Comedy of Errors? (Gateway Solo 9300)

Member Name: DrJarmin

Product:	Gateway Solo 9300
Date:	24/04/01 (1693 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Expensive, unreliable unsupported technology

I am in the somewhat unfortunate position of being the owner of a Gateway Solo laptop. The laptop (costing over £2,200 exluding VAT) was shipped to me FEBRUARY 2000 with a faulty modem. After many hours dealing with a somewhat inept technical support department the laptop was returned to have the modem replaced.

The laptop was returned to me with a faulty monitor and the port covers missing. The CD drive now makes a loud 'grinding sound' and is very slow.

The 'helpful' people at Gateway told me that the flickering in monitors was common in laptops and that the port covers were not required. Oh, and by the way, the modem still didn't function.

After some debate, the laptop was again returned for repair. I was eager to test it, only this time the keyboard was not working properly. I was informed this was a driver problem (although their support had formatted and reinstalled all the software). I explained that keys were falling off the keyboard. They shipped me a new keyboard to install. Unfortunately, it was shipped to the wrong address. To my list of peripheral's I have had to purchase I added an external keyboard to my external modem.

The keyboard was shipped to the wrong address so I never received it. Gateway support now informed me that the machine warranty was only valid for 12 months and they would no longer support the machine (very fair, given it has hardly been usable for the last year).

After many hours 'discussing' with their 'customer relations' department they kindly have agreed to fix the keyboard that they sent me broken.

I have just received the machine back again and am going to have to reinstall all my software and data (10th time? I have lost count). I don't think I am going to bother to test it, rather buy another machine from a supplier!

Oh and by the way, I have been told by a number of staff at Gateway that they don't have
a complaints department. Not surprising, they would be overworked.

Summary: