I've been suspecting over the past few years that Bestbuy is actually owned and run by Satan himself. Tonight, my suspicion was confirmed.
My main PC rig was purchased at Bestbuy (I know, I know). I've been pretty satisfied with the rig, but it came with a norton anti-virus subscription as OEM that seemed tied through Bestbuy. Having my anti-virus subscription connected to Bestbuy annoyed me from the get go, and was one more sign of influence of the Beast. Anyway, I never really had any issues with it so, whatever. Not too long ago, after the free trial subscription expired, I renewed. No big deal.
Tonight, while I'm just getting ready to start a massive battle in Wargame: Red Dragon, the game minimizes and I get a message from Norton that my computer is unprotected and my subscription has expired. The message continues, stating "You must" call Bestbuy at 1-888-BESTBUY" to sort this out. Instantly, blood started rushing to my head and I was quickly losing my temper. I was totally unable to renew through Norton. I thought, "this can't be right..." Why the hell would I have to call Bestbuy to renew my anti-virus subscription??? So I rebooted. Still, Norton was telling me no protection, subscription expired. Begrudgingly, I picked up the phone and dialed the number.
After struggling through the voice activated automated menu system, I get my first idiot. I explain the situation as calmly as possible and quickly get passed onto someone else "who can help me." After waiting another 10 minutes and suffering through extremely loud and annoying music, I get my second idiot. This one tells me that, I kid you not, "Norton anti-virus is no longer compatible with Windows 8, so we cancelled all of our customer's subscriptions." Dumbfounded, I told her its impossible that the largest anti-virus provider on the planet is no longer supported by the largest OS on the planet. Nevertheless, I was transferred off to another person "Who could help me."
Idiot no. 3 then explains that Bestbuy made the decision that Norton anti-virus "does not work too good" so they have cancelled all of their customer subscriptions and have switched to a program called "Webroot." To keep me from reaching through the phone to strangle this poorly disguised demon, she tells me they will provide me with free three months of coverage. They will not refund my money from my norton subscription. I've never heard of "webroot" so while I'm trying not to scream out every 4 letter word I can think of, I google it (still unprotected, mind you). I find some fairly mixed reviews, but some seem pretty positive, so I decide, I'm not going to get anywhere further with this idiot, so I might as well take the free three months, try it out and head for the hills.
OK, so I ask her, what do I need to do to install it and get my free subscription. "Sir, I need to transfer you over to someone else who can log into your system and take care of that for you." No f*cking thank you!!!! Give me the God damn activation code and I'll do it myself!
Holy $hit! What a joke. Bad credit card program, terrible rewards program, awful customer service and now this. That's it. I'm done with Bestbuy. I have literally spent tens of thousands of dollars there. Never again! Additionally, I am going to write corporate a VERY strongly worded letter. If you can avoid doing business with this storefront for the devil I think you will thank me when it comes to judgment time.
Norton is uninstalled and I'm running webroot secure anywhere. I still don't really know anything about it, but unless one of you guys tells me it is really weak, I'll give it a shot for the free three months.
My wife and I call Best Buy, "Worst Buy." Their computers come with so much bloat on them, I'm sort of surprised you bought one through them.
But seriously, I'm not going to lie. I kind of wish I could have been there and seen that...watch your face get redder and redder...oh man that must have been priceless.
Ok, really seriously, you might want to throw AVG free on your computer, at least until you get a warm fuzzy about this new AV program you have. I actually went ahead and subscribed to AVG, but I think the free version is a good first line of defense, especially if you're not going anywhere too sketchy if you know what I mean.
All of my computers over the last 20 years have come from Best Buy. I never had a complaint but the first thing I do is delete EVERYTHING that isn't part OS. I despise Norton and usually add AVG as my anti-virus. Good Luck with Webroot. they've included it with my last couple of computers but I never activated it.
Did the BB Norton subscription just renew the virus signature updates to the specific version that came with your PC or was it updated to the latest version of Norton Internet Security? If so, just delete and buy something else.
I think there is no reason to renew Norton subscriptions when you can almost always buy the latest Norton version for less than $25 or sometimes even get it for free (via rebate).
Once he bought the computer, Best Buy should have no connection to his Norton subscription if he renewed it. That's the point.
I've never been a Best Buy fan. I've also never been an anti-virus software fan. In many, many years of computer use I only used an anti-virus program one time, Zone Alarm. I don't think it ever did me any good. I only use what Windows provides and once in a while Spybot or Ad-Aware. I've never had a problem with any viruses.
Everyone I've ever known that has used Norton has problems with it. It assimilates hard drives, I'm convinced. I would never use it.
