Aug 1: Great computer deal sighted and ordered online from Dell. Dell Dimension C521 if anyone cares.
Aug 3: New computer arrives. It’s pretty. It’s SKINNY. (I will not know until later how much of a problem it is to be skinny if you are a computer).
I’m not a computer genius, especially when it comes to hardware. But i am the default computer expert in my household. So i’m in charge of getting the new computer up & running. Fine – unplug here, plug in there…SHIT.
There is only one monitor connection on the new computer. Wow – It never occurred to me that in this day and age a new computer would not be dual-monitor-enabled. At my job, EVERYONE has more than one monitor. We have two monitors at home – I thought this was normal. But apparently the “good deal” computers you can find online are good deals b/c they have no perks.
At that time, i was woefully ignorant on the topic of video cards. I did enough research to find out i needed a new card that had multiple monitor outputs.
Aug 4: Motored down to local computer supply store to buy a new video card. Found a reasonably priced one with the exact two outputs i needed.
It didn’t fit.
Recall the aforementioned new, pretty and SKINNY computer. Skinny it was, too skinny for this video card, which you could say was overweight. So it’s back to the computer store to return it and get a skinny one.
Unfortunately, skinny is not easily obtainable and is not stocked at the local store.
Aug 5: Called Dell and purchased a new card from them. I’m quite clear about my intentions for dual monitors.
Aug 9: New card arrives. It’s skinny and fits into my slimline case. But it only has one monitor connection.
Aug 11: Back to the local computer supply store armed with Dell’s Idiot Guide to Turning on Your Computer, because it features a handy picture of some kind of y-adapter that looks like it will fork into two monitor connections. I’m told by the helpful Geek Squad that it would not do what i want, which is of course to extend the desktop over two monitors. It would just display the same thing on both monitors. How not useful.
Aug 12: On the phone with Dell. I’m told this is an excellent video card and it can definitely do what i want it to do – all i need is a DMS-59 cable, which will split the signal and i will be able to extend my desktop accross two monitors. He is confidant this will work. I tell him what the Geek Squad told me, but he assures me this is right. I ask him why i wasn’t told about this when i first ordered the card, and he has no response for that.
Aug 14: DMS-59 cable arrives and does not fit into any opening in my computer. At all.
Aug 15: Call Dell again. Another rep tells me i need a y-adapter cable that will split the picture in two. Once again, i tell him what the Geek Squad told me on Aug 11. The Dell rep assured me this solution would work. I ask why i was not advised about the need for this cable when i bought the video card. No satisfactory response.
Aug 21: New cable arrives – plugged it in. One monitor actually does work. Attempting to change display settings does not work. Called Dell yet again. The tech takes over my computer for TWO HOURS and at 1:30 in the morning finally says, “well, the problem you see is that your video card does not support a dual monitor display.”
I was irate. After everything i’ve been told, after all the reassurances, after you just spent TWO HOURS with me, you’re going to offhandedly say “of course this won’t work – you need a better video card”?!?
Aug 22: Called Dell Sales to get info on how to return the piece of shit video card they sold me. They did agree to refund me completely, including shipping. At least they got that right.
Searched the web for what i now knew i needed: a low-profile dual-DVI PCI-E x1 card. Found one for a reasonable price.
Aug 24: New card arrives. It is exactly what i expected, installation is easy, and both monitors work.
What I Learned:
1. A lot about video cards.
2. Dell customer service is polite, but extremely annoying and incompetent; and all of them are Indians, about half of whom do not speak clear or articulate English.
3. If you know what you need, you can solve your own problems w/o involving incompetent customer service reps.
4. It’s hard to know what you need if you don’t have the correct terminology. Here, the key word was “low-profile” – once i learned that meant “skinny” i was set and could find the card i needed on my own. But finding the right information without that phrase was difficult.
5. Computer hardware isn’t that scary.