What does everybody think of Dell?

fabsroman · #1 12-15-2005, 11:51 PM

My desktop computer is 4 1/2 years old and going haywire. So, I am in the market for a new one. I also own a Dell laptop that is about 2 years old and except for Norton acting screwy, it seems to be holding up pretty well. Knock on wood.

Then, there is my brother's Dell desktop which is a little over a year old. The harddrive has already crashed once, replaced by Dell, but I spent the entire day reloading software on the harddrive because that wasn't covered by Dell. Getting Dell to give him a new harddrive was like pulling teeth. I cannot tell you how many people I spoke to with Indian accents , the number of times I got disconnected, and the number of times I was referred to telephone numbers that were no longer in service. That entire process was rather frustrating. Now, just recently he has encountered some corruption on the harddrive that does not allow the computer to boot up Windows XP.

My aunt recently asked me to order a new ink cartridge for her Dell printer and she brought the cartridge over. It had the part number on it and I provided this to the Indian Dell rep over the phone, but he said he needed the model # of the printer before he could order it because that part # applied to 3 different printers. I tried to explain to him that the 3 printers probably used the same ink tank, but he just couldn't understand it. I even gave him my aunt's name, address, and telephone number, which he had in his system. He could even see when the computer was purchased. I asked him to look at what printer was purchased because my aunt was at my place and had no idea what the model # was and he said there was no way for him to know based upon what was showing on the computer. Needless to say, the ink cartridge is still sitting on my desk downstairs.

What is the reliability like on Dell desktops? Is my brother's situation and anomaly or is it the norm? The reason I ask is because I have found a decent buy on Dell's website for a Pentium 4 E510 with a 19" LCD screen and my wife gets a discount because she is a Target employee. I am seriously debating pulling the trigger on this purchase because this is going to be my office computer and I am going to build another computer as our personal desktop. Problem is that I cannot have an unreliable office computer.

rubicon · #2 12-16-2005, 05:10 AM

I have had a Dell for three years now and it has held up ok but I have had the same problem ordering ink. I even tried ordering ink elsewhere (Lexmark) but even though the cartridges are the same, with the same #s on them the computer will not recognize them. I finally bought a new printer

royinidaho · #3 12-16-2005, 07:35 AM

Have a Dell server (desk top) and have upgraded several times. Faithful for years. Am sticking with Dell. Am running two LCD monitors on both the desktop (server kind of thing) and the laptop. Other than the standard Microsoft problems every thing as been good.

However, I'm switching to a Mac Mini to connect to it. I'm tired of spam and viruses. They'll run anything a PC will then some. Then my laptop can be used as just a laptop.

FWIW.

skeet · #4 12-16-2005, 09:10 AM

Have had 3 Dell computers now. No real trouble...but like you trying to talk to someone on the phone is frustrationg. I really can't understand them very well. And they think they speak excellent English. They certainly don't understand idiomatic?? English. The only problem I have had was a bad modem...and I'm not really certain it was bad. The tech guy that came out said ..well, we'll replace it anyway. But he was a local guy. Talked to Dell in Texas and expressed my concerns about outsourcing tech support to India. They told me they are reconsidering that because of all the complaints..but that may have just been bulls***. Think I am going to have my next computer built locally.. but you really will find it hard to beat the prices they are selling computers for now days from Dell. BTW Had a couple Gateway comps too. Nothing but problems for me.

GoodOlBoy · #5 12-16-2005, 09:13 AM

I will jump in since I am responsible for around 3000+ of the durned things.

1 For the price you wont get a better machine. (For twice the price buy Alienware, and you will have a better machine, but it is literally twice the price for the same specs)

IF You are currently buying a dell (This info is only good for the next 47 seconds until they change the product line again.)

The best deals are currently on the Optiplex 520 series. Just be sure to go with the P4 processor not the celeron that is on there by default. Their 17" ultrasharp LCDs rock. And whatever you do NEVER EVER buy one of the slimline/conpact cases. They overheat and eat Hard Drives like mad. Also Always buy the four year support with four year gold support. When the warranty is up then any other service you get out of the machine is gravey.

Fabs Email me if you want me to show you the specs on what we usually buy from them.

GoodOlBoy

denton · #6 12-16-2005, 10:47 AM

Dell makes good computers, but their customer service is the absolute worst. Complaints about their customer service are popping up on the blogs, and other places on the web.

We recently had a problem with a Dell laptop in our company, and got a follow-up questionnaire on how satisfied we were with the customer service. The answer: We liked our Dell fine until we had to deal with your customer service. Now, we will never buy another one.

fabsroman · #7 12-16-2005, 11:11 AM

What is hilarious is that Dell is advertising that they have been voted #1 in customer service. Yeah, maybe 10 years ago.

