Kadmos - Slashdot User

Submission + - Success in getting a Dell Windows 'tax' refund.

Submitted by

Jeffrey Harmison

on Sunday September 23, 2007 @09:59PM

Jeffrey Harmison writes: "I bought a laptop (Inspiron 1501) from the Dell Outlet store a few days ago. I wanted it exclusively for Ubuntu (for my studies at Ohio University as a Masters Student) and had no choice but to get one with Windows (they don't offer other choices currently in this area). Tonight, I successfully obtained a $70 refund from Dell because I informed them (prior to delivery) that I was going to decline the EULA. I was pleasantly surprised and would recommend this straight forward approach to anyone considering running only Linux on any systems purchased from the Outlet store (which btw is a good deal).

8:46:04 PM System An agent will be with you shortly.
8:57:18 PM System Supreet Chahal has joined this session!
8:57:18 PM System Connected with Supreet Chahal
8:57:29 PM Supreet Chahal Thank you for contacting Dell Customer Service Chat.
My name is Supreet. How may I help you?
8:57:43 PM Supreet Chahal Hi, Jeffrey.
8:57:47 PM Jeffrey Harmison hello
8:58:33 PM Supreet Chahal How are you doing today?
8:59:03 PM Jeffrey Harmison my laptop should be delivered tomorrow and I would like to start a case file now on the subject of getting a refund on the windows xp home part of the my order as I will not be agreeing to the eula...and will not be using windows at all
8:59:39 PM Supreet Chahal I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you. I am glad to assist you.
9:00:58 PM Jeffrey Harmison what is process for this request? should I send back the windows media once it arrives?
9:02:09 PM Supreet Chahal Jeffrey, Please allow 1-2 mins
while I check the details of the account.
9:02:13 PM Jeffrey Harmison ok
9:03:03 PM Jeffrey Harmison I was not given the option of getting a system without windows in this case....the outlet store did not offer non-os or ubuntu systems....only xp and vista were choices....neither of which I want
9:04:34 PM Supreet Chahal Jeffrey, I have checked your account details and see that the order has been shipped out of dell and is estimated to be delivered to you on the 09/25/2007
9:05:12 PM Jeffrey Harmison that sounds right according to the emails I have received
9:05:14 PM Supreet Chahal As I understand you correctly, you are not satisfied with the Operating system of the system. I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.
9:06:18 PM Jeffrey Harmison when I turn it on for the first time, I will decline the eula and leave the media unopened....what is the next step here then?
9:06:49 PM Supreet Chahal This concern needs technical assistance. I apologize, being in customer care, I do not have technical expertise. I suggest you speak with our Dell Consumer Hardware Warranty Support as they would be able to assist you better with this.
9:07:43 PM Jeffrey Harmison this is not tech support....it is a return /credit question......
not technical in nature.......the eula says I am supposed
to contact OEM for refund if I decline the eula
9:08:04 PM Jeffrey Harmison I so request a refund
9:08:12 PM Jeffrey Harmison don't need tech support help
9:09:29 PM Supreet Chahal Jeffrey, operating system swap is not possible,
however as a customer care gesture
I can offer you a credit of $70.00.
9:09:38 PM Jeffrey Harmison I'll take it
9:10:39 PM Supreet Chahal I understand that you have accepted the offer for $70.00
hence I am processing the request for you.
9:10:52 PM Jeffrey Harmison Thanks...I will wait
9:11:09 PM Supreet Chahal Please allow me 2-3 minutes as I process the request for you.
9:11:55 PM Jeffrey Harmison Ok
9:12:37 PM Supreet Chahal Jeffrey, May i have the complete name on the account?
9:12:41 PM Jeffrey Harmison Jeffrey Harmison
9:12:58 PM Supreet Chahal Also,Could you please confirm if your e-mail address is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com?
9:13:05 PM Jeffrey Harmison it is
9:14:09 PM Supreet Chahal Thank you for the confirmation.
9:16:39 PM Supreet Chahal Thank you for your patience.
9:18:07 PM Supreet Chahal For your convenience I have processed the request for the credit
of $70.00 in your account and the money
will be credited in approximately 8 business days.
9:18:23 PM Supreet Chahal Your reference number is xxxxxxxxxxxx.
This is for your convenience. I assure you that I will follow up
on the credit status and keep you informed.
9:18:52 PM Jeffrey Harmison Will this credit be refunded to my credit card
used for the purchase?
9:20:19 PM Supreet Chahal Yes Jeffrey, the credit will be posted to your Visa account.
9:20:37 PM Supreet Chahal Is there anything else I may assist you with?
9:21:29 PM Jeffrey Harmison Thank you very much for your assistance....
you have been very helpful. Please inform your supervisors
that I will be destroying the windows media
so it will not be used elsewhere.
9:21:39 PM Jeffrey Harmison Thanks again. Jeffrey
9:21:55 PM Supreet Chahal Are you satisfied with the level of services
provided during the chat session?
9:22:08 PM Jeffrey Harmison very much so....have a nice evening
9:22:10 PM Supreet Chahal Thank you for using Dell Customer Service chat
to resolve your issue today."

Submission + - New city law impounds cars with loud stereos 3

Submitted by SaDan on Sunday September 23, 2007 @08:41PM

SaDan writes: On August, 20th this year, a new law was passed in Rockford, IL, that grants police the authority to impound any vehicle reported for having a stereo turned up too loud:

"Cars taken will be held until fines of $150 to $750 are paid — in addition to a $75 towing fee, a $15 to $20 per day storage fee and a $60 per hour charge if the police officer has to wait more than an hour for the tow truck."

Anyone who has their car impounded is in for a long wait, in addition to the fees previously mentioned. After requesting a hearing, the city can wait up to 45 days before going to trial, accumulating around $1100 in impound fees. An article, with PDF of the recently passed law, can be found here.

Submission + - Amazon Forest Unexpectedly Resistant to Drought (nasa.gov)

Submitted by

koalapeck

on Sunday September 23, 2007 @07:32PM

koalapeck writes: "NASA's earth observatory has an interesting article on the role drought plays in the Amazon Rain Forest.

"The extensive forests of South America's Amazon are turning out to be tougher than expected when it comes to withstanding the onslaughts of a changing climate. A team of U.S. and Brazilian scientists using the insightful eyes of two NASA satellites has shown that one of the worst droughts in decades could not stop the undisturbed regions of the Amazon forest from "greening up.""

Method for $1/Watt Solar Panels Will Soon See Commercial Use 502

Posted by Zonk on Sunday September 23, 2007 @03:22PM from the i'll-take-five dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A method developed at Colorado State University for crafting solar panels has been developed to the point where they are nearly ready for mass production. Professor W.S. Sampath's technique has resulted in a low-cost, high-efficiency process for creating the panels, which will soon be fabricated by a commercial interest. 'Produced at less than $1 per watt, the panels will dramatically reduce the cost of generating solar electricity and could power homes and businesses around the globe with clean energy for roughly the same cost as traditionally generated electricity. Sampath has developed a continuous, automated manufacturing process for solar panels using glass coating with a cadmium telluride thin film instead of the standard high-cost crystalline silicon. Because the process produces high efficiency devices (ranging from 11% to 13%) at a very high rate and yield, it can be done much more cheaply than with existing technologies.'"

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