Are Dells good?

[Hawkeye178]

I was wondering if Dell makes good computers.

[Hawkeye178]

What do you think the best pc out there is?

[eweruk]

Home built machines are best!!! You know what is in them and with half decent research can make them very stable.

[msbrown2]

Definitely a custom home-built PC is the best. You can pick EVERYTHING. It doesnt take long thanks to sites like this and tomshardware.com to understand everything.

[Mr.Goodbytes]

The best custom-built computers not self-built are made at Alienware (http://www.alienware.com) . If you want an extremely stable and fast system made by a company that provides the best customer service, buy yours there.

Can't spell to save my life.

[This message has been edited by Mr.Goodbytes (edited 06-25-2001).]

[spidey_joe80@hotmail.com]

I know alot of people like dell but i kinda hate them. You hear alot of "but they have great service" they really dont the tech reps on there lines dont know didly (well there are a few that do) most dont even know much about computers and they just read out of a book. I would say the best built pc's are Falcon hands down there also one of the most expansive. They really know what there doing there. and i think there a little better than alienware.

[Yar1182]

I think Dell has the hands down all in one desktop replacement laptops. For ultralight laptops Toshiba is best.

As far as desktops go if you are not going to build your own get a Dell or Gateway. That is if you don't have the money for an Alienware, Falcon northwest or Voodoo. Those are specialty game rigs so I think they should be in a different class. If I had to buy one of the two I have to admit I'd buy the gateway because they let you open the case to do your own upgrades and troubleshooting. If you open a Dell case you void the warrantee. If you do this you can cover your tracks by resetting a BIOS switch.

If you get either a Dell or Gateway purchase them through the employee purchase program. If you work for a small, med, or large business you get a discount and special tech support numbers. For example if you "claim" you work for UPS you get 10% off your purchase and 50% off shipping from Dell, and 5% off total, $100 off shipping from gateway. The real benefit is the customer support number. You get the one that corporate buyers and IT departments use. The longest I've ever been on hold is 1 minute and the techs definitely know their stuff. Not the regular run of the mill idiots on the regular support lines.

[fshanda]

I have an XPST700R PIII on our home network and it has never given us any trouble. It has been a good stable and reliable computer for my wife. I am also in agreement that the best system is the one you build yourself. I have a few homebuilds under my belt and will never buy a prebuilt system again. Plus its a lot of fun putting them together.

Fshanda http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[F4_Hunter]

My father has owned five dell computers and they've all run well (two of them extremely well). Yep they are a good buy.

I'm not letting him buy a sixth cause I'm building that one! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Hawkeye178]

I want to build my own system because it's cheaper and fun to put together but my wants to buy a pre-built because he thinks something is going to go wrong with the self built system. I'm gonna keep on trying to convince him though, Thanks http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif.

Hawkeye178

[neodave]

Cheaper to build is a matter of opinion. You will probably be better off from the quality aspect, but rest assured you will end up spending more than you anticipate. A couple bucks here and a couple there to up the quality will quickly shoot you over budget.
That being said however, I'd still build. If nothing else it's a great learning experience.

PS. Dell was rated fairly high with Consumer Reports

neodave

[Richard_Cranium72]

Dell is without a doubt a very good computer.

However, with pre-built PC's you get a ton of background TSR's that you cannot disable.

This increased the boot time of my Pentium 3, 800mhz, Dell with 128 RAM to a FULL 2 minutes.

On the contrast, I have a 366 Homebuilt unit, o/c to 412mhz, 128 RAM, 7200 HD and it boots in 25 seconds flat !

Likewise the speed of opening icons and misc programs is as quick on the 412 or quicker than the 800mhz Dell.

My Dell did NOT void the warranty by opening the case as the instruction manual gave specific instructions as how to do so.
There was NO "anti-tamper" tape strip or switch to tell on you.

DrVette

[MiKe85]

Dells make good computers, and have good customer service.

I've heard a lot of hype and "mumbo-jumbo" about Alienware..Never personally used one myself..

[Warthog]

Alienware is wicked expensive and does not directly compete with Dell. They are each going after a different crowd.

tech reps on there lines dont know didly

What do you expect when a company has to fill 8,000 tech support jobs? Ever look at the other companies?

I and others have had a wonderful experience with Dell. If you do pre-built, go Dell.

Warthog

[Ruahrc]

Well I guess it boils down to what you want your computer for. Hardware-wise, preconstructs are just as good as home brews with the exception that home brews offers customization to a level way beyond what a preconstrcut can offer. This ability can save you some money or help you build a computer that is more suited to your needs. Me, I know about computers and like digging into mine to add hardware/tweak/whatever. Cracking a prefab usually voids the warranty, which defeats the purpose of getting one in the first place.

If you want a PC that works and is good and you never want to worry about it or if anything goes wrong you can get help, (what help the average tech support person is) then go pre-fab. If you want to learn about computers and build your own, it is my opinion that once you do it you won't look back.

