specifications I bought this thing for without giving me something fairly high end. Plus they have completely screwed up their line of PCs, everything except the Alienware have been cheapened so to say, 17" systems replaced with 16", resolutions dropped from 1920x1200 to 1920x1080, less dicrete graphics cards. I don't expect a Alienware though, but something nice would be very nice. The Studio 17 wouldn't work because the screen is only 900p and I am pretty content on keeping my 1200p or close to it, 1080p at the lowest. 8-bit color is a must, gaming capable graphics, etc. If they send me something new I think the only system that can accomodate this is the XPS 16 and Alienware M17x. If refurbished, one of those, or one of the XPS gaming systems, I think 1730M, and that's it. My E1705 is pretty well tricked out.

 

I'm planning for this replacement, since talks started of it the following features I don't have will be aquired: 64-bit processor support, DirectX 10 or better graphics support, and likely multiple hard drives, oh and the E1705 BIOS lacked some really big features like AHCI for full support for SATA hard drives. That ticked me off when I noticed I couldn't take full advantage of newer high end SATA drivers like my Western Digital Black 7200RPM Black Edition. The hardware supports it but Dell hid the ability to enable it in the BIOS. Retards.

 

That is their problem, not yours. Their warranty specifically states 'equal or better', not 'similarly priced.'

Most manufacturers are moving to 16:9 screens, if only because LCD manufacturers are shoving the change down our throats to pad their profits.

As far as the lineups go, how often do you do something that actually requires a dedicated graphics card? I'm not sure what the current stats are, but I thought about 80% of all notebooks have integrated graphics? Dell does have the Inspiron, Studio (and/or XPS), Latitude, Precision, and Alienware lines now. It is kind of hard to believe they don't have something for everyone, but that is my thinking.

Do expect an equal replacement though. Dell is less concerned about cost when it comes to replacing a notebook, I've heard this straight from high level customer service reps in the US. I'm sure that is because if they provided less capable replacements all the time they'd be opening themselves up to a ton of small claims suits for full refunds a year or two or three after a purchase. Not to mention the possibilities for class action lawsuits, fines, and/or penalties levied against Dell for deceptive business practices. They got in trouble before with their financing department...

 

I think that was more true in the past, now that they have changed the product line so much you have to fight to get moved out of the inspiron/studio line and into and xps or alienware product to have similar specs.
Example, the inspiron 17 has a wuxga screen but only integrated graphics, and the studio 17 only has wxga+ display but discrete graphics although I would put the 7900 a little higher then the ati.

Your left with either an m6400, a studio xps 16, or an alienware. The chances of you getting any of these properly equiped the first time are slim...

 

This would be the first time I've heard of someone starting with an XPS/Alienware and getting downgraded to an Inspiron/Studio. What exactly did you start with and what did they offer you at first?

 

That was the point of my post, I had a 1720 with wuxga and discrete video. Dell no longer offers a studio or inspiron that has both. You either get discrete video and wxga+ in the studio 17 or the wuxga and integrated graphics with the inspiron 17... Getting them to give you a studio xps 16, m6400, or alienware which do have wuxga (or 1080p screen in the case of the xps16) and discrete power video cards is VERY DIFFICULT. Took me 4 configs to get an acceptable replacement, because they kept switching between the two and even on the forth were only going to replace it with the inspiron 17th. It took a VERY LONG time to get them to realize the only acceptable replacement is no longer in the studio/inspiron lines.

His E1705 is an inspiron not xps so I would guess he may have the same issue as I did.

 

My bad - I originally misinterpreted your post as "they tried to replace my XPS/Alienware with Inspirons and Studios", which would be appalling.

Though I can see why the outsourced call center idiots would think that all Inspirons are made equal. *Sigh* if only Dell would listen to their customers the first time, instead of the fourth time...