OT - Dell can kiss my hairy northern nards, Huh? Options

[soloracer]

I went to a family gathering in Montana for a relative of mine who is being shipped to serve in Iraq for two years. He mentioned that they had internet access over there via a wireless network and that he was thinking of getting a laptop. I thought it would be nice for the family to all chip in and buy him one. We could load it with pictures and our e-mail addresses and give it to him before he ships out.

So I called Dell and went through the ordering process. Right at the end I told them that it was going to someone who was being shipped to Iraq for two years. Their response? They cancelled the order!!! They told me that they can't sell to anyone who is taking it to Iraq because Iraq is on a banned list and that if the computer got in the wrong hands they could be held liable. I explained that it was going to a man who was in the military and they basically said that they could care less. WTF?? What do service men use over there for internet access? Two cans and a ball of string?

[rhodyguy]

some troops in iraq may have access to an authorized computer area. my understanding is in certain areas the internet and information is highly restricted. my son is there and moved to one of these areas. he warned me before hand not to be expecting emails for awhile. with the recent revelations of real time ship movements to unfriendly recipients, and other items the military would have rather stayed in country, the reasons are pretty obvious. this isn't a politcal reply. just the facts as i understand them.

kevin