12/20/2005

DELL CHAT





BRAVE NEW WORLD PART SEVEN, TRANSCRIPT FROM "CHAT WITH DELL"



David Beckerman: "Is it possible to upgrade the processor in my Dell 8100?"

Agent (Pradumn_011139872):"Thank you for contacting Dell Consumer Hardware Warranty Support Chat. My name is Pradumn. Please allow me a moment to review your question.

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "Hi David, How are you?"

David Beckerman: "I'm fine. How you are you."

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "I am fine. Thank you."

David Beckerman: "I'm a photographer in New York. I'm doing a lot of more intensive processing in Photoshop and the current system is too slow. I'm wondering whether I'm going to need to buy another pc; or whether this one can be upgraded."

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "Thank you for the information. As per the records you have a Dell Dimension 8100 model and Windows Millennium Operating System. Is that correct?"

David Beckerman: "I'm running Win2K"

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "All Right. I would be very glad to offer assistance regarding your issue."

David Beckerman: "I have 3/4 gig of ram."

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "As I understand the issue, the system is slow. Is that correct?"

David Beckerman: "Yes. Processing an image is slow."

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "Since when have you been experiencing the issue?"

David Beckerman: "My Photoshop files have become larger; probably starting about 6 months ago. I think that I need a faster processor."

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "May I know if any computer technician advised you for a faster processor?"

David Beckerman: "No. But I have computer programming and hardware experience."

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "All Right. That's great."

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "Dell does not offer processor or motherboard upgrades for purchase as discreet items, nor does Dell recommend upgrading the processor or motherboard in any given system; therefore, Dell cannot support systems in which the motherboard or processor has been upgraded."

Agent (Pradumn_011139872) sends page which says same thing:

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "May I know if you are able to locate information on the link?"

David Beckerman: "Yes. So Dell can't tell me whether the processor or motherboard is upgradable?"

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "We do not advise processor and motherboard upgrades. However, you may upgrade memory, Operating system etc. to improve the speed of the system."

David Beckerman: "Okay. Thanks."


Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "Thank you. Do you think I have helped you in resolving this issue and answered your questions properly?"

David Beckerman: "Yes and no. You have done your best, but I think Dell should be able to tell me whether a system is upgradable or not."

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "Thank you."

David Beckerman: "Bye."


Agent Pradumn_011139872): "Is there any other Hardware related issue I may assist you with?"

David Beckerman: "No thanks."

Agent (Pradumn_011139872): "Please spend a minute of your time in providing us with your valuable feedback. This would help us in improving -- "


Connection terminated..

Transit Strike

Yikes this is a disaster! I'm glad I'm not at Penn Station. This might very well destroy the local union which has just been fined a million bucks a day. My neighbor believes that this will give the union leader a face-saving out. That he can come back and say that because of the court decision (which he must have known they'd get) the union should go back to work and the thing goes to binding arbitration.

Bloomberg was totally pissed during the news conference today.

If this thing goes on much longer they'll have to declare NYC a national disaster and get the new and improved FEMA in here.

Somehow, to my surprise - Fedex managed to get through and just delivered extra memory for the laptop. And when I went to drop-off some prints at the local Fedex drop store they told me that they didn't think there'd be any delays with Fedex shipping.

Before the strike, I did a little poll of my neighbors and family and no one thought there would actually be a strike. Everyone believed it was just a case of brinksmanship. That the union would get close to the strike but wouldn't actually do it.

Everyone was wrong.

Words

I know that many of you are concerned about the recent takeover of the American states by the British, but I assure you children that this takeover is for our own good. Now the British have asked me to teach a class on some of the new words they've introduced into our language so you can understand what they mean. Are you ready class?

Yes, Mrs. Landers.

As you know, some of our citizens have still not accepted the presence of the British on our soil. The British, have assured us that they will leave as soon as they can. In the meantime they are helping us setup a Parliament like they have. And as you know there are a few words that might help you understand what's going on:

Today's word class is: rejectionist.

Let me write it on the blackboard for you kids.

No Jimmy, you won't find rejectionist in the dictionary. The new dictionaries haven't been printed yet, but the next Oxford English-American dictionary will include the word rejectionist.

If you kids continue to hold onto the old ways - if you don't accept the presence of the British - you will be considered a rejectionist. Be careful not to be one of those, at least not while the British are still here. Our official policy is to be an acceptionist. That too is a new word, but it just means that you want our country to be helped out by the British. That is the only reason they are here. Let me repeat that: The British are here to help us because it is clear that we can no longer govern ourselves.

Also, remember kids, that since the British discovered a new process for manufacturing oil, they have once again become world rulers and that you are now a part of the Britanian Empire.

Yes, Mrs. Landers. But they're forcing us to drink tea again.

Well class. I would suggest that you drink it and like it. Their new synthetic Earl Grey is an excellent beverage even if it is a side product of their new synthetic oil manufacturing process. Now Tommy - a simple remark like that about your dislike of tea would be considered a rejectionist remark.

Yes, Mrs. Landers.

Now I know this is a hard transition for you, but the new Prime Minister, Mrs. Thatcher II, has made it quite clear that these new words be explained to you.

The next word is, Bushist. I'm sure you know what that means?

Yes - Marge. I see your hand Marge. Yes, that's correct. Someone who still follows, either in their heart or mind the former President Bush. As you know, President Bush is no longer President and we must pay attention to what our new Prime Minister says. Remember, we don't want to go back to the days of the republic where our own politics were disfunctional.

The Prime Minister has a lot in common with our former President. Both had parents who ruled their countries for a while. So don't be a Bushist; don't be a rejectionist; be an acceptionist.

Now there are two other words that she asked me to explain to you, terrorist and insurgent. But that will be for our next class. Now everybody please stand up, we are going to sing God Save the Queen.

Yes, Mrs. Landers.

Mrs. Landers?

Yes, Beaver.

Mrs. Landers, my dad can't sign my homework tonight because we can't find him. Some men came into the house last night and took him away.

Beaver, I'm sorry to hear that. That brings us to another word: renditioned. Have you heard of that? You haven't. I'll explain that to you tomorrow.

[As far as I know, Dave wasn't smoking mushrooms when he wrote this but I can't keep track of him 24 hours a day. He also missed the main news of the day: Transit Strike in New York. He told me that he wasn't interested in photographing the transit strike and I asked him why not. He just said it was like photographing something not happening. My own take is that it was too cold for him. -- ed. ]