And Toonces is right. If I ever did buy a Best Buy computer the first thing I would do is wipe the hard drive and do a fresh install of Windows to remove all of that crap. I do the same thing with Dell computers.
My point here? I've had a martini and a scotch or two so there isn't one. Just my thoughts. ;)
I uninstalled Norton on this PC (and those before it!). It's a PITA because it sometimes interferes with running PC games.
Best Buy was once a good place to buy anything. IMHO the customer service was second to none. I haven't purchased a PC from them in years, so I can't say how it is now.
Good luck with your hassle, JarHead.
I had not given it much thought but I don't remember the last time I was in a Best Buy. I used to cruise there regularly looking for good deals on PC games but with the advent of GoG (and other online stores) I just have no real reason to shop there any more. I either build my own rigs with online purchased parts or buy the whole rig from Dell, Newegg or Tigerdirect.
I did buy my netbook on sale there. I've had no real issues there but it probably just was not a good candidate for bloatware.
For brick and morter computer shopping I tend to use Office Depot or Office Max. I can live with out BB.
Quote from: DoctorQuest on April 18, 2014, 08:54:27 PM
I had not given it much thought but I don't remember the last time I was in a Best Buy. I used to cruise there regularly looking for good deals on PC games but with the advent of GoG (and other online stores) I just have no real reason to shop there any more. I either build my own rigs with online purchased parts or buy the whole rig from Dell, Newegg or Tigerdirect.
I did buy my netbook on sale there. I've had no real issues there but it probably just was not a good candidate for bloatware and it was a while ago.
For brick and morter computer shopping I tend to use Office Depot or Office Max. I can live without BB.
Back in the day, I purchased some software, and it wouldn't run.
I suspected a rare bad disc. No hu-hu, I brought it back to Best Buy, and swapped it for the same program. It took me over an hour, and a pissing match with the store manager, who all but accused me of theft.
Why the fuck would I swap a title for the same title? How could this possibly result in any gain?
Sure as shit, second copy of the program wouldn't boot either. No way in hell I was going to get my money back, and I knew it, too.
Good news is that got to SCREAM obscenities at the manager in the store, and I sailed that fucker like a frisbee every bit of half the length of the store.
I was invited to leave. Right now. ;D
The manager still works there, and I love just glaring at him when I go in. Nothing he can do. Heh heh heh.
I haven't been to a Best Buy since 2002, with 1-2 odd exceptions for something like a Kindle case. I think I've spent maybe $100 there total in the past decade-plus. The guys at the store in Dublin, OH were assholes and when I tried to talk to the manager, he blew me off, and when I wrote a letter to corporate about getting blown off, I got a tepid generic response and no follow-up. Never been back and never looked back. I do miss Circuit City, though. It was nice to be able to wander around an electronics store every now and then
Jarhead,
Did the subscription run out during the normal timeframe (1 year) or did they yank the rug out from under you and just stop the updates?
I would just chalk it up to having Norton for 'free' (I know, it's part of the cost of the computer) and say goodbye to it and webroot.
Please check out Kaspersky. It's still one of the best AV's going and very reputable. There is also NOD32, Avira, Bitdefender to think about as well but definitely wouldn't run webroot.
^They yanked the rug out from under me. I was still in my subscription when they cancelled it without any prior notice.
I've used Kaspersky before and I think I even still have it on one of my rigs. I'll check.
I haven't shopped at BB for several years due to their horrible in-store and phone customer service. It stinks that you had to go through this but it does not surprise me in the least. Glad to know I don't need to be giving them a second chance anytime soon.
hhgregg kicks their ass anyway for everything I can think of.
Just like everything else in life, the more comfortable you are with said product or service, the better off you are. Despite being priced about 10% over online shopping outlets, I still find I like the convenience of being able to drive down the street and get something right away when needed. I don't need their useless advice or tech support. I know exactly what I want and how the price compares to other outlets. I never have to speak with anyone there. It works for me.
I would never buy a desktop from a big box store, at least none around where I live. I can build a PC with twice any given spec at 2/3 the price (or better). It's not really that hard either, just do some homework and watch a few PC building tutorials.
I've got HHGregg, bestbuy, Cosco, Brandmart, CompUSA (tiger direct) and various small mom and pop stores to choose from.
Damn Jarhead, sorry to hear about your shitty experience with them. I bet I've not purchased more than $100 worth of products/services from Best Buy in the last five years...and that's mostly been PC games and movies. The staff at my local store is actually fairly decent, but I know I've been luckier than some.
