Dell give me rage

[Ozor Mox]

I ordered a Dell Mini 10v with Ubuntu and a laptop bag for it about a month ago. Dell very promptly delivered the bag, but then there was no sign of the laptop and they hadn't charged me for it. I got a very vague email about being unable to process my order, asking me to reply to the email even though it was a no-reply@... address so of course it bounced. Order status shows that it is "shipped", in other words they've sent me the bag and that's the end of it as far as they're concerned, even though I quite clearly have an order confirmation with a bloody laptop on it! No phone number, only an email contact form that they will respond to in "1 business day"...funny, I've sent them 3 emails now and no response.

1. Grrrrrrrr!
2. Anyone actually had any success ordering a Dell Ubuntu laptop in the UK? I'd like to know if this is a one off screw-up, or if they actually have a problem ordering the Ubuntu laptops.

[t0p]

On Dell UK's website (http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=gen), there's a phone number - 0844 444 4699. It's for placing orders, so I'm sure their call centre slaves will be able to tell you whether you can get a Mini with Ubuntu or not.

There are also Dell Community Forums (http://en.community.dell.com/forums/). That might be a good place to find a UK customer with an Ubuntu Dell Mini.

[Qola]

On Dell UK's website (http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=gen), there's a phone number - 0844 444 4699.

Yeah, good luck with that. It's just the usual Indian call centre script readers. Ask about Ubuntu and they'll either pass you onto the manager (who doesn't have a clue), or cut you off.

Have FUN... :P

[soni1770]

i got a laptop from dell with ubuntu on it (uk) it's fine

[Qola]

i got a laptop from dell with ubuntu on it (uk) it's fine

Did you ever try calling them about an Ubuntu laptop?

[t0p]

Yeah, good luck with that. It's just the usual Indian call centre script readers. Ask about Ubuntu and they'll either pass you onto the manager (who doesn't have a clue), or cut you off.


I'm not talking about getting them to deviate from the script - that would be ridiculous. The telephonists are there to take orders: so the OP could try to order the Mini 10v with Ubuntu preinstalled; the telephonist would look at her computer screen and say if it was available or unavailable.

Anyway, I can't figure out if the Mini is available with Ubuntu. On the Dell UK website I went through the palaver of "customizing" the Mini 10, 10v and 11z, and they all came with either XP or Windows 7. By using a search engine I found this page (http://search.dell.co.uk/1/3/10-1-inch-laptop-ubuntu) listing various configurations of the Mini 10v with Ubuntu; but maybe it's an old page or something. If the OP made his order after finding the Mini 10v with Ubuntu in a similar way, that might explain why the order couldn't be filled: he ordered a configuration that is actually no longer available. But if he calls Dell on the phone, he can give the telephonist the "part number" of his Mini with Ubuntu (eg the 10v with 1GB RAM, 8GB SSD is "Manufacturer Part n00b1001, Dell Part nb1001uken"), she can look it up on her computer and tell him if it is actually available. Such a call is much more likely to give satisfaction than an email to a no-reply address.

Incidentally, the Dell laptops come/came with Ubuntu 8.04. If they are available, it might be better to wait for 10.04 to be released.

[Ozor Mox]

I ordered the laptop with Ubuntu via this page (http://www.dell.co.uk/ubuntu), however I've just checked it and it now just defaults to showing all the laptops because there is no 'Ubuntu' option under the operating systems list.

It would appear that I may have placed my order just as they dropped the offering. Oh good.

[cascade9]

I ordered the laptop with Ubuntu via this page (http://www.dell.co.uk/ubuntu), however I've just checked it and it now just defaults to showing all the laptops because there is no 'Ubuntu' option under the operating systems list.

It would appear that I may have placed my order just as they dropped the offering. Oh good.

Dell *waving fist* *storm could* *skull* *lightning bolt* *waving fist*

You were after this, right?
Inspiron Mini 10v (NOOB1002)
229 quid-
http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=n00b1002&c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&kc=notebooks

But you wanted it with ubuntu? Well, guess what, they still have it! But no, not in 'home and home office'. Now you can only get it from 'Small and medium business '

Inspiron Mini 10v (NOOB1001)
http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&kc=N4XM1001&l=en&oc=N01B1001&rbc=N01B1001&s=bsd

Warning- the 'small and meduim business' model has a 8GB SSD, not the 160GB HDD. BTW, even with it customised to the 160GB HDD, its cheaper than the 'home' model. 195 quid.

I'm not sure I would want to deal with a company that had stuffed me around that much, but at least you've got the option. ;)

[Qola]

I ordered the laptop with Ubuntu via this page (http://www.dell.co.uk/ubuntu), however I've just checked it and it now just defaults to showing all the laptops because there is no 'Ubuntu' option under the operating systems list.

It would appear that I may have placed my order just as they dropped the offering. Oh good.

Well Dell don't exactly have the best reputation.

[ugm6hr]

I got my Dell Mini 9 (Ubuntu) a year ago from Tesco.

Dell machine with the benefit of Tesco customer service. Great deal.

[cascade9]

I got my Dell Mini 9 (Ubuntu) a year ago from Tesco.

Dell machine with the benefit of Tesco customer service. Great deal.

I'd prefer to buy my computers from 'boots'! :mrgreen:

Sorry about that, I cant help my bad sense of humour.

[Ozor Mox]

ugm6hr, I didn't know Tesco sold them as well, I'll take a look. Thanks.

cascade9, haha! The tirade of angry actions is exactly how I felt! Thanks for the links to where I can buy the laptop, but as you said I'm reluctant to even bother with them now. They gave me no indication that my laptop wasn't available anymore, they just sent me half my order and refused to acknowledge my emails instead.