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Dell.
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Posted by: Texas Turkey
10 April 2002
While Dell remains one of the top computer assemblers [as opposed to manufacturers as some would believe] of computer components on the planet, from firsthand experience I cannot share others' enthusiasm about Dell.
I purchased my first Dell in 1997, a Dell Latitude Notebook. It never so much as whimpered, never so much as moaned, never so much as squeaked even after a maid in a hotel where I was staying upended the dimunitive Dell and cracked the frame around the LCD. Duct/Duck Tape and bailing wire fixed it and the little Dell kept on keeping on until someone in the San Antonio airport decided they wanted my Latitude, Duct tape and all, more than I did [of couse, the new owner did not examine the contents of the case before he decided he/she wanted the little Dell more than I]. I really miss the ole' Latitude, best damn little note-comp I ever owned.
Then came a Dell Dimension XPS R400 Purchased in February 1998 on the strength of the wonderful experience with the Latitude. Nothing but trouble with Dell since and I will not do business with them anymore after they strung me out beyond the thirty (30) day return period following the purchase of a Dell Lemon,... I mean Inspiron 7500 Briefcase Brick [yea, all 12.5 pounds of it] in 2000]. The overwhelming brick needed rebirth in Malaysia before it was conceived. After four LCD displays, multiple OS/hardware related crashes, and five [yes, count them ... one, two, three, four, five] keyboard replacements I have finally given up on the Brick as it now holds the distinguised title of the only 12.5 lb brick I use as a paper weight that serves to hold down junk mail that I turn to from time to time when I get board. The stack is interspersed with Dell catalogues scattered amongst the other comic books and junk mail occupying the stack.
I fully realize, however, that we all cannot have positive buying experiences at all times.
Dell is definitely for those who are on a winning streak. Good luck with your brick, you may actually need it.
JOHN in Fort Worth
Posted by: Heathen
I don't wanna say that I told people so......
Posted by: Nfested
I seem to have only positive experiences with Dell. They forgot to include the free CD-RW drive when they shipped it out to my house. When I called up and told them after I received my computer, they understood and shipped the CD-RW in the next few weeks. Also, they seemed nice on the phone too.
Posted by: Texas Turkey
I wish you the very best with your new Dell. Remember, however, that you HAVE THIRTY (30) DAYS within which to decide whether you want to keep your Dell or not. If I were you and I had any problems with the performance of the computer or monitor [assuming you purchased one or it came in a bundled package] during the first twenty (20) days, I would send it back and demand that they replace it or refund the purchase price en toto. Better to eat the return shipping costs then the cost of a new system if fails to perform up to expectations.
The good thing about Dell today is that they are offering very good deals on bundled packages. My wife and I gave our son a new Dell desk top for Xmas last year and according to him, it has not whimpered but he is not into pushing a CPU to overclocking limits like his Dad is.
Best of luck.
JOHN B.
TexasLawyer@sbcglobal.net
Posted by: Chako
A friend of my fathers bought a Dell 4 months ago. We found out just recently what he got
when he decided to brag about his good system.
Well.....things I found out quickly when I opened it up.
1) Their new cases are the cheapest I have ever seen. He got the case where you have to flip the
thing on its side, press 2 large buttons (1 on the bottom, 1 on top), and somehow flip the clam
open with a third hand. This things is cheap, flimsy junk. Nothing like their older cases.
2) He paid $1680 for this system. He got a P4 1.5, 128 Megs of PC 133, a 16 meg ATI Rage
video card, a Soundblaster live value. Do you see something wrong with this picture? Admittedly
he doesn't know much about computers, and frankly got seriously taken by this piece of crap
system. Well when he told me what he had inside...I could not believe it...had to go over and
check it out for myself. Yep, they sold him an ATI RAGE 16 meg card ROFLMAO! I then
checked his memory...yep....PC133 LOL! Only 128 megs. ROFL.
3) The thing came with a 20 GB HD. LOL. When I asked him, he bought it off of DELL. DELL
told him this was a good home computer system. They assured him he could play all the latest
games ect...Yeah right!
Needless to say, he now feels like an idiot for buying this piece of junk. I informed him he will
need a new video card, more memory. Possibly a better motherboard (The darn thing only has 3
PCI and is of the MicroATX form factor). I told him that if he wanted to let that processor
(which is all he knew to look for) have some wings, he would need Rambus memory. He wasn't
very happy. When I looked at his HD, he has 3 kids who filled it up to overflowing, there was
only 14 megs left of free space. So I told him he could use a larger HD.
Well, Dell placed the activation key for his operating system (winME)  on the bottom of
his case. It took a few hours to find the darn thing. We were certain that he never received the
code to reinstall the OS. I looked in DELL's manual, and it stated to call them if you wanted to
reinstall it.
From what I saw and have seen in the past, I wouldn't touch a DELL with a 20 foot pole.
Dude your getting a DELL...hell no!
Posted by: Heathen
As previously stated by... well me... I am a service tech for Dell.
One interesting factoid for everyone..... pay attention now:
If you have a problem with your Dell and its under warranty Dell will dispatch a service tech (ME!!) with replacement parts. Sounds like a good deal right.... not until said tech arrives and opens your parts and you see a large yellow sticer on the packet that says.... wait for it.... REFURBISHED .
Thats right peeps... every single part I replace is refurbished.
Dude.... you're getting hosed.
