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Conversations with Dell

Me:

I want to connect my laptop to my LCD monitor via the DisplayPort, but I can’t find any cables/adapters.  Nothing came with the laptop and I can’t find any DisplayPort accessories on the Dell web site.

Dell:

First of all, I apologize for the difficulties you have experienced, and I can certainly understand your frustration. Please be assured that I am concerned with the problems you are having with your computer and wish to resolve them within the shortest period of time.

VGA cable is not available so what I can suggest is you can get or purchase VGA cable from any computer stores. Any VGA cable will due.

Me:

I’m sorry I don’t understand what you mean.

I don’t want to use the analog VGA connector.  How can I connect with the DisplayPort connector?  Why does the laptop have a DisplayPort output if Dell doesn’t supply any cables or adapters (even to buy) to use it with?

Dell:

First of all, I apologize for the difficulties you have experienced, and I can certainly understand your frustration. Please be assured that I am concerned with the problems you are having with your computer and wish to resolve them within the shortest period of time.

Your system is working fine. The only question is that why a VGA cable was not provided where the notebook has a VGA port. Your system is working properly. The reason why it does not come with a VGA cable it is because the notebook has its LCD built-in, no need for an external monitor. The reason why it has a VGA port, it is for enhancement where you can connect a projector or external monitor which is only optional.

Me:

Thanks for your reply but I don’t think you understand my question.

My laptop has the following display outputs:

* VGA
* HDMI
* DisplayPort

I’m not asking about the VGA port or a VGA cable.  I understand how to connect a monitor using VGA or HDMI.  What I’m asking about is DisplayPort.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displayport

I want to connect my laptop to an LCD monitor via the DisplayPort output.  Or, to put the question another way:  Why does the laptop have a DisplayPort output if there is no cable to use it with?

Dell:

First of all, I apologize for the difficulties you have experienced, and I can certainly understand your frustration. Please be assured that I am concerned with the problems you are having with your computer and wish to resolve them within the shortest period of time.

I understand what your query is. What I am trying to explain is that Dell systems especially notebooks does not come with third party cable if it is an optional peripheral. Not all Del users uses the display port, so it is an option for the customer to get or purchase a display port cable upon system purchase.

In your case, you can purchase a display port cable from any computer store.

Me:

Thanks for your reply.  I understand that it’s an optional peripheral, but I cannot find anyone in Australia who sells a DisplayPort cable.  That includes the Dell Australia web site.  Do you know of any computer stores that sell them?

Dell:

First of all, I apologize for the difficulties you have experienced, and I can certainly understand your frustration. Please be assured that I am concerned with the problems you are having with your computer and wish to resolve them within the shortest period of time.

Display port cable is not yet mass produced because there are limited monitors using it. Display port came with Dell systems is an advantage on your part. As of the moment monitor manufacturers are still working to have a display port. Display port cable will be available soon. I apologize I cannot provide information where you can purchase a display port cable.

Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?

I watched Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden on DVD recently, from the same guy (Morgan Spurlock) who made Super Size Me.

IMDB has Where in the World at 6.8/10 but personally I thought it was excellent.

Spurlock travels to Egypt, Jordan, Israel & Palestine, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan under the film’s premise of trying to find Osama Bin Laden.  However it’s clear that Spurlock is really interested in gathering a wide range of local people’s views on America and its foreign policy, the war on terror, and Bin Laden/Al Qaeda.

Along the way there are some laugh out loud and comical moments, mixed with insightful interviews with locals.

Check out the trailer.

HMR:  4/5

Lookalike

Maybe it’s just me but Channel 7’s Queensland news presenter Rod Young reminds me of Family Guy’s Tom Tucker.

Here’s some videos to compare:

Tom Tucker and Rod Young

Gran Torino

The following is free of spoilers.

Clint Eastwood’s (in every sense as director, producer and lead actor) Gran Torino is simply excellent.  I wish he’d act in more films these days.

He plays Walt, a Korean-war veteran who is openly unaccepting of a neighbourhood largely taken over by Asian immigrants and non-caucasians.

We see him progress from ignorance, surely using every racist Asian term known to man, to familiarity and understanding and finally to acceptance and genuine friendship with his Hmong neighbours.  He even gets to kick some ass along the way.

HMR: 5/5

The Daily Show on Obama’s Inauguration

Watch video

English: The last line of defense against malware?

The other day my mum-in-law called and was worried about her PC.  It was displaying messages that there was a virus and asking what to do about it.

So I figured I’d have to try and find out where these notifications were coming from.  Were they from a legitimate source like Windows Defender or an antivirus program?  Or was it some web site displaying hoax popups, trying to get the user to download and run some nasty piece of code?

But I didn’t have to go down that route, as she went on to say something like, “But what it says isn’t even correct.  It says, ‘A virus on your computer has been founded’.”

That was enough to convince me that it was a hoax.

So to all you malware authors out there in my blog readership:  If you want to trick someone into downloading your nasties then work on your presentation, grammar and spelling.

Hollick 2004 Cab Sav

I was delightfully delighted by this Coonawarra drop.  It has an intense (in a good way) taste that pleasantly lingers.  Apparently it has excellent potential for cellaring so I may just have to acquire some more of it!

HWR:  4/5

Steve Holt!

Watch now!

Facebook Addiction Test

In the style of David Letterman’s Top 10, here are my:

Top 5 ways to know that you’re addicted to Facebook

5.  More than half of your Facebook friends are people you’ve only met once in real life.

4.  You’d rather turn on your computer and log into Facebook to send a message than call/text from your mobile phone.

3.  You spend more time on Facebook chatting with obscure friends from Primary School than with your loved ones.

2.  You’ve become really good at remembering the names of new people you meet, only because you later want to add them to Facebook.

and the top way to know you’re addicted to Facebook is…

1.  You change your Facebook relationship status to ‘Single’ before you tell your partner that you’re breaking up.