Explain this one to me... Dell custom computer (Update)

[minendo]

Update:

My friend just received the computer with both a dvd rom and dvd writer installed. However, he was not charged for the dvd writer and they are sending him a free cd writer because they think they installed the dvd writer and nothing else.

/Update





A friend of mine ordered a Dell p4 2.4 tower with DVD+RW, 16x DVD, and a unspecified HD size. Well after 4 weeks from initial purchase a dell CS person contacts him to tell him that he can only have the dvd+rw or the dvd drive due to compatibility problems. The CS rep won't elaborate anymore, but that is all they say. They then proceed to cancel the order on the dvd+rw and ship the computer without approval.

What kind of crap is this?

 

[dman]

Very odd (reason). But not untypical of dell (to do as above). Refuse shipment, perhaps?

 

[chin311]

sounds like dell... hehe, well ive never ordered from them personally...

what kind of bs is that? he can only have a dvdrw or a dvdrom? sounds bogus...id be sending that tower right back if it wasnt what i ordered/wanted.

 

[bunker]

What kind of crap is this?

The really stinky kind. Tell him to refuse shipment and dispute it w/ his credit card company.

Then take his business elsewhere. If I had to pick somewhere I'd say gateway.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: bunker
Then take his business elsewhere. If I had to pick somewhere I'd say gateway.

Only reason he went with Dell is because we get a nice discount through school. I told him that I can do a build for him so we'll see what he decides.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: bunker
Then take his business elsewhere. If I had to pick somewhere I'd say gateway.

Only reason he went with Dell is because we get a nice discount through school. I told him that I can do a build for him so we'll see what he decides.

I can understand discounts...that's why my entire family drives Fords

 

[Kevin]

Yup, for some reason a lot of manufacturers won't give you a DVD Writer and a DVD ROM. I'd really like to know the secret behind it...

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: Kevin
Yup, for some reason a lot of manufacturers won't give you a DVD Writer and a DVD ROM. I'd really like to know the secret behind it...

They would not give him the dvd+rw with a cdrw or plain cdrom either.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: Kevin
Yup, for some reason a lot of manufacturers won't give you a DVD Writer and a DVD ROM. I'd really like to know the secret behind it...

dont want you copying movies I bet

 

[chin311]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: Kevin
Yup, for some reason a lot of manufacturers won't give you a DVD Writer and a DVD ROM. I'd really like to know the secret behind it...

They would not give him the dvd+rw with a cdrw or plain cdrom either.

that makes it just plain stupid.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: Kevin
Yup, for some reason a lot of manufacturers won't give you a DVD Writer and a DVD ROM. I'd really like to know the secret behind it...

They probably assume you're going to try and directly copy a DVD (which, as far as I know can't be done yet). I wouldn't be surprised if the MPAA had something to do with it.

 

[mooojojojo]

maybe they can't fit both in the case? maybe they're too long and bump against the mobo?

they wouldn't be so stupid to refuse DVD-R + ROM to stop him from copying movies.. he can always add a DVD-ROM by himself, right?

 

[zsouthboy]

Bahahaha, that's great!

I would have told Dell it was for copying movies, just to see what response you get...

Dumbasses.

<- also thinks MPAA has something to do with it...

 

[Kev]

i bet it's because f*cking idiot corporate trolls think dvd copying works the same as video cassete copying and they want to prevent it.

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: Kev
i bet it's because f*cking idiot corporate trolls think dvd copying works the same as video cassete copying and they want to prevent it.

Or more along the lines of worried about MPAA suing them for the possibility. Not like you can't write to image and then burn, but, still. Or one of the other reasons above.

No idea bout the cdrw conflict. Anyway, they should have pulled the DVD Rom and sent w/ the +RW drive, and you can add cheap DVDRom after if you desired. Stupid stuff.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: mooojojojo
maybe they can't fit both in the case? maybe they're too long and bump against the mobo?

I guarantee you that's the reason. All the whining about "the man" trying to keep them from copying movies (even though you can't do disc to disc DVD copying and they denied him a CDRW as well) is hilarious.

 

[stev0]

Originally posted by: bunker

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: bunker
Then take his business elsewhere. If I had to pick somewhere I'd say gateway.

