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Dell denies Opera users support

Even the Feds can't make a deal

Dell appears to be having some trouble with its Web site, as Opera browser users have been locked out of the company's premier support page and various other parts of the Dell experience.

Dell's Web designers have taken special care to make sure Internet Explorer users can surf with freedom across any portion of the site. No surprise there. Dell enjoys a luxurious marriage to Microsoft and most users run IE.

It should, however, be hoped that Dell would take care of its Opera using customers as well. Sadly, this is not the case.

Take Dell's Premier support page as an example. Opera users receive a nasty note when trying to access the page.

"The feature or application you are trying to access is either temporarily unavailable or there is a problem with your connection. Please try again later."

Try it again now or later. It doesn't matter. The problem is not of the temporary variety.

How do we know? Well, changing the Opera setting to have the browser identify itself as IE makes the page magically appear.

Tweak Opera to identify itself as Mozilla and an altogether new message comes up. This time users are told to update their browser to take advantage of new features on the Web site. How exciting.

"I first noticed trouble last fall when trying to order stuff," writes one user. "I would add or remove an upgrade and suddenly the whole page would crash and I'd have to start all over. When I tried IE all the problems went away. This was all in the fed gov't section.

"I've e-mailed Dell several times about this over the last year. They don't reply."

Customer Service? Think again. Not even for the Feds.

In Texas they might call Dell's unabashed Microsoft love a hoot, and here is another tidbit to add to the laugh riot. After popping onto Dell's homepage yesterday, Norton Internet Security began flashing.

"Oh no," we thought. "It's only been four days on this Windows machine. Has someone already hacked in? This baby is wrapped in more protection than an Amsterdam whore."

No, it was just Dell.

"Intrusion. Invalid TCP Flags. Intruder: di.dell.com."

Dealing with the combination of Windows XP and Norton has already been a taxing enough experience. It's like playing a game of twenty questions all day long. You're the freaking computer. Can't you make a decision?

It would be hoped that Dell's Web site would not add to the complicated experience.

Prayers have gone out, calling for the iBook to return from Apple support in good speed.

Till then, the battle with Dell's online store continues. ®

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