Thread: Dell????

go for it
Computer retailers are all pretty much alike, to be honest

Originally Posted by Ynot

go for it
Computer retailers are all pretty much alike, to be honest

Thanks.
In my limited experience it does seem that way.
The difference lyes in every ones strong opinions it seems.

I never had a dell though.

I have a dell; no problems seem to have arisen from the actual computer in several years of use.

Dells have lovely computers because you customize them


BUT, they're hugely overpriced. If you say you're getting a good deal, post the specs here for the PC you're after, and I'll try to get the same, but cheaper

Dell was excellent once upon a time.

Then their products - and moreso their service - turn to steaming piles of aardvark manure.

Then they tried fixing it. They don't seem to be so bad now - done a lot to fix their customer service and tech support, and I'm hearing good things about the machines again... but I'm still leery, because they cost me a LOT of time and aggravation in their ugly years.

Yes and no. I personally have had horrible experiences from Dell, but if you get a good deal, go for it. Though you might want to reformat an install a non-junkware version of Windows after. Or, hey, buy an Ubuntu Dell!

Anyway, my family has a Dell, and it's nothing but trouble. It only had 256 MB of RAM, and then a couple of years later, when we NEEDED to upgrade it, we found out that for some unknowable reason, they used RDRAM in the computer, which costs (no joke) $500-$600 for 1GB. It is literally cheaper to build a new high-end system from the ground up than to upgrade this one.

As far as I know Dell makes (or made) the cheapest laptops anywhere around, which is why I have one of their laptops (serving as my desktop computer too most of the time now). In a year and a half it hasn't given me so much as a hiccup, so I definitely can't complain... yet. Some day it will have to kick the bucket and I'll actually have to wrangle with customer service, but my experience so far has been pretty balmy.

My Dell laptop has outlasted a lot of other computers out there... but I do believe I was lucky, and took good care of it. Also, Dell laptops have a history of having shitty cooling systems, so if you're gaming, make sure you have plenty of cans of compressed air, and use them once a month.

I have a Dell.

I didn't pay for it, I got it as part of a disabled student grant. I do believe that the council asked for a high-end system suitable for a CS student such as myself, well, some components are underwhelming, esp. the graphics adapter (woefully obsolete (even at the time) Intel and memory (512MB).

And the price? I don't think I can blame Dell for this one, rather the supplier, but I do believe that, including admittedly expensive software (Office Pro, NaturallySpeaking etc. and a nice printer, scanner etc.), and the best warranty you'll never use (it has been reliable), it amounted to around £2,500. That's upwards of $5,000 folks.

What could I have bought with that money? Something better, at least. I think, minus the extras, the core system still cost around a grand.

Is it just me or does it seem like a dead heat here?
Maybe leaning towards a Dell??


pj,
It sounds like my neighbors experience. Tech this and tech that. Sure they came and fixed it, gave him support, but what he really wanted was a computer that didn't need tech support....wow what a concept.

I think I may go for it. Maybe~
After all, I have the DV tech support Team!

Well said & done. I bought a Dell 1500 Vostro Notebook. 160 gig hard Drive - 2GB of memory. Nothing major.
(Any advice on upgrades,new gadgets and stuff?)

I was looking at this primarily from a business standpoint. Well I guess all the incentives did lead me to this choice.

But now that I have it...DANG this thing is cool.

2GB Memory on a laptop isn't at all bad. Care to say how much it set you back? I'm vaguely thinking about getting a laptop, but I'm tempted by various companies so I'm just delaying the decision.

Oh and on the original question, I'm typing on a Dell now that's been working for 4 or 5 years now Hasn't given me many problems.

Originally Posted by Lord Toaster

2GB Memory on a laptop isn't at all bad. Care to say how much it set you back? I'm vaguely thinking about getting a laptop, but I'm tempted by various companies so I'm just delaying the decision.

Oh and on the original question, I'm typing on a Dell now that's been working for 4 or 5 years now Hasn't given me many problems.

Good to here your good feedback on some dell longevity.

The NFIB (National Federation for small businesses) came together to offer very good deals for the month of January 2008.
So notebook ,tax and shipping cost me $579.00
Also small business incentives enable a company an instant write off. Opposed to a 7 year depreciation. But what you don't pay now you pay later. Anyway Lord of the Toast, There are just so many options out there that change so rapidly. I became tired of looking and pricing and paralleling one from the next. So I went with the deal. We will see if it cost me in the long run.

Did I mention that my old computer was the cheapest computer out there at the time. My start up costs were tremendous, so I cut what I felt I could.

A power spec I bought it in 1999!! Nine years later it still works fine. unbelievable.

I have a dell and it's the worst computer I've ever owned. The problems are endless. I'm never getting another dell.

Originally Posted by 27

I have a dell and it's the worst computer I've ever owned. The problems are endless. I'm never getting another dell.

can you elaborate?

Dell do nothing more than assemble stock components together (even laptops)
they don't do any PCB work

Taadaaa oh boy.

I have a Dell Mini 9. It's way better than the eee 701 I used to use, has had Ubuntu reinstalled on it at least 3 times (upgrades, not a required reinstall) and I take it everywhere I go. Cannot complain about it at all. Not bad considering it was second hand.

I also bought a Dell about 4 years ago which I had customised. At far as I know it's still being used by my ex girlfriend without issue (apart from a Windows problem).

This is 2 years old.