A Computer Nightmare - software broke in half and now stuck inside!

Whenever I get around to buying a new computer I want to take this hunk of junk and take it to the front yard and attack it with a hammer. I figure that is the closest I can get to tossing it out the window and it will give me pleasure to knock it into little bits.

I have had since December 1999 a Gateway Astro.It is a large computer with the modem and harddrive in the back of the screen, so it is just one very large piece of equipment.

Long ago I had one of these small sample discs and placed it inside to never see it again. It got stuck into that drive, but luckily I never really had the need for that drive.

Today I open up a box with some software inside that I have used before, but this time as I pressed down on the middle plastic piece to remove it - the disc broke in half.

I figured instead of trying to tape it back together that I would place them inside the CD door and see if it would read.  Then I heard this noise and opened the drawer to find only one piece remaining. The other one is lodged inside there somewhere and the software is garbage now.

Now the best part - this cost $149 and I got it for free to review for my website. Initially the first CD they sent was damaged from some programming problem. They sent me an email letting me know this and how it was an embarassment.

I said no problem and could wait the six weeks for the replacement, which did not take as long. I did not take any notes when using the software and I had a tough time using it since it was hard for me to figure out.

My dilemma is do I send them an email telling them this broke in half and that it could pose a problem for people buying it if they try to remove it the way I did. Do I mention this problem and the first CD as being bad in my review, or just bypass both and give a positive review based on what I know about this software or go honestly saying I could only do a few things and got very frustrated.

I am not going to ask for another CD since I have no way to utilize it, but wonder how can I get this out of the compartment? Does it open up all the way somehow so I can get that out?

I will have to wait until March when I get my income tax return to buy a new one and then thinking to save room in my house to go with a laptop instead.

This software is very popular with teachers, parents and therapists who work within the autism community. It is called Boardmaker @ home and just was released last month. Prior to this is the regular Boardmaker that costs $299 and is not affordable for most families to buy, hence the reason for the new one.

I was never able to put a grid together, but was able to take symbols (photos) and put them into a button on the screen, but never able to make a whole grid or add color or do the other stuff. I really don't know how user friendly it is as I got frustrated with it and just wanted an easy to comprehend tutorial. They include a booklet in the CD box and I believe the packaging of this box and the plastic round part that the CD sits in is not similar to other software packages.

I think consumers need to know that this did break in half when I tried to get it out and perhaps I will ask them what would happen if a paying customer had this happen, would they send it back and get another one?

Any thoughts on how to handle this awkward disaster that has now left my computer without access to CDs?To think that I was aggravated over AT&T dial up being down, so then went to test the CD while waiting to get online. Thank goodness I got back online quicker than the other night when it took hours, because then my frustration would be taken out on a customer service rep located in some call center in another country.