Is Dell Serious?? [RESOLVED!]

Question

I find myself very discouraged this morning. I read a rumor that Dell has dropped extended warranties for their Ubuntu systems. So, I went to the order page, clicked on the E1505n and clicked on the "Protect My Investment" tab, and sure enough, there are no options beyond the standard 1 year warranty and "mail-in" service. I guess Dell has no long term plans for Linux on consumer systems and will not even offer us in-home service. How can I possibly recommend a Dell "n" series system to anybody if Dell does not stand behind their own product?

Message Edited by hotshotDJ on 06-05-2007 03:27 PM

rscheckler · Answer

Wow that is really weird. I wonder what Dell is planning to do now that they are taking back their support. This is suprising since alot of people that i talked to were excited that Dell finally  figured it out that people want  linux with guaranteed support.

oiler920 · Answer

Actually, the support from Canonical is still there, but it's under Operating System, not Protect My Investment.

oiler920 · Answer

Ah.....BOO DELL!!! 8-)

hotshotDJ · Answer

Oiler920:

The software support from Canonical is not the issue. The warranties and service contracts that they offer on Windows systems explicitly excludes software. It is the warranty and service for the HARDWARE that is at issue. What possible reason could there be for not offering an extended warranty for hardware on which Ubuntu is pre-installed?

sultanaofpersia · Answer

I read this this morning and was discouraged. I've always bought Dells and have also bought the extended warranties in the past (just in case, and it has come in handy for an issue or two I've had). I thought for sure they'd cover the hardware with Ubuntu as they do with Microsoft. To find out otherwise saddens me. I hope they reconsider. :(

ByCo · Answer

I guess those that aren't able to get the extended warranties will just have to keep in touch and file a suite if we have problems after the basic warranty expires.

lordshipmayhem · Answer

Personally, I've always found those 'extended warranties' (especially as offered by retailers like Best Buy) to be more pricey than practical. It's great for the store, it earns them tons of money, but it's not so great for the typical consumer. I must confess to being undisturbed by the issue - maybe they think Linux buyers are more sophisticated and aware than typical consumers?

DELL-Jesse L · Answer

hotshotDJ and other Forum Members, I am looking into the warranty information. I will let you all know something soon .

hotshotDJ · Answer

@lordshipmayhem wrote:
Personally, I've always found those "extended warranties"... to be more pricey than practical.

There is more to this than the extended warranty. In one case, a customer placed the order for an E1505n, including the Complete Care option (it was being offered), his credit card was charged, and then the order was silently canceled.

The point is not whether extended warranties or service contracts are worth the price. The question is why is Dell not standing behind their HARDWARE when it is sold with Ubuntu.

@jesse: Thank you for looking into this. I appreciate your efforts in sending our concerns upstream. However, your superiors don't seem to be willing to send any information back downstream.

Chasoid · Answer

I ordered a 1505N.  My order still says that I have selected the '1 year in-home service' and 'CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service'.  I selected them knowing that there is an extra charge for these options.   So... Will I get this coverage? If it's no longer offered, shouldn't I have been contacted? If it's no longer offered, am will I be charged for it? If I do get charged, doesn't that consitute a contract that Dell will have to live up to?  I tried calling Dell's Customer Service to get an answer to these questions, but the gentleman in India could only confirm that these items are still on the order.

hotshotDJ · Answer

TO ALL!!!! Dell has corrected this! See Direct2Dell My faith has been restored. :)

Smokemare · Answer

i understand dell with a 1 year plan as most experienced linux users would probably update their systems 2 times in a year with linux why bother worry about an old os.i am always looking to update my pc as the way linux is evolving it just makes sense.and as conical will always have support on their os either for free in forums or to buy. 1 follow so many distro's as i am always installing and reinstalling anyways. gaming on linux is about to make a big jump this year also with new opengl coming out. so my point to keep the price down 1 year is fine too long for me anyways.

hotshotDJ · Answer

As his highness, the Sultan of Persia (her highness, the Sultana of Persia???):D noted, the question was about HARDWARE support, not software support. However, the issue is now moot. The same hardware support options are again available for ALL systems no matter what OS is installed.

Message Edited by hotshotDJ on 06-09-2007 05:57 PM

sultanaofpersia · Answer

@Smokemare wrote:
i understand dell with a 1 year plan as most experienced linux users would probably update their systems 2 times in a year with linux why bother worry about an old os.i am always looking to update my pc as the way linux is evolving it just makes sense.and as conical will always have support on their os either for free in forums or to buy. 1 follow so many distro's as i am always installing and reinstalling anyways. gaming on linux is about to make a big jump this year also with new opengl coming out. so my point to keep the price down 1 year is fine too long for me anyways.

The problem was for hardware support. Not support for the OS.

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Is Dell Serious?? [RESOLVED!]

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