Only reason he went with Dell is because we get a nice discount through school. I told him that I can do a build for him so we'll see what he decides.

I can understand discounts...that's why my entire family drives Fords

mmmm a plan

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: werk
I guarantee you that's the reason. All the whining about "the man" trying to keep them from copying movies (even though you can't do disc to disc DVD copying and they denied him a CDRW as well) is hilarious.

It is not the problem. The university has ordered several 1000 of these machines and we can fit two cdrom drives with no problem. The service tech at Dell stated it was a compatibility problem, not a "it doesn't fit problem."

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: minendo
A friend of mine ordered a Dell p4 2.4 tower with DVD+RW, 16x DVD, and a unspecified HD size. Well after 4 weeks from initial purchase a dell CS person contacts him to tell him that he can only have the dvd+rw or the dvd drive due to compatibility problems. The CS rep won't elaborate anymore, but that is all they say. They then proceed to cancel the order on the dvd+rw and ship the computer without approval.

What kind of crap is this?

IIRC, some of the smaller towers can only have 1 external 5.25" bay. The only system based on that design was the 2350, but I believe Dell was cutting costs and included to 4600 into that range as well. The 4600C is a ultra slim design, so you wont get anywhere with that. I believe only the 8300 has dual 5.25" externals, of the currently available system.

Edit: Not fitting is certainly a compatibility problem with the chasis!

 

[Palek]

Or maybe, like someone mentioned, it is physically impossible to install two drives in the machine your friend ordered. Maybe Dell has budget motherboards that only feature a single IDE connector. Even if the chipset supports two IDE channels, you can cut costs on the parts and with the simplified PCB for the mobo, so it would make sense from a business point of view. And if you only have a single IDE channel, that pretty much rules out a 3rd drive, doesn't it?

Just don't think Dell is this big evil corporation that intentionally messes with their helpless little customers. For one thing, American customers are anything BUT helpless, and besides, Dell did not become the No. 1 computer company in the world by doing crappy business.

The whole conspiracy theory of the MPAA pulling strings is just silly, I think. Even if it were possible to copy a DVD directly onto another disc, stopping the above mentioned configuration from shipping would just make the user rip the contents onto the HDD then put them back on a blank disc. But there is the whole copy protection system in place (hard to crack for Average Joe) and the fact that most commercial DVD's are 2-layered, ie 9.4 GB while all currently available blank DVD media is only 4.7 GB (apart from DVD-RAM, which noone uses).

<EDIT>Seems like my guess was wrong according to your latest post that you put up while I was typing.</EDIT>

 

[guapo337]

definitely the RIAA/MPAA

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: dexvx

Originally posted by: minendo
A friend of mine ordered a Dell p4 2.4 tower with DVD+RW, 16x DVD, and a unspecified HD size. Well after 4 weeks from initial purchase a dell CS person contacts him to tell him that he can only have the dvd+rw or the dvd drive due to compatibility problems. The CS rep won't elaborate anymore, but that is all they say. They then proceed to cancel the order on the dvd+rw and ship the computer without approval.

What kind of crap is this?

IIRC, some of the smaller towers can only have 1 external 5.25" bay. The only system based on that design was the 2350, but I believe Dell was cutting costs and included to 4600 into that range as well. The 4600C is a ultra slim design, so you wont get anywhere with that. I believe only the 8300 has dual 5.25" externals, of the currently available system.

Edit: Not fitting is certainly a compatibility problem with the chasis!

agreed

Dell uses some of the smallest cases on earth. My first pc was a dell and I couldnt add a cdr because the dagnabit thing wouldnt fit. I dont know that this is the case with your friend, but it makes more sense than the RIAA stopping them from selling a completely legit product.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Probably the physical size. Look at the 8300 and XPC and you'll see both are currently offered with a DVD-ROM in bay 1 and DVD+RW in bay 2, and they've had that pairing for at least a month.

Yes I admit I've been tempted to skip builiding my next rig this summer after building the last 4. Then I checked newegg prices again and came to my senses

 

[Cat13]

I ordered 33 systems from Dell recently, all had a 16x dvd and dvd +r/rw. Maybe I got them all

 

[Jugernot]

I recently ordered a Dimension 4550 with both a DVD+RW and a DVD-ROM 16x...

Me thinks, someone was confused at Dell.