My Acer laptop is ill. The AC cord won't stay attached to charge the battery. I taped it in place to type last week's column, but after a few days, it stopped charging altogether. Stem inside the computer is broken. A recent service experience with a local office supplier (who remains nameless at the moment), gave me hope of a repeat. However, when I ask the clerk "How much?", he calls the head guru computer-fixer over. The guru looks and says,"it's gonna take about 369.00 with parts and service."
I lament, "For that price I can almost buy a new computer...but I'll lose all my photos."
He replies, "Well, if you buy a new one, we can transfer your data for you."
Excitedly I repeat, "You can? You can get my photos out for me if I buy a new one?" He assures me he can.
Wheels churn in my brain. If I have warranty left on the Acer, I can just ship it off to Acer's service department after I have my photos. Meanwhile I'll still have a computer to work on. I agreed, "Okay, I'll do that." The guru sends me off with the salesman.
I decide on the clearance model: A Toshiba Satellite Pro L750. (Word of advice: Don't buy it. I'll explain later.) Before I give the clerk my debit card, he shows me this contract to set up the computer with all the disks and do the start-up process for me. That's when I discover they "could" do the data transfer only if I pay 99.00 for the set-up. I say, "Uh, so, he said he could do it, but that doesn't mean he will do it just because I buy a computer?" He keeps his head down, doesn't look at me.
I'm not happy. I think the guru knew that I assumed the data-transfer was a courtesy if I purchased a computer. Dummy, me. Nothing in life is truly free. However, before I paid for it, I ask how soon they'd have it ready. The clerk said they could have it for me that afternoon. I think at least I'll have a computer. Yeah, right. Hubby stopped to get it, it won't be ready till the next afternoon. Three days later they call me and say it's ready. Don't ya hate liars?
By the time I got my new Toshiba I was more than miffed. I was ticked. Forgive me, Lord. I was afraid I'd tell them exactly what I thought, so I let my hubby pick it up for me. I turn it on and look for my photos. Not there. Only a few photos were there. At bare minimum, 96% is missing. Today I have to go back to the office supply store and seek resolution. If they can't make magic with this thing then I want my money back. Toshiba's Satellite Pro L750 is possessed.
The touch pad needs ADHD medications. When I type, the cursor bounces all over the page and wipes out whole sentences. It literally leaves the page and causes a completely different screen to pop up, my whole article--GONE. I never had that problem with Acer's touch pad. Seems it is a major problem with Toshiba's touch pads. So much so, that their "support" website has multiple links for dealing with it on several models. None of the links help, though. Their best advice? Learn to type differently and avoid touching the touch pad. Right. Just holding my finger over the pad--without touching it, makes the thing move. It's twilight zone, friends. When all else fails I suppose we must find ways to make things work for us. For me? I want my money back. I'll find another repair shop for my Acer.
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