Are Dell laptops easy to work on?

[thestrangebrew1]

Looking at a few different laptops from Dell, and I was wondering if they're a PITA to open up and toss in more RAM or swap out the hdd for an ssd. I haven't worked on laptops in years, so I was wondering if they're pretty easy or a PITA.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Depends on the model. You'll want to look at the tech manuals or find youtube videos for the specific model you're interested in.

For the most part, the super-convenient "mini-doors" that exposed a particular component are gone - now it's just one big plate that comes off the bottom.

 

[VirtualLarry]

For the most part, the super-convenient "mini-doors" that exposed a particular component are gone - now it's just one big plate that comes off the bottom.

My two 11.x" Acer laptops, have just one screw on the bottom middle, that holds the whole back cover on. Take that out, and slide the cover, and you get full access to the RAM, HDD, and PCI-E Wifi. (Maybe CMOS battery too.)

My 15.6" Lenovo has a larger access door, and so did my 15.6" Dell.

 

[MustISO]

I'd recommend looking at the service/system manual for whatever model you're looking at. That will show you the steps to replace parts. Many are easy but some require taking the top and bottom apart.

 

[EXCellR8]

Most Dells I've serviced or upgraded have been very forgiving; I was actually quite impressed with a certain few. I forget the model, but the battery cover was aluminum and had a neat latch system to access the rest of the guts.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Thanks everyone. I'm considering getting a Dell for my stepson for college. Something basic for writing papers and doing research online, but capable of playing some media, maybe even a few games, but that's definitely not the priority.

 

[DaveSimmons]

FYI, if you get the Dell from the Microsoft Store it will have almost zero junk installed, just Dell's management software and maybe a trial for Office 365.

At other stores, Dell and others get paid up to $40 to pre-load the laptop with trial versions of AV software, links to sites, etc. but Microsoft forbids that for the laptops they sell.

Buying directly from Dell, the Small Business laptops are cleaner than the Home ones.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Thanks for the heads up. Are these bloatware easy enough to uninstall?

 

[Excelsior]

I just picked up a Latitude and promptly put in a stick of ram. I loved that once you took off 7 or 8 screws off the back, you had access to pretty much everything. It reminded me of the simplicity of working on my 2008 MBP.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Thanks for the heads up. Are these bloatware easy enough to uninstall?

Sure - it takes like 30 minutes. Format the drive and install a clean OS from vanilla media you download from Microsoft. Done.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Great thanks!

 

[ElFenix]

Sure - it takes like 30 minutes. Format the drive and install a clean OS from vanilla media you download from Microsoft. Done.

and now that keys are built into the bios you don't even have to pick the thing up to look at the label while it's running anymore. so simple.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I just picked up a Latitude and promptly put in a stick of ram. I loved that once you took off 7 or 8 screws off the back, you had access to pretty much everything. It reminded me of the simplicity of working on my 2008 MBP.

That is most of the Dells I have opened lately. There was one low end model though, that required popping off the keyboard and removing 5 screws, in addition to the bottom. That was a 6 gen Intel model from last year.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I just wanted to update this thread and ask a few more questions. I decided to pick up this laptop: http://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop..._id=inspiron-15-5578-2-in-1-laptop&l=en&s=bsd

It's pretty slow on boot and loading apps or webpages. Which would be most beneficial to speed things up, RAM or an SSD? If RAM, can someone point me to a good stick? I'm thinking 8-16gb stick, but I'm not 100% sure what brand is good anymore or what model would work with this particular laptop.

If I go with an SSD, I'm thinking a 256gb drive should suffice, what are the good brands to look for? I've been out of the parts game for at least 4 years. Most of the ssds I've bought in the past have been samsung. TIA.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Definitely SSD, and Samsung is great.