Monday, March 03, 2008

Chat with a Representative

The "chat with a service representative" feature that most websites have now is the BOMB. Just sayin'.

I resolved a Bank of America issue over their chat just now, and it took probably 1/4 of time time I would have spent on the phone.

REPLY: to the comments on the laptop post. While I recognize the advantages of a Mac, the problem is that we take exams on a Windows-based platform. People with Macs have had all kinds of problems, and I'd rather stick to a PC for that purpose. Any advice on PC? What RAM and memory specifications are up to date? I'm partial to my HP, but open to suggestions.

[SHOOT! Spell check doesn't cover the title, apparently. Go ahead and judge me.]

7 comments:

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

You should definitely get a laptop with at least 2 gigs of RAM (or maybe 4, but 2 is not bad at all), and one that you can upgrade later - many laptops can't be upgraded in regards to RAM, and you will really be thankful in the long run if you choose one that can.
Processor: Core 2 duo t7300 or better.

Anything else is pretty much up to you- I don't know what size hard drive you will need, but you can probably choose what ever will suit your needs.
The only thing- the graphics card should support Dirext X 10.

I highly recommend Acer computers. I have tried Acer, Asus, Dell and HP and have always been very happy with Acer. I have an Asus right now and like it a lot, but am partial to Asus. They are also VERY pretty to look at if you are going for a small, good looking little baby. I am also very happy with having a small laptop- my two last ones have been 12,1 inches and I don't miss the extra inches. Not in regards to screen size (the resolutions are getting very good now) and not in regards to the keyboard. They are also lightweight, which I LOVE.

I'd recommend making sure your laptop supports at least 1280x800 (wide) resolution.

Acer 472x (14 inches) or 629x (21,1) (The x's mean that Acer has different specifications that are specified with the last number in the series-where the x is). These are available with XP as well as Vista, since you had some misgivings about Vista. I totally understand that, I don't really like it either- but I have gotten very used to it now and there are some things I miss when using XP.

I hope that helps a little! Good luck- and good job on ATL the other day :)

-Lynn from Norway

Anonymous said...

I of course meant that I am partial to Acer...

Anonymous said...

I, too, LOVE the online chats! I've used them with bills and shopping. They can also re-direct you to a different department if you require specialized information. WONDERFUL.

Anonymous said...

You can't run our exam software through Parallels because the software is designed to shut down the hard drive. Through Parallels, it shuts down the Windows partition of your drive, but not the Mac portion. Then when you try to open the exam, the software realizes that you are still able to access your notes and outlines, and doesn't allow the exam to open.

However, the exam software works wonderfully through Bootcamp on a Mac. It's VERY easy to set up - you'd need to buy and install Windows (XP is generally recommended). I've found this quite helpful for exams, and had no problem with it last semester.

Anonymous said...

Acer sucks. Their screens die young.

Go with Dell. Avoid Compaq.

Unknown said...

I'd avoid Dell. Their computers are often a good deal, but when they go wrong they go very wrong. I know tons of people who have been made absolutely miserable by them. If you do get a Dell, be sure to get an upgraded service plan that covers accidental damage (since many of their defects are considered your fault under their regular warranty).

Lenovo computers aren't very attractive, and are rather expensive. But the ThinkPad line is some of the sturdiest, most stable Windows computers out there.

I'd agree that 2GB of RAM is a minimum, and 4GB of RAM is preferred. As you probably know from lugging your computer around, weight matters.