Dell

Pierrepoint · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:04 am **Posts:** 1723

I'm thinking of buying one ... They seem to be pretty popular amongst companies. Are they good or cheap ..or better both!!

HUFC Poolie · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:36 am

Cheap but the big catch is they get you by the short and danglys, They slightly modify them so you can only buy DELL parts to upgrade or replace things that may go wrong.

misterb2001 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:45 am

i have a pc and laptop from them. If you catch it right their deals are pretty good. Add in any discount from cashback sites and discount codes that can be found on net then could end up with big savings

aptid · **Joined:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:49 pm **Posts:** 1506

I have found them to be better than some of the premium laptops, Sony etc, easier to maintain should something go wrong and as cheap as chips if you shop around.

I am on my third Dell laptop in 9 years so pretty much commited to the brand.

GighaPooly · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:00 pm

PP

I have bought a lot of Dells over the last 7/8 years and have only got one dodgy one that they replaced fairly sharpish. Not the most powerful of PCs but pretty bulletproof and as said previously you can catch some decent deals. I have fitted non Dell parts to some as well with no bother.

If you are looking for gaming heaven type PC I would probaly go elsewhere, but for a standard PC that will just keep working, then there are fine. Saying that, Windows will reduce its performance to a snails pace with a year or two anyway so either pay the extra for their partitioning service (makes reinstalling Windows easier) or install Linux.

PoolieBarnes · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:04 pm

Onto my 3rd Dell Desktop at home, and my Laptop is Dell. Use them at work, and Mrs PoolieBarnes has just ordered 2 x Dell Laptops for work.
I've found them to be reliable and good value. 6% cashback on Quidco too at the moment. Also use this voucher code QDTQV2JXFB1ND3 for 10% off (Valid until tomorrow on XPS, Inspiron and Studio systems if over £499).

MutleyRules · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:10 pm

I've always used Dell and never had any serious problems with them!!!! :coool:

JohnnyMars · **Joined:** Tue Jun 12, 2007 10:24 am **Posts:** 2476

We started using them a few years ago and they have turned out to be decent machines. They have just hiked their prices by 35% though so we are having to reconsider...

garthwd · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:23 am **Posts:** 796

ElvisAintDead wrote:

https://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/Computing/Laptops/Standard+Laptops/HP/G60-214EM/622920

I'm pretty much just about to buy this Laptop...my budget is £400.

What think?

HP make good laptops, can't say whether this spec is value for money or not in comparison with others.

It also looks are if you use the discount code MARCH10 you get £10 off, but it would be worth looking for better discount codes.

aptid · **Joined:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:49 pm **Posts:** 1506

Oi, You! Elvis,

The one time I didn't by Dell was a Compaq and as HP are now Compaq I'd stay clear, too proprietary plus a horrible restore system.

Tesco online had a similar spec Dell for just over £400 last week.

Pierrepoint · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:04 am **Posts:** 1723

Studio 15
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.0 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 Cache), Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1

or

Studio 15
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.40Ghz, 3MB, 1066MHz), Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1

Is option 2 worth another £50 spondolicks or won't it make much difference??

GighaPooly · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:37 pm

Noticable if you are using processor intensive applications - games, CAd etc. What will really make a difference is RAM - but as much as you can afford. Then choose the downgrade from Vista to XP - I know it seems daft but Vista is still pants and will be for a while. Or put Linux on it.

JohnnyMars · **Joined:** Tue Jun 12, 2007 10:24 am **Posts:** 2476

Pierrepoint wrote:

Studio 15
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.0 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 Cache), Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1

or

Studio 15
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.40Ghz, 3MB, 1066MHz), Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1

Is option 2 worth another £50 spondolicks or won't it make much difference??

When you say 2MB in the first case and 3MB in the second option I presume you mean memory and it will be GB not MB. If this is the case and you are getting an extra 1 GB memory and the faster processor speed for £50 then I would suggest you go for it and pay the bit extra.

garthwd · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:23 am **Posts:** 796

aptid wrote:

Oi, You! Elvis,

The one time I didn't by Dell was a Compaq and as HP are now Compaq I'd stay clear, too proprietary plus a horrible restore system.

