Problems with Microsoft/Dell

I recently got a power cord from Dell, and I was lucky to get it just before my three year warranty expired.  Within the last week, however, a new problem as arose with my Dell Inspiron 9300 (laptop).  Its a technical problem because I've tried using a different powercord (same type) and removed my battery as well as tried all these combinations in different outlets to no advail.  The problem is my power outlet is not functioning properly.  When I plug in my power cord sometimes it won't register, resulting in me having to fiddle with it until my computer registers it and says its charging.  Often I have to set it a certain way for it to power or recieve a charge.  Most often I have to slant the cord caddy-cornered over my screen.  Then, sometimes a hiss/squeal will occur and it'll show its not charging at all.  I'll remove the plug and try putting the power cord back in and it'll be hot!  I tried posting this question on another site and I was told that it was a contact that was bad or simply the system board was going out.  (Does anyone have any recommendations or know precisiely what the problem is?)

 Needless to say I 'attempt' to contact dell through their online customer support.  I enter my service tag number and get the message that my warranty has expired and expired about two weeks before my problems started.  I'm disappointed that they simply won't offer that service because its worked decently for me in the past, just because my warranty is no longer good.  That's ok, I'll email them the problem.  Same result.  I'm not under warranty so I'm not allowed to email them (this is getting ridiculous).  I'm then given a list of options to call them, and thats my only option.  I've had VERY bad experience with calling Dell.  I tried it the first time and ended up being put on hold for over two hours with annoying music and they never got to me.  I finally hung up the phone and used their online support.  I don't feel like calling them and waiting for two hours, if I'm lucky, and then finally getting someone who either doesn't understand my problem (another experience) or speak english very well (no offense and thats from several instances).  Dells customer service, quite frankly, stinks.

 This isn't the first time I've had trouble with my laptop either.  From 2005 (first got it) until almost exactly a year after I had it, it worked perfectly.  Then, that summer my troubles began.  The fan started overheating and I tried contacting them, got fustrated, but finally a guy came and fixed the fan to prevent overheating.  Then, I had to have everything redone (viruses) and I had to have my keyboard replaced.  Then, the power cord went out (on my ME windows 2000 laptop I had the same problems and my power cord went out).  Now I'm not sure what to do with my laptop because if the problem is what I'm told it'll be one of those things that cost more to fix than a new laptop.  Another worry is losing everything on my computer (I do have everything backed up except my itunes simply because I have too many songs and I can't fit them all on a memory stick.  For now, my laptop is great otherwise, but....

Now I'm starting to think about just getting a new computer, and not a Dell or anything related to microsoft, but switching to a Macbook.