My first bad DELL experience.

I ordered a XPS M1210 from DELL Japan last Friday (Still not delivered). In their product page they clearly advertise the integrated camera and a mic. I've been looking at this particular machine for a couple of weeks now, I saw that they had an option to deselect the camera (default option was with the camera) few weeks back.

I waited for Vista to come out and for the price to go down a bit . Finally last Friday I went ahead and ordered it.But at the time the option to deselect camera was no longer available, then I thought ok, maybe now it is a default option because everywhere else + the product picture mentions the camera. So I didnt think much about it at the time.

I had contact with an English speaking customer care agent so I sent her a mail and asked about this just to make sure. Then she replied saying that M1210s made after feb 1st with Vista preinstalled no longer has the camera! ?Then why the hell do they still advertise it all over the place?

I am a foreigner studying in Japan, still my Japanese is poor. So I tried to speak with them in English. What a nightmare that was … It is next to impossible to find an English speaking agent (I will have better luck finding German, Italian or any other European language speaking person in US support line). Can you believe that ? Especially because DELL is a US company ...... Anyhow I got contact with few people in who cold speak at least some English, but none of them could help me resolve my issue; to make the matters even worse none of their supervisors could speak English! Anyways after about couple of hours I was left with two options. Either cancel the order or go ahead with the camera-less notebook. Then I asked whether they are going to release it in the future, they said they might but still they have no idea when.Since I have waited long enough without a notebook I said ok, just proceed with the order.

How can they do this? Isn’t this is false advertising? It says on the top of the product page along with all the wonderful features of the M1210 that you have the option to order with integrated camera. Also their product photo still has a camera. I knew that they had the option before because I constantly checked the site. But anyone coming for the first time is led to believe that camera is a default option.

Ok, the camera is not that critical to me, but it can certainly come in handy. I'm still pissed about the whole situation. I mean they didn't even offer me any consolation coupons or anythig like that NOR offered me at least a free external web cam ! for their mistake

 

Do you play games? I swear the camera is tied to the issues many have with sound in games breaking up and becoming choppy. Mine doesn't have the camera and to tell you the truth I could care less. Though the part I don't like is the camera part came with the broadband antenna, a feature i would like to use in the future but may not be able to.

 

Read my thread please.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=104377

I even cried over the phone while talking to a Dell tech support manager and still my problem is not solved...

 

Well.. I can live without the camera, but it is certainly something nice to have. BTW do you still have an integrated mic ?

 

I'm pretty sure they took it off because of so many complaints with sound and the aftermarket 2G upgrades...

I think you're better off without the camera if you don't really need it. The notebook looks a LOT nicer without the camera. I can take a picture if you need. It's very flushed. The camera ruins the smooth contours of the notebook.

thats just my personal opinion.

 

Maybe I'm better off without the camera.

But I'm afraid more bad news is on the way. I messaged my fried who has the camera-less M1210 and asked him to check the Device ID of the monitor. His one says LCD58E3. According to this and this, that screen looks pretty bad. Since he also purchased from DELL Japan about 3 months ago, I have a terrible feeling about mine .

Before purchasing M1210 I had two options, this and Sony Vaio C series. I decided to go with DELL for 4 main reasons, price, the screen, support and camera. Cos C series is also known to have a poor screen.

Camera is already gone, and I’m not particularly happy with their support either after the above issue. Looks like the screen is also going to turn out disappointing. Leaves me only price (which wasn’t much).


Can this get any worse ?

 

You're kidding me... they took it out?

Did they also use that cheaper screen for the non AV communication pack systems?

That could explain why all of a sudden I wasn't given an option to deselect it when ordering.

 

Are you also ordering from DELL JP ?

 

Phoenix - Don't worry. Me and my friend both ordered xps m1210's recently without cameras and they both have AUO monitors. (the best)

i suspect they've had too many complaints and realized they were losing money having to send out techs to replace the monitors (seeing as how it was a very BIG problem)

So I'm thinking they've decided to ship out AUO's.

I think you should feel pretty confident in getting an AUO monitor. Though this is just pure speculation.

and yes, i think that you're better without the webcam. Besides, it looks better.

And even though some times you have bad experience with Dell, their support is still very good and they honor their warranty well (for my past 4 years of experience).

so good luck and I'm sure everything will be fine.

 

Does the 1210 still have a mic without the Camera?

 

no it does not. that's the reason it's called the A/V package.

 

I'm hoping for the best, but not so sure anymore. Again I messaged my friend and got to know that his notebook says "Assembled in China" ! Not Malaysia as yours. The sales rep also told me that it takes some time to deliver because they have to get them made and shipped from China.

Maybe DELL is sending better components to US while distributing their inferior Chinese made notebooks in Asian market. All of a sudden the price difference between DELL JP and US started to make sense.

 

lol don't get so worried!

i had the pre-arrival stress and worries that you had but everything turned out fine. The only problem with mine is the touchpad which I'm going to contact onsite to fix.

worst case scenario - you receive the crappy toshiba lcd, you get on site to fix your lcd (which they WILL do as long as you complain that the screen is not usable for you).

good luck bud! I hope for the best but as we know, everything is out of our control for the time being.

 

Sirius_GTO, Thanks for all your replies. Yeah, you are right. I can't do anything till I get the notebook.