As for Norton, it has always been Satan's software. My own experience with it has been nothing other than utterly horrible, and at least a couple of my friends' experiences with Norton have been similarly unpleasant.
By the way, Jarhead, I strongly recommend Toonces' suggestion of putting AVG Free on your computer. It's as safe and effective an anti-virus program as you'll find these days, and you can't beat the price.
I would vote against AVG free, I am sorry.
I have had it miss malicious software on several occasions now and I just don't trust it anymore.
If you want a free alternative, you could go for Avast!, which is a decent anti-virus, but is known to cause some minor problems while gaming with certain games (mainly MMO's). Another good option is Microsoft's own Security Essentials.
Bestbuy is circling the drain anyway. I wouldn't trust any warranty or subscription from them to last another year or two at, *ehem*, best.
10 years ago it was fun to brows the huge selection of games and movies there but even then they had a poor reputation for supporting the products they sold. The last few times I visited Bestbuy I did what any good opportunistic shopper does- I looked at stuff I wanted, tried it out, took some pix with my iPhone, and then went home and ordered online. Then I got a Squaretrade (http://www.squaretrade.com/get-warranty/?ccode=bs_war_adword_036:ST&gclid=CMbhruG37L0CFcU-MgodcyEA1Q) warranty to cover it.
It is interesting on all the takes of internet security software....seems like they all have strengths and weaknesses.
I know people always say Norton is the devil, but I have been using some form of it for likely over 10 years without a single issue. Never have been infected with any virus or compromised to the best of my knowledge. Haven't really had any issues with games and web sites, except for the occasional false positive (rare) which I am sure all software encounter to some degree. As best as I can recall, Norton has never interfered or prevented me from playing any of my games.
In the last couple of years, I have also installed Malwarebytes for added protection and with both of them combined, I feel pretty safe and have no concerns with screwing up my gaming.
But again, I believe it comes down to personal preference and I am sure the others are just as good.
As for Best Buy, I haven't had any issues from them, but I don't buy any computers from them, I build my own. Typically my purchases are limited to movies, TVs, phones, and other small items. I do see them going away at some point, just too hard too compete with the online retailers....but I did use to find it fun just to browse around.
Quote from: Yskonyn on April 19, 2014, 06:24:30 AM
I would vote against AVG free, I am sorry.
I have had it miss malicious software on several occasions now and I just don't trust it anymore.
If you want a free alternative, you could go for Avast!, which is a decent anti-virus, but is known to cause some minor problems while gaming with certain games (mainly MMO's). Another good option is Microsoft's own Security Essentials.
Personally, my biggest problem with Avast was how it nagged me to upgrade to a paid version 20-30 times a day (and no, that's not hyperbole). I agree it's effective, though.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on April 18, 2014, 09:07:49 PM
I haven't been to a Best Buy since 2002, with 1-2 odd exceptions for something like a Kindle case. I think I've spent maybe $100 there total in the past decade-plus. The guys at the store in Dublin, OH were assholes and when I tried to talk to the manager, he blew me off, and when I wrote a letter to corporate about getting blown off, I got a tepid generic response and no follow-up. Never been back and never looked back. I do miss Circuit City, though. It was nice to be able to wander around an electronics store every now and then
I've been to the Tuttle Crossing store but only use it for appliances now. I know what you mean about Circuit City. Now if I'm going to a brick and mortar, I go to Microcenter. It's closer to me anyway.
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on April 19, 2014, 06:32:28 AM
It is interesting on all the takes of internet security software....seems like they all have strengths and weaknesses.
I know people always say Norton is the devil, but I have been using some form of it for likely over 10 years without a single issue. Never have been infected with any virus or compromised to the best of my knowledge. Haven't really had any issues with games and web sites, except for the occasional false positive (rare) which I am sure all software encounter to some degree. As best as I can recall, Norton has never interfered or prevented me from playing any of my games.
In the last couple of years, I have also installed Malwarebytes for added protection and with both of them combined, I feel pretty safe and have no concerns with screwing up my gaming.
But again, I believe it comes down to personal preference and I am sure the others are just as good.
As for Best Buy, I haven't had any issues from them, but I don't buy any computers from them, I build my own. Typically my purchases are limited to movies, TVs, phones, and other small items. I do see them going away at some point, just too hard too compete with the online retailers....but I did use to find it fun just to browse around.
GR....+1. I've used Norton for many years and have had no issues and no virus problems, etc. It hasn't been a problem with gaming either.
Quote from: bobarossa on April 19, 2014, 08:36:34 AMI've been to the Tuttle Crossing store but only use it for appliances now. I know what you mean about Circuit City. Now if I'm going to a brick and mortar, I go to Microcenter. It's closer to me anyway.
