Bulletin Board of Bad Behavior

I just got a new laptop. Did anyone notice the top of this page is really ugly and nothing really looks polished?

Looks great on the monitor I designed it on.

Sheesh you guys gotta let me know these things.

By the way I just got a new Dell laptop and they are the shit. They even let me finance it. Woopee!

Good for you! But I think it's impossible to be objective about monitors, I mean, no monitor is like any other is it?
All I know is things look really dark on my monitor at home, infact I can barely read "FAQ Search" etc at the top of this page. That said, once when I ventured to look at this site at the computer at work, I found that not only was the border a much brighter, beautiful shade of green but even the damn scroll bar was green!

Beware of Dell. They seem great, until you need some help with something, then they are nowhere to be found, or in Bangladesh or something with operators named "Dave" who have unintelligible Indian accents and are not allowed to answer your questions, but must follow a flowchart of responses designed to assume first, that you are an idiot and don't really need their help.

I had a Dell laptop, and paid extra for the protection thing that allows you teo get your computer replaced if it is broken, and possibly if it is stolen. Well, it got stolen, and no one can actually tell me if the plan covers theft or just damage. Tracy spent a full day on the phone with them, being transferred all overthe place, and got no info. eventually, she was transferred to someone who seemed able to answer her questions...and the guy HUNG UP on her.

They were also quite unhelpful earlier on when I had some problems getting an older palm pilot to hook up to the computer. Although I once too loved the idea of the computer that just showed up one day, I now tell everyone to avoid Derll. Hope your experience is much better, Sloth.

I don't think warranties cover stolen laptops. That's maybe why they hung up.

We need to get a tennis date scheduled. I play with Louis on Tuesdays. When are you free otherwise?

I'm usually free on wednesdays, and sometimes thursdays. Weds would be good, give me a call, or if you'll be at basketball on tues, we can set it up then for whatever day works.

Hey guys, I saw this in the paper this week and saved it to post here...

It's this economist bigwig kind of guy originally from India who wrote some book about the benefits of globalization, his name is Jagdish Bhagwati. He was surrounded by teargas during the WTO riots in Seattle in '99, and teaches at Columbia University. Anyway, whether or not you agree with his views, he offered his experience with Dell's support desk in India (and finally getting his computer fixed after a trip to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland):

"I went there and nabbed Michael Dell in the corridor (and said), 'All I get is the runaround. I can't find out who to complain to, these people in Bangalore are programmed not to tell you anything; if they can't help you, that's it.' I told him if you don't fix it, Michael, I'm going to take it to the steps of Columbia University library and smash it, maybe invite a New York Times reporter along with me - it's scandalous. He said 'Give me your card.' (Bhagwati didn't have one, but later wrote Dell a letter.)
"My computer was fixed within a week."

Sloth, I don't fault you for buying a Dell computer, but if this and what Mav said is any indication, at least you know ahead of time what you might be in for, and I hope we've saved you some frustration.

Nobody mentions new the top graphic? What are we? Asleep at the switch?

As for Indians fixing my computer... no thanks... I'll let them fix me my curry but that's about it.

Well, Sloth, I didn't mention the 'new top graphic' because I can't see anything. I mean on my monitor it just looks like everything above the words "Pax Acidus Forum Index" is darker than it was, particularly the words. Of course, I see the negative photo of you and McC, but that was there before, it's nothing new. What are you talking about?

If you had bought a Dell you'd be able to see the top graphics.

i saw it. looks ok.

I have a Toshiba laptop and I think I can see what you mean, Sloth. I don't think it looks really ugly though. Maybe unpolished but not horrible. I remember when the site first went up I made the comment that I liked the full name out better than bb of bb and I got a bit flamed again. Who wants to sound critical if they think it when you know you'll be in the minority and get pounced on? Better to just bite your tongue.