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Bend Over Dude, You’re Getting A Dell
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I bought a Dell laptop months ago with the intention of using it as a command center both at home and on the road. I wanted something powerful enough to run all the image and video editing software that I would need to keep Ripten rocking day and night. I hit the ground running, and everything seemed to be working great, until I decided to record some on-screen video.
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What? Stereo Mix? Where the fuck is my stereo mix? I only see two options, Mic and Line-in. Perplexed, I refocused my efforts on Google and began to search for the missing third option.
It was not long before I encountered multiple threads started by equally frustrated and confused consumers suffering from the same misfortune. Oddly enough they were all Dell owners with the same SigmaTel brand audio card that I had.
As I dug deeper into the various threads, I soon discovered that the issue had nothing to do with the hardware itself, and everything to do with the restrictions placed on it by the PC manufacturers.
It appears that Dell, and several other computer manufacturers such as Gateway and Pac Bell, were pressured by the RIAA (Record Industry Association of America) into disabling the stereo mix functionality. If true, I find it disturbing that at no time did any of the aforementioned manufacturers see it fit to explain the restrictions they were imposing on our hardware.
One forum poster explained that he contacted Dell seeking a solution for his stereo mix woes, and they offered him one — for a $99 fee. So that we are all clear, the evidence points to Dell appeasing the RIAA by disabling hardware, only to have their customer service reps turn around and offer a solution to their consumers that reverses the alteration they made in the first place at a premium price. Sure as fuck sounds fishy to me.
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There is an old saying in the world “Never buy Dell”. Wonder why?
I bought a Dell Laptop about 3 years ago. It was a good deal offered through a special to my work IT department of which I am a part. Fortunately I bought a Sound Blaster card that gave me not just stereo but surround sound! However, I still think the RIAA needs to keep their hands out of my computer hardware.