Even afterwards it is very unlikely that I could do anything about it. Do you really think that they would swap the screen just because I say that it doesn't look good (without any defects)? Ok , for a moment lets assume that by some off chance they agree; what if DELL JP (through their Chinese manufacturing plant) don't have access to any AUO screens (what if all of their screens are Toshiba)?
It is very unlikely that they will go out of their way to import a special screen from somewhere else just for me.

Anyway lets wait and see. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst

 

I have ordered a dell Xps M1210, and reading ur post make me skeptical if I have made the rite decision … mine has a camera too !!! … I have ordered from dell India and they told me that my machine would be delivered from Malaysia. I am keeping my finger crossed.

 

as far as I know, regions don't limit certain manufacturers from supplying LCD's. I've read on forums with people from asia getting AUO, toshibas, and samsungs.

If you do get a toshiba LCD and complain, yes, they will swap it. (assuming their support is similar with US. But of course I have no first hand experience with Dell Japan). Once again I've HEARD this happening a lot. One of those threads you've linked from notebookforums.com had a lot of people commenting on how they switched their screen through Dell on site. But then again, I don't know the demo's for who is in America and who is from Asia.

If the notebook arrives with a bad lcd, call them up and tell them that the screen is unsuitable for your needs and that it puts too much strain on your eyes.

Yes, hope for the best and prepare for the worst!

All I can do is give my opinions... but of course I don't work for Dell Japan so my words should be taken with a grain of salt!

 

oh, not to mention European customers received a mixture of auos(taiwanese)/toshibas(japanese)/and samsungs(korean). and if Malaysia had access to AUO's then China should as well. Pure assumption on my part.

 

I was wondering how does one get to know which lcd screen one has auos(taiwanese)/toshibas(japanese)/and samsungs(korean) ??

System properties i suppose :-?

 

just go to device manager and click on monitors and double click something along the lines of PnP monitor. then go to details then under property should be a dropdown menu and click hardware IDs.

 

But in the Dell USA Order website - the av package is still available

 

Options for Dells machines come and go based on availability, a few months back the option for 7200 rpm hard drives vanished for a few weeks, then they came back. The cam for the m1210 isnt very good anyway, coupled with the fact that the better screens come without it, and exteral cam would be the way to go. I still wish I had my previous screen, it was a samsung, the colors were much more vivid and the viewing angles were a lot better than the AOU with cam I have now.

 

If it is shipped from Malaysia then you have better hope than me, because from what I've heard US M1210s are shipped from Malaysia too. If your customer support service is good then as some people in notebookforums have done, there is a chance for you to get it replaced. But with these Japanese people I really have my doubts, mostly because of the language issues.

Yep, they still do.

Who knows, maybe all those returned screens are now refitted and sold exclusively in Japan ! (Hence the no camera option)

 

Thnks Phoenix thats cheering … Lets hope 4 the best 4 both of us !!!

 

IMHO, I read it somewhere that the Camera is not compatible with Vista, maybe that's why they removed it. I don't know about Japan regarding the disappearing options but here in Malaysia, the T7200 disappeared from the E1705 for a week, I emailed them about it, and it reappeared, and a guy called me telling me that it has been added.

 

Don't worry mate..if you ordered the AV packageoption, 99.99% you'll get the Auo...

 

My god, can you say neurotic? Chill guy, the camera is a toy, the screen will be fine, you have made a good choice. And on your first post, why are you soo p..ed off that the JAPANESE sales support line doesn't speak English.

 

I'll have to see when my laptop arrives. Maybe I'll knock up a silly story to customer service about me being an average Joe wondering where the hell is the camera when my order sheet SAID "Integrated Webcam and Mobile Broadband Antenna".

I don't mind having a webcam-less laptop (but the screen I definitely do care about), but it might come in handy on some days.

 

webcam is not too bad but most of the people do not use it me included and yes it works flawless under vista, I do agree it does look better without it but dell did not give me a choice (free upgrade from a 1405) so i just live with something i hardly use. every body is right the auo screen at this time is the way to go mine is very clear vibrant and bright you both are going to really like the 1210s
like ive said before welcome to the family!

 

Anyways the notebook is not going to come till end of next week. Due date is still Feb 23. I will post my comments when I get it.

 

I have the 12.1" Wide Screen XGA display with TrueLife(TM) ( 1
1280x800 res.) & 1.3MP Web Cam.

I suppose this is the AV package option you refeering 2

 

yes it is

 

let's wait for pheonix for his reply after getting his xps m1210

 

I have the A/V package and the Samsung monitor, so getting the camera doesn't guarantee the "best" screen.

 

yep thats the one web cam and mic

 

I don't think we can directly compare M1210s shipped to US and Japan, because they are assembled (perhaps even the components are made) in two different countries.

Anyways, I'm not thinking about this anymore… waiting till I get the actual notebook in my hands. Now the delivery date is down to 21st.

 

I am getting my laptop tomorrow. I'll post my findings when it's here.

 

I am tired of waiting for my laptop …

 

i missed that. You're right stella. there is NO guarantee with ANYTHING. Buying certain components doesn't mean you'll end up with a certain monitor.

 

Pheonix, please let us know ur stats when u receive ur machine

 

Well... all seems good so far.

My laptop arrived today, and yes, when I ordered it, there was only one option for A/V Communications Package: "Integrated Webcam and Mobile Broadband Antenna."

The laptop DOES have a webcam/microphone. The screen is also made by AUO.

Good luck with your laptop when it arrives. I'm off to clean all this bloatware off my M1210.

EDITs: The laptop was manufactured in Malaysia. And if you didn't notice already from my location, I ordered it from Dell Canada.