Well, I really owe you a new post.  Life has been a little rough for the past 3 months.  I tend to try to do too much anyway, but this year had some serious turns and twists that just took the wind out of my sails.

As I might have posted before, When I was in NY last August, my longtime laptop computer died.  Actually it appears just the screen wore out.  It has been a great Laptop.  I bought it when I decided I needed something more powerful to edit video back in 2016.  So it is ancient in PC years.  It really struggles with 4K video or frame rates more than 60fps.  I got it fixed (simple screen swap) and contacted the company to buy a newer model.  I picked out the top of the line, super powerful Laptop.  I customized it to make sure it had the best stuff for Video Editing.  They said I should have it in 18days.  I was happy.

Then the bad things started to pop-up.  First they sent the Laptop in 4 days instead of 18.  I was on a trip and not able to accept and sign for it, so back it went after 3 attempts to deliver.  I called them up and they fixed that little glitch. But it was a sign of things to come. 

Next I had to Transfer all the files and programs from Old Computer to new.  That took 3 days.  Extensive files and program re-installs.  All using the NEW Windows 11 operating system.  At at the same time having videos to edit and get posted.  Well, we got that completed and the New Laptop settled  into my editing system and blazed through the videos.  What used to take me 3-4hours was done in 2.  So we were ready to go on the road and have videos ready to upload when we got home…….RIGHT !!

We headed out in December for Florida.  Stopping along the way to check out some new places and things of interest. We were at Campground #2. We downloaded the camera cards onto the laptop. Booted up the editing software. And looked at the video clips.  Except they were not visibly recognizable. Just a mass or colors and blobs.  Audio was good, so I knew what I was suppose to be seeing, but all I saw was green strips and red and orange layers.  We considered suicide, then decided to continue on to my Brothers and Mom before making any irrational decisions.

Now my brother is somewhat computer savy.  He spends a lot of time messing with hardware changes and software testing.  So when I got to his house we looked at the computer and thought maybe we’d try a external monitor.  ‘PUFF’-  The picture was perfect. Back to the Laptop screen,  Looked like you poured 4 cans of paint onto a mirror.   Well, so I took the opportunity to edit a video while on his external monitor.  My life was saved, for the moment.

It was now 2 days after Christmas.  The new laptop has 24/7 support services.  A good reason to buy any PC.  Sop I called their support.  35minutes later on hold “for the next available support tech”, I left a description and my number and told them to call me.  No response from them.  2 days later I tried again.   55minutes on hold, and their system hung up on me. Called back and again left a message.  Never heard back.  Even left my order number and email.   Nothing! 

Now it was January 3rd.   I was home.  I took the new PC to the place that fixed my old one.  They took a look and said your graphics card is bad.  External Monitors use a different graphics system.  Send it back.  It’s under warrantee,  They could not fix it. 

So I finally called the company a 4th time.  On hold 30minutes.  Hung up a called Sales.  Told them I wanted a new PC just like the one I had ($5300).  I said send it, and I’ll send this one back.  Sales person finally got the message and connected me with support. They sent me a return Authorization label and told me to send it back. They will fix it.  But before they fix it they will wipe all information of the computer so it will be like a brand new computer all over again.   I had to quick get the old computer back up to speed. A day and a half backing up the new computer to the old computer and making a external hard disk back up of both of them. 

I sent the computer back in all its original packaging, Tracks it with the tracking number.  They received it on Tuesday, I called them on Thursday. This time I had a persons extension number. No more phone bullshit.  The Support tech “Supervisor” told me they will receive it, check it for any damages or missing parts, then they will wipe all information off for security, then they will send it to diagnosis,  So that all takes about a week.  I said I need this to travel, please expedite it. He said he will push it through.  (ha ha ha)

A week later I got an email saying they received my computer and they would be starting work on it soon.  According to my investigation they already had it for 8 days and seems like they have done nothing.  I called the supervisor and wanted an update.   He said they were extremely busy and he would again try to push if forward.  It was now January 17th. I was heading to Mardi Gras in 3weeks.  I wanted it back by then or I wanted a refund. He assured me they can do that.

