O.T.: Dell computers

[Johnny Canuck]

I am looking to buy a new computer and for the buck, the Dell Dimension 5100 looks like a great deal.


http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_desktop_5100?c=ca&cs=CADHS1&l=en&s=dhs


Looking to upgrade to a 17" LCD monitor and soundcard upgrade...each $50 more.

What is everybody's experience with Dell? Ordering online ? Service? Product quality?

Thanks so much guys!!

JC

 

[WndrBr3d]

I just placed a $35,000 order with Dell last week. They have great sales associates for corporate purchases. If you know anyone at a company that has an account rep there, you should go through them. Much better than using their website, and usually you can swing an extra 20% off if you haggle with them.

 

[jaxvon]

I'll second the Dell recommendation. They can make stuff so cheaply now AND offer a warranty to go with it. Getting the extended warranty is definitely worth it, especially if you ever go for a laptop.

In my experience though, Dells tend to be very reliable, much, MUCH moreso than Apples (nevermind they cost a lot less too).

 

[Spiffyfast]

www.techbargains.com

check that website, they post some awesome dell coupons and special discount codes

 

[MDS]

I've owned two Dell computers in the past but now I build my own. They are definitely well made and great bang for the buck compared to similar models from other companies. An old PII 450 MHz I bought in 1996 and recently gave to a friend is still going strong without a single problem.

I have one and only one complaint about Dell machines. Dell takes industry standard parts and makes minor modifications to them so you have to buy replacement parts from Dell. Particulary the power supply. The take an industry standard ATX power supply and change a few pins on it. You cannot simply go to the store and buy an ATX power supply and plug it in because the pin out is different. Now power supplies tend to last a long time and this 'problem' doesn't affect the vast majority of users. Just something to be aware of if you ever want/need to upgrade some of the parts - you must check with Dell to make sure standard replacement parts will work.

 

[claudermilk]

IMHO Dell is the best out there overall. Mine's over 4 years old & going strong--even after stuffing the case to literally overflowing with upgrades. Once I get a new one, the current one will become my webserver & I expect it will last a very long time. Support is quite good (at least the one occasion I had to use it).

 

[Spiffyfast]

I've heard nothing but good things about Dell, I put together my own computers, but if I were ever to reccomend a prebuilt brand that would be it.

 

[jaxvon]

Yeah, the proprietary thing grinds me too (the motherboards are EXPENSIVE). However, with the power supply thing, you can get an aftermarket one from PC Power and Cooling that will work with your Dell and be a superior product to boot.

 

[wilkenboy]

In general Dell's laptops suck (my experience) but their Desktops are first rate. It depends on what you are going to use this rig for - if its gaming I would strongly consider bumping the 3D card up a few notches - their stock video card is pretty weak.

If no 3D gaming on your horizon then this is a hoss - probably more than you need- not a bad thing.

If you want to use this as an HTPC then you want to make VERY sure you have an extra PCI slot in the motherboard for that add-on. The sound card upgrade would probably be worth it as well.

I could probably put this whole thing together for around $900 with a much better video card, but for an out of the box deal its hard to beat.

You may want to go to a local store and chat up a sales rep. Sometimes they can cut you an better deal.

Enjoy!

~Josh

 

[philh]

I'm not a Dell fan. Don't find their product all that good and the support is worse. Check out epinions.com for the particular model you're looking at. Avoid free financing scam as I've read dozens of posts on Dell's own forum where people have gotten ripped off, which was one of the several problems I had.

After my poor Dell experience(s), I now build my own computers. If you're doing anything other then low end purchases, you can build it better with higher grade components for less $$$. I built a nearly equivalent system for $1,500, when the Gateway and Dell purchase cost would have been $2,500.

Just a warning, corporate "discounts" are higher then street pricing. Neighbor told me that I verified, that even with my 20% discount, it was cheaper with street pricing. The only exception was a "std" configuration my fortune 50 employer buys from them, it was slightly less, but it wasn't configured the way I needed.

 

[Tsunamii]

Dell... Yesterdays Dell was better then todays. I order alot of PC's for a corp and we use them. The laptops (D series mostly) have tons of HD and MBoard Issues. The Servers have gone way downhill. The Desktops are still pretty good. The service is what you are really buying. If you cant or dont want to fix your own system its a good place to buy, for the buck. I still like the alienware pcs though...

