Computer Jonesing

Can we talk about computers and the cost of staying connected? This could very well be a "soap box" moment so you might want to run, while you have the chance, otherwise take a deep breathe and get ready for the rantings.

Two years ago, for Christmas, Dale bought me a laptop computer. I was so surprised and excited I was actually shocked that this material item made me so happy. Several weeks later we were at WalMart and Dale purchased the extended warranty they offered. I never, and I mean never, buy extended warranties. I've never had a computer that didn't last ten years. This is where I say, "Thank goodness he did". I didn't have the internet at home so that new and shiny laptop set around for six or eight months and was turned on once. I had my old desk top computer that I used for Chamber of Commerce and personal stuff. I could write letters, do reports and make flyers. I have worked with computers since 1980 but I worked with balance sheets, profit and loss, budget and expense reports, inventory, payroll and all that mundane stuff. My world knew spreadsheets, ledgers, and the such. It was a world of analysis, projections, facts and yes, even a little fiction.

When I was unable to work I made a really huge decision and got the internet at home. I was about to learn the true meaning of addiction. That USB cable could have been my umbilical cord. My computer got turned on the minute I got up and didn't get shut off until I was ready to go to bed. I had been using email for sometime and Tonya even had to set that up for me. Now I was learning the world of myspace, facebook, Google, You Tube and all the other good stuff (with Tonya's help). I could do research, take a peek into other peoples lives, learn a new recipe, spend my money on eBay, play solitaire and much more without even leaving the spot I was planted in.

This past Christmas, Christmas evening to be exact, Serenity was watching a Scooby Doo DVD and the sound went out on the computer. I absolutely tried everything I could think of to fix the problem. It was obvious this was something I had no knowledge of. I pulled out the papers with the warranty information and several days later I made the phone call for technical rescue. This was on December 28th. They had me backup to a prior date (date before the problem) and this didn't work. They had me uninstall and reinstall this and that. I went to places I didn't know existed. After the third call they decided I needed to totally deleted everything on my computer and do a restore. This was very scary, knowing I was going to lose everything and hoping I could get everything back. First I had to go buy an external back up drive. Now I had to call back and get help saving the info I was going to lose. This included all my music, Outlook info, documents, pictures and all the other goodies I had put on my computer. Now I had to load the recovery disc that came with the computer. First disc, all is well, second disc, a problem. Unable to read-bad disc. Back on the phone and the person tells me I'll have to call Toshiba and get a new recovery disc. He'll give me the phone number. You mean I'm not talking to Toshiba? Okay, call Toshiba. There's a problem. My warranty expired over a year ago. In November to be exact. I argue with them that the computer wasn't even purchased until December, the week before Christmas and I did buy the extended warranty. The warranty wasn't through them. I should have purchased it from Toshiba. I thought I was purchasing it through Toshiba. WalMart sold the unit, I thought they were selling the warranty for them also. How was I to know. It wasn't like the person at WalMart said buy this warranty but it's through us not Toshiba. I can buy the restore disc for $26.95. Now it's a matter of principal. Why should I have to pay when they provided me with a defective disc? Are there scratches on the disc? Maybe I didn't store it properly and the extreme heat or cold damaged it. Give me a break. At this point the only thing damaged here is my brain and that has nothing to do with heat or cold. I think they should replace it free of charge. Only a supervisor can approve that. Okay, so give me a phone number that I call for a week and it rings and after being on hold 2.5 minutes I get a message that says they are unable to complete my call. This is their idea of good customer service. They don't want you to be on hold for too long. Back to the original Toshiba phone number. This call is not as friendly as the previous calls. I want to talk to a supervisor and I don't want to be disconnected. Of course, he has a number that won't go to the automated system but I may have to hold for awhile. I'll be glad to hold for three hours if necessary. Sure enough, not 1.5 minutes later I'm on the phone with a supervisor. Up until now everyone I have dealt with has been pleasant and as helpful as they possibly can. I'm talking to this woman who lets me know that there is no way I'm getting a new disc for free. I have no choice but to pay for it. After all I have a blank computer. I could just picture this woman, looking up and to the right, rolling her eyes and tapping her fingers on the desk. She could care less about my "matter of principal". For once I wasn't my usual courteous and polite self. Without use of too much profanity I told her what I thought of the whole thing and gave her my credit card number. The four to seven day delivery time wait (I refused to pay the extra for overnight) was over when I received my disc 10 days later. Thank goodness I had them send it to Arizona. So I restore the system and still no sound. I backup everything I was told to save. All the Outlook info is gone and my iTunes were finally found in some hidden hole. By now it's almost the end of January. I have to send my computer into MicroMedicsInc. which is part of WalMart. I'll be without it for no more than 10 days (including the 2 day air shipping). I shipped the computer to them on January 30 and I just got it back yesterday, March 3rd. The longest 10 days in my life. I wasn't without a computer all this time. I have been using Steve's kids computer that they use when they are here. If I had spent that much time without my "fix" I would be in a straight jacket today. The sound is back on my computer. The button for sound is stiff and not smooth. Hopefully that won't be another issue. Well, my consolation is I have an extended warranty until the end of the year. LOL My blackberry pearl isn't uploading info but that's just a matter of figuring it out and I'm sure the iTunes can be recovered. My pictures all seem to be intact. I no longer have Publisher because I had that courtesy of the Chamber.

Caveat: buy your warranty from the manufacturer.

Outcome: I have made my first step to recovery by admitting I have a problem! Well, isn't that how it works? Now I need the other 11 steps.