Yep, that Microcenter is right down the street from my folks, and I'd MUCH rather go there than anywhere near a Circuit City. We also have a Tiger Direct / CompUSA here, too. It's a pain to get to (esp since I could literally walk to Best Buy from my house) but sometimes just wandering around there is nice.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on April 19, 2014, 09:06:22 AM
Quote from: bobarossa on April 19, 2014, 08:36:34 AMI've been to the Tuttle Crossing store but only use it for appliances now. I know what you mean about Circuit City. Now if I'm going to a brick and mortar, I go to Microcenter. It's closer to me anyway.
Yep, that Microcenter is right down the street from my folks, and I'd MUCH rather go there than anywhere near a Circuit City. We also have a Tiger Direct / CompUSA here, too. It's a pain to get to (esp since I could literally walk to Best Buy from my house) but sometimes just wandering around there is nice.
Agreed....Microcenter is near to me as well....great place, has anything you could want for computers and such.....use to spend many days just browsing around, especially when they use to have aisles of PC Games. They still have a decent selection compared to other stores, but their games do tend to be more expensive then you can get elsewhere.
Quote from: Martok on April 19, 2014, 06:06:29 AM
As for Norton, it has always been Satan's software. My own experience with it has been nothing other than utterly horrible, and at least a couple of my friends' experiences with Norton have been similarly unpleasant.
This.
New computer smell? Step 1 -> Uninstall Norton and any other bloatware it came with. Hell, format the the thing and install a fresh copy of vanilla Windows if you can get your paws on the same Windows OEM version. ;)
When I purchased my laptop last year, I probably went through and uninstalled Norton and about twenty programs before doing anything else. Avast has worked great for me over the last few years and I didn't have to do anything other than register an email with them.
Unfortunately, the only computer electronics store I have nearby is Best Buy so I tend to just order everything from Newegg and wait for it to show up. Haven't been to BB in about six or seven years. There's probably another store somewhere in the area but it would likely be over an hour round trip.
Quote from: Yskonyn on April 19, 2014, 06:24:30 AM
I would vote against AVG free, I am sorry.
I have had it miss malicious software on several occasions now and I just don't trust it anymore.
If you want a free alternative, you could go for Avast!, which is a decent anti-virus, but is known to cause some minor problems while gaming with certain games (mainly MMO's). Another good option is Microsoft's own Security Essentials.
Actually, not according to Microsoft themselves ;)
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/384394/microsoft-security-essentials-is-designed-to-be-bottom-of-the-antivirus-rankings
I've used Norton the last several years with no problems and may continue to use it
if I can find it for very cheap/free next year. I tend to buy the new version each year for about $25 rather than renew the subscription for the previous years version.
I was somewhat p*ssed off earlier this year when my Norton 2013 subscription not only ran out (expected), but the app actually quit working (totally unexpected)...apparently a new "feature" for my protection. If I hadn't already bought the 2014 version sometime ago, I'd have gone looking for something else this year.
You might give the free version of BitDefender a try. Very light-weight and evaluated as one of the best for AV protection. I do this stuff for a living and it's what I personally run on my Windows systems.
AVG is not bad and what we resell to customers. MS Security Essentials used to be good, but lack of attention from MS has left it as one of the worst. Norton is commonly used but is only mediocre in terms of protection and I've seen it wreck systems.
Here's the link for BitDefender: http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html (http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html)
Here's a review: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2421252,00.asp (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2421252,00.asp)
Quote from: panzerde on April 19, 2014, 12:31:25 PM
You might give the free version of BitDefender a try. Very light-weight and evaluated as one of the best for AV protection. I do this stuff for a living and it's what I personally run on my Windows systems.
AVG is not bad and what we resell to customers. MS Security Essentials used to be good, but lack of attention from MS has left it as one of the worst. Norton is commonly used but is only mediocre in terms of protection and I've seen it wreck systems.
Here's the link for BitDefender: http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html (http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html)
Here's a review: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2421252,00.asp (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2421252,00.asp)
I had high hopes for this one and tried it a few years back when I was just taking a look at what was out there since it seemed cheaper and there was buzz about it......installed it and ended up causing the blue screen of death for me. I am sure they have likely improved and I have seen them rated highly recently, but that past experience has scared me from trying again:)
Quote from: Martok on April 19, 2014, 06:38:14 AM
Quote from: Yskonyn on April 19, 2014, 06:24:30 AM
I would vote against AVG free, I am sorry.
I have had it miss malicious software on several occasions now and I just don't trust it anymore.
