Desktops: About Dell Computers
Re: About Dell Computers
by carlosd - 12/10/04 5:38 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I am presently on my third (started out on a Pentium-60, then a 733Mhz and finally a 1.8GHz Dimension). Never had a problem! Moreover, the company I work for builds computer based rehabilitation equipment and Dell was the one we chose back in 1994, still going strong in the present (no, I do not own DELL stock...)
Re: About Dell Computers
by Harry_Oldman - 12/10/04 5:48 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I have purchased two Dell desktops, as well as a couple of laptops, for my kids and myself over the past five years. I've never had any problems with the desktops, in spite of their having been moved several times and swapped back and forth among various family members. I would highly recommend them.
If there is a caveat anywhere, it might be the Dell support. It used to be stellar, but since I have never had to use it for either of the desktop units, I can't speak to what it might be now.
Re: About Dell Computers
by mausmith - 12/10/04 5:49 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?As a white box builder and and a service center we work on all brands of systems. Most brands including Dell HP Gateway etc. are very cheaply built using the cheapest components available. So keep this in mind when purchasing whether in person at a mass marketer or otherwise. Often some components are not replaceable with off the shelf products. In other words they are proprietary to that system. In the words of one DELL sales person "you get whatever was 'cheap' and on the shelf the day the system was built." Translated, that means one model number of system could have many different mfgs components depending on what minute it was built. We see them in here when DELL support people can't or won't satisfy the clients need for answers or a fix. But this is not just DELL it includes all the well know brands and inexpensive systems. While I'm sure the majority of systems work ok when we see them the client is at the end of their ropes and hope we can come to their rescue. 99.9% of the time we do.
Re: About Dell Computers
by Homer1 - 12/10/04 5:51 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I have 7 Dells for my home and small business. They are used 7 days a week 24 hrs a day and I have never had a problem. Wouldn't buy anything else.
Re: About Dell Computers
by Bookem - 12/10/04 6:01 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I started out with an IBM with a whopping one <1> MB of RAM. I've owned Acer before. But for the past few years it's been nothing but Dell. Everything is good quality. You're issued a number for your computer that you merely quote to Dell and they can tell exactly what chip set you have to every tweak you asked them to build for you. So if you need their help desk <which actually works> or want to add or change parts, they can tell you what parts are compatable. After 2 computers from Dell, I am sold. My next computer will come from Dell.
Re: About Dell Computers
by Peter0423 - 12/10/04 6:05 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I'm on my second Dell desktop system at home -- the newer one is about a year and a half old, the older one over five years -- and I'm very happy with them. They're well-designed, well-made, and intelligently user-friendly. (They also have outstanding monitors and sound systems.) And it's a piece of cake to order one on-line, either as a package system or one you customize for yourself.
It might be unnerving the first time you call tech support -- and you will, with any computer -- to realize that you're talking to someone in Bombay, India, however polite and helpful they might be. (Okay, maybe not. They've got you covered on hardware problems, but if it's the operating system or the software, they'll palm you off on the vendor. Read the fine print in your warranty, my friend....)
Although it's good to know that a computer will last five years, will you really care? My older Dell is still as functional as it ever was, but I only use it as an emergency backup system...because it has Windows ME (gag, retch!), a 10-gig hard drive, and a slow old Celeron CPU, all of which are week-old meat loaf compared to the newer unit. Expect whatever you get to become obsolete long before it wears out; that's just how it is.
Dell certainly isn't the only good nameplate out there, but it sure works for me.
Re: About Dell Computers
by billybat - 12/10/04 6:15 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I have used Dell computers (laptop and desktops) for the last 5 years and have been very happy with Dell. I may be a bit jaded because I used to work for Compaq but I have had good overall quality and performance from Dell.
I have also worked with Toshiba, Sony, Compaq/HP and Gateway and my favorite flavor is is still Dell. I have heard complaints about their cust. ser. dept. since they moved it to India, though. Read consumer reports.
Re: About Dell Computers
by drsieling - 12/10/04 6:18 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I own two Dell desktops and a Dell notebook and all three work great. I haven't had one problem with the computers. The first Dell had WindowsME and I had to reformat every two or three months but I finaly broke down and bought another version of Windows and I haven't had any more problems. The other two came with WindowsXP and they are great.
