Domhani Bairdéir [OOC]

[Scotley]

Very frustrating. I'm a little surprised they didn't just send you a new drive with everything pre-installed. If you have your files you can download the lastest version of acrobat reader and get to your .pdf's to read if not to edit. You might also try the latest version of open office which might read your Word 2007 files and is also free. I expect it is a pretty heafty download, but might get you back in action. I highly recommend moving your stuff to a web-based wiki.

 

[mleibrock]

Mike

How goes it on the laptop front?

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

FedEx picked it up yesterday morning for shipment to California. I haven't checked tracking yet, but it should be there sometime today. Tech support said they tell everyone 7 to 9 days (and they'll call if it's going to be longer), but it could be a little as one day. Just depends on what's actually wrong with the machine. I'll expect the worst and hope for the best, I guess.

They don't send out new hard drives unless they know something's wrong with the old one, and since the self test on mine indicated nothing of the sort, I did have to send the machine in. It was a good thought about OpenOffice - I'd not considered that. Unfortunately, OO isn't up to Office 2007 standards yet. First thing I'm doing when I get the computer back is save a copy of all my spreadsheets in OfficeXP format. I'll likely copy all my OneNote stuff into a Word Format as well, just so I'll be able to open it on the desktop. I do love the way OneNote keeps it all organized, though.

I'd install 2007 on my desktop, but then I'd have to remove it to put it back on my laptop. Only the Student version has a license that allows you to install on 'up to three' machines. The full 'Ultimate' version license is only for one machine.

 

[mleibrock]

Mike

I can always burn you a copy of my office 2007, it is not licensable but it is a good crack and you can still get updates. Just an option.

That goes for any of you guys too, I could bring it to the retreat.

 

[draven14]

Giddyup

Heck, I'll take a copy Mike L! Thanks!

Mike P, I forgot, what stuff were you wanting to get rid of on your laptop?

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Latest on the Laptop Front

I've finally got an arrival date for the return of my laptop - 10/11/07 - but I'm very much not happy and am currently 'in negotiations' about this. FedEx got a signature from HP when they delivered the computer to them on 09/27 (a week ago). However, the Customer Service page on their website logged the received date as yesterday (10/03). Since they quoted a return date of 7-9 days after receipt, they are now saying I should get my computer 10/11 rather than today, or Saturday latest as it should have been.

I love my laptop, but I HATE HP's customer service. I'm sure the people are intelligent, but the policies are STUPID! They kept telling me "Since Tech Support has indicated a return date of 10/11, all we can tell you is that you should get your computer on the 11th of this month."

"I KNOW THAT - I CAN READ THE POST ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL AS (PROBABLY BETTER THAN) YOU CAN! IF THAT'S ALL YOU CAN TELL ME, WHY DO YOU BOTHER GIVING A 'CUSTOMER SUPPORT' NUMBER? CAN I SPEAK TO YOUR SUPERVISOR?"

Turns out, all the supervisor could tell me was the same thing the floor worker could tell me. I'm currently waiting for a call from a 'Case Manager,' who will probably tell me exactly the same thing the others told me, but might allow me to speak to someone else - if I'm lucky.
I wonder if I'll get to talk to the CEO eventually?

So, currently I'm expecting to get my computer back not even a week before our planned trip. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if the HP 'Support' people decided they don't like my attitude and arranged for me not to get it back for another month.

This gives me very little time to put the details into the planned adventure. I've got the story planned, with the outlines of the encounters, but no numbers assigned, no details fleshed out, etc.

 

[mleibrock]

Mike

Mike,

I know you are really looking forward to a gaming weekend, but I for one will be satisfied with just a little gaming and a lot of good company!

 

[Scotley]

I feel your pain. Just such frustrations with a company called Packard Bell many years ago when I bought my first computer led me to learn enough to start building and repairing my own. Unfortunately, laptops tend to be a little harder to do yourself.

 

[Leif]

"Dice-less Gaming"

I can't speak for everyone else, but it would be fine with me if you just decided beforehand how each of the gaming situations, particularly combats, was supposed to turn out, and then just kinda told us a story about the adventure that ended in the predetermined way. That way, we wouldn't have to interrupt our cooking, eating, and beer drinking to roll those pesky dice or anything!

 

[arkansasdave]

I'm going to have a blast hanging out with you guys regardless...if it turns out that we can't game as much as originally planned, or if we end up gaming all day into the night, i'll go with the flow and love every minute of it. no apologies needed from anybody