We had a death in the family folks.
Yes, my two year-old Gateway laptop--the one that I got for my birthday just as I started blogging, the one that has been with me these two years of posting--died a sad death. I'd used it so much and so hard that I'd worn off the letters on the keyboard then I even wore off the white-out I'd used to mark the letters back on the keys. Like a favorite pair of jeans or a faithful pair of shoes that computer has been at my side through thick and thin. I'm gonna miss you boy.
BUT . . . on the bright side it was the excuse I needed to finally get a Macbook! WOO HOO!
So enough of the mourning, I've already moved on and my new Macbook came on Wednesday. Don't look at me like that--it's a tax deduction, right? And to show you that I'm not completely spendy here's how I did it: I bought a refurbished Macbook.
I bought it at the online Apple Store, completely rebuilt and like new with a year warranty but at 25% less than a regular Macbook (and we all know that Apple don't do sales). If you're in the market for a Mac but, like me, would like to still have money left for groceries, then you might consider buying there (here's the refurbished link--it's rather hidden, they'd prefer you to buy the regularly priced models).
I went there at the advice of an acquaintance who said she'd bought two refurbished models and had great luck with them and so far I've been impressed with my girl. At least for the three days our relationship has enjoyed though I'm kind of in that "bringing her home from the hospital" stage of life where I've still got her sleeping beside me at night and don't want her out of my sight--you know, when I find myself gazing lovingly at her then welling up with a bit of emotion when I realize that she's really mine . . .
Already Andrew is coveting the latest and greatest features that his Leopard-less Macbook doesn't have. I told him my white book next to his black book just screams Darth Vader and stormtroopers doesn't it? It doesn't get any cooler than that.
On a less-eager note though (and before I throw any more odd metaphors at you) I'd advise you to steer clear of Mundo Corp. My Gateway was having problems with the AC adapter and battery so I ordered the two new parts from Mundo Corp. It wasn't cheap, those things never are, and the bill was nearly $200. When the parts arrived the battery fit and worked just fine but the AC adapter wasn't what was pictured on their website under the part number I'd ordered and didn't work at all on my computer.
I've tried for two weeks to get them to return my calls and get the right part shipped but they wouldn't answer the phones or return the calls. I finally shipped the part back to them with a nasty note demanding my money back but their website claims all sales are final (I missed that little part when I ordered) so I'm not expecting much.
Anyway, save yourself the hassle and steer clear of Mundo Corp. Buy Mac. Then everyone will be happy.
Technorati tags: Mundo Corp, Apple, computers, Macbook
25 comments:
I LOVE my MAC PowerBook. We're accident prone around here though so I have to keep an extra power cord around...
Darn - I wish I had that tax-deduction excuse to treat myself to a MacBook. I'll just have to think of a different excuse instead, I guess...
welcome to the Mac cult!
there's no goin back now..
Hope you love your Mac. I love mine.
Maybe you should contest your credit card charge from Mundo.
Wow look at all the Mac users that comment on your blog ... it must be were the cool people hang out :P
Congrats! Once you go Mac you can never go back :)
TOOOOTALLY agree! I once was a PC owner but now I am found...er, I mean I am now a iMac owner and soooo in love!! ENJOY your new baby! ;) I told my hubby to just call me MacMama from now on! Have a great weekend!
I bought my first Mac in 2004 and will never buy a PC again. I had my husband's old PC laptop fixed a few months ago because my embroidery and quilting software only run on a PC and I HATE it. I wrote a note to the makers of both my embroidery software and the quilting software imploring them to make their software compatible with Macs. Macs are that good.
What's up with "anonymous"? That's a cheap shot at marketing his/her book....
Can you see the green glow from where you are? That would be my envious self. I loved my Mac but couldn't afford to replace it, but I'm fairly happy with the refurbished Dell. It's not a laptop, and therefore less likely to be destroyed before its time.
Oh, and obviously MundoCorp didn't check with Frigidaire before messing with you, eh?
welcome to the better side of computer... something something. I've been a mac guy for 10 years now, and they're just awesome. Now you need an ipod, iphone, icrock-pot, itoilet... ;)
We bought a refurbed macbook off the apple site for me a year ago and I love it! Welcome to the better side of computing!
