• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

whats wrong with dell?

I

ironbran

Junior Member
i have been reading a lot of flames toward dell and i want to know whats going on. post everything dell has done to you thats wrong or something about their computers thats not "up to standard nerd gaming". because im thinking about buying my 4th dell and the last 3 have been great with no problems at all; i have been able to game with the best of em..
 
They're just popular to hate.

I personally have no problem with them. I've never had bad customer service either. I like some of their products, while others I'm not a big fan of.

Also, they've been stuck with Intel for so long, and most enthusiasts aren't big Intel fans, especially after the last couple of years.
 
Absolutely nothing is wrong with Dell. They do make the very best non custom pcs. If you are not building your own, there is no real alternative to Dell. Their customer support is comparable to Newegg's and they make solid and stable machines. People here and on other boards dislike them because they would rather build their own machines.
 
I have no problem with Dell, and in fact I like their monitors alot, and have a dell laptop. Basically my only complaint is that I can build a desktop computer that is identical/better compared to a dell for 60% of the cost, and have the ability to actually change things in the bios, which you cant do on a dell. But you cant expect an OEM to be comparible to a hand built PC (after all your paying for them to put it together and warantee it). Plus I enjoy building a computer over buying one, but i dont want to build a laptop so I buy dell.
 
Dell is a lot like Apple, they're both popular companies that sell a hot, popular product (Dell Dimensions vs. iPods). Even though there are many people that love them both, many people also hate them for this mass appeal.

A real complaint against Dell would be their lack of customization after the computer has been built and sent. (i.e. no overclocking options on the low end), and all the crap they preinstall on computers.
 
Dell is generally pretty good and cheap but make sure you get a good one they also have some pretty good deals once in awile free lcd, free shipping, free dvd-rw drive stuff like that
 
The thing that bothers me about most "department store" brands is when they offer dirt cheap entry level machines that will light up a Windows desktop but are so underpowered, they'll take a dump the first time you try to use some serious aps. For example, my sister bought a cheap Dell that included onboard video. When I looked at the motherboard, I saw that it had the holes for an AGP socket, but they were too cheap to stuff it so you couldn't add your own vid card to offload it from the 256 MB of RAM it included.

Here's a current example. For $299, you get a box with a Celeron, 256 MB of RAM, onboard video, an 80 GB drive and a 17" CRT monitor. I don't argue with the drive or the monitor (as long as they work), but 256 MB of RAM is barely enough to keep the machine crawling if you want to run a decent spreadsheet while keeping a couple of other related Office apps running. If this current model doesn't at least allow the option of upgrading to a separate vid card, it's damned near useless.

This machine is obviously targeting first time buyers who usually don't enough to understand what they need for what they may even think they want to do. Under that condition, I think even offering this kind of crap with no upgrade path to bare usability is pretty close to fraud because it can only lead to disappointment.

You can get a good machine from Dell, but you'll end up paying about the same or more for it than what you'd pay for the same performance by building your own system.
 
Originally posted by: Harvey
The thing that bothers me about most "department store" brands is when they offer dirt cheap entry level machines that will light up a Windows desktop but are so underpowered, they'll take a dump the first time you try to use some serious aps.

For example, my sister bought a cheap Dell that included onboard video. When I looked at the motherboard, I saw that it had the holes for an AGP socket, but they were too cheap to stuff it so you couldn't add your own vid card to offload it from the 256 MB of RAM it included.

Here's a current example. For $299, you get a box with a Celeron, 256 MB of RAM, onboard video, an 80 GB drive and a 17" CRT monitor. I don't argue with the drive or the monitor (as long as they work), but 256 MB of RAM is barely enough to keep the machine crawling if you want to run a decent spreadsheet while keeping a couple of other related Office apps running. If this current model doesn't at least allow the option of upgrading to a separate vid card, it's damned near useless.

This machine is obviously targeting first time buyers who usually don't enough to understand what they need for what they may even think they want to do. Under that condition, I think even offering this kind of crap with no upgrade path to bare usability is pretty close to fraud because it can only lead to disappointment.
Click to expand...