 

[KrisJ]

Got a new notebook for 40% off last week

And as a previous poster had mentioned the "street deals" are waaaayy cheaper than corporate discounts regardless of how much you buy. We buy tons from Dell and and have beg to get pricing close to what they offer home users

 

[WndrBr3d]

The Servers have gone way downhill.

I'm curious how you came to this conclusion. We've been an all Dell shop for the last six years, in fact, we just threw in the trash our old PE 4300 6U servers (Dual P2-500 Baby!).

In our newest datacenter, we've been running a mix of 2650's, 1750's and 850's without issue for over two and a half years. Not even a bad hard drive.

 

[AFJumper03]

I've had three Dell's and I've noticed a few trends both good and bad over the years with all of them

-Superior pricing, ESPICALLY if you can access to their government rates (i.e. be in the military or work for the government. If you can't but know someone who can, they can buy it for you and you can pay them. Its 100% legal. The prices are at least 10-20% cheaper than retail.)

-Hit or miss Customer service. Either you are talking to a guy in Delhi who only knows how to read off the troubleshooting guide on his computer screen and will tell you to reformat for every problem, or you are talking to Bill from Texas who knows computers inside and out, has seen your problem 1000 times and can fix it in 5 seconds flat. I've either been totally satified or frustrated, no inbetween.

-Great shipping, great packing, little to no problems with ordering, recieving and quality of product when it shows up at my door


Overall I highly recommend them if you are trying to save a buck. If money is not an issue, go get a custom alienware PC and you'll be much happier overall.

 

[Lincoln]

I too, build my own desktops but I always recommend Dell to my family and friends (anyone I don't want to personally support their system). I have a Dell 9100 laptop (if you can call a large, 10lb computer a laptop???) that I got last year with an awesome coupon code on hometheaterforum.com homepage a few months before it was replaced by newer models. Ended up saving about 45% using a coupon code that added to a rebate and free shipping. Except for battery life due to the non-mobile edition P4 processor it's an awesome, reliable laptop that I use daily. The DVD burner died but Dell support was helpful and quick to ship a replacement drive.

 

[Tsunamii]

"I'm curious how you came to this conclusion"
"I'm curious how you came to this conclusion"
The last 2 power edge servers we have had multiple HD failures. The plastics are so cheap that they have been coming from the factory already cracked. My Comp is a major Dell customer and we have an exclusive contract with them for Desktops and Laptops but the HD failures between the servers and over 20% of the new D600 and D610 laptops is starting to become a problem. We also buy a huge amount of PC's, maybe 10k systems this year, the failure rate has been enough that our reps have come out to meet with us over it. The problem is the drives are failing across the board, not just one manufacture. This is another issue we have, Dell had said when we went to them they would guarantee that all systems bought between x day and x day would be guaranteed the same hardware and they have not lived up to that. The hardware is the same specs but not the same hardware, so it makes things more difficult for images etc.
I am not trying to bash Dell. I would recommend them for a friend etc, but that being said I was a bigger fan before this year. Though I am glad the tech support, for us anyway, is back in the states and not off shore.

 

[WndrBr3d]

The plastics are so cheap that they have been coming from the factory already cracked.

You know, I have to agree. I was very dissapointed when they chaged the bezel from metal to plastc.

 

[Tsunamii]

WndrBr3d, sometimes its the small things. Just opened a new one this AM and had the key broken off in the lock.. The other odd thing is that because of the plastic holder on the back of the bezel (the one that the keys come in) you have to set your disks out of order because the blank will not fit due to the keyholding plastic so you have to drop it in the bottom slot.
Small things just annoying.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Thanks everyone for all your comments. I did order the Dimension 5100 system today and upgraded to a Soundblaster Audigy 2 card and a LCD monitor. They also threw in a free printer. Didn't need it, but I'll take it and give it to someone for Christmas

I do have another question though. This model, as most do still, has a 32 bit processor. How important is it to buy a 64 bit processor or one that is upgradable to 64 bit? Is this WAY down the road and one should not worry as our computers will be obsolete by then anyways? I hear Windows is coming out with a 64 bit OS.

JC

 

[jaxvon]

As of right now, 64-bits is useless unless you're running some heavy duty apps. I don't think you will be. As for the printer, I'd throw it in the garbage. Dell's are rebranded Lexmark printers and they are TRASH.