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October 5, 2007 12:48 PM PDT

Medison Celebrity laptop: From MIA to KIA

by Matthew Elliott

And we close the book on the saga that was the Medison Celebrity laptop.

(Credit: Medison Europe Limited)

You were right. I was wrong.

You--various Crave readers, Dan Ackerman, assorted acquaintances--said I was a fool to think I'd actually get the $150 Swedish laptop I ordered back in July. When the six-week delivery window came and went, I decided to give it one more month before pulling the plug. (While I may be a fool, I would like to point out that I was never out any cash; 2Checkout.com assured me that I wouldn't be charged until it had proof from Medison that my order had shipped.) After waiting another month on the hope that Medison would at least fulfill the first few hundred orders it received (I was told my order was in this group), I checked back with 2Checkout.com today and was told that Medison Celebrity orders were not shipping do to "logistical problems." While offering the possibility that these supposed problems may be solved at some future date, neither of the two support reps I spoke with seemed to hold out much hope that would ever occur. So, order: canceled.

Despite keeping my order open these past 10 weeks, I had my doubts about Medison ever delivering on its promise. How did it expect to make any money off this enterprise? Why so few details about how and when it would ship the laptop? Why couldn't it explain a simple matter such as how much it expected to charge for shipping? As soon as a problem entered the discussion, I felt no need to keep my order open. And I take solace in the fact I wasn't the only foolish hopeful blogger in the family to last this long; ZDNet's Larry Dignan canceled his Medison order on Monday.

I now turn my attention to another cheap but delayed laptop, the Asus Eee PC. As our president wisely said, "Fool me once, shame on--shame on you. Fool me--you can't get fooled again." I trust Asus to prevent me from getting fooled again.

Matt Elliott, a CNET editor since 2000, heads up coverage of computer hardware, from desktops and laptops to their assorted components and peripherals. Prior to joining CNET, he worked for PC Magazine. When not writing about computers and wrestling with their shipping boxes, he likes shooting with his Nikon D50 camera. Matt is also skilled with a tape gun. E-mail Matt.
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I'm still in.
by rfegeas October 8, 2007 11:46 AM PDT
Not that I don't have doubts (always have). But I certainly don't feel foolish. Since I'm not out any money, and $150 for a laptop still interests me, I see no reason to cancel my order (submitted back in July). Who knows, they just might get their act together and ship some time. Even if they don't, I still have nothing to lose by not canceling, and a potential (however small the potential) $150 laptop to lose if I do.
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by WindsorFox April 13, 2008 9:16 AM PDT
Apr. 12 08 I'm still in, but according to info on Wikipedia 2CO has suspended Medison's account.
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