Milo Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I need a bit of advice please! For a while now I have been thinking about replacing my PC; it is a Gateway P3 500Mhz (1999 vintage) running Win 98 SE. It has never let me down but it is getting a bit long in the tooth and I fancy something new. My company have just announced they have teamed up with Dell to provide a choice of 5 discounted packages (I don't know any other details yet other than the discount is 5-10% off the normal list). The good bit is we pay for them through our flexible benefits scheme; I get the package immediately and pay for it over 12 months direct from my salary but the payment is deducted from my gross salary. This means I don't pay tax on the monthly payment saving me a total of around 50% on Dell's list price I have had a look at Dell's website and it seems there are some pretty good packages available which if I can get for half price, makes them very attractive. The problem is I had a search through the TSN archives and their seems to be mixed opinions on quality and customer service. As long as the quality is good I'm not bothered about customer service as I hopefully won't be needing them So, does anyone have first hand experience or knowledge of Dell's products and the quality i.e. laptops, desktops, monitors etc. Any feedback would be helpful thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I've had two desktops and one laptop through Dell. The quality is good enough for me and I've never had a problem, either with the equipment or the service. So I'll probably stick with them for my next PC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Our company has many Dell PC's. I've bought a few myself and they are good machines. The laptops aren't as good as other brands, but their desktops take some beating. Customer service is OK. It's your typical outsourced call centre in god knows where. It's hit and miss if you get someone who can speak English enough to assist you, but thankfully - things don't go wrong that often. As I said, we've had 1,000's of Dell desktops and many laptops. The screens go first on the laptops but we suspect that's due to staff mistreatment of the kit. The desktops seem to go on and on, although nothing is perfect so you do get the odd powersupply failre. Overall, one of the better brands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si_GTi Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 We supply Dell solutions from where I work too. Apart from the odd mainboard failure on a couple of Dimension systems, we've had no trouble with them. We mainly supply desktops, and as Sparky says they seem to just soldier on without breaking down I like them. The only reason I don't have a Dell at home is that I custom-built my PC for my own needs (but I don't have the luxury of a warranty now!) Recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I know that many large corporations use Dell, Unilever, Pepsico to name a few... so they must be good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinc Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I look after IT stuff on a number of small sites, mainly Dell systems, no real problems, they mostly all last well past the warranty with no probs. Personally I think the Optiplex range is slightly more reliable than Dimension & Optiplex generally have 3 year warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Have had a couple of Dells as had my Dad and no problems with any of them. One thing to have a look at is the Dell outlet site. Basically you can get kit at much lower cost than it is on the main site. The items might have been delivered and sent back for some reason and then they get fully tested or there was a problem with a component, it then gets replaced and they do another full test of the kit. I got a new Dell 5000 with 3Ghz Proc, 1Gb memory, sound card and memory card reader and nice sized HD and ok graphics card for £412 delivered. The same kit speced up on the main site would have been just short of £900. Oh and by the way its VERY VERY quiet, when running with the new case design. Almost as quiet as my laptop. When I first showed it to my Dad he didn't believe it was switched on until I turned the screen on. So have a look at that first it might even beat the saving through the company. A few on TSN have followed suit and got great kit for basement prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Our company has just decided to move away from Dell to HP/Compaq. They messed up on us with (I think) the Optiplex GX280's - USB ports blew up if you attached certain devices to them (printers / scanners etc). Big loss for Dell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I got a Dell Penntium 4 at work and a Dell laptop at home. The aftersales service is good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Now to pi55 on the euphoria.......... We had Tosh laptops and Compaq Dekstops when I joined my company. We then moved to Dell and signed a global agreement (I think) for Opti's and Lattitudes. 6 months later, the agreement was in tatters, and we have now moved over to HP/Compaq for laptops and desktops. I must admit, the Dell desktops are OK. The laptops are the cheapest pieces of sh1t I have ever had the mispleasure to come across. This was for the C-Series stuff. The touch pads go awry causing the mouse to shoot off the screen, the plastics are wafer thin and we have some cases that have melted areas on them???? Cracks appear on the edges near the touchpad too (but only from the ladies usage??). The screens are fine though, as are the hard discs. The price was low, but we found that you got what you paid for. So, back to 'real' laptops. For dekstops, they are fine. Laptops - na! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frodo Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Agree desktops solid and well constructed at a very price. Laptops to be avoided in favour of Tosh or IBM. I just bought a Dell for our 4 year old step-son and it is very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted October 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 Thanks for the feedback; it's a lot more positive than I expected to be honest. I think I would be go for a desktop rather than a laptop as it suits my situation a lot more. It seems from reading the above the desktops seem very reliable and will give little or no bother. I won't find out what the package deals are until 7th November but I will probably be coming back to you all for advice then One of the packages I looked at on the website included a 19" LCD screen. I have been looking at buying a 19" screen anway for around £250 so it effecively means I would only be paying around £200/£250 for actual PC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skifly Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 