Do you sometimes scream, "You're not my father!" at Andrew's book? You know, just for fun?
If you bought the computer parts with a Visa card, they guarantee your purchase. Just call them, explain that the corp. gave you the wrong part and won't refund you and Visa will give you a refund and deal with getting the money back from the corp. themselves. It's pretty sweet. I have only needed to use it once, but whenever I buy online, I always use my Visa.
I looked into getting a Macbook, but we are limited to PC software because my son's screenreader software (for blind users) only works on a PC. Now: Vista or XP?
Are you sure that Macbook is a girl?
;)
Once you go Mac, you won't go back! I've been a mac user since day one and I will never have the same affection for the pc that I do for the mac. If it takes 5 steps on a pc, then it usually takes one, maybe two on a mac. Pat yourself on the back. Just think of the time (money)you will have saved yourself.
On a sad note, as I sit here I'm on our pc. We were burgled this past weekend and they took my MacBook Pro. I'm absolutley sick about it. Sick about the whole violation of our home. It wasn't where it usually is and of course had it been they would not have seen it.
It's great youshared your tip and I'm glad you are enjoying your new love.
So your Gateway Laptop died and you bought parts for it anyway? I checked out Mundo Corp and ALL their pictures states "appearance may be different" or something like that. So any way--shouldn't bash a company just because your laptop died and you did not read the terms -- good luck with your MAC !
I used to work for Mundo Corp. Their philosophy is not only that the customer is always wrong, but that the customer is a lying idiot trying to cheat them. There is almost no circumstance when they will allow a return. If you returned the part without a return authorization number, they will refuse the package. As one of the previous posters suggested, your only hope of recourse is probably to file a dispute with your credit card company.
It's true that their web site says that the appearance of a part may differ from the photo, but that only applies to the appearance -- not to its functionality with the model for which you ordered the part. If you ordered a part for a specific model laptop, it should work with that model even if it looks different from the photo.
The laptop died! -- why buy parts to try to fix it. A battery and ac adapter will not fix a dead laptop. How about a follow-up from the author?
Well its simple math--if you're having trouble with your battery charging would you throw out the whole computer or would you buy a new battery? I had a short in the cord so to save shipping I got a new cord at the same time. Those are the parts I ordered--and it's not too weird to spent $180 on a new battery and cord rather than $700 for a whole new computer. Last time I checked. The battery they provided worked fine but the cord wouldn't charge things. Regardless of the situation what angered me was that the refused to have any sort of customer service or communication with me. They weren't available by phone and wouldn't return calls and hid behind the lame "no returns" policy --which I should have looked at closer when I purchased. That was my fault, I should have seen that policy and known it was bad news from the beginning. That's why I'm warning you--these people won't return, wont refund and will ignore you if their parts don't work--at least that was my experience. You're welcome to decide for yourself but you've been warned.
........and you wonder why they have their policies -- shame your types ruin it for the rest of us!
And what types would those be? People who require parts that actually work? Yea, we're a difficult lot.
The world would be a much better place if every company cared as little for customer service as Mundo Corp--just collect the money and who cares if the service or goods the customer purchased actually do the trick, so long as you can get them to put down the money it's all good.
They never once answered my calls to explain why the cord they sent wasn't the cord I bought and why it didn't work. If they're so honest and above board why hide?
Apparently you didn't read through the rest of the comments either--appears there's a former Mundo Corp employee who backs up my experience with their own.
Contrast this whole experience with my Apple one--a week ago I noticed the AC power adapter was overheating. I called Apple and the next day they'd sent me a brand new box, paid postage and everything. They had a customer service rep who was helpful, they backed their product and I appreciate that.
you talk in circles lady -- tech types can read through your posts -- your laptop died and you wanted magical parts to try to fix it -- sorry there is no magical parts to fix a dead laptop -- especially an ac adapter -- since you never followed up -- it is assumed you were given credit -- probably there was nothing wrong with the item and your laptop is still dead!
How many times do I have to say it?? It only had a short in the cord and a used up battery.
Ugh. For being a "tech type" you don't understand English too well do you?
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