Acer Acer TravelMate 291LMi-G

Reviewed by: zangaru

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Overall Evaluation: I have been looking for new laptop that came with a DVD +/- RW and decided to go with an Acer TravelMate 291 LMi-G (sku: LX.T3506.160) based on the specs available on Acer's website.After I received the computer (bought through an internet website) I found out that the OS (XP Prof) has not been supplied with the computer( only a "recovery CD") which does not allow you to set anything.I also noted that there is no documentation for the components that go into the computer so I could not verify if I received the right parts or not (except for info from Device manager - take the model number and go to manufacturer's website to check it out - hard work).On June 22, 2004 I had to burn a DVD+R media and when tried to do so, the drive did not recognize it and going through the procedure to find out what drive I have, I found that the drive I have can only burn DVD-RW media.I contacted Acer and after several days (they said they will call me back because can not get a hold of the engineers in Taiwan to figure out if my laptop came with the advertised drive) they agreed to send me one and they said it will arrive in two days.Three days have passed and no sign of the drive and contacted them again.They said that the drive is in backorder and don't know when is coming from Taiwan. Asking them why I was not notified from the beginning about this fact, they mentioned that they have no info about the items in stock (warehouse).Two weeks have passed until I received the drive (July 8, 2004), placed it in my computer and tried it out; it only worked partially: 1) The NTI CD Maker Gold 6 (came with the computer) did not recognize the drive 2) In Windows Explorer when trying to read CD-RW media previously burned with the existing drive, it did not see the dataLooking more careful at the drive I noticed that it has been previously used and manuf. in Feb 2004.If it came from Taiwan I just did not think those people keep the drive in stock for 6 months ?! So something was fishy about their (ACER) story.I immediately contacted them and told what the symptoms were and the tech person told me to return the drive and they will ship me a new one.Again they assured me a new drive will be shipped to me in two days, and again after two days they found out the drive is in backorder and again it has to come from Taiwan.After calling almost daily to find out the status of my problem, I also asked to talk with one of the Supervisors and day by day each technician has declined to transfer me saying that I have no reason to talk with a Supervisor.Even on their website all the contact information will only go back to the same number 1-800-816-2237 and no email Customer Service is available.On July 25, 2004 when calling to ask about the status of my problem, the tech support guy has told me that they tested the drive sent to me before it was shipped and there was nothing wrong with it. So, I replied, if it was thoroughly tested as you mentioned why it was partially working on my computer ? And why you only mention about this after this time?! It did not make sense to me where these people are trying to go ?!Now they have told me that a new drive will not be sent to me because I need to send the computer in for an evaluation !? I told them the computer is fine and is nothing wrong with it and is working with the drive that it originally came with.Because I use the computer to earn my living with, I told them that I can do that only if they send me a replacement and they said no. And case is closed because I do not want to send them the laptop. So I ended up nowhere after all this time.Now they have changed their website (around July 15 2004) and the drive given is only DVD-RW.