Comments for Savemybutt.com @ Lockergnome

Comment on Are we being ripped off? by Lee Griffin

Lee Griffin — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:33:14 +0000

I bought a low end Toshiba VistaB and it is slow. Would it be easier just to load it with XP?

Comment on You don’t need Comcast software on your computer to have broadband! by Rob Mootini

Rob Mootini — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:26:35 +0000

My head just exploded.

Comment on Are we being ripped off? by audiodragon

audiodragon — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:50:00 +0000

“Vista Home Basic is a bastardizedversion of Windows just like Windows ME was to Windows 98″

What a load of crap. ME was 98SP3 and it worked MUCH better on my computer than 98.

Concerning Vista I agree we should all wait awhile.

Comment on Are we being ripped off? by jeff

jeff — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:03:00 +0000

You have some dead-on comments about your Dell Vista experience. I’m with you on everything.

Well, everything except one bit: `…cheating the buyer out of the full Vista experience’.

I am trying my best to be cheated out of the full Vista experience. I hope to make this last for years, but realistically I only expect it til the end of the year, when Dell stops shipping it with corporate machines.

Not only have I grown tired of paying for the privilege of being a Windows beta tester; now I have to pay for significant hardware upgrades to do it. Even the hardware vendors are doing the Happy Dance (moreso).

We don’t have enough space left to list the rest reasons I use linux as my primary OS. I have to use Windows because I run an MIS department, but sooner or later, the non-profit for which I work won’t be able to afford the software OR the hardware.

Your Dell experience was disgraceful, both from the software AND the hardware point of view. To release an operating system with virtually nothing compatible is reprehensible.

[ Well, you asked for opinions :) ]

Comment on When Simple Logical Troubleshooting Works Best. by Jeber

Jeber — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:56:19 +0000

It really does help to have a mental flowchart when trying to diagnose computer and networking issues. When I worked on the Gateway and D-Link help desks, the Winsoc issue was perhaps the 3rd fix offered to those who reported an IP of 169.xxx.xxx.xxx (AIPA address). We ran into this frequently on a new setup. It’s inexcusable that MS doesn’t know to suggest this fix.

Comment on Are we being ripped off? by f0rw4rd.sl4sh

f0rw4rd.sl4sh — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:32:19 +0000

Maybe Dell can see the pending nightmare with Vista. It definately would explain the new found interest in Linux.

Save the internet, adopt a penguin.

Comment on Are we being ripped off? by Mike Nelson

Mike Nelson — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:43:44 +0000

I use to recommend Dell to my customers. I don’t any more. I just signed up with a new supplier as I realized that I can provide Windows XP machines that customers will be pleased to own. Yes, they will have to upgrade in 5-7 yrs, but isn’t that better than buy a machine that doesn’t want to work right out of the box?

Comment on Are we being ripped off? by Lazybaer

Lazybaer — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:33:36 +0000

I could not find out - so far - what Vista is good for. My small machines run Ubuntu Linux, my main PC has OSX on it. So the PC with Vista installed is just some sort of test machine. And I made sure to have a fine OS on it: Windows 2000!

Comment on Are we being ripped off? by Jason Burns

Jason Burns — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 23:07:47 +0000

Good article, I just wanted to clarify a few things for readers. The point that was made about Windows Vista Home Basic being like Windows Me was to 98 is not true. Window s Home Basic shares the same core as Windows Home Premium, only added value software has been removed (Media Center, the Aero Interface, Remote Desktop, Movie Maker, etc) to be a slimmed down version for less capable hardware. The point that the video card will give a performance boost is a bit off as well. Windows Home Basic does not have Aero, it runs the legacy UI engine that does not benefit from 3D accelerated Video Hardware.

Comment on Are we being ripped off? by John

John — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 21:46:11 +0000

Mike-

My name is John, and I work at Dell headquarters. While I agree that 512MB is a little light on the RAM for Vista (Home basic requires 512MB), it is certainly not what Dell recommends. If you check our website, while configuring a system and getting to the section on memory, please note that our site plainly recommends 1 GB for Vista, and even has a link entitled “help me choose” where this is explained in more detail. We offer 512MB as an option because it is the minimum requirement for the OS, and also because some people don’t even use the installed OS, but instead elect to use their own image of Linux or another OS wherein 512MB is more robust.