If you want a free alternative, you could go for Avast!, which is a decent anti-virus, but is known to cause some minor problems while gaming with certain games (mainly MMO's). Another good option is Microsoft's own Security Essentials.
Personally, my biggest problem with Avast was how it nagged me to upgrade to a paid version 20-30 times a day (and no, that's not hyperbole). I agree it's effective, though.
I've used Avastfree for years going back to WinXPSP2, and never had that problem with it, even once. ???
However, when I got THE PRESENCE and upgraded to Win8, Avast had some issues running Win8 (which was relatively new at the time) so I uninstalled it and stuck with Windows Defender. So they may have changed to pesterware now for all I know. This does remind me I want to check it out again someday. It upgraded for my old XP rig when I brought it out to play with the nieces a few weekends ago, and ran smooth as butter just like always.
Quote from: Nefaro on April 19, 2014, 09:12:34 AMNew computer smell? Step 1 -> Uninstall Norton and any other bloatware it came with. Hell, format the the thing and install a fresh copy of vanilla Windows if you can get your paws on the same Windows OEM version. ;)
Or step 0, buy it from a high-rep designer who doesn't shave price by including paid bloatware (if like me you don't want to go through the bother of whiteboxing from scratch -- though parts from Newegg et al, as you suggest, are by far the most cost-efficient-performance way to go).
Paid bloatware and shoddy assembly and dodgy system architecture are big reasons why some computers are so 'affordable'. Not only do we get what we pay for, we sometimes get a lot of what we didn't want (or weren't able to) pay for.
This reminds me incidentally that it's probably time to look into getting a registry cleaner.
.
Quote from: Rayfer on April 19, 2014, 08:50:40 AM
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on April 19, 2014, 06:32:28 AM
It is interesting on all the takes of internet security software....seems like they all have strengths and weaknesses.
I know people always say Norton is the devil, but I have been using some form of it for likely over 10 years without a single issue. Never have been infected with any virus or compromised to the best of my knowledge. Haven't really had any issues with games and web sites, except for the occasional false positive (rare) which I am sure all software encounter to some degree. As best as I can recall, Norton has never interfered or prevented me from playing any of my games.
In the last couple of years, I have also installed Malwarebytes for added protection and with both of them combined, I feel pretty safe and have no concerns with screwing up my gaming.
But again, I believe it comes down to personal preference and I am sure the others are just as good.
As for Best Buy, I haven't had any issues from them, but I don't buy any computers from them, I build my own. Typically my purchases are limited to movies, TVs, phones, and other small items. I do see them going away at some point, just too hard too compete with the online retailers....but I did use to find it fun just to browse around.
GR....+1. I've used Norton for many years and have had no issues and no virus problems, etc. It hasn't been a problem with gaming either.
I am fine with Norton also...never had a virus problem and its caught some doozies. The only thing I had to learn was how to open quarantined programs that it had detected as heuristic viruses (for some reason every battlefront game comes up as one of these) and manually allow Norton on my computer to allow them to run. Took 5 mins of googling to learn how to do this and less than 1 min to implement.
Con
I'm always divided on what the best approach to AV is. So many folks report that free AV like Avast is great. I've used Kasperksy for the last 7 years, and it also has worked great -- but definitely not free! So I'm always left wondering, "Should I continue to pay or just go the free route?" Then I just wind up renewing my Kaspersky subscription, figuring "well, expensive, but peace of mind and all that". And then I second guess the decision... :)
sandman, I'd say your situation is a textbook example of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". ;) If it's been working for you, I'd keep on as you are.
Yeah, I think you're right, Martok. I actually just checked my Kaspersky license and see I have 37 Days remaining... and I'm sure I'll just re-up for another year or two. There are cheaper options -- and the ever-tantalizing freebies as well -- but I've found it a very good service.
It's a fact that the free versions of any AV suite have less features than their paid version.
Mostly in terms of deep system scans for the AV and all kinds of spyware / malware protections and internet security which the free versions often lack. They're mostly bare-bones AV software and I would advise you to run anti-malware software in conjunction like the earlier mentioned Malwarebytes.
People often call Norton the devil's software, but I find that to be another common internet rant. People need to read up on how to configure their software. Almost every AV triggers some false positives, you just need to know how to configure the whitelist properly.
Its much like the neverending AMD vs Intel debate.
Norton being just mediocre in terms of security as mentioned before is pretty dependent on which source you take. All articles I can find on the internet place it in the top layer of recommended AV software.
Which comes back to the point made a little while ago;
If it works for you and you have a good feeling about it, use the software that you currently use. If not, shop around.
I would rather go for a paid version of a security suite over a free version, though.
