dell pc question

[ragazzo]

has anyone tried to buy a barebone system from dell? like a dimension xps with processor and video card only? no software, no accessories, no os, etc.

 

[rudder]

no, if your going to to that you might as well order something better from newegg. I don't even think Dell even sells barebones, but I coul dbe wrong. I think they wouldn't just for the fact they they probably get too many tech support calls from complete systems. You could imagine the volume of calls from people with barebones systems.

 

[ragazzo]

true, but dell's discounts are nice. 10% off, $150 mail-in rebate, free cdrw upgrade, etc 🙂

 

[amdskip]

I also do not believe that Dell sells barebone systems. Build your own instead. Dell motherboards suck IMHO as I recently had to replace one through Dell warranty service which was such a headache.

 

[dullard]

Dell for a time gave the option for Linux on all their computers instead of Windows. One problem. Dell charged more for the Linux version than the identical Windows computer. That is how Dell does its business - selling a massive amount of basically identical computers. Suddenly a special order of one computer with a differnt OS doesn't fit their business model. Extending that to a computer without an OS or any applications, or accesories, and they'd charge you a lot for that (note: Dell will not sell a computer this way for that very reason).

 

[Gunbuster]

Dell motherboards suck IMHO as I recently had to replace one through Dell warranty service which was such a headache.

Wha? Pop the case, slide it out, migrate CPU/RAM, slide it in. Dell has the easiest to service machines I have ever seen.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: dullard
Dell for a time gave the option for Linux on all their computers instead of Windows. One problem. Dell charged more for the Linux version than the identical Windows computer. That is how Dell does its business - selling a massive amount of basically identical computers. Suddenly a special order of one computer with a differnt OS doesn't fit their business model. Extending that to a computer without an OS or any applications, or accesories, and they'd charge you a lot for that (note: Dell will not sell a computer this way for that very reason).

IIRC, the only offered Red Hat on their woprk stations a servers, not on systems for home users.

 

[ragazzo]

Originally posted by: Gunbuster

Dell motherboards suck IMHO as I recently had to replace one through Dell warranty service which was such a headache.

Wha? Pop the case, slide it out, migrate CPU/RAM, slide it in. Dell has the easiest to service machines I have ever seen.

i really like their 4600 mini towers. opens up like the apple g4 cases 🙂 anything out there that's similar to the apple case (in terms of how it opens up)?

 

[amdskip]

Originally posted by: Gunbuster

Dell motherboards suck IMHO as I recently had to replace one through Dell warranty service which was such a headache.

Wha? Pop the case, slide it out, migrate CPU/RAM, slide it in. Dell has the easiest to service machines I have ever seen.

It was easy to swap motherboards but the whole warranty thing sucked big donkey balls. I fought with dell over a 3 week period via email.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: Gunbuster

Dell motherboards suck IMHO as I recently had to replace one through Dell warranty service which was such a headache.

Wha? Pop the case, slide it out, migrate CPU/RAM, slide it in. Dell has the easiest to service machines I have ever seen.

Dell will not let a home user replace their proprietary motherboard, the computer usually has to be sent back, or a dell tech would have to do it.

 

[amdskip]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Gunbuster

Dell motherboards suck IMHO as I recently had to replace one through Dell warranty service which was such a headache.

Wha? Pop the case, slide it out, migrate CPU/RAM, slide it in. Dell has the easiest to service machines I have ever seen.

Dell will not let a home user replace their proprietary motherboard, the computer usually has to be sent back, or a dell tech would have to do it.

This statement is wrong. I just did this myself. They sent me the motherboard, processor, and heatsink and I swapped them and sent the old ones back.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: amdskip

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Gunbuster

Dell motherboards suck IMHO as I recently had to replace one through Dell warranty service which was such a headache.

Wha? Pop the case, slide it out, migrate CPU/RAM, slide it in. Dell has the easiest to service machines I have ever seen.

Dell will not let a home user replace their proprietary motherboard, the computer usually has to be sent back, or a dell tech would have to do it.

This statement is wrong. I just did this myself. They sent me the motherboard, processor, and heatsink and I swapped them and sent the old ones back.

Yep Rbloedow is wrong twice in this thread. I've had Dell send a motherboard for replacement at work. Pop out the processor and other cards, put in the new motherboard, and all was fine. Dell also used to sell Red Hat on home systems for students.