Another point I’d like to address: all PC vendors offer Windows Vista Basic on their low end computers. Why? Because it’s the *cheapest* version of Vista. It is Windows Vista, but just has several features removed, and is not “bastardized” as you have claimed. At its core it is Windows Vista Home, it just doesn’t have Aero.

The integrated Video Memory you speak of is actually the GeForce 6150 LE, with 128MB of Shared Video Memory. Since this card’s memory only operates at the system bus speed, there is no inherent issue using shared memory. Since Aero isn’t being run, 64MB is twice the minimum recommended amount of VRAM for Home Basic.

Regardless, I am here to help if it is required. Feel free to ping me if you have any questions about this or need any help whatsoever!

Customer_advocate@dell.com
ATTN: John

Comment on You don’t need Comcast software on your computer to have broadband! by Mario

Mario — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:08:30 +0000

What did you have to uninstall? Comcast came out today to install phone service and my wife let them install something on my computer. I already had cable and internet so I called Comcast to ask why something needed to be installed - they said it was installed for the internet.

Comment on You don’t need Comcast software on your computer to have broadband! by Nick

Nick — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:07:39 +0000

They’re trained to install that software on your PC. They (Comcast) make money if you leave the silly products installed. When it changed your IE settings I’m sure it set your home page to www.comcast.net, default search to use Comcast, default mail to use Comcast etc.

When they said they’ve never seen that before, they meant they see it many times a day.

Comment on Porn Site Subscription Tactics for Anti-Virus? by NIce

NIce — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:15:10 +0000

i like it

Comment on You don’t need Comcast software on your computer to have broadband! by Chris H.

Chris H. — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:54:13 +0000

I know whatcha mean dude…I was told the same thing over and over and over, they still try to push it…I let them install the Self Install Kit and walla the Comcast crap took over my PC. Never again…Every place I have lived and gotten Comcast I have told them, Call you Tech Center and set it up manually…not by CD. They complain and complain…because they are ID10T’s and only know how to crimp a RG6 cable together..and get paid pretty well to do it. When it comes to the Physical setup of the modem they are dumbfounded….

So now I just give Comcast Customer Service my MAC ID of my modem and a few extra things and walla…I’m online!!!!

I feel for you dude…I once was a Service Manager at PC Store..and I tell ya I had more systems come in with issues like yours due to Qwest, Comcast etc with there software conficting with previous software installed on the system…

Comment on You don’t need Comcast software on your computer to have broadband! by WareWolf

WareWolf — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:46:17 +0000

Their software is really poor. It is NOT necessary, and it WILL slow down even the fastest pc. Their installers are sub contractors, who have no desire to really help you, they just want to check you off their list.

Comment on You don’t need Comcast software on your computer to have broadband! by James

James — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 08:49:08 +0000

Oh man! I hear ya dude! I had almost the same experience when we moved. We never changed from comcast(broadband internet only)….but you literally have to start all over with them when you change residences, even though it’s only a couple miles away! FYI, the cable line was live and ready to go when I moved in. I saw the installer coming(at our new place)and proceeded to disconnect everything on my desktop machine, hid the laptop and told the installer….uh sorry man, I didn’t have the time to hook the system up yet with the move and all! Then I changed the kids diaper right in front of him….He said…ahem, no problem, if you don’t tell on me, I’ll call it in as complete and finish the registration. No problem dude! Saved me alot of tears not having to uninstall(AGAIN) all that comcast B.S.(including that bloated McCafee crap)

Comment on Porn Site Subscription Tactics for Anti-Virus? by william vith

william vith — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 01:12:12 +0000

thanks for the info, so sorry to hear about the hoop’s and ring’s you had to jump threw to get your broadband
connection. may i post a question here or no? guess i’ll find out. anyway i really enjoy your show.

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