Dell Folding Keyboard bites the dust. Yay.

[Pat Logsdon]

My Axim's keyboard just died. :evil: Normally the middle portion will drop down when the sides are pulled out, and then the sides slide over the middle portion. Now only one side of the middle portion will drop down, which means it won't fold up.

I've been slogging my way through Dell's byzantine Customer Support Phone Center for about 40 minutes now. :roll:

Has anyone else had this wonderful experience? With the keyboard, not Dell's customer service. :mrgreen:

[sracer]

I don't have an Axim keyboard, but I do have a Micro Innovations wireless keyboard (rebadged PocketTop)... I picked it up brand new off of ebay for $5... and there's plenty more. ;)

Not only is it the smallest PDA keyboard that I've tried/owned, but it has the best ergonomics. I haven't been able to get it to work with my Axim Advanced/PPC2003 in portrait mode, but in landscape orientation it is a dream....

...unfortunately the landscape driver (NYDITOT) doesn't work with PPC2003. :(

[droppedd]

hmm... does the microinnovations IR keyboard work with the ipaq 2210?

[sracer]

It should... though keep in mind that since the 2210 is a PPC2K3 device, the screen rotation software won't work.

[droppedd]

yeah, but it's cheap enough that i don't care :D

can't seem to find it for $5 though...

[David Prahl]

Yeah, I knew someone who had the Dell keyboard and they hated it! The keys were mis-mapped! :?

Replacement fixed it.

[Pat Logsdon]

Yeah, I knew someone who had the Dell keyboard and they hated it! The keys were mis-mapped! :?

Replacement fixed it.
I actually like the keyboard - it's worked really well for me, and I like the key feel, form factor, etc. It's great for reading books while eating - just need one finger to turn the page. :mrgreen:

I finally got through to Dell, and a very nice Indian lady named "Liz Jones" said that I'd have a replacement at no charge within 4 days.

Not too shabby!

[David Prahl]

"Liz Jones"

:lol:

[dh]

Actually now you mention it, none of the Indian Dell people seem to have Indian names.
I guess they are all assigned a new identity when they start there to try to make customers think they are talking to someone at Dell in Texas.
The Indian guy I spoke to when I had a problem with my Axim (James I think) was actually very knowledgeable and got my new PPC sent the same day.
I thought the hardest part about Dell support was finding a number that is actually answered by a person, without spending over an hour on hold.
Maybe "Liz" and "James" are the only two people working there.

Oh, I'm using the Pocketop keyboard as well. If you use the little pop-up mirror in the stand it works just fine in portrait mode. It takes a bit of fiddling about to get it right at first, but after a few times you know how everything has to be positioned for it to work.

[dartman]

I talked to a copuple Indian Dell support reps recently for a friend. They were very knowlegable and courteous and solved the problems.

I just had a little trouble relating the names "Corey" and "Clancy" with their accents.

Must be me.

dart

[David Prahl]

I heard from a good friend of mine that they actually know very little about the actual devices. They're going through a very thoroughly written troubleshooting program on a PC.

It does seem financially sound to have a few experts write a program to help others. It's cheaper, and those special problems can be given to those who really know their stuff.

I guess all you need to work for Dell in India is a good understanding of English!

[mr_Ray]

I talked to a copuple Indian Dell support reps recently for a friend. They were very knowlegable and courteous and solved the problems.

I just had a little trouble relating the names "Corey" and "Clancy" with their accents.

Must be me.

dart

Aaaah you spoke to Corey too, did you? Next time you talk to him, ask him if my refund is on it's way yet. If I'm to believe him, he's been in non-stop discussion with his supervisor for the past hundred hours or so. I hope he had the sense to take a toilet break or two.

[dh]

I expect to get a slap on the wrist for wondering off topic (would prefer it from Kati if there is a choice) but I finally found a good place for Indian food.

In Cherry Hill there is Bombay Cusine on N. Park Drive. It has the misfortune to be attached to a rather nasty Howard Johnson motel, but the resturant is just great. Any Philly area people looking for a change should drive over.

Most of the Indian places I've found in the US would not impress the Dell team at all.

[Kati Compton]

:razzing: :nonono:

[dh]

Thanks!!

[PetiteFlower]

I'm sure they use american names for the sake of the callers; easier for us to remember who we are talking to if they have familiar names; plus having to spell their name 100 times a day would get a little tedious. I worked in customer service for 9 years and knew several people who used fake names on the phone for various reasons. As long as they use the same name all the time (and the supervisor knows what it is!), I don't see any problem.

DH I may have to check out that indian place....there is a place called Samosa in Philly at 12th and Walnut that used to be excellent but it has gone downhill the last few years. But I don't know, going to Jersey is usually more of an adventure then I need ;)