Posted by: Bobaroo
 Quote:
Originally posted by Chako
2) He paid $1680 for this system. He got a P4 1.5, 128 Megs of PC 133, a 16 meg ATI Rage
video card, a Soundblaster live value. Do you see something wrong with this picture? Admittedly
he doesn't know much about computers, and frankly got seriously taken by this piece of crap
system. Well when he told me what he had inside...I could not believe it...had to go over and
check it out for myself. Yep, they sold him an ATI RAGE 16 meg card ROFLMAO! I then
checked his memory...yep....PC133 LOL! Only 128 megs. ROFL.
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That is a lot like Nfested System except he has 256mb PC133 SDRAM and a P4 1.6ghz, and he payed $999.
I can't belive that system like that cost $1680!!! I mean I can build my own Athlon XP, GF4, 80gb HD for about that much.
I still like my Dell P3800 that i got for $1
Posted by: Bobaroo
O yea, and those MIcroATX cases are crap!! They are to small, can only fit one 5.25" bay, and are bad material.
I thought Dell was good and had good prices until I heard about that deal Chako.
Posted by: Texas Turkey
"DELL FOR U', NOT FOR ME."
Frankly, I must take the side of Michael Dell and comment upon his worthiness in producing one of the finest trot line weights in existence today. Keeps the line properly secured to the bottom even in heavy currents. Fends off unwanted bottom feeders like a mofo, and attracts the most odious form of vermin that ever inhabited the deep pools and eddies of our waters down here in Texas.
Yep. Watch my lips, DELL FOR U', NOT FOR ME even though Dell offers a most alluring "clam."
Posted by: Canis Lupus
I bought computers from Dell several times ... once for home use (my first "owned" computer, actually), and around seven times for work. Never really had problems with their systems, although the last time I bought a Dell was a year ago, so I don't really know how much the service and/or the parts have changed by that time...
The one time I bought from Gateway (for work), we had to return it coz of various hard drive defects. Also once from Micron (for work, too), and we also had to bring that back coz of motherboard problems...
Posted by: Nfested
Why are some people getting terrible service with Dell, and some are getting great service? Maybe it all depends on where you live.
Posted by: Chako
You must remember...that was a Dell Canada price Bobaroo.
Frankly, I wasn't impressed. Now he wants upgrades done..and feels seriously taken. I have
offered him my services (free) to help him out.
My first word of advice though was for him to call Dell and find out what his warranty allows. If
it allows me going in there and doing some major work..then so be it...but if it doesn't...he has to
make a decision on either losing his warranty or not. I will know this weekend anyhow.
At least Dell doesn't (or didn't in this case) place little "void if broken" stickers on the case. Got
to love those.
Posted by: Nfested
Quote:
Originally posted by Chako
You must remember...that was a Dell Canada price Bobaroo.
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What is the exchange rate? I think it's every 3 Canadian dollars for 4 US dollars, but I'm not sure.
Posted by: Heathen
WOH!!
$1 (US) = $1.59 Canadian
Our currancy is bad... but not that bad
Posted by: Chako
something like that....I haven't bothered to look it up since I don't go in the US anymore since 911.
Posted by: Fenix2004
I got a Dell a few months ago..I love my Dell
Posted by: Bobaroo
Quote:
Originally posted by Chako
You must remember...that was a Dell Canada price Bobaroo.
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Oh, ok. I didn't think it could be that much in USD.
Posted by: redwench
at that exchange rate, the guy didnt get such a bad deal. he paid about 1k usd. only problem is the video card. hell have to upgrade that to do serious gaming, but otherwise hes fine for a while. its processor is better than mine is.
*plots to kidnap swilo sometime in the fall to upgrade her comp*
Posted by: SKYHN
Some family members just got the Dell Laptop I configured for them. Its totally awesome. Ive never seen such a crisp, sharp, clean and clear screen in my entire life. And everything else on it is great.
Posted by: Chako
Considering that you can build a nice system for around $1500..he got the royal flush.
Posted by: Fenix2004
Quote:
Originally posted by shaggy735
I don't wanna say that I told people so......
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Ha
Posted by: Nfested
I've had my Dell for 5 months now... still works well.
The Help and Support Button doesn't work anymore though 
Posted by: VS40FRESH
My computer which I built myself recieves ~10k on 3dmark2001se, however, my two friends both bought the same dell model for the same price i paid for mine, 1500. One of my friends gets ~5k, and the other recieves ~3k. Theirs came with geforce 3 ti200, p4 2.0, 512mb ram, cd-rw, 80gb hdd, 17" monitor, preiphs, etc... With those kinds of components, compared to mine listed in my sig, I'd have to say they got totally ripped off. And just why is it, they both recieve drastically different 3dmark2001se scores? Dell = pathetic.
Posted by: summars
Problem Resolved
Posted by: Whifflebat
I think the thing about dell is that their low end systems are just as crappy as all the other low end system markets, but their higher end systems rock. We've got an 866mhz dell at home that is an absolute dream. It NEVER crashes, it is plenty quick for what my dad does, and gives him no problems whatsoever. Dad also has a company issued laptop thats a dell and is the same way, no problems at all, and its a nice laptop, i've used it a ocuple times. Thats my 2 cents.
Posted by: summars
Problem Resolved
Posted by: AOTY2KB
Down with Dell!
They kill us small town resellers! We've been selling computers for over 25 years (6th company in world to sell Commadore PET and 64s) but every year things gets worse thanks to Dell and Staples eating up the market share. My friends have Dell's but most of them hate the machines thanks to the tech support, shipping problems and machine malfunctions. I find they seem to launch the latest and greatest equipment, well before other name brand computers, but end up with the most problems as they don't spend much time to check for incompatibilites and software bugs.
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