E-machines ripoff Irvine California

Having gone through three faulty DVD dual layer rewrite drives within the first 11 months of my W2925, e-machines proposal was that the pc be sent to them, repaired and probably after about 8 weeks returned to me. Instead, I took the original sales receipt to the store, and they exchanged it for a brand new W3052. On the side of the box, it stated "Nvidia n-force 6 channel audio".

On connecting the computer up to an expensive surround sound speaker system we were unable to obtain true surround sound, despite every manipulation of the Nvidia software that came with the computer. All we obtained was two channels at the front two speakers and two duplicate channels out of the rear (NOT the 4 seperate and distinct channels of sound that meets the 5.1 surroud sound definition).

A call to tech support confirmed my worst fears; there WAS no nvidia sound chip on the moptherboard; instead there awas the old Realtek AC'97 chip, which never has produced full 5.1 sound, packaged with nvidia controller software. The ONLY onboard sound chip manufactured by Nvidia is the NVidia Sandstorm MCP,and this chip was NOT present!

Despite disabling the sound chip via the BIOS, and installing a Creative Labs Audigy sound card and even trying a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz 5.1 sound card, all that happened was that the system resources dropped SO low that music cd's played like a 78rpm record playing at 33 rpm, and the graphics on the computer ran slower than an old 486 pc!

Not only has e-machines falsley described the capabilities of the computer on their packaging, but I cannot even use a thrid party sound card on this computer instead. A call to an EXCEPTIONALLY rude escallation "manager" at e-machines named Erica reulted in me being called a liar and a fraud. Their records on the previous computer system had been doctored to cover their tracks (it showed NO replacement DVD r/w EVER having been issued,and it also showed that I had called about the catastrophic failure of the computer 2 weeks AFTER the warranty had expired, rather than the less than 24 hours before it had expired). Clearly, e-machines is not above fraud and altering customer records when it comes to covering their butts with regard to liability!

My advice? Don't EVER buy a Gateway (the parent company) or E-Machines computer They lie, they cheat and they act fraudulently and have NO regrad to the custoemr whatsoever.

Trevor
Lincoln, Nebraska
U.S.A.