Fridays are for fun and this is a sad post, but I need to have my big why answered and am hoping that someone out there reads this and can help. I admit that I am sobbing uncontrollably as I write this post. It is hard to see the screen through the tears and I may end up shorting out my keyboard which would be a shame, it is a special wireless keyboard with an aroganomic design and is expensive.
I want to write about a big why. Everyone has a big why in their life. I want to know why model names, numbers, and serial numbers on computers are always on the bottom and upside down on laptop computers and on the back and sideways on computer towers.
That’s not all. I want to know why they are in a microscopic font undetectable by the human eye.
Actually there is more. When I call tech support the guy with the heavy accent always says his name is "John" and asks for the numbers. I am patient because I know that my heavy accent makes me hard to understand, so I spell things out. If I don’t give john the numbers he won’t help. He can’t, I think they will fire him if he goes outside of his script. I don’t want John to get fired, I admire his spunk, he is maybe someone’s husband and father. His mother loves him I am sure. I have a son so I understand.
Yesterday I called tech support to let them know that I can’t get technical support for my computer because I can’t read the tag.
John and I had a nice long talk, but he could not help me with out those numbers. He told me where they are located on my notebook and what the tag looks like. He even advised me to turn my computer off and flip it over. I told him that I was home alone and that there was no one to help me and that I could not read my tag. He could tell I was crying, not about being home alone but about the tags.
I really need answers to my big why’s. I went on the support web site and found instant chat. Without the numbers on the bottom of my computer I can not use the on-line chat service. I tried to start a chat session by selecting one of the model numbers from the menu. The tech support person could not help me without knowing the model number of my computer.
Why? I have a service contract and can not use it because I can’t read the numbers on the tag.
Why? I can’t complain about the numbers and the tag because I can’t read the numbers and they need them to make a complaint.
Why? With all of the technology we have why is it that no one has invented a readable tag prominently displayed on that huge space on either side of the built in pointing device? Where they put the large stickers that say "Windows Vista"?
Why?
Have a great weekend, if you ever dream of starting your own business, please read this post first.
Realted Post: Customer Service?
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Don’t ask “why”….just go get a Mac
Cheer up Theresa, the future looks brighter! It is predecited that in 2013, a supercomputer will be built that exceeds the computing power of the human brain. Maybe that computer will figure out where to place the number on itself where you can read!
Pretty frustrating when you consider that the number probably could have been a foot long with the amount of space that’s available. Check your invoice, but don’t cry. Friday’s are for fun, remember?
Bryan – you beat me to it.
Teresa – if you look under accessories -> system tools -> system information you may be able to find the service tag info there.
It makes life fun doesnt it?
Hold on Teresa, it will get better!
A few years ago I was in just such a situation and in a moment of frustration I said to the the tech support person “Ugh! That’s it! I’m just going to shoot myself!” He frantically replied “NO! Don’t do it!”
He was much relieved when I let know I was just joking…
I ended up buying a whole new system that weekend and I have been happy ever since.
I hope you found those numbers so you can smile for the rest of the weekend!
Walgreens has several hand held magnifying lenses to choose from!
Honestly I see this as a customer service issue. Would it be more expensive for computer makers to make the tags bigger? Is there some business reason they have to be so small? When I finally did get the numbers off the tag I gave “John” the wrong set of numbers.
As a professional software developer, I guess I should let you know that we (techies, that is) have to sign a contract stating that we will do everything possible to make technology difficult to use. In order to join the union, we have to swear allegiance to this evil philosophy. If computers were easy to use, how could we ensure our job security???
–Steve