very poor tech support
Written: May 10 '04
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Pros: very powerful, fast, excellent for voice recognition software
Cons: poor or no tech support unit failed after less than 1 year use
The Bottom Line: Don't buy Sony because tech support expires 1 year after a model is made available for sale.
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| carabid's Full Review: Sony VAIO GRT170 PC Notebook |
I purchased this laptop July 2003. The primary use was for using voice recognition software to dictate science manuscripts. Because of a repetitive strain injury to my arms, I use voice dictation software to avoid typing. I was attracted to this model because it promised excellent recording capabilities which logically should mean that it would be good for voice recognition. (Some laptop manufacturers make models that have a lot of electronic noise, making voice recognition poor.)
The laptop met my expectations and had a very low electronic noise. The result was that I was able to dictate scientific manuscripts without many mistakes.
However I give the unit a one star rating because of the extremely poor or nonexistent technical support provided by the Company. Shortly after I purchased the unit I had some technical questions and went online to an address provided on my notebook. I then found that to send a note to Sony asking for help, I had to have a question for which Sony had already posted an answer. I know that sounds crazy, but that is the way the system that worked. I had to create a dummy problem by selecting from a pick list an issue that did not occur on my computer. I was then able to get to a screen from which I could post information about the actual problem. Technical support did solve the problem.
Today I left my computer on with Microsoft Windows running. When I returned after a few minutes, I had a blue screen of death. The computer was no longer in Windows and could no longer boot back to Windows. I had managed to obtain a telephone number for technical support when I had my earlier question.
to my astonishment technical support told me that I was not entitled any longer to technical support even though I have had the unit less than a year. I made 2 different calls. The different technicians both said the same. Technical support is provided only during the first year after a model line is introduced for sale. So it is actually possible I guess for someone to purchase a brand-new computer for which there is absolutely no technical support because the line was introduced a year or so ago.
Fortunately I had purchased an extended warranty from Circuit City and took the unit into a local store for shipment off to he a air center.
if you are thinking about purchasing any Sony computer beware of the technical support policy. This policy contrasts with the Unlimited support from computer makers such as Dell where telephone technical support is available as long as you have the computer. the one star rating for the unit is also based on the fact that it died after less than a year of use.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 2099.00
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Other
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: Greater than 15 inches
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: DVD
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
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Epinions.com ID:
carabid
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 1 member
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