Just remember that I learned what I learned more by tinkering and doing rather than just reading.

Ruahrc

[msbrown2]

Better than Gateways atleast! Well I'd have to say that I have seen fewer problems with Dell than with Packard Bells (imagine that) and other pre-fab systems. Its basically how much system customization and Customer Service you want. If you know what you are doing then try someone like Aberdeeninc.com to get it exactly how you like it and at a cheaper price then Dell. Just my 2cp. [hehe, guess I've been posting on too many EQ boards lately]

[This message has been edited by msbrown2 (edited 06-25-2001).]

[daveleau]

When it comes to pre-made systems, I thinkg it is a toss-up between Dell and Gateway. I prefer Gateways solely based on the fact that they signed deals with AMd to carry their processors. I would never buy a Pentium 4 from Dell (nor any P4), but I would buy a PIII or earleir from them. Their systems and customer service are in the top 2.

Dave

[marc666]

If I had to buy a pre-fab sys it would be Dell have seen few problems with plus any software you buy from them they send you all the copys.

[RustyGT]

We see many, in commercial sites, Banks etc.
Where they were probably bought on price, and hardly stressed, used as word processors.
I'm sure Dell offered better fare to the home market, check the specs.
The bigger names are better placed to cater to the 'non tech' market. Let them have the wty support dramas.
A well specced 2nd hand box, at the rite price, would be worth a look.
Can't beat a DIY, for mine. R.

[sharder8]

Personally, I have an IBM Aptiva, a custom build by Altima, and I am building a new computer for my daughter.

I have heard many horror stories about the IBM Aptiva's, but mine has been one GREAT little work horse. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif (The kids give it the torture test everyday!) Yes, I've tweaked the hell out of it and OC'ed it from 380MHz to 450MHz and then back to current 400MHz, all without a complaint. I had one problem with it, the MoBo went out at 10 mo., I trouble shot it, called Tech Support and told them what I'd done and found, and had a shipping box on my doorstep the next morning. I received the computer back a week later, fixed, and no charges for anything. IBM has been rated at #1 or #2 for Tech and Customer Support for the last several years, and I can attest to their work. (I even bought one for my sister and she's had nothing but praise for her IBM.)

I've used Dell's and Gateways, and they are both great machines. If I had to buy a pre-built again, it would be a Gateway only because Dell (in its stupidity) won't use AMD. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif That said, Dell has the better TS and CS of the two and as well they should since Intel won't support anything built by Dell. (Any problem, even specific Intel chipset or processor problem, Intel will send you back to Dell. I know this for a fact because I used to work on the Intel account at a TS and CS Center.)

Harder

[eweruk]

I have received one of our "old" Dell machines, PIII 600, and have installed W2K Pro on it. I am running QIII, CounterStrike, Descent 3, Freespace 2, NFS....and great performance. I prefer custom build boxes myself however I never refuse free machines. I would think a Dell configured OS could be slow however after a clean install, no issues.

[seanc]

From what I hear from word-of-mouth is that Dell workstations aren't that great. But their servers are excellent, once you get by the initial setup hump that everyone I know of deals with.

Sean

[Warthog]

FORGET a Dell if there is even the SLIGHTEST amount of gaming or multimedia use involved.

ummmmmmmm you forgot one thing: the explanation.

I use my Dell for gaming constantly. Why would it be any different than any other system??

The difference between this and a homebuilt system is that a homebuilt is cheaper and you can customize it more. I wouldn't say there are any performance decreases in a pre-built besides any hidden apps that are running in the background.

Warthog

[Dputiger]

I don't buy Dell for two reasons:

1) They offer only Intel equipment.

2) I have configured equivalently performing machines from Alienware and found them cheaper.

Until Dell offers a better price/performance ratio than what I can buy elsewhere, forget it.

[vintron]

My cousin has a Dell system at his home and he HATES it.
90% of the systems at my work are Dell and we al love em.

So, this is my advice to u...... get a Dell if u want stability and the ONLY use of the system is serious business stuff.

FORGET a Dell if there is even the SLIGHTEST amount of gaming or multimedia use involved.

Dell sucks for ANYTHING other than serious business use.

(i have seen it myself)

[LiLRiceBoi]

They are kind of expensive.

But the have "award winning" tech support

[JnMHayes]

Dell expensive? I bought a P3-933 for under $950 a few months ago (sans monitor). I could not find a Gateway similarly equipped for anywhere near that price.

Void the warranty by opening the box? That's stupid. Does Ford void the warranty if you open the hood? (maybe GM)

I'm not a big time gamer but my son is quite satisfied with the gaming performance, playing FS2, Descent 3, etc.

Build-your-own was not an option. I built our last one and based on that experience, the family voted to get a Dell.

Jn