Dell vs GW

[SAHALL98]

OK, I know this is the easy way out, but overall how would you rate Dell against Gateway for PC performance? It looks like Dell gives better stuff for about the same money.

[daveleau]

They are both good companies and I have used both. My forst higher powered PC was a GW and we got several Dells at work about the same time. I can't say about performance b/c the ones at work were Pnt. Pro 200s and mine was a PII-233. (mine was faster) I like both systems. I would give an edge to Dell b/c you do get better parts but I like GW's service because I kept their monitor when I sold my GW system to build my own and when the GW monitor went out after 2.5 yrs they replaced with absolutely no problems and even paid for all of the shipping.

[shnikey]

I think Dell is better. My parents have had a Dell for five years now and nothing has broken, nothing. It also rarely crashes, I am talking like 7 times since they bought it. My friends bought a GW four months ago, not to long after he bought it stuff was breaking, not hardware, but software. It wasn't him either because he did not load any extra software on it. Just my opion, Dell is better.
Shnikey

[LordLocksley]

I don't know about GW, but w/ all of the info I have about Dell, I would buy a Dell if I could afford it. They will give phone tech supt. for as ling as you own the computer. There warentee is excelent @ 3yrs for HW replacement.
I recomend Dell (hope this helps)

[jman01pa]

I never dealt with Dell much until recently. I installed 150 new Dell PC's and a Dell server at work and not a single problem. In the past you could not have convinced me that any company could hold that kind of QC. I am now a great fan of Dell. Go with the Dell!

[Sweeper]

If you have to buy instead of build I would suggest Gateway. I have 2 systems. My first system I received a little over a year ago and have had great success with it. I just purchased another Gateway system (Celeron 400MHz) system with some goodies added on it and it runs very well. My first system was a pentium II 350 with a Velocity 4400 AGP card.
After the warrenty ran out I put in a Viper770 Ultra and a Pentium III 450 updated the Bios and the MB accepted them both with NO problems. Only thing I haven't liked (but you have to expect it) there MB's don't allow for overclocking. So there you have another opinion. /forum/smile.gif

[T-rex]

I agree with Sweeper. Gateway has good systems , my stepdaughter got one a few days ago. Had no problems with it (yet),(meaning windows).

[Mntsnow]

Both of these companys put out good systems. I personally have had both at work. Right now we are running Dell's as they offered our company the best value for the amount of systems we bought last year (500+ systems) They are replacing Gateways. But we never had major problems with Gateway (they just didnt offer a low enough bid to keep our business)

Mntsnow

[Pollux]

I bought a new pIII 550 gateway about 2 months ago and it was absolutely the worst computer i've ever owned. Everything about it seemed to be breaking by the time i finally sent it back for a full refund. Originally it came with just a TNT2 instead of a TNT2 ultra, and the wrong speakers. If somebody who didn't know a lot about computers had gotten this in the mail they could've been ripped off for about $300. Also, they send me the wrong soundcard when i upgraded and when i called to ask why they said because the other one was backordered. that's not the service i expect. Also the monitor had to be replaced as well as the zip drive and the dvd drive before i got fed up enough to completely return it.

Gateway is expanding to quickly and there quality is going way down. I was very disappointed because i've known several people who have bought gateways in the last couple years who are ecstatic, however both the product and the service i got for my money were absolutely atrocious.

That's why i'm now building my own system this time /forum/wink.gif.

[U-96]

I have to agree with Pollux.

***** HERESY ALERT *****

Build your own. You know what goes into it, and you get EXACTLY what you want. Normally for less. Can't argue with that. That's what I did, and I haven't regretted it for one second. The ONLY reasons for Dell/Gateway etc are that you get a warranty (which you would get on individual components anyway) and they normally bundle OEM software (Win98, Office etc) far more cheaply than you could buy.

Research your components well and you won't be disappointed. And you stand a greater chance of sysopting them /forum/smile.gif

U-96

[pickel]

A year ago today, I knew absolutely nothing about computers. Not that I claim to know alot now. I read the computer shopper, ect.,
ect. with all the big names and deals, When I finally bought one , on a hunch, not ever having heard of this company, I bought a Pionex k6-2 3d, 64 meg, 6.4hd. And that was that. Long about April stuff started happening. Lost IE, 'go to' was gone' programs disappered. I was starting to literally go nuts.Thought I was have to send it in for an overhaul, at least, a new Hdd or
something. Then I called tech support. and was I ever suprised. I spent almost all nighton the phone with 2 different technicans
reformated the Hdd, installed,windows got my modem working properly, and talked to me in such a manner where I didn't feel like I was an idiot costumer keeping him from his coffee
break. I can't express how grateful I was and how self satisfied I was for having choose a company who put you and your computer first . Since that night my computer, with the exception of one probleM, which I found was software, is a pleasure to have. I feel like I'm riding my bike, in harmony.Not many people I know have ever heard of this company, but I'm glad I took a chance. I o'clocked from 300 to 350 and with help of some other programs, it really cruises on the net and as I have
previuosly said my wife bringshome files and
depositions when thigs get overloaded at work
says she wishes she had my computer there and
She has a Dell in the office!! On the o'clock, also with the help of you fine fellas here at Sysopts. Didn't want you to think I wasn't grateful.

the pickel

[KillerBug]

Dell is better, my friend got a gateway system, seemed good enough at first, but about 1 year into operation, 1 speeker, the ram, the sound, the modem, and even the keyboard died.