GOB,

The computer I am looking at is the Dell Dimension E510 with a Pentium 640 chip in it, 256K of memory, a 80 gig serial ATA harddrive, a cheap video card, a 13 iin 1 flash card reader, a "free" 19" LCD screen, and a "free" color Dell 720 printer for the price of about $850 with my wife's discount. I have no idea what the rest of the specs are.

The memory sucks, but it costs $430 to upgrade to 4 gigs. I can get the 4 gigs of memory for $240 from an on-line retailer which is a lot better than paying Dell for it. Regarding the video card, I didn't really see an option on Dell's wedsite that I like, so I will just drop a couple hundred dollars on a new video card from the same on-line retailer.

Tater · #8 12-16-2005, 12:44 PM

We've got 2 (desktop and laptop) and, other than normal Microsoft problems, haven't really had a major problem. When I first got my laptop I trouble with the CDROM. I called their customer service and the rep talked me through some troubleshooting. After a while he realized that it was a problem that required sending it in and they had it back to me 8 days after I sent it and it was working great. Seems like a pretty stable machine as far as what I use mine for and my one customer service call went pretty good. I plan going through Dell again when I need (want

) another computer and would recommend Dell to anyone else. FWIW

tooldummy · #9 12-16-2005, 03:08 PM

We have Dell at the company I work for. The old one I used caused absolutely no problems, but the new one we replaced it with crashes several times a day. The computer guru's say it's something to do with Windows XP and the Outlook system we run. But I don't know. I wouldn't trade my Compaq for it.

jmarriott · #10 12-16-2005, 10:22 PM

A local company can't come close to the price of a dell Spec for spec,BUt If you got a local company that can give you walk/carry-in service that's probably a better choice if you trust them. Dell is making a profit by turning lots of boxes and plasmas. Sending Quality Custom Service jobs out of austin Texas or India.

I second Alienware if one want a dedicated Graphics or Game Machine.

The truth is Neither makes as good a machine Qualitywise as they did just a few years ago. They are now a basic 2 year expense and if it breaks toss it and buy new. In the 1980's we looked at repairing or replacing every 5 years.

It is often cheaper to send you a brand new replacement PC then send out a repair tech twice and ship the parts.

Dell had me a tape drive replacement form one of my servers in two hours from when i called it in.

Still I buy my boxes from the Local dealer I have been associated with for 13 years. I Go AMD chips Myself and I try to get just quality/tested setups. One case might not be real good with a certian motherboard or fan setup allowing the north bridge memory to fail. He's the expert I let him keep me from making cheap choices.

GoodOlBoy · #11 12-19-2005, 11:44 AM

Fabs just make sure you can get the SAME ram for the cheaper price. Not all memory is created equal, and usually a great deal isn't. I buy all my ram from www.crucial.com because it always has a lifetime warranty and in seven years of doing buisness with them I have not gotten an out of specification modual yet!

GoodOlBoy

fabsroman · #12 12-20-2005, 03:16 AM

GOB,

I usually buy my memory from www.mwave.com and just compared the prices of the site you gave me with the memory listed on mwave. Now, about all I know is that the Mwave memory is listed as DDR2 PC2 4200 533 mhz and it sells for something like $64 for a 1 GB chip. The same thing on the site you have me sell for something like $106. Is there anything I am missing? Are there other specs other than the ones above that would really matter to me?

I know a lot more about shotguns than I do about computers. Seems as though I know just enough about everything to get myself in trouble.

GoodOlBoy · #13 12-20-2005, 10:09 AM

Well you have to consider latency, ram speed, and other factors. Also what kind of warranty does mwave offer? Crucial warranties their ram for as long as you own it. Some of the great offer places I have found don't warranty the memory at all, if you get it in and it is bad then you are out of luck. Its up to you buddy, I am just saying be careful.

BTW latency affects speed. A 400mhz cl3 ram chip runs more than a little slower than a 400mhz cl1 does, and noticably slower than a 400mhz cl2. Also how much heat does their ram generate? Will you need to add heat sinks to their ram? Do they come with the heat sinks for free if needed? Do you have to add them yourself?

Dell typically takes care of this themselves if you order the additional ram from them, unless of course you buy a formfactor/compact/slimline.

GoodOlBoy

Jabba · #14 12-20-2005, 10:29 AM

I have a Dell desktop and a Dell lap top.

They have both been very good.

I agree about talking to Majiboob in tech service. I heard that they no longer sub to India, but still employ many Indians here in America for the job.

Jabba