Quote from: Yskonyn on April 20, 2014, 02:56:31 AM
If it works for you and you have a good feeling about it, use the software that you currently use. If not, shop around.
This about sums it up.....most of the notable and reputable software handle the basics with each having its own strengths and weaknesses, its just a matter of what your personally comfortable with using. No reason to change if working for your personal needs. Although curiosity always gets the best of us when we always think something better is out there:)
Quote from: Yskonyn on April 20, 2014, 02:56:31 AM
It's a fact that the free versions of any AV suite have less features than their paid version.
Mostly in terms of deep system scans for the AV and all kinds of spyware / malware protections and internet security which the free versions often lack. They're mostly bare-bones AV software and I would advise you to run anti-malware software in conjunction like the earlier mentioned Malwarebytes.
I've had little to worry about using Avast along with the 'No Script' add-on for Firefox with cookies set to be deleted on exit. The prior has Deep Scan, Pre-Boot Scans, Browser & website monitoring and all that stuff even in the Free version while the latter tends to block or delete all the spyware from the 'net. The No Script add-on takes a little extra work whitelisting stuff on every new website you visit but it's just a right-click away so not a big hassle. It helps keeps much of the extra spyware and tracking from ever starting in the first place.
Pretty sure numerous freebie AVs also eliminate spyware these days, too.
QuotePeople often call Norton the devil's software, but I find that to be another common internet rant. People need to read up on how to configure their software. Almost every AV triggers some false positives, you just need to know how to configure the whitelist properly.
Its much like the neverending AMD vs Intel debate.
Norton being just mediocre in terms of security as mentioned before is pretty dependent on which source you take. All articles I can find on the internet place it in the top layer of recommended AV software.
Norton not only has a bad reputation for excessive false positives, it's also had a couple other issues in the past. One is being a resource hog. Another has been their interface and the excessive need to dig into it for all the whitelisting. Most AVs include their own stock whitelists of legitimate programs & games that is constantly updated, but Norton doesn't do very well at this.
I have also ran into issues trying to uninstall it in the past. Little else will piss people off more than when a company actively tries to make it difficult to uninstall it's software from your computer. I think they stopped doing that awhile back but that was the end of my tolerance for Norton. I just can't recommend Norton over others from the experiences I've had repairing PCs.
It's well and good that you guys want to argue over anti virus software, and I will permit it to continue so long as nobody forgets that it is Bestbuy who is the true great satan and who through black magic, is forcing you to argue about something else.
I once read someone referring to Best Buy employees as "Cat Turds". I still don't understand the reference but I will never forget it. :D
Ha!
Well as far as buying PC's go;
I never have and never will be buying my PC -or components- from something like a BestBuy.
I hand pick my components and build a PC myself. No bloatware, just lean and mean like I want it to be. Its not hard either. As mentioned earlier, if you don't know how to build a PC, there are lots of guides available on the internet.
Then check out some of the reputable sites which run articles like 'best buy of the month xxx' regarding hardware and you will quickly have a great shopping list.
Compaq/Dell, Samsung, HP, Packard Bell... you name it; all PC's filled with bloatware and often assembled so poorly in that you will have no room for expanding the system if you want.
Nah.. PC's are a fine example of; If you want it done correctly, you need to do it yourself. :P
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 20, 2014, 07:16:32 AM
It's well and good that you guys want to argue over anti virus software, and I will permit it to continue so long as nobody forgets that it is Bestbuy who is the true great satan and who through black magic, is forcing you to argue about something else.
LOL. I shan't forget, good sir, I promise.
I don't think I've ever purchased a single computer component from Best Buy, unless you count a headset (and that was only an "emergency" situation ::) ).
a couple years back I was replacing a heatsink and needed some thermal grease. I was passing a best buy so I stopped in and went to the computer section and asked where it was. the moron asked me what thermal grease was. ::)
You expected Best Buy to carry thermal grease? Who's the moron in this story? :P
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on April 20, 2014, 12:54:12 PMthe moron asked me what thermal grease was. ::)
you should've stopped at Adam & Eve. They've got all sorts of grease... or, so I've been told, at least
Quote from: mirth on April 20, 2014, 01:00:26 PM
You expected Best Buy to carry thermal grease? Who's the moron in this story? :P
they used to. they used to have lots of parts. I hadnt been in one in so long I didnt know.
Most of the Radio shacks carry Arctic Silver next time you need some.
So many applications for thermal grease...
Quote from: mirth on April 20, 2014, 01:52:51 PM
So many applications for thermal grease...
Too bad it comes in such teeny-tiny little applicators then.
