System exchange queries (again.)

Funny story, my first system exchange last month arrived dead. Finally, finally I am getting another system and today I can view the specs. I suspect they are mediocre because Dell is trying to jerk me around and torment me for some reason, which they have been doing for three months now. Please, please help me decode what my specs even are. If there is any individual part that is not equal or better to my first system, I am going to have it upgraded. I can't even really tell what my specs are! But it doesn't look like I have a fingerprint reader.
Am I wrong in thinking that each individual part is supposed to be equal to or better than the corresponding part in the old system? Or is it just that the overall system is supposed to be better? I am really p***ed that there's not fingerprint reader. It's why I bought the Studio in the first place, geez.

FIRST SYSTEM:

To summarize, Fragile xx decoded it enough and explained:
Studio 1537
T6400 2.0GHz
4GB DDR2 800MHz RAM
500GB 5400RPM HDD
256MB ATI HD 3450
Still not sure about screen, but I can tell you it's 15.4" WXGA at least
Fingerprint reader
DVD/CD RW
Wireless card
Backlit keyboard
9 cell battery
Red lid.


1 W543M Base,Notebook,Core Penryn T6400,2.0,1537 $268.83
1 0797C Customer Kit,Documentation, Airborne $1.99
1 C076J Module,Palmrest,IMR,Hepburn W/FPRDR $23.15
1 C181J Module,Information,Liquid Crystal Display, WXGA, TLF, WLE $.00
1 C614J Module,Bezel,Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp,Camera HEPBURN,Medium Voltage $20.71
1 C912C Module,Label,Intel,Notebook Core Merom,Core Penryn $.00
1 DR464 Module,Label,Microsoft,WindowsVista Os,Premium,Inspiron $.05
1 F218N Module,Hard Drive,500G,5.4K WD-ML250,Across Line of Business $72.00
1 F977H Module,Card,Network,370 Foxconn,Consumer Notebook Dell Americas Organization $5.07
1 J019D Module,Software,DELL-DOCK Consumer $.10
1 J206C Module,Software,Dell Connect 2.1,Dell Americas OrganizationEMEA,Brazil Customer Center $.00
1 J908C Module,Dual In-line Memory Module,4G,800,DDR2,2X2G Inspiron $82.80
1 K637C Module,Software,Creative Camera,Consumer $.45
1 K639C Module,Software,Digital Persona Inc,Fingerprint Reader $.45
1 K679C Module,Keyboard,US-ENG Inspiron Lightweight Single Pointing Backlit,DIAZ,D/E $21.50
1 K811H Module,Software,VHP64SP1,CNB England,D/B $75.52
1 M412C Module,Cord,Power,125V,1M,C5 E,United States $.93
1 M434H Module,Software,Quick Fix Engineering,VHP64SP1,Latitude Cpt $.00
1 M761C Module,Card (circuit),Network DW1397,Inspiron,United States $6.29
1 MT326 Module,Battery,Primary,85WHR 9C,Samsung Power Division $45.00
1 P087H Service Install Module Software,1537 $.00
1 P130H Module,Assembly,Base,Discrete 1537 $131.89
1 P166F Module,Software,VHP32/64 Certificate Of Authenticity $75.53
1 P618C Module,DVD+/-RW Pacino/hepburn,Sony Nec Optiarc Inc.,INSP. $33.00
1 P640X Module,Liquid Crystal Display Cover,Paint,Red,1537 $21.28
1 P820K Module,Media,Digital Video Disk Drive,Driver,32,64,1537 $.43
1 P885X Module,Liquid Crystal Display 15.4WXGA,Light Emitting Diode Lg Philips Lcd,Low Cost $97.02
1 T013C Module,Software,Works,9 English $9.95
1 U264H Module,Software,VHP64SP1 Digital Video Disk Drive,MUL5 D/B $.44
1 W871N Module,Software,WINDOWS-LIVE Consumer $.00
1 W904C Module,Software,Roxio,10.2 Dell Edition,Factory Install $.00
1 X479D Module,Information,With,Camera $.00
1 X639C Module,Adapter,Alternating Current,Flexible,90W,3P,World Wide $10.87
1 XM544 Module,Software,PC-RESTORE Transactional Line Of Business $.00
1 Y425G Module,Software,Dell Remote Access,1.0 $.00
1 Y704H Ship Group,Notebook,English 1537,Dell Americas Organization $4.33
1 Y720M Module,Software,DSPRT-CTR 64BIT,2.0 $.00

Sub-Total : $1009.58
Shipping : $.00
Tax : $90.87
Order Total : $1100.48



NEW SYSTEM:

