As a few of you know, my laptop began self-destructing around the beginning of the month. "Coincidentally" that's when my warranty expired.

Over the last two weeks both the AC Input and Ethernet cable connector have gradually began to come loose from the main board. As I had the same things happen to my old laptop - ALSO a Dell, I knew this wasn't a good sign.

But then, in the last day, the problem started to accelerate. The connectors started to get a little looser. It got harder and harder to charge my machine. Leaving it charging overnight today - it gained 35% battery life in SIX hours. This morning, before my laptop could even completely kick the bucket, my home AC adapter called it a day. A combination of some design flaw in the AC Adapters, and a just long wear life (it was beginning to fray) did it in.

But no worries - I still had my AC Adaptor at UK to get the poor thing through it's last weeks. Except that not twenty minutes after plugging my laptop into my power supply I keep here in Lexington - said AC Adapter...died. It wasn't worn down or anything. It just mysteriously up and died. My laptop currently sits in my room, worn down to 15% battery life - about 20 minutes worth of charge on my current setup. And both adapters are dead, and the connector has already become loose enough I'm not sure it'd accept a new adapter anyway.

Did I mention my warranty expired at the beginning of the month?
----
Here's the ultimate kicker: I REALLY should have seen this coming, as my old laptop - also a Dell - all had the EXACT same problems (faulty connections for the AC and Eethernet, mysteriously dying power supplies, etc). And now I've had them all happen simulatenously to this machine. And I can't just run out and buy a new one - yet - as my finances aren't quite as great as they were two years ago. That'll hopefully change soon, but right now - eep.

So if you don't see me around much for a little while, it's because I'm pretty much down to using the internet in the computer lab in the UK library's basement. For those of you expecting a couple of forthcoming DVD reviews from me - I will get to them as soon as I can, but circumstances mean it's gonna be just a little bit harder to do them.

AND NEVER BUY DELL LAPTOPS.

:rip:

My Dell Laptop died when the power connector melted to the motherboard...or whatever it was attached it. What a dumb thing to have happen.

If I ever get a laptop, it won't be a Dell. Thanks for the warning!! :eek:

That sucks, Seth. Thanks for the warning.

My Dell laptop will be 4 years old this Christmas. I did have to get a new hard drive a couple years ago though. Also, the headphone jack seems to have magically broken off of the motherboard, and the ethernet jack doesn't seem to work 100%. Only a matter of time before the rest of this thing falls apart.

:eek: I am real sorry Seth. Really I am.

DELL SUX!!!!!:mad:

My Dell laptop will be 4 years old this Christmas. I did have to get a new hard drive a couple years ago though. Also, the headphone jack seems to have magically broken off of the motherboard, and the ethernet jack doesn't seem to work 100%. Only a matter of time before the rest of this thing falls apart.
Yikes. :eek:

AND NEVER BUY DELL LAPTOPS.
Well I am really glad you pointed that out because that's exactly what I would have done when I was ready to purchase a laptop, is check Dell and probably purchase from them.

Sorry about yours.

As a few of you know, my laptop began self-destructing around the beginning of the month. "Coincidentally" that's when my warranty expired.

Over the last two weeks both the AC Input and Ethernet cable connector have gradually began to come loose from the main board. As I had the same things happen to my old laptop - ALSO a Dell, I knew this wasn't a good sign.

But then, in the last day, the problem started to accelerate. The connectors started to get a little looser. It got harder and harder to charge my machine. Leaving it charging overnight today - it gained 35% battery life in SIX hours. This morning, before my laptop could even completely kick the bucket, my home AC adapter called it a day. A combination of some design flaw in the AC Adapters, and a just long wear life (it was beginning to fray) did it in.

But no worries - I still had my AC Adaptor at UK to get the poor thing through it's last weeks. Except that not twenty minutes after plugging my laptop into my power supply I keep here in Lexington - said AC Adapter...died. It wasn't worn down or anything. It just mysteriously up and died. My laptop currently sits in my room, worn down to 15% battery life - about 20 minutes worth of charge on my current setup. And both adapters are dead, and the connector has already become loose enough I'm not sure it'd accept a new adapter anyway.

Did I mention my warranty expired at the beginning of the month?
----
Here's the ultimate kicker: I REALLY should have seen this coming, as my old laptop - also a Dell - all had the EXACT same problems (faulty connections for the AC and Eethernet, mysteriously dying power supplies, etc). And now I've had them all happen simulatenously to this machine. And I can't just run out and buy a new one - yet - as my finances aren't quite as great as they were two years ago. That'll hopefully change soon, but right now - eep.

So if you don't see me around much for a little while, it's because I'm pretty much down to using the internet in the computer lab in the UK library's basement. For those of you expecting a couple of forthcoming DVD reviews from me - I will get to them as soon as I can, but circumstances mean it's gonna be just a little bit harder to do them.

AND NEVER BUY DELL LAPTOPS.


I bought a used Dell Laptop in June of 2006, and it hasn't died yet. But if it does Atleast it won't be a surprised.

Ive heard both sides, when it comes to Dell, but, seems like the NO side wins!

i gave up on mine and bought a gateway.

dell = ****.

I bought a used Dell Laptop in June of 2006, and it hasn't died yet.

It will. Give it time.

It will. Give it time.
:lol: Maybe we should start a countdown, like on 24.

Buy a macbook this time.

I've had a Dell laptop for 5 years and it still works fine, But I did have to get a new adaptor because the old one got a short in it. And I bought 2 more laptops from Dell almost a year ago and they both still works fine. Now I bought a HP Desktop and that thing died with in a year. It started to run hot and then one day the screen started to make a popping sound and smoke a little came from the back.

But my next laptop will be a mac.

It will. Give it time.
:lol:

DELL sucks. I bought a decked out desktop pc from them in 2005 for $780 all the extras. Within months started giving me probs and they wouldn't even hold up to the guarantee. I was really mad.

Okay everyone is scaring me to death. I just purchased a dell laptop for my daughter for christmas. I'm typing on my dell desktop now. We've had it for 2 years and it's been okay. Laptops are a lot different so I hope that she will have it for years to come. Is that wishful thinking?

I had a Dell desktop that barely lasted 2 years.

My boyfriend was mentioning to me today, of all things, the cost of a DELL laptop computer and I gave him this face and he said, "What, what's wrong with DELL?" :rofl:

Thanks for the warning but from my experiences Toshiba laptops aren't much better.

Okay everyone is scaring me to death. I just purchased a dell laptop for my daughter for christmas. I'm typing on my dell desktop now. We've had it for 2 years and it's been okay. Laptops are a lot different so I hope that she will have it for years to come. Is that wishful thinking?

I haven't had anything bad happen with my Dell, I've had one for 5yrs and my new one for almost a year. And things are still moving a long fine.

I haven't had anything bad happen with my Dell, I've had one for 5yrs and my new one for almost a year. And things are still moving a long fine.
I guess you're the exception to the rule. ;) :D

I haven't had anything bad happen with my Dell, I've had one for 5yrs and my new one for almost a year. And things are still moving a long fine.

Thanks for the information. My desktop is fine too. I guess that there's always going to be problems with some products. Nothing's perfect.

Thanks for the warning but from my experiences Toshiba laptops aren't much better.

:eek:

I bought a brand new one in January, the day Vista came out(OK I hadn't planned it that way, it just so happened I wanted a laptop right when Vista came out). No problems at all yet.

My Dell desktop is chugging along like new after 4 years (MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!), and I've had nothing but BAD luck with using other peoples' Toshiba laptops. Yuck.

My dad and stepmom have a Dell laptop that they got earlier this year... Think it's going to still hold up for a while too.