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[/h1][h1]DELL SUED AFTER MAN BREAKS COMPUTER LOOKING FOR COOKIES[/h1][h5]August 27 2009[/h5]
Trenton, NJ - There are few technologies as confusing and overwhelming to a certain group ofpeople than the computer. Whether a result of the complex nature of the mechanics or a result of the unfamiliarity with the interface, computers continue to
provide great difficulty to many users even decades after the machines started to become mainstream. Though the day-to-day usage rarely delves into the morecomplex aspects of the machines many people still find themselves at a loss when it comes to dealing with the increasingly ubiquitous machines.
Dell Computers has made its name by making a concerted effort to ease user interaction with computers. Byoffering low cost, high quality machines in easy to understand terminology the company has made billions and asserted itself as one of the biggest businessesin the world. Now though the company is being faced with a lawsuit from a very dissatisfied customer who claims that the company misled him which caused him todestroy his computer. At the heart of the lawsuit is a cookie, a term used for a small text file commonly used by websites but because of its name, is oftenconfused with delicious baked goods.
"The heart of this lawsuit is the kind of jumbled terminology so often used in computers and relatedtechnologies. In this case my client was inexperienced when it came to computer use and web browsing and so when he discovered a familiar term, actedaccordingly. It is the wording that is the issue here and that is what must change," said lawyer Kevin Caulter. "I want to be clear here, my clientdid not break open his computer looking for cookies because he was hungry. He was under the impression that somehow baked goods had been placed inside hismachine and wanted to rectify the situation. It was not explained to him in any way that a cookie was something other than a small piece of text and he did notwant permanent damage to his brand new and very expensive machine."
The lawsuit is seeking the cost of the machine and damages up to $5 million as well as permanent change to the'cookie' terminology. It's believed the customer, whose name has not yet been made public, removed all pieces of his new machine and upon findingno cookies, took a sledgehammer to the remaining pieces.
"For whatever reason computers are very daunting for a lot of people. Cars are just as complex but very fewpeople are overwhelmed by the process of driving them. With computers though the idea of getting behind the wheel is almost traumatic for many people and thatcauses them to act a little rashly," said Scrape TV Technology analyst Ken Kevins. "Add to that the kind of terminology that is used like'cookie' or 'bus' that is used in other
areas and you have a recipe for confusion, especially with panicky people. Everyone understands piston or transmission but the kind of daunting andoccasionally misleading names used in computing still gets a lot of people."
Thus far there has been no official comment from Dell but it is believed that the lawsuit will have littletraction as the company is not responsible for the placement of cookies on users' machines.
"Dell has probably done more than any other company to make computers accessible
to mainstream audiences. There have been a lot of factors that have contributed to computers being in everyone's homes but there is likely no other companythat has it
as a part of their philosophy to make computers accessible by everyone no matter
their experience, so for them to be hit with this kid of lawsuit is particularly ironic," continued Kevins. "Cookies are such an integrated part ofthe way the web functions I think it's very unlikely that they will change either in function or in name. This suit though may prompt other computermanufacturers to provide at least a basic list of common terminology used in the industry in order to avoid future problems."
It's not clear what kind of cookies the customer was expecting to find or what he was going to do with themonce he discovered them. His lawyer did state that his clients favourite type of cookie is peanut butter, also the personal favourite of Michael Dell.
http://scrapetv.com/News/News Pages...cookies-Scrape-TV-The-World-on-your-side.html
Trenton, NJ - There are few technologies as confusing and overwhelming to a certain group ofpeople than the computer. Whether a result of the complex nature of the mechanics or a result of the unfamiliarity with the interface, computers continue to
provide great difficulty to many users even decades after the machines started to become mainstream. Though the day-to-day usage rarely delves into the morecomplex aspects of the machines many people still find themselves at a loss when it comes to dealing with the increasingly ubiquitous machines.
Dell Computers has made its name by making a concerted effort to ease user interaction with computers. Byoffering low cost, high quality machines in easy to understand terminology the company has made billions and asserted itself as one of the biggest businessesin the world. Now though the company is being faced with a lawsuit from a very dissatisfied customer who claims that the company misled him which caused him todestroy his computer. At the heart of the lawsuit is a cookie, a term used for a small text file commonly used by websites but because of its name, is oftenconfused with delicious baked goods.
"The heart of this lawsuit is the kind of jumbled terminology so often used in computers and relatedtechnologies. In this case my client was inexperienced when it came to computer use and web browsing and so when he discovered a familiar term, actedaccordingly. It is the wording that is the issue here and that is what must change," said lawyer Kevin Caulter. "I want to be clear here, my clientdid not break open his computer looking for cookies because he was hungry. He was under the impression that somehow baked goods had been placed inside hismachine and wanted to rectify the situation. It was not explained to him in any way that a cookie was something other than a small piece of text and he did notwant permanent damage to his brand new and very expensive machine."
The lawsuit is seeking the cost of the machine and damages up to $5 million as well as permanent change to the'cookie' terminology. It's believed the customer, whose name has not yet been made public, removed all pieces of his new machine and upon findingno cookies, took a sledgehammer to the remaining pieces.
"For whatever reason computers are very daunting for a lot of people. Cars are just as complex but very fewpeople are overwhelmed by the process of driving them. With computers though the idea of getting behind the wheel is almost traumatic for many people and thatcauses them to act a little rashly," said Scrape TV Technology analyst Ken Kevins. "Add to that the kind of terminology that is used like'cookie' or 'bus' that is used in other
areas and you have a recipe for confusion, especially with panicky people. Everyone understands piston or transmission but the kind of daunting andoccasionally misleading names used in computing still gets a lot of people."
Thus far there has been no official comment from Dell but it is believed that the lawsuit will have littletraction as the company is not responsible for the placement of cookies on users' machines.
"Dell has probably done more than any other company to make computers accessible
to mainstream audiences. There have been a lot of factors that have contributed to computers being in everyone's homes but there is likely no other companythat has it
as a part of their philosophy to make computers accessible by everyone no matter
their experience, so for them to be hit with this kid of lawsuit is particularly ironic," continued Kevins. "Cookies are such an integrated part ofthe way the web functions I think it's very unlikely that they will change either in function or in name. This suit though may prompt other computermanufacturers to provide at least a basic list of common terminology used in the industry in order to avoid future problems."
It's not clear what kind of cookies the customer was expecting to find or what he was going to do with themonce he discovered them. His lawyer did state that his clients favourite type of cookie is peanut butter, also the personal favourite of Michael Dell.
http://scrapetv.com/News/News Pages...cookies-Scrape-TV-The-World-on-your-side.html