I have a source for bulk quantities
It's this kind of educational multitasking that make Grogheads such a special place. Where else can one find astute reviews superimposed on a single thread of big box retail customer service, AV software, and both vaguely homoerotic applications for and sources of branded thermal grease?
Seriously. Where?
Quote from: mirth on April 20, 2014, 01:00:26 PM
You expected Best Buy to carry thermal grease? Who's the moron in this story? :P
They used to, years ago. Dunno if they do lately as I've not bought anything there in ages.
Quote from: skeptical.platypus on April 20, 2014, 03:48:50 PM
It's this kind of educational multitasking that make Grogheads such a special place. Where else can one find astute reviews superimposed on a single thread of big box retail customer service, AV software, and both vaguely homoerotic applications for and sources of branded thermal grease?
Seriously. Where?
It's part of the charm of this place. ;)
Quote from: skeptical.platypus on April 20, 2014, 03:48:50 PM
It's this kind of educational multitasking that make Grogheads such a special place. Where else can one find astute reviews superimposed on a single thread of big box retail customer service, AV software, and both vaguely homoerotic applications for and sources of branded thermal grease?
Seriously. Where?
A non-English language equivalent of this place? ;D
Quote from: Yskonyn on April 20, 2014, 08:34:09 AM
Well as far as buying PC's go;
I never have and never will be buying my PC -or components- from something like a BestBuy.
I hand pick my components and build a PC myself. No bloatware, just lean and mean like I want it to be. Its not hard either. As mentioned earlier, if you don't know how to build a PC, there are lots of guides available on the internet.
Then check out some of the reputable sites which run articles like 'best buy of the month xxx' regarding hardware and you will quickly have a great shopping list.
Compaq/Dell, Samsung, HP, Packard Bell... you name it; all PC's filled with bloatware and often assembled so poorly in that you will have no room for expanding the system if you want.
Nah.. PC's are a fine example of; If you want it done correctly, you need to do it yourself. :P
I couldn't agree with you more. They are all (understandably) about profit margin, so you will generally get the bare minimum mobo and PSU to support the given build. Want to add a second graphics card? Gotta upgrade the other components too.
And heaven forbid if you want to do some basic overclocking...Verboten in most OEM BIOS. :-(
Hell, I have a old Dell with a Core2Duo E8200 in it. The mobo will only support Core2Duo, even though they also sold a Core2Quad in the same system. They had specific motherboards for each processor type. So I'd have to upgrade the mobo to upgrade to a Core2Quad, even though they are both Socket 775 CPU's. So, you say, no problem! The E8200-E8600 processors are SMOKING overclockers! Yeah, again, not with the Dell BIOS....and frankly, probably not with that Foxconn mobo either.
Quote from: Martok on April 21, 2014, 01:12:01 PM
Quote from: skeptical.platypus on April 20, 2014, 03:48:50 PM
It's this kind of educational multitasking that make Grogheads such a special place. Where else can one find astute reviews superimposed on a single thread of big box retail customer service, AV software, and both vaguely homoerotic applications for and sources of branded thermal grease?
Seriously. Where?
A non-English language equivalent of this place? ;D
Not sure even Monty Python's dirty hungarian phrasebook could top GH. (<- coincidentally, also the most likely site to find a hovercraft full of eels in a Want thread.)
This sounds like a hellish journey.
I recommend the following advice:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fiwanticewater.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F06%2Fnukeorbit.jpg&hash=918b11db5f4a01cf703fc790567c3ca170f3f5dc)
Yeah. It takes more than 5 or 10 smart people to run a huge retail operation. And Best Buy just doesn't seem to have enough smart people left a couple rungs up the management chain to stay afloat much longer.
I still buy stuff there it's something I might want to return quickly if it's not working well. As one example: My wife took our son into Best Buy to purchase a cheap flatscreen TV for her office there 2 months ago. They offered in-home installation for $75, but because the TV was on clearance, it went through a different interface in their order system, and they couldn't access the $75 install without first requesting a $49 service trip fee.
The tech helping my wife called the manager over, and they both agreed that there was no reason to require a $49 service trip fee if the TV was bought on clearance. He was adamant that it was not in the terms of the TV purchase or the $75 install deal. They just couldn't access the $75 install deal from the purchase screen.
My wife (who was somehow born without negotiating skills in situations like this, but earns enough money that she can justify pissing it away to herself) caved in and ordered the whole thing, paying almost as much for the installation as for the TV. They tell her that they're coming on Tuesday between 8am and noon, and finally call her at 2:45pm to tell her they're on their way. She tells them not to come, because she has a 3pm appointment and she won't be there. They regretfully inform her that if they show up and she's not there, they'll have to charge her for the $49 service trip fee.
