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Dell tells customer to buy a Mac

M

MagicWok

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 2, 2006
825
84
London
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/01/16/dell_mac_good_option/

lol :D

Computer giant Dell stunned a Reg reader seeking a processor upgrade when it told him he might want to consider a "Mac".

The El Reg reader had emailed the firm's hardware technical support team asking whether it was possible to upgrade his one year old Dimension 9150's processor to a Core2 CPU without having to also replace other components.

Here's how Dell hardware frontline responded:
Thank you for your response to Dell hardware tech support. It's true that if you want to upgrade the processor to a high end, you need to upgrade motherboard and consequently other devices like PSU, proc fan etc. I would suggest that purchasing a new PC is a better option than to upgrade it on this system as replacing the motherboard and processor is going to be expensive.

It's better you get a new system with duo or quad core processor. Mac is a good option. You may also look at XPS systems of Dell [XPS One is the best in XPS performance line], you may google on this system to get more information.
​
In case you missed it, we'll give you that quote just one more time, "Mac is a good option".

Now, it's possible that the techie was referring to a 1970s rock band, or to an item of waterproof clothing. But we can't help concluding that he was indeed talking about Apple's Mac.

It wouldn't be the first time the company has spun a donut before going into reverse. In the last year, it has ditched its Wintel roots to embrace Ubuntu (sort of), and reversed its direct only policy by punting its machines alongside pints of milk in Tesco.

We asked the company if this is yet another symptom of its corporate identity crisis. Strangely, it's yet to respond to our questions.
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forgive me for stating the obvious but to me, the way that response is worded it doesn't look like the native language of the person writing it was english?
 
Sony Tech recommends a MAC

MagicWok said:
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/01/16/dell_mac_good_option/

lol :D
Click to expand...
Yeah, you are NOT alone. I returned to using MACS last year, and this really takes the cake. I had an HP Desktop, and a Sony laptop. While having yet "another" issue with my Sony, I naturally called tech support (I should mention that the Sony was less than 7 months old). While on the phone for over an hour trying to figure out the issue, the tech support admitted that while he works for Sony, he personally only owns Macs, after I told him, I used to own a Mac, and still shake my head in utter frustration that I ever switched over to a stupid PC. He laughed and said, "Okay Miss Writer At The Sea, this is off the record...I ONLY own Macs, and would never buy a PC. Windows alone is a breeding ground for viruses." Hahaha! I howled. Within the next couple of months I literally threw my HP out and bought a 21 inch screen IMAC, and 2 months later my MACBOOK. Never been happier!!!
 
WriterAtTheSea said:
Yeah, you are NOT alone. I returned to using MACS last year, and this really takes the cake. I had an HP Desktop, and a Sony laptop. While having yet "another" issue with my Sony, I naturally called tech support (I should mention that the Sony was less than 7 months old). While on the phone for over an hour trying to figure out the issue, the tech support admitted that while he works for Sony, he personally only owns Macs, after I told him, I used to own a Mac, and still shake my head in utter frustration that I ever switched over to a stupid PC. He laughed and said, "Okay Miss Writer At The Sea, this is off the record...I ONLY own Macs, and would never buy a PC. Windows alone is a breeding ground for viruses." Hahaha! I howled. Within the next couple of months I literally threw my HP out and bought a 21 inch screen IMAC, and 2 months later my MACBOOK. Never been happier!!!
Click to expand...

Cool. Unfortunately those calls are almost always recorded so that ever so helpful tech support rep probably no longer works there. Pity, though, as ironically that's probably the most helpful advice he gave to anyone as part of that job!
 
johny5 said:
forgive me for stating the obvious but to me, the way that response is worded it doesn't look like the native language of the person writing it was english?
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You're right...

"XPS systems of Dell" isn't typically the way it's worded.
 
Dell could spin this in a positive way.

At least they are giving their customers the whole picture and allowing them to make a informed decision based on their personal needs.

On the other hand, was that the sound of heads rolling I just heard? :D
 
Stampyhead said:
Cool. Unfortunately those calls are almost always recorded so that ever so helpful tech support rep probably no longer works there. Pity, though, as ironically that's probably the most helpful advice he gave to anyone as part of that job!
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Well, it isn't like I did not already know it. After spending about 8 years on PC's, and dealing with the insanity of Windows, freeze ups, viruses, etc., it was only a question of time before I returned to using Macs. While they do cost a bit more, what comfort there is in knowing we are FREE :D from all that craziness. You are probably right about the guy though. Guaranteed he most likely lost his job. :confused:
 
johny5 said:
forgive me for stating the obvious but to me, the way that response is worded it doesn't look like the native language of the person writing it was english?
Click to expand...

What, you think it looks... Frainch? Reads like English to me.

My guess is that you meant to write "American English" above.

You prefer the crystal clear lingo of c u l8r man? ;)

Anyway it WAS crystal clear that Mac was among the options recommended. I hope the Dell rep owned a high end Mac at home that could be bartered for what to live on after losing that job!
 
Who the heck cares? Where I work, we constantly refer our customers to "the competition", and at times I've even called them up to see if they have something in stock. Helping the customer find what he needs is called good customer service.
 
thejadedmonkey said:
Who the heck cares? Where I work, we constantly refer our customers to "the competition", and at times I've even called them up to see if they have something in stock. Helping the customer find what he needs is called good customer service.
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Well, you probably only refer your customers to the competition if you don't carry what they want, not as your first response to an open question. And I doubt you'd take them quietly aside and say "To be honest, I would never buy from my shop... I ONLY buy exclusively from our competitor!"
 
Not in my case

notjustjay said:
Well, you probably only refer your customers to the competition if you don't carry what they want, not as your first response to an open question. And I doubt you'd take them quietly aside and say "To be honest, I would never buy from my shop... I ONLY buy exclusively from our competitor!"
Click to expand...

That perhaps is what should be done, but not in my case. The Sony tech very clearly laughed and said, "Well, I don't even own a PC. At home, I only use Macs." Hahaha! It really was tremendous! :D
 
Sounds like a pretty bad PR debacle... I hope the guy who wrote that in the email didn't get in trouble when it got publicized. It would be a shame.

I started considering that after I got in trouble back when I worked at CompUSA a whiiiile back for posting a funny misprint on the internet and it reached Apple corporate.
 
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