However there are plenty of people who only need that level of performance, and are looking for a machine at that price point. It's not like they hide the specifications, and it's not up to the company to ensure that users are buying what they need. Dell is more than happy to provide advice to people who are looking to ensure they get a computer able to handle their performance needs, but it's still going to cost more money if you want more performance. You can't have it both ways. They do save money, a very tiny amount per machine but in aggregate quite large, by doing things like not sticking on the expansion slot. You can't blame the company for doing what is cost-effective and results in increased sales.

Sticking more memory into the system would be a better upgrade path than replacing the video card anyway, if all you're looking to do is provide more memory to the applications, if video performance is already acceptable.
 
Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
However there are plenty of people who only need that level of performance, and are looking for a machine at that price point. It's not like they hide the specifications, and it's not up to the company to ensure that users are buying what they need.
Click to expand...
I've met both of them. They live in the nursing home a few blocks away.
Dell is more than happy to provide advice to people who are looking to ensure they get a computer able to handle their performance needs, but it's still going to cost more money if you want more performance. You can't have it both ways.
Click to expand...
They're called sales people, and their job is to pitch more product once they have the prospective buyer hooked. The problem is, most of those buyers are noobs who are drawn in by the low price and are pretty ignorant of what they really need to fulfill their own expectations.

The original suck 'em in the front door promotion is what I find ethically questionable.
They do save money, a very tiny amount per machine but in aggregate quite large, by doing things like not sticking on the expansion slot. You can't blame the company for doing what is cost-effective and results in increased sales.
Click to expand...
Yes I can, if they prey on buyers' ignorance, instead of helping them by offering an honest machine in the first place. I don't consider these bare entry level systems to be honest machines.
Sticking more memory into the system would be a better upgrade path than replacing the video card anyway, if all you're looking to do is provide more memory to the applications, if video performance is already acceptable.
Click to expand...
Maybe, but the onboard vid I've seen using the Intel chipsets is pretty bad. The lack of a video upgrade path is one more reason I don't think they're honest machines.
 
Well, i personally dont like dell because i know several people who bought dell instead of asking me if i could build them a PC. They didnt know at the time that i build PCs but whatever, they knew im good with PCs so that should have been enough of a hint.

They then went out and bought dells. the first one was a friend of my moms who bought a dell and it didnt work right out of the box.. turned out to be a faulty mobo. So she called them and said my mobo is faulty, i needs to start an RMA. Instead of sending a tech or shipping her a NEW PC... they shipped her a mobo and told her to put it in... At this point i had heard of her problems and was following carefully. She told me what happened and i called dell myself and told them to get off their lazy asses and come install the mobo because i refuse to work on Dells.

Second case was with a friend of my father. She had bought one and when it arrived i hooked it up for her and she started using it right away. 2 days later she calls me and says shes getting the BSOD(Blue screen of death) so i went over and i just shrugged and handed her the phone then said "Call dell... tell them to pick up their crappy PC and give you a refund. Ill build you a PC" 3 days later all the parts for her new PC arrived (happened to be my first intel based build, the LGA775 socket was quite a shock to me.)

third case was actually my dad. He had bought one of these stupid dell desktop PCs but like the old school desktop that lay flat on your desk etc. this one had a DVD drive out of a laptop in it. WEIRD! anyway he came over to my place one day holding his PC and said "It just stoped working. I think something fried" He was right, i opened it up and there happened to be a burnt smell coming from the CPU. I had remembered when he bought it 2 days later we went to a hockey game then came back to his house for a beer. I sat my hand on the back of the case to move the monitor(he sat the monitor ontop of the case like you would with the old school 486s etc.) and it had almost burnt my hand. I guess i should have picked up on it then but whatever.

There were several more cases of non-working Dells that i have heard of but dont recall completely. Im not going to make myself look like a retard trying to remember the details

And thus, why i hate dell.
 
Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
I ordered a computer with no PCI-e. Grr, why did I do that?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Computer-noobishness.

But I still blame Dell. Grrr.
Click to expand...

lol ok fair enough.