January 31st, I called for an update. He told me they have been “Working on it”.  I repeated I needed it or refund my money.  He said he would authorize a 2 day ship ticket.  He would send me the tracking number.  February 5th,  nothing from the support group.  I called the supervisor and told him to keep the laptop, I was not going to receive it, and they would have to return my money. He said they were replacing the entire motherboard and I would have a better machine than I had bought.  I repeated AGAIN, keep it.  And as I hung up, I called my Bank America Credit Card Company.

I know a lot of people say they have had bad experiences with Bank America.  I have been a mostly loyal customer since 1983.  They apparently look at that when you talk to them, as they tell me I am a long term member.  I explained the situation and they told me they can investigate and handle it for me.  The next day I started my Mardi Gras trip.  On the way there, Bank America called and said they would refund the charge amount into my account.  I had given them enough info it seems I have a clear case.  But if the computer company has refuting evidence they would have to recharge me. I was Ok with that.  2 weeks later I got a letter from BA saying the claim was closed and there will be no further charges or refunds.  I love Bank America.

So, now it is February, I am traveling around Mississippi and Louisiana and trying to do videos.  I am figuring out that my camera keeps turning itself off in the middle of recording stuff.  So to back up I start taking a lot of still photos before and after recording videos.  So I know I should have a video of “this boat launch and beach”  but instead I just have the stills.  So I backup even more by using the GoPro when possible. But of course that takes best videos in 4k at 60fps.   Remember way up near the start of this, I said my current old laptop has trouble with 4k & 60fps.   This is depressing me completely.  Letting the computer run all night to render videos and add titles and extra graphics.  Changes must come!

So, who are the other good computer companies I can buy a reliable laptop from and still get cutting edge hardware.  Well, the best reputations seem to go with the previous company I just had all the trouble with, “Origin”, and “Alienware”.  A company whose computers are dominating gamers competitions.   I find out that my “Origin” company was bought out by a company called “Corsair” in the last year.  That might explain the decline in quality and service.  So I go for an Alienware Laptop.   But I soon find out they are bought out by Dell.  DAMN !      So what else can I do.  I call up Dell and ask what is the most powerful computer I can get for video editting.  I talk to a guy I can barely understand from Mumbi, India.  He customizes a Laptop for me for $7865.00.  Whoa!  Too Expensive, but send my the specifications and quote and I will start counting pennies.

A week later I call dell again, this time I get a guy I can understand, from someplace else in India.  I say “I am a YouTube creator and need a powerful machine to edit videos”.    He says Dell has the perfect machine designed just for creators.  He quotes me a $3685 laptop with superfast everything.   We customize it by eliminating the “touch Screen”, and “bundled Software”, and reduce the price to $3450.  He then tells me there is a $200 coupon for this model, and my Laptop will be $3250.  Plus tax of course.   Send it on!!!

So why is this so long and boring?  I guess so I can vent how bad computer shopping and fixing can be. So I now have a brand new DELL XPS computer with all the latest best hardware.  Currently getting it slowly set up. THIS Time making sure if anything fails, I can just immediately go back to the old one. In fact I’m writing this all on the old one. I’m using the new one for editing the current videos (OMG it is fast).  Everything else is still on the old one.  I may keep it like that.  That way the new laptop is ready for the road, and the old one is more a “DeskTop” clunker for email, banking, surfing, etc. 

So the next item is a new camera, not as expensive and much less complicated. I’m hoping that will greatly improve the videos and maybe even remove some stress.   Then I’ll only have Akela to cause me stress.  Maybe a puppy will come after the camera!!  You Never Know!

Thanks for stopping by,  Have a great March!  Spring is  coming!!

Rick & Akela
GoingNoWhereFast