Need Opinions Please

This is how I rate Dell:

Hardware - 98 out of 100
Software - 50 out of 100
Support - 75 out of 100

I think the software that Dell supplies with their machines leaves something to be desired. Therefore, when it comes to software I rely on myself and others in this forum to point me in the right direction. I have deleted many of the software programs that came loaded with my machine.

In their place I have installed and run many programs I have found on the web for free that I believe are better than most of the stuff Dell put on the machine. Sometimes it is hard to believe that the free programs work so well and perform such useful and common functions while the highly priced stuff just clogs up your machine and barely performs the tasks they are supposed to do.

Those programs that Dell did put on the machine are of course part of the purchase price and I think they should rethink their positions on software.


Joe

Message Edited on 09/16/01 10:53PM by joecapp

99% are probably satisfied. You are only seeing the problems here not all the ones that are working well. Dell makes a good system. The problems are almost always with Windows and with all the garbage software that they include with their systems.

The key is to eliminate all the software they have start automatically and uninstall all the software you really don't need.

Go here for a good resource on what and how to eliminate from the startup.



Ralph Caddell

Dimension 4100 800 Mhz
384 MB PC133 RAM
Dell M781S Monitor
48X CD
Ricoh MP9120A CD-R/RW/DVD
20 g Maxtor HD 7200 RPM
30 g Maxtor HD 7200 RPM
ATI All-In-Wonder 32mb
Logitech Optical Mouse Man Wheel
SB Live Value
Altec Lansing ACS-340 Speakers w/Subwoofer
Windows ME/Windows XP RC2 Dual Boot
NAV 2001
Zone Alarm Pro
No Real Player Junk

buy a Dell but when I bought my 2nd Dell I reformatted the hard drvie & just installed OS & programs I wanted.if you don't want p4 Dell.look into buying Dell refurb.same warranty

XPST 500 to 850 to 1ghz
288mb pc-100
20 gig 7200rpm Maxtor
Promise Ultra 100 ATA PCI controller
H/P 8250 CDRW 10X8X32X
Raite AVbravo 8x DVD/40X cd
Maxtrox Millineum G450 32 mb DDR +
ATI ALLINWONDER 32mb pci
Dell D1226h 19" monitor
Dell M770 17" monitor
Magnavox 25" Dark tube TV
Turtle Beach Montego II soundcard
Altec Lansing ACS-45 speakers & sub
Road runner Cable modem
PentiumIII 1Ghz 256Kb Slot 1 Boxed SECC2 100FSB
Mfr code: BX80526H1000256

AND: XPSR350 TO 850 To 1GHZ
384mb PC100
15gig Maxtor 7200
ATI Radeon 32mb DDR videocard
Kenwood 52x cd
Dell 991 18" monitor
CreativeLabs Soundblaster 128v PCI
Harmon Kardon H595 speakers
PentiumIII 850Mhz 256Kb Slot 1 Boxed SECC2 100FSB
Mfr code: BX80526U850256E

Along with various printers,digital cameras,scanners & any other computer related peripheral i can spend money on!

I've just purchased a new Dell Dimension 2100 and am extremely satisfied with it. It's my second computer within the last 3 years--I previously used a Hewlett-Packard Pavilion. Hands down, the Dell is the superior machine, even correcting for advances in technology. I can't explain it; the Dell just 'feels' like a better unit (how's that for technically precise language?).

Granted, I use the computer for very basic applications--e-mail, Internet, word processing, Power Point presentation design, and MP3 recording/transferring to portable device. I don't play games and I don't do any advanced audio/video manipulation, not yet at least. My system is somewhat bare-bones, but I tend to replace computers quickly.

For the money I spent, I don't think I could have put together a better system. Granted, Dell loads you up with a basket filled with useless software, but that's easy enough to deal with.

Enjoy...

-milaz001

Dimension 2100 Celeron 900MHz (in black, or midnight grey, or whatever--it looks very sweet)
128MB
20GB/7200rpm hard drive
19-inch M990 monitor
16x/10x/40x CD-RW drive
Standard sound
Standard modem
Standard video
No frills, and that's how I like it...

I am very satisfied with Dell systems. I have used them for years at work and have my first at home. One thing you will notice as you read the posts in the DT forum, there are two types of people. Those who will reformat at the drop of a hat when a problem occurs, and those that will use a reasoned approach and try to figure a problem out without having to resort to drastic actions. It all depends on how you want to maintain your system as to which group you prefer to belong.