Tesco online had a similar spec Dell for just over £400 last week.

How is a HP too proprietary and not Dell? Memory is standard laptop memory, Restore system is on the hard drive and available with a hot key though DVD\CDs can be made (admittedly I usually just wipe it and put my own build on, but I do that with any machine I have), Hard Drives are standard 2.5" drives. I can only vouch for the couple of HP Laptops I have had but have found them to be excellent and no less upgradeable than any other laptop. Let's face it, laptops aren't that upgradeable compared to desktops anyway.

Dells are decent machines but I know of a few people who have had bad support experiences with them and people who have had no problems with them too. Thankfully the only time I have had to deal with them recently was when my girlfriends hard drive was faulty. After negotiating the customer service rep who wanted me to perform this and that which I had already done (and this is the case with most outsourced customer services) they organised the laptop to be sent back and replaced the hard drive.

GighaPooly · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:46 pm

garthwd wrote:

aptid wrote:

Oi, You! Elvis,

The one time I didn't by Dell was a Compaq and as HP are now Compaq I'd stay clear, too proprietary plus a horrible restore system.

Tesco online had a similar spec Dell for just over £400 last week.

How is a HP too proprietary and not Dell? Memory is standard laptop memory, Restore system is on the hard drive and available with a hot key though DVD\CDs can be made (admittedly I usually just wipe it and put my own build on, but I do that with any machine I have), Hard Drives are standard 2.5" drives. I can only vouch for the couple of HP Laptops I have had but have found them to be excellent and no less upgradeable than any other laptop. Let's face it, laptops aren't that upgradeable compared to desktops anyway.

Dells are decent machines but I know of a few people who have had bad support experiences with them and plenty of people who have had no problems with them too. Thankfully the only time I have had to deal with them recently was when my girlfriends hard drive was faulty. After negotiating the customer service rep who wanted me to perform this and that which I had already done (and this is the case with most outsourced customer services) they organised the laptop to be sent back and replaced the hard drive.

The wife has a HP laptop. Dodgy when bought but customer serice was exellent - swapped it out no bother and the replacement has been faultless. To be fair, most laptops are much of a muchness nowadays - build quality is good as long as you stay away from PC Worlds cheapo end of line jobs. Oh, and put Linux on it.

aptid · **Joined:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:49 pm **Posts:** 1506

You have to speak as you find, most independents will repair a Dell and have ready access to spares etc.

This wasn't my experience with Compaq.

Cornelius Atweasle · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:32 pm

Pierrepoint wrote:

I'm thinking of buying one ... They seem to be pretty popular amongst companies. Are they good or cheap ..or better both!!

Dell? They're shit. I've shoved better computer products up me arse.

Mr Irrelevant · **Joined:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:25 pm **Posts:** 22670

If its spare parts hell you're looking for, go for a Sony. They will not sell parts to anyone so that all model specific repairs have to go back to them. They quoted me £240 to replace a keyboard in a laptop.

Funny enough I dropped that laptop only a day or two later and it was replaced new for old by the insurance company. Luck eh!

MutleyRules · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:33 pm

BernardCribbensUSA · **Joined:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:48 pm **Posts:** 186

With dell i think it all depends on the models you buy, I work in computer repair and they have some real lemons, basically anyone of the ones they usually advertise on the tv as there "specials" there usually junk and wont last very long. But parts are easy to come by they dont use much proprietary stuff anymore. The biggest issue i have with dell is there support but hp and a lot of the other top manufacturers are moving there support overseas anyways. Just remember to put a dot on your forhead before you call and your fine.

Pierrepoint · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:04 am **Posts:** 1723

ElvisAintDead wrote:

https://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/Computing/Laptops/Standard+Laptops/HP/G60-214EM/622920

I'm pretty much just about to buy this Laptop...my budget is £400.

What think?

Found this at E buyer Phil http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158887 probablu worth the extra £20

I think I'll could be going for this one rather than the Dell as its £100 less...credit crunch and all that...

Whats the boards opinion on AMD processors??? Would the Pentium be worth the extra £100???

Dell

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