Opinions : Dell Computer

[brandon184]

Hi, If you own or have ever used/owned a dell computer, I'd like to know what your opinion on the dell computer corporation? what are your experiences?

[Nathan]

Are you looking to buy/sell one?

[AuraEdge]

I believe in my opinion that Dell is the most respectible brand name computer company, second being gateway. Dell offers grerat service, and a great price relative to the other brand name company. Gateway's is a good company too, but they tend to make you pay for it. Gateway comps are more expensive than Dells with same stuff. Compaq is **** (thats my old comp). They have bad inner case configuration (God I hate them all in one motherboards), and lower-than-par service. HP also sits on the great pedestal of **** with Compaq. ABS computers (www.buyabs.com) have great deals on comps, giving you everything youll ever need AND more for a good price. They arent as brand name as dell or gateway, but they did get the desktop of the year award from computer shopper magizine. Id say pick one of these up if u plan on buying a comp (the 3-4 bucks u pay for one is well worth the 500 or so pages of info and ad's for computers and computer parts in it). Well I would love to order from ABS, but my cash flow problem forced me to build my own comp (cant say im dissapointed though http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif )

[Davek]

Look out for the low profile Dells with the sideways card stack. If you think Compaq has outrageous prices for proprietary parts try a Dell motherboard.

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

We have several Compaq in the shop that I will be glad to mail to you. A few motherboards that will make your life miserable with the onboard video and sound, hundreds of problems trying to install Windows Nt.
Dell is excellent as a Server Machine but they don't really build for the home users.
In my opinion, Gateway is really an overrated and over price computer.
Micron is also an excellent system but not for regular home users.
With the money that you pay for one of the proprietary brand name computer you can build two of non proprietary. Remember that was the real beginning of the computer (open architecture and non proprietary design) It was the big mistake from IBM.
By the way, Gateway used to have a great customers service. Lately they are behaving like Packard Bell.

[This message has been edited by ANTONIO E GUERRA (edited 05-10-99).]

[Bleeding Edge]

Antonio.

Please, if you will, expand on your comment bout Dell not "really building for home users."

Are you making the observation that their server products are better built than their home/business products and that Dell mainly makes PCs for business? Or their home/business products aren't too good?

I still hear their support is top notch.

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

This is only my personal opionion. I would say better: their machines are not really designed for a customer with a limited budget in mind. Think about Michael Dell position about the 1,000.00 business computers, he does not want because they don't have prices to compete. Dell left that market to Compaq, Hewlett Packard and Gateway.Michael Dell knows his market and he is aiming for the business industry not really the regular consumer. Gateway changed that strategy and they want to acquire the small business and the microsoft office applications' users. In addition, they are very well regarded among the pc-gamers that appreciate the use of the celeron chips in their computers. In terms of my comments about Servers and Workstation unit, I am very prejudice in terms of their quality. I have seen their servers and workstation working in a graphic design environment and it was really amazing.

[AuraEdge]

Dells are for people who want to spend around 2000 for top end (read: PIII not Cel, K6-2) One dell stands out in my mind. Theres a 1999 one w/ P3 500 with great features. At this point in time, if u desperatly need a new comp, Id say go for Cel unless your willing to shell out 2000. Sure P3 will lead to next gen. Sure the extra instructions are good. But with an extra 500-1000 in your pocket from shelling out for a Cel instead of a P3, you can go for a P3 or the next big thing later. Money in the pocket is worth more than money in a machine. Im sure anymid-high classes citizen could afford a Viper or sumthing listed at ~85000 i think (Theymight hafta starve themselves but thats besides the point) SO its either a viper and gettin starved, or a used running decent lookin car and at least 80000 more in your pocket. Speed aint everything ya know.

[MadMax]

ALL OEMs are junk. They build their machines to maximize profit, like any good business would. ALL of them scam the user with bait and switch type deception adds and most of them use proprietary parts that are outrageously high priced when purchased individually. If you are here, I would assume that you like to build/tweak/play w/ your pc, OEM units are not built for you. They build them as a WYSIWYG system that you should throw in the dumpster thirty seconds after the warranty has expired because at that point it's already dead. You want opinions? Buy a clone or, better yet, build your own. It's cheaper, more reliable, fun (maddening) and you have MUCH greater flexibility to get the exact sys config you want/need.

[Bleeding Edge]

Thank you, Antonio. For the clarification.