I like Dell, its the only manufacturer that I would recomend back in 2000. The place I worked for had a Dell server. Was a P3 600. It ran like a dream. We had a problem with the DAT backup device in the fact the dat tape kept getting stuck in the drive. They replaced it without any hassle.

Only other manufacturer I would now recomend is Compaq, purely because I like working inside compaq cases.

Id recommend HP/Compaq last year but i have had to contact them regarding a few faulty printers this year and they have not been the most helpful and do not seem as competent anymore plus they send you round the different departments in their call centres like nobodys business.

I remember a time when if you had a fault with a HP product one fone call to support and they would replace it the very next day via courier even if it was with a refubished product :)

Call me slow....
I phoned them last night about a deal in the Sunday Times. A dimension 2400 for £299+va t and free delivery (I only need a simple PC). I was told that the deal was closed already. They move fast!

Also the sales guy was too pushy for my liking. He tried everything to try and close the deal, but I wanted to think some more.

He said he would send me an email quote but none arrived. Now its almost 24 hr later and still no quote.

So I'm a bit put off by their sales manner, especially since you don't get to see the goods first.

Never mind, I still think that the machines are good, plain stuff so I will probably persevere.....

at work all new machines are dell we get about 100-200 delivered every month and really have any problems with them.

And if there are any problems they are usually sorted next day by one of there on site engineers.

Also all of our file servers are dell systems and we have very few problems with them as well!!!

Cheers

DJ

In several years, the negative feedback I have heard about Dell systems could be wrote on a postage stamp.

Excellent systems and excellent pedigree IMO.

But people....I've been a customer of Computer co's for 20 years.....this goes against the tide!

My husband builds PC's for a living and says that whilst these large companies producing PC's for home use are cheap for their specs - the actual hardware used is cr@p... I haven't bought an off the shelf pc myself so can't say I have looked in the box but always worth checking what parts you are getting for your money.

this is generally true. If you build your own, which I always have, you know EXACTLY what is going in. And there was a time when building them yourself was also cheaper, but now the cost of manufacturing the parts is so cheap, big companies offer excellent deals, ie, printers, scanners and cameras with the pc at a very competative price.

I support an Estate consisting of around 6000 pcs which are Dell, and they are very reliable machines. Rarely does our team have to deal with Dell themselves for hardware faults, and if we do, their customer care is excellent.

I have worked with Pcs for years and have always sworn by building my own, but I would have no problem with buying a Dell system. They can be slightly more expensive than other makes, but you do get what you pay for (this includes after sales).

It is a good idea to perservere. Do your research on their DELL forum for further information on their products you are buying. Then get accustom to the pricing structure of these machines before tacking DELL sales staff. Afterall, they are sales people and are only interested in selling, so beware of any BS.

You can buy a Dell on the web really easily. You choose what you want, it updates the price as you go and when you're happy, buy it!!!!!! No BS from ANY sales staff!

No one's even mentioned the Dell Outlet section of their website, where they sell end-of-line and repaired stock for a nice discount...

Also for a few years (other manufacturers are catching up now) they were the only company to supply laptops with UXGA screens (1600x1200) - amazing!

With the sort of discounts on my Dell laptop, the difference between the Dell outlet price and my brand new laptop was approximately £80.

The Dell UXGA screen is absolutely gorgeous and is well worth paying the extra for. Compaq is selling their UXGA laptops for around £2000. I think a company called Compal makes the same UXGA screen for DELL and Compaq. Compal will also supply UXGA screens for ACER by the end of this year.

Dell also have problems with certain sets of specs.

You cannot have a dell PC with an analoge modem, ISDN, and NIC. Why?

I might be wrong but I think they are available for laptops. I've only only have 2 USB 2.0 ports on my computer. I sometimes wonder if its a good idea to get rid of the parallel port and PS/2 in order to have some more USB ports. I have a 56k modem and a NIC on my laptop.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect laptop up to the £2300 level. The Dell Inspiron out performs the Toshiba 5100-902 on the graphics front.

But don't buy one until the PPC2003 problems are fixed. ;)