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I had a little problem with my notebook computer back in the end of January, the problem being that it wouldn't wake up. I took it in for service under the 3 year plan I bought when I got the computer. That was on February first of this year, which also happened to be Super Bowl Sunday. I was at Fry's dealing with a computer geek while Janet Jackson was gaining valuable media exposure.

At the time, they gave me a "loaner"--a brand new cheapo compaq notebook right out of the box. It didn't have everything my computer had, but it was only for a few weeks....

A few weeks later I called to see if they were done fixing it. The guy kind of laughed and told me it would be 6-8 weeks. Hmmm. So I waited.

I called again periodically to check, but all they could tell me was that it was still being worked on, and that it would take "6-8 weeks". Eventually I was able to respond, "Well, it's been 10 weeks", but that didn't seem to do anything for them. Talk about a complete lack of customer service.

Finally I called the home office and complained. Some customer service guy named "Michael" tells me that it was shipped to the manufacturer-they waited until they had a batch of 400. So I wait.

Last week, at the 14 week mark (six plus eight weeks)I called "Michael" again and demanded to know when it would be returned. They had good news--it was done, and sitting on the shipping dock. It would be in the store by Friday. The service person added, "be sure that when you return the loaner, it is in the same condition it was when we gave it to you".

I pointed out that it was still in the box when I received it, and that I had used it for three months. There was no way it was going to be in the same condition as when I got it. She paused, and said, there might be a problem then".

You better believe there might be a problem. I called the store manager and told him I would be very pissed if they tried to stick me for wear and tear after they kept my computer for over three months. He assured me that as long as there were't french fries stuck in the keyboard, it should be ok.

I called on Saturday. My notebook was at the store, and ready to be picked up! I polished up the loaner, unloaded three months worth of files (that's close to 3000 pictures for those who are counting), and brought it in.

They brought out my computer (oh how I've missed you!), and I powered it up and looked it over. The good news was that all my files came through intact. As I inspected it , I noticed a big scratch along one side. Not a big deal, and it does give me some ammo if they start trying to charge me for scratches on the loaner. But the scratch led me to the pci slot, which was just a big hole now, and was missing its cover and much of its guts.

"We're gonna have to send it back to the manufacturer--better hang on to the loaner".

Crap!