So she tells them to cancel the ticket and she'll reschedule. This is where it gets bad.
It turns out that, since the order was placed using my Best Buy Rewards Card (I guess they got that via my wife's phone number), only I can cancel the service trip. She has the receipt in front of her, complete with credit card. The credit card bill is in her name. She paid for the trip. But, because it's on my Best Buy Rewards Card, they need me to cancel the trip.
So my wife has to call me up at work, conference call me in to talk with the tech, and authorize cancellation of the trip which I neither ordered nor paid for. I was never even in the store. But I was sufficiently annoyed that I forbade her to schedule a new trip, and I went out on the web and found a local small business to do the install for $68.
This is what happens when you just don't have any good management that can keep these things working together in normal fashion. It's funny to see the decline in certain retail stores (Sears and JC Penney's both come to mind), but I think Best Buy is falling further faster than most.
Oh well, Tiger Direct and Amazon and New Egg work well for me...
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 18, 2014, 08:02:58 PM
I've been suspecting over the past few years that Bestbuy is actually owned and run by Satan himself. Tonight, my suspicion was confirmed.
My main PC rig was purchased at Bestbuy (I know, I know). I've been pretty satisfied with the rig, but it came with a norton anti-virus subscription as OEM that seemed tied through Bestbuy. Having my anti-virus subscription connected to Bestbuy annoyed me from the get go, and was one more sign of influence of the Beast. Anyway, I never really had any issues with it so, whatever. Not too long ago, after the free trial subscription expired, I renewed. No big deal.
Tonight, while I'm just getting ready to start a massive battle in Wargame: Red Dragon, the game minimizes and I get a message from Norton that my computer is unprotected and my subscription has expired. The message continues, stating "You must" call Bestbuy at 1-888-BESTBUY" to sort this out. Instantly, blood started rushing to my head and I was quickly losing my temper. I was totally unable to renew through Norton. I thought, "this can't be right..." Why the hell would I have to call Bestbuy to renew my anti-virus subscription??? So I rebooted. Still, Norton was telling me no protection, subscription expired. Begrudgingly, I picked up the phone and dialed the number.
After struggling through the voice activated automated menu system, I get my first idiot. I explain the situation as calmly as possible and quickly get passed onto someone else "who can help me." After waiting another 10 minutes and suffering through extremely loud and annoying music, I get my second idiot. This one tells me that, I kid you not, "Norton anti-virus is no longer compatible with Windows 8, so we cancelled all of our customer's subscriptions." Dumbfounded, I told her its impossible that the largest anti-virus provider on the planet is no longer supported by the largest OS on the planet. Nevertheless, I was transferred off to another person "Who could help me."
Idiot no. 3 then explains that Bestbuy made the decision that Norton anti-virus "does not work too good" so they have cancelled all of their customer subscriptions and have switched to a program called "Webroot." To keep me from reaching through the phone to strangle this poorly disguised demon, she tells me they will provide me with free three months of coverage. They will not refund my money from my norton subscription. I've never heard of "webroot" so while I'm trying not to scream out every 4 letter word I can think of, I google it (still unprotected, mind you). I find some fairly mixed reviews, but some seem pretty positive, so I decide, I'm not going to get anywhere further with this idiot, so I might as well take the free three months, try it out and head for the hills.
OK, so I ask her, what do I need to do to install it and get my free subscription. "Sir, I need to transfer you over to someone else who can log into your system and take care of that for you." No f*cking thank you!!!! Give me the God damn activation code and I'll do it myself!
Holy $hit! What a joke. Bad credit card program, terrible rewards program, awful customer service and now this. That's it. I'm done with Bestbuy. I have literally spent tens of thousands of dollars there. Never again! Additionally, I am going to write corporate a VERY strongly worded letter. If you can avoid doing business with this storefront for the devil I think you will thank me when it comes to judgment time.
Norton is uninstalled and I'm running webroot secure anywhere. I still don't really know anything about it, but unless one of you guys tells me it is really weak, I'll give it a shot for the free three months.
Webroot is a good AV. It scans fast, has a small footprint (probably from running on their cloud servers) and has top reviews. If you actually get a virus bitdefender was the top rated for removal. Its a CPU hog though.
Bestbuy farms out all of their services and individual stores have no control over them, that's the big issue. You think your doing business with Bestbuy but, anything outside their stores your not, it's a third party. Sense you don't pay the third party directly, they don't give a shit about you the customer.
Never ever buy a computer from Bestbuy!
webroot is a very good product... cant say much for the rest of your unfortunate experience...