More on topic though, we have a lot of Dell's at work, and I've been fairly happy with them. A few problems here and there (the hard drive in this laptop died a few months ago) but nothing out of line. Their (top-of-the-line version) support has always been very helpful and responsive. I woulnd't hesitate to recommend them for a low end system.
 
I have owned Dell's for the last 10 years. But I wanted to build my own rig with parts that fit my needs and I didn't want to be limited on those parts. So personally, building my own rig was the best choice because Dell limits you as to what you can pick and chose. But I am still using a Dell monitor and printer which are really well built so I had no need to replace those, although the LCD monitor is a little dated. When I do buy a new monitor, there have been several Dell's on the short list. They do make great LCD monitors.
 
Quote:

"we have a lot of Dell's at work, and I've been fairly happy with them. A few problems here and there (the hard drive in this laptop died a few months ago) but nothing out of line."

Absolutely agree. Avoid the lowend models in the Dimension line, as well as those with int. graphics or compact cases (C), and you will get a pretty decent setup for about 600$+. HP's pcs are better but they rarely offer special deals.
 
ironbran, what model of Dell are you thinking of buying? I pretty much agree with Harvey. But if you know what you're doing, and you buy one of Dell's higher end models, and you don't mind the price they charge, you'll probably get a fine computer.
 
Dell makes some solid lower end products, they also make utter crap... for example, their laptop line, specifically their 600 series might as well be duct taped together. I HATE my 600m with a passion. Don't ask what's broken on it, it's more of a question as to what hasn't.

Keyboard
LCD
CD drive
PC card slot
Cracked hinge
VGA out
System fan
 
Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
Originally posted by: Harvey
The thing that bothers me about most "department store" brands is when they offer dirt cheap entry level machines that will light up a Windows desktop but are so underpowered, they'll take a dump the first time you try to use some serious aps.

For example, my sister bought a cheap Dell that included onboard video. When I looked at the motherboard, I saw that it had the holes for an AGP socket, but they were too cheap to stuff it so you couldn't add your own vid card to offload it from the 256 MB of RAM it included.

Here's a current example. For $299, you get a box with a Celeron, 256 MB of RAM, onboard video, an 80 GB drive and a 17" CRT monitor. I don't argue with the drive or the monitor (as long as they work), but 256 MB of RAM is barely enough to keep the machine crawling if you want to run a decent spreadsheet while keeping a couple of other related Office apps running. If this current model doesn't at least allow the option of upgrading to a separate vid card, it's damned near useless.

This machine is obviously targeting first time buyers who usually don't enough to understand what they need for what they may even think they want to do. Under that condition, I think even offering this kind of crap with no upgrade path to bare usability is pretty close to fraud because it can only lead to disappointment.
Click to expand...

However there are plenty of people who only need that level of performance, and are looking for a machine at that price point. It's not like they hide the specifications, and it's not up to the company to ensure that users are buying what they need. Dell is more than happy to provide advice to people who are looking to ensure they get a computer able to handle their performance needs, but it's still going to cost more money if you want more performance. You can't have it both ways. They do save money, a very tiny amount per machine but in aggregate quite large, by doing things like not sticking on the expansion slot. You can't blame the company for doing what is cost-effective and results in increased sales.

Sticking more memory into the system would be a better upgrade path than replacing the video card anyway, if all you're looking to do is provide more memory to the applications, if video performance is already acceptable.
Click to expand...


Agreed, completely. :thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: adammthompson
Oh, and if you want a floppy drive, order it with the machine. You can't add a third-party floppy drive to a Dell.
Click to expand...

O RLY?

I have a 3rd party floppy in my Dell Dimension 9100.
 
I just called Dell to modify an order and i got the work-around. I got passed on to different departments and then finally getting dropped.
 
Originally posted by: jondl
I just called Dell to modify an order and i got the work-around. I got passed on to different departments and then finally getting dropped.
Click to expand...

Just cancel the order, and re-order.
 
As an OEM the desktops are at the very least above average in quality, but their designs are overall very un-inspired (boring), and sometimes plain stupid.

Dell's great if all you need is a cheap, boring, non-upgradeable machine, but for a hardware enthusiast building the machine is half the fun so buying a Dell would defeat the point.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top