1 224-3652 Studio 15 Notebook (Studio 1555) $0.00
1 310-0173 Airborne Documentation, System Exchanges,Factory Install $0.00
1 310-8319 Intel Core 2 Duo Processor $0.00
1 310-8628 You have chosen a Windows Vista Premium System $0.00
1 311-8624 4GB, DDR2, 800MHz 2 Dimm $35
1 312-0695 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery $45
1 313-4783 Integrated High Definition Audio 2.2 $0.00
1 313-7332 Ruby Red $40
1 313-7352 8X Slot Load DVD+/-RW (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive + RAM support) $0.00
1 317-0470 Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 2.0GHz, 800Mhz, 2M L2 Cache $480
1 320-8008 15.6 Inch High Definition+ (900p) Bright LED Display withTrueLife and Camera/Facial Recognition SW $50
1 330-0171 S and P Drop-in-Box Marcom forDHS Notebooks $0.00
1 330-2934 DELL RESOURCE DVD,BACK-UP 1555 $0.00
1 330-2936 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 $125
1 330-2938 Back-lit Keyboard $25
1 341-7818 500G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive $100
1 410-1163 McAfee Security 9.0, 3-Year Subscription, for Dell Inspiron / Dimension $109
1 410-1883 ADOBE READER 9.0 MULTI- LANGUAGE $0.00
1 412-0359 Soft Contracts - Qualxserve $0.00
1 420-6436 Vista, PC-Restore, Dim/Insp $0.00
1 420-7622 Dell Support Center Software 32 Bit 2.0 $0.00
1 420-8051 Microsoft Works 9.0, English For Inspiron $0.00
1 420-8183 Roxio Creator DE 10 $0.00
1 420-8223 Dell Video Chat $0.00
1 420-9100 Dell Dock Consumer $0.00
1 420-9319 Microsoft Windows Vista with SP1 Home Premium Edition 64-bit Edition English $0.00
1 421-0161 Facial Recognition Software Application version 2.3 Compact Diskette $25
1 421-0256 Dell WebCam Central $0.00
1 421-0323 Windows Live Search,Multiple User Interface $0.00
1 421-0540 Cyberlink Power DVD 8.2 Playback $0.00
1 430-2929 Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g Half Mini Card $0.00
1 430-3379 Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module (2.1) $20
1 463-2282 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access $0.00

Sub-Total : $1054
Tax : $94.86
Order Total : $1148.86

 

Also, what in the world does "Across Line of Business" even mean?!?!

 

Oh sweet I just called Dell and found out the new system is brand new. Hot damn! I demanded this yesterday and never dreamed it would actually work! Of course this begs the question-- has a replacement system REALLY been building for me since June 29? Perhaps I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth :0 <--

 

Hello,

I am in a similar boat as you...and have been
trying to get DELL to exchange my system for a NEW
system since the exchange refurbished system also
arrived defective. How did you get DELL to agree to a new one
much less an upgrade over your original configuration?
Did you speak with someone in particular at DELL? If so, can
I have their name or email address??

 

Well, when mine arrived it would not turn on right out of the box. They told me they would send me a box to ship it to the repair depot. It took hours, but I just kept repeating: "The tech who offered me the exchange promised that I would get a replacement that would be equal to or better than my old one, and if I was unsatisfied with the system, I could exchange it with another. I am NOT satisfied with this system and I need a new system." I explained I did not want another snafu where Dell ships me a dead computer 3 MORE times from the depot, and each time arriving unable to power on. It took a long time, and I got shuffled back and forth between tech support and customer service dozens of times, so I can't be sure which department authorized it, but I think it was tech support. I do remember that I finally got the OK from a supervisor.
I wish I could give you more info. I have had luck getting some pretty good help from the people at 1-800-624-9897, Ext-72 83898. For my first system exchange, I also used the Dell website to submit an "unresolved issue" report. Also, I emailed [email protected] and [email protected]. Then suddenly it was like everyone cared what was going on.
I guess I got the brand new system this time because my order has been delayed twice, so I used the Dell chat to terrorize some poor customer service rep (I feel bad but it was just a chat and come on) until I got her supervisor, who called me and I calmly was complete ***hole and DEMANDED a brand new computer. I guess jerks get what they want so I would advise you to be very very forceful.

 

Out of curiosity, what kind of system did you have? My first was a Studio 1515, and then the 1537 is also a dead brick. Same problem both times. Is there some design flaw with the Studios?

 

Mine is a Studio Hybrid, a desktop made from laptop components.

Man, I feel like I am beating my head against a granite wall talking with DELL.

 

Honestly, the best thing to do is act extremely upset and refuse to calm down. Then they will "escalate" your case and you can talk to someone who can actually help rather than some minion worker ant at the tech support mill. I know it sounds mean, but you don't really have to be mean, just really really upset. And outraged.

 

Tip: sound really paranoid and repeatedly suggest that disgruntled dell employees are maliciously trying to sabotage your entire life. Demand things you don't think they will actually give you. If they don't, you can stay upset, but maybe, just maybe, they really will bring you a new computer, a printer/scanner/fax machine, and a pony.

 

*Demanding* things from Dell will not get you anywhere, in fact *demanding* things from most anyone..will not have a great outcome in the end.

In Customer Service related issues if you want the other party to work with you...you have to be firm, yet polite ~ and word what you are going to say very carefully.

The wrong action words to say are *You owe this to me*, *I want this/that*..

The better things to say are: *What are you going to do for me to rectify this situation*, *What can be done to find some resolve*..work a lot better.



Cin

 

Yeah, but after about three months of "what is Dell going to do to rectify this situation," I finally got somewhere with "I've had it! I know you're trying to cheat me. You are not honoring my warranty! Send me a new system or I am calling the Attorney General and reporting your fraudulent business practices."
It's not like I screamed at anyone or even raised my voice. I just politely demanded stuff, and, FINALLY, I got some assistance and decent service for the first time. In retrospect, I should have also asked for a new Schwinn. Made of diamonds.

 

I can say I have gotten upset with dell in the past with no results. I was actually calm but firm with dell today and it resulted with them sending me a replacement laptop after mutliple replaced graphic cards and lcd screens. whether it was the result of them seeing how many times they have sent replacement parts or my attitude, im not sure. More than likely its which rep you end up dealing with more than anything. Anyways.. I hope it doesnt take nearly as long for me to get a replacement laptop as it did you some of you.