Re: About Dell Computers
by bls745 - 12/10/04 6:28 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I have always liked Dell. Now I don't, and it isn't because of their computers. Their tech service moved to India and it is intolerably bad. They have no idea what they are doing, they cannot communicate and so any little problem becomes a major one becuase you cannot get tech support. When you buy a Dell they hit you up for all kinds of stuff related to tech support and my advice is if you buy a Dell find someone local for support or you will loathe the time you waste trying to understand the Indian version of English.
Re: About Dell Computers
by masterdon - 12/10/04 6:32 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?As an IT specialist in my company, we have switched our suppliers numerous times. We currently buy only Dells because of their overall value and TCO. They make a good machine but bear in mind that they purchase the components from many sources just like any other product. We used to swear by IBM but got a batch of T20s with hard drives that were faulty and died after about a year. Now that IBM PC is being bought by a Chinese company - forget about it. You want to be sure the maker has strict QA standars for their components, unlike off brand makers who actually buy components that were failed by the stringent QA specs of major companies. These off brands will buy batches of rejects, the components do work but are outside the more rigid specs and more likely to fail. This is no different than auto manufacturers. I have seen Mercedes and even a Rolls broken down on the roadside but less frequently than a Yugo.
As far as service - you can always get someone to work on your machine in a shop or at your home. Are you willing to pay for this level of service? When my stove went out, it cost me $65 for some jerk to look at it and say it needed replaced. I got the parts and fixed myself.
Re: About Dell Computers
by pappypaul - 12/10/04 6:42 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I bought my Dell Dimension 8300 last July 04 and the
2 front USB Ports weren't working.After 3 mos. of e-mailing to Dell and getting nowhere I finally ran a extension cord from a USB Port in the back and ran it to the cord at my keyboard,and wire tied it..Problem solved. DELL'S Teck Support is as good as you are....
Re: About Dell Computers
by timhall - 12/10/04 6:47 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I have had good service from Dell personally, and at work The University of Tennessee has a large number of Dell computers. As far as an online purchased product, and a company without a storefront, I think Dell has figured the system out becuase between online, phone, and local technicians you really have great support. This is not an ad for Dell, but I would not have any reason to buy from anyone else.
Re: About Dell Computers
by Mark123 - 12/10/04 6:51 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?Have had a DELL 2400 desktop for around 6 months, where can u get 2.8ghz, Pen4, 80gig harddrive, 512meg ram,DVD player,cd/rw, 3.5 floppy, xp home, delivered for $1114 au dollars. got a 512DDR ram from local computer store cost $138 (au d) worked first go now have 1gig of ram, did have cd burner failed was replaced (in home)within 48 hrs- replacment is samsung brand. did put PCI graphic card in and turned inbuild graphic off works great, computer was used for internet gaming (dial-up)and was fast, now on 2way satellite internet so gaming is out (ping to long), have 2 of these computers and both run great. good computer for low price. o yes is a bit hard understanding a foreign service centre person but will have to do. buy online at dell and save or receive extras. Many Regards Mark S australia
Re: About Dell Computers
by Squirt1108 - 12/10/04 7:02 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I have two children and between them and my husband we have 2 desktop and 2 laptop Dell computers. We have had no trouble with any. Actually we are on the next generation desktops now. The previous did last us at least six years.
Re: About Dell Computers
by Brianstech - 12/10/04 7:31 AM In reply to: About Dell Computers by TechWiz?I'm surprised that no one asked about your intentions.
Is this computer needed for simple office/surfing/photo editing? Home or office? Mild or serious gaming? Video editing?
All the recent Dell deals I see are with Celeron processors, much like their competitors. Change to a Pentium 4, and your package grows more costly.
A cheap machine with the Celeron is fine for most people, but running today's extreme games and video editing software would be almost out of the question without a Pentium 4. Not to mention multitasking.
I have unboxed and setup about 25 Dells for a client/friend within the last 2 years, and haven't seen a problem with a single one. He likes them so much he bought a new dual Xeon server with 2 huge LCD's side by side, for his office.
They, (my client's company), sold me an older Gateway with some serious problems. I went to their website to find it STILL had 9 months on it's warranty. It took 1 call to get them to send a motherboard/CPU/fan replacement, which arrived within 3 or 4 days. These were friendly Americans on the phone. The new assembly slid right in after removing 1 thumbscrew.
Then the monitor went. Another friendly phone call, and a brand new 17" monitor arrived.
Now, mind you, this computer was registered as a business machine. I've heard that home users don't quite get the 5-star treatment. Also, I'm not crazy about components that die within 3 years, but Gateway impressed me with their service.
Just offering my buck-two-ninety.
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