OK, so I have had some serious computer issues lately (all hardawre, though.) I finally got a workaround. and was all set to install Win XP. I went out and bought a nice, REAL, legal copy of Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2. I boguht it with a hard drive, so I got the OEM version, which is a tad cheaper. Now, somehow, during my previous install attempts, the disc got scratched all to Hell. OK, completly my fault, I’ll admit, but there must be some way to get a replacement disc, right? OK, I’ll look in the manual for a number to call…what? There’s no number in the manual? Surely there has to be, what if someoen has trouble and needs to get support? Ahh…chapter for support, let’s see…go online…or try this online site…if that fails, email us at…what the fuck? Did it occur to the peopel writing this manual (not a full one, obviously, a “Getting started” thing, since it’s OEM,) that maybe, jsut maybe. someone might have bought this software because they are, or I don’t kiow…setting up a new computer and can’t get on to the internet until it’s done?! What kind of asshat are you to autoamtically assume any problems I have will only occur after installation, and not be in any way related to internet access?
OK, fine, says I, I will wait till Sunday and go online at work and find some answers. And indeed, I find answers, and there IS a number to call! Oh, what’s this little note…first two service calls are free, after that, they cost $35 a piece…
THE HELL!!! You charge people for getting technical support? What kind of ass-backwards piece of shit company are you running over there? Oh, I see…I shouldn’t have to actually call you since obviously my problem is something that can be solved by some little link on your webpage…well, no, it can’t, jerk-wads. I need to speak to an actual person about this, as suprising as that sounds. Yet you seem to think it’s perfectly normal to charge $35 for me to talk to you. Hell, if I have to call you more than four times it would be cheaper to buy a new copy of XP that will have a working disc than to try and get this one replaced! I dread the response I’ll actually get when I do ask for a new CD.
“I’m sorry, we can’t give replacements, it will promote piracy.”
Umm…no, in no way will it do that. If I wanted extra discs to give to my friends so we can all cheat you out of the money you practically steal from us, I’ll just copy it with a CD burner. The CD key is what keeps piracy down (although still not all that much,) not the physical CD itself.
And MS wonders why people ahte them. It’s not thatwe are forced to buy your product ok, mayeb a little bit of that,) but it’s mostly that after we are forced to buy it, it doesn’t work right, and you seem to go out of your way to avoid helping us get it to work. Christ, I should just switch to Linux and save myself the agony.
(And the first person in this thread to suggest gettign a Mac can preemptively go to Hell.)