On Sun, December 2, 2007 12:03 pm, DJA wrote:
> Lan Barnes wrote:
>> During an unrelated tech visit to Josh, he also helped me troubleshoot
>> the
>> laptop. Josh did a yum update of the F8 kernel and wireless components
>> through the hardwire (why do I not remember that basic step so often?),
>> and the machine instantly found the card and loaded a working module.
>> Problem one solved (F8 FWIW).
>>
>> However, "iwlist scan" only found Josh's access point approx 15 feet
>> away
>> and a weak signal at that. Josh said he scans 4 or 5 neighbors easily.
>> So
>> a bad antenna is definitely still on the table.
>>
>> After discussion of probabilities, P&L support contracts ("break this
>> seal
>> and we kill you and smash the machine"), etc, we agreed that the
>> following
>> course of action makes sense.
>>
>> 1. I will drop the bottom and physically wiggle and pressure the snap
>> connection to the card. Josh has had the experience of buying a laptop
>> where this wasn't properly snapped on, and it acted just like this. He
>> says that the correct snap is unmistakable, and takes more force than
>> one
>> thinks.
>>
>> 2. If that doesn't solve it, I will not attempt to open the screen to
>> see
>> if the antenna has fallen down. The warranty contract is really about
>> components like the DVD, screen, and keyboard, horribly expensive. I
>> just
>> can't risk voiding it. If the snap doesn't do it (pray to your appointed
>> fictional supernatural agent, please), it's back to Fry's for the
>> difficult job of getting them to honor the contract. Hmm ... tha'll take
>> sme prayer, too.
>>
>> I feel closer to the truth, and the solution, than ever. Thanks to all
>> for
>> the support.
>
> I have been told by a good friend who also happens to work at Fry's (and
> also doesn't really like the place - it's a job, yadda, yadda,
> yadda...), that with their warranty, if the product doesn't work as
> expected, and they can't fix it, you get a new one, or at least an
> equivalent replacement.
>
> He's told me he has customers who will routinely buy extended warranties
> on expensive electronics and then like 3 months before they expire call
> on a problem[1], which usually can't be fixed, just to get a new unit.
> They supposedly have a standardized (their standard) testing process to
> check the thing as expediently as possible, and if they find something,
> they've got to fix it or replace it.
>
> I expect you'll have no problem getting it fixed, or most probably
> replaced.
>
> Also know that some Wifi chipsets are set at the (laptop) factory with
> their TX levels too low. How you "Turn it up", I don't know, except it's
> often possible.
>
> [1] On many consumer electronics, there's almost always something that
> breaks/degrades/works crappy after 3 years, so it's not like you /have/
> to make up a problem. By then, the model is out of production, it costs
> more to fix than replace, and the only replacement is the newer model.
>
> [BTW, better pay attention to those BCC:'s. I almost replied to your
> relatives as well as the list. :o ]
>
>Thanks, that's reassuring. I routinely mark my personal calendar with the expiration date minus 14 days to make sure I don't miss getting a battery upgrade, for example. I actually like this machine, and like aspects of Fry's (the selection). I shouldn't be so negative just because I bat .500 on experiences there. But it would still be sweet if the connection goes 'SNAP' and all is well :-) BTW, I don't believe reply-all goes to BCCs. They were CCs, and you can always reply-all on my emails. They're on the distribution for a reason. But I appreciate your sensitivity. -- Lan Barnes SCM Analyst Linux Guy Tcl/Tk Enthusiast Biodiesel Brewer -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