personally after buying dell desktops / laptops etc and comparing them to others i would probably avoid dell for a lappy but would be quite happy with a dell desktop - so much so i bought one for my dad a few weeks back. Not a high spec but got it or £269 i think... spec: 5100 case with a P4 2.8 256mb mem 80GB 7200 HDD CDRW / DVD combo mouse, keyboard etc... All good except for the badge on the case needed some superglue as it vibrated? Good enough for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skifly Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 oh for a lappy i would go with compac / hp or whatever name they use now as some of the business ones are awsome. I have an NC4000 and its great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si_GTi Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 If you spec a 19" TFT with your new Dell you won't regret it, IMHO they are fantastic. I've got an E173FP 17" panel and am looking for a good deal on the 19" 1905FP (it's the one with height-adjustable stand) to upgrade. Should have one by the end of the month! Can't wait... Regarding laptops, we've had no problems yet apart from one of my colleagues spilling water over her D505 but Toshibas seem to be cheaper and better, my Dad buys Toshiba for the school he works at and can't get enough of 'em! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 Had a Dell Inspirion 8200 for over 4 years now, the battery is shot (I left it plugged in on charge for 3 weeks while on holiday which is pretty bad for them) but apart from that its as good as new, never even had a reinstall of Windows on it! It hasn't been abused but it has fallen out of its laptop case once (forgot to zip it up and picked it up ) and no cracks, just the slightest scratch on the lid. The cheaper laptops such as the Inspirion 1100 series which a friend bought aren't as well built but that goes with the territory on a budget laptop, costs are cut. We use Optiplex desktop systems and Precission laptops in our key note kits and they are always absolutely rock solid. The school my mum works at has a bunch of old Pentium Pro based Optiplex workstations that are still alive and kicking after almost 10 years. Also, just bought myself an 2005FPW and its gorgeous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 I got a whole range of dell kit here... 2x 17" TFT 1700FP monitors 1x 19" TFT 1905FP 1x 20" TFT 2000FP Dell C600 laptop Dell Optiplex SX270 Dell Optiplex SX260 2x DELL 5.1 surround systems Mostly from outlet stores, except for the laptop which is company supplied. Not a problem with any of it. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 IMO the laptop's aren't so well made (my Compaq has done far more many 'miles' than the Dell I used to have, and to be honest the Dell's dropping to bits) but these days a desktop is a desktop. Good prices and good machines in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durrsaku Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 We use Dell systems at work and i use a dell laptop at home. They are good with the level of abuse they take from our students. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Our company has just decided to move away from Dell to HP/Compaq. They messed up on us with (I think) the Optiplex GX280's - USB ports blew up if you attached certain devices to them (printers / scanners etc). Big loss for Dell. [/ QUOTE ] my old company moved did the reverse shortly before I left - I'm sure it was a reasoned move and nothing to do with our CEO being on the board of Dell ? The new company I'm with is 100% Dell for Desktop and Laptop - all going well so far ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Our company has just decided to move away from Dell to HP/Compaq. They messed up on us with (I think) the Optiplex GX280's - USB ports blew up if you attached certain devices to them (printers / scanners etc). Big loss for Dell. [/ QUOTE ] Same here. Just moved over to HP and Dell have noticed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianFD3S Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 Macintosh are better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Macintosh are better... [/ QUOTE ] Oh yeah great for playing the latest games and having compatability with most of the rest of the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianFD3S Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 thank you, my point exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted October 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2005 I thought it seemed too good to be true The details of the scheme have been released today. They do not include model numbers as "they're new models yet to be released by Dell and won't be generally available until January 2006". When I read the details of the scheme though it is not quite how it was first described to us. The opening paragraph reads: [ QUOTE ] This year we've introduced an exciting new benefit, Home Computers, through the government sponsored Home Computing Initiative. This gives you the opportunity to select a PC or laptop to use at home, and at the same time take advantage of the tax and National Insurance Savings. You can choose from three PCs and two laptops, all of which are the latest models from Dell. You have the option to include a printer and Futuremedia, our chosen supplier, will arrange internet access if you need it. The package also includes all of the following: 3 Year Warranty Panda Platinum internet security pre-loaded and three year anti virus updates XP Home Edition operating system £50 worth of tax free software and accessories. Dedicated Helpdesk support for three years Expert home installation Microsoft Office Professional 2003 [/ QUOTE ] The PC that caught my eye included the following (copied and pasted - no idea what most of it means): Intel® Pentium® 4 640 3.20 GHz, 2MB L2, 800MHz FSB 1024MB Dual Channel DDR2 250GB (7200rpm) SATA with 8MB DataBurst™ cache ATI Radeon X600™ Hypermemory with 256MB shared memory and TV out & DVI DVD writer ±R/±RW DL 16x max DVD 16x max 7 x USB 2.0 ports (2 front) 1 x Firewire (with Sound card) Sound Blaster® Audigy™ 2 ZS with Dell 5.1 5650 speakers(5 speakers+subwoofer) 17" LCD Monitor ALL THIS FOR A NET PAYMENT OF ONLY £23.54/MONTH !! However I then discovered this is not the 1 year outright purchase scheme we were lead to believe it was; it's a 3 year lease with the option to buy at the end at a cost of no more than £20 So basically the above would cost me £867.44 plus I would want to flog the 17" monitor and upgrade to 19" . The best of the 2 laptop deals looked cracking too at first; a top spec with 802.11 g/b wireless network (whatever that means ) and Bluetooth etc etc for £22/month. I'm not so sure now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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