On other brands of computers I have resorted to reformatting a time or two. That can be quite tricky getting everything running again as you can introduce undesireable variables just in the sequence of steps during an install. Thanks to Dell Talk and all the fine people here who are more than willing to share their knowledge and experience, I have become a firm believer of the latter approach. With a minimum of interaction with the system I have been able to correct every problem and the system runs flawlessly.

Craig

I have 4 Dells at home and 30 at work. I am extremely happy with them. You see a lot of problems here because that is why people come here.

Anything as complicated as a PC can easilly have problems. The more "cutting edge" the PC you purchase, the more likely problems will occur.

When you get your new PC, don't be in a big hurry to start changing things. Run it through it's paces and thoroughly test it before you start changing things. I can't tell you how many times I have read someone say, "I deleted some files and now my PC doesn't work" or "I downloaded this program from the Internet and now...". You get the picture. :)

Hi

I Have two Dell's one is an 8100 and the other is a 4100.
I used Gateway's for year's before trying Dell,the system is of better quality.I have ran into only one problem so far with my monitor but i'll give Dell an "A" on replaceing it other then that I have not had a hardware problem.

Dell is the first computer manufacturer that has paid for the shipping on returning a defective part that I have used.

You could say that I abuse my computers, they stay on 24/7 365 days a year but that is in a business setting.I have had fans and power supplys go bad by this time with my Gateways but not with my Dell's.

I reformat and reinstall my windows 2K every two months.
With all that abuse that it goes through day to day, it deserves a fresh copy.

Techinal support from Dell.
This is a two part thing,the first part is the que for Windows Me.

They have some un helpful people in there but most of them will go out of their way to help you.

The Windows 2000 Que is very helpful, I will have to rate them as being one of the best that I have used.

I'm a very hard person to please,every thing has to be perfect and when I want something,I wanted it yesterday.
and so far Dell has been good.

I will be buying Dell's to replace my old network as soon as my legal proceedings are final with Gateway.


My rateing of Dell
10 Hardware,quality
5 Sales (80% of the time they will not return your call)
8 Overall







Mark Honda
Owner
Auto stereo Installation And Security
Commotion Industries

"Never look back,if you do you will be left there."

Hi,

I am now on my fourth computer. The first one was an AST (now out of business). It was a good computer but I had problems with it--due,probably,to the fact that I was a newbie to computers; at that time telephone support was good.

The next two machines I owned were Microns--fast, excellent products. But those two computers once or twice became unstable because of a defective parts;telephone support was very good, though, and I had no problem with getting new parts; the only glitch was that on one ocassion I had to install a new fan myself--not at all an easy task.

My last and present computer is a Dell. I've had it since last Novemeber, and so far it's been a real honey--superior in every way to all the others I've owned. I have friends who own Compaqs and HP's but...well, you know, they tell me Compaqs are hard to upgrade and HP's are just too unreliable. Gateways, I don't know. By the way, once I sought Dell's telephone support on a minor problem (created by my own stupidity) and contrary to some who've posted in these forums, I found the tech's friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. And don't forget the support staff has suffered tremendously with cutbacks, and lay-offs, and all. Still, if I ever again buy a new computer, it indeed will be a Dell!!

Hope this helps in your decision.

Regards,

BillyD

I have a 8100 Dimension and overall I'm pleased with it. The only problems I've come across are when I try to play games (2 of my 3 games tend to crash) and the restart feature doesn't work. These are problems I'm confident I'll eventually fix, any advice is welcome. Everything else works fine. I've never felt it necessary to reformat my system, thats how I ruined my old Compaq.

Mecadon




vprn wrote:
- I have been reading the message boards prior to
- placing my order for a Dell. Many people seem to
- have a lot of problems and are doing multiple
- re-formatting of their systems. Is this something I
- should expect. Is anyone out there satisfied with
- their Dell?? Thanks
-
-

Just like Craig Martinson wrote, Some people will Reformat at the drop of a hat, Which is what i wanted to do, Had a couple of problems,Not with my Machine But with my Internet Explorer, I did not know it was my internet Ex. posted my problem on here and just could'nt fix the problem, I was sooo ready to Reformat, But,I finally found the problem was due to a corrupted file in my internet Ex. anyways i used a "repair internet Explorer" feature in Add/Remove program and my problems were fixed. So glad i did'nt hastly reformat. Now, To the original post, I am sooo completly happy with my Dell. Will never buy anything else, I've had my system for 6 months now and no problems at all with my machine. I recommend Dell highly.

Sweetrose

Thank you each and every one for the comments. I was getting a bit nervous about purchasing a Dell but you have eased my mind. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback. Merci Beaucoup!