Planning on buying a dell computer?

Thought you might like to know, dell is a huge contributor to pukes, while Gateway and Apple gives to Dems.
www.buyblue.org

The monitor on my Dell laptop just stopped working one day. I had to set up my Apple, which was a year OLDER than the Dell, yet still works perfectly.

Fuck Michael Dell and his POS computers.

And my last 4 computers have been Dell. In the next to last one, the CD burner died a week after I received it. I contacted customer service, and after a week I had a new CD burner.

Monitors? Can't get a better bang for the buck.

Dell may donate to Republicans, but they still make the best brand name computers. (sure, Apple is great too, but it is way too expensive, Dell isn't).

Apple computers really aren't that expensive when you factor in the hundreds of dollars of iLife software that comes with the computer.

And sure, the computer itself is not THAT expensive, but the price of monitors is obscene. Nine months ago I bought a packed Dell computer with a 20 inch monitor for just over $2000. With Apple I would have been able to buy just computer... if I wanted a similar 20 inch flat panel I would have had to spend an additioanl $1200.

And as I said in the topic, odds are I will never use the iLife software. I already use OpenOffice for word processing and spreadsheets, and for all the webdesign I use Macromedia Studio.

Other monitors work just fine.

Still, I paid $2300 for the computer including the monitor and 5.1 speakers. An equivalent G5 would go for $2000 with NO monitor or speakers.

I also had a TV card and an additional hard drive I wanted to use, and neither were compatible with Apple. It made no sense whatsoever to buy a Mac, and a lot of people are in a similar situation.

I have an old Apple in my classroom that I still prefer to use for word processing. Works like a champ. I have a Mac here at home that I bought in 93 that still works great. My husband, a PC enthusiast, has spent far more on PC configurations in the last 12 years than I have spent on my Macs. When it came time for me to buy a new computer two years ago, I didn't even look at PCs. Sure this computer I bought cost 3 or 4 times what a Dell cost, but it will be around a lot longer than any Dell.

These G5's have very impressive performance.

all my work for that period of time....gone. Apple products from a prior time probably were more solid. Today's apples are nothing more than marketing.

They had to replace it - good thing we had the extended warranty since it was after 2 years.

We had all of our Dell destop computers at work fail due to bad capacitors - Dell was really evasive about that issue and didn't want to admit fault, though we could easily see the electrolyte oozing out of the caps onto the MB. Most of the execs I know who use Dell laptops say that they suck for some reason...

Large batch of bad caps from otherwise-premium supplier Nichicon. The Intel D865 series and some D875 series boards were heavily affected; several systems I built around that board (aside from that, a great solid mobo) have suffered oozing caps. I'm collecting the bad boards and I'll recap them all at once. MPC (Micron) had systems built around D865 boards that failed.

FWIW Dell systems usually use Intel boards, with the power supply connector intentionally miswired so you can't buy just any aftermarket replacement power supply. Good boards on the whole, but due to the intentional crippling I could never recommend Dell computers. The best PC is the one you build yourself...screw the manufacturers.

Here's a site detailing the cap issues: www.badcaps.net

Todd in Beerbratistan, IT geek

I think they're going down hill. I never used to have trouble, but this computer's monitor quit working so I had to get a new one. My husband's laptop monitor had a similar problem, after warranty of course.

Plus the Repub thing. Next time I'm looking elsewhere.

When I tried to get help, the help people were non-responsive.

As guilty as I feel for doing it, I did buy one of their flat panel monitors. Why? Because it's the best one made in its size and price range that had the features I needed, and through using 3 different on-line coupons I was able to get it for half price (235 for a 19-inch high-end LCD that can actually be correctly calibrated for color accuracy is exceptionally low).

I hated doing it, but I had to make the exception this time.

Maybe I should call the Morning Sedition guys during their "liberal confessional" segment? :)

Their 24 inch flat panel monitors costs a little over $1000, while a similar Apple or Sony display can cost hundreds of dollars more.

I'm sorry they donate to Republicans, but Dell still makes great computers at a really great price.

And a better choice.

Especially before they went offshore and replaced the rest of us with temps! You couldn't give me a Dell, I hate Michael with a passion. acmejack, dell 1995-2002

People say they will buy smell (dell) computers because they're less expensive -- even though smell treat their employees like garbage and m.dell is in bed with the pukes. Yet, they'll turn around and bash anyone who buys from walmart. I find that a double standard. I don't buy from walmart, even though there's one that's a short walk from my home (I go to Hyundae Dept or E-Mart) and I don't buy dell computers.

and most of the tech industry. The one that baffles me a bit is Microsoft. Microsoft donates predominately to pukies, but the majority of Gates' personal money goes to Dems. I understand the anti-trust lawsuit pissed them off, but I'm still not sure why Bill gives more of his money to Dems since it's his company.

(had to go PC - too much crossing platforms working from home vs at work) - and I have been very happy with both.

One of the very first people to visit the White House after the American people were deprived of it was Steve Balmer.

There was, if you recall, an anti-Trust suit against Microsoft. It disappeared within hours of Clinton's departure. That was my first clue that this was going to be much worse than anyone could imagine at the time.

And so is unfair trade! Woo!

Buy dell if you support outsourced trade and slave labor, it's quite simple.

sucked too.

My first Dell was a great computer and tech service answered the phone and everything. I bought another one. It was one failure after another - and terrible service. (It didn't help that it ran Windows ME - but the hardware sucked too.)

Dell now asks you to pay extra if you want their tech support people to pick up the phone.

The best computer I owned in modern times has been a Toshiba laptop.

in terms of quality... they used to be very good, but have slipped in the past year or two.

and dell computers don't work properly with a whole range of our products. They are the only systems that give us problems accross the board on anything. And they will work if you change that hardware (USB) that interfaces with our gear. So that leads me to belive they cheap out on a lot.

They are crap and not good neighbors in tech either. Plus they shut down a user board because there was too much and many compliants they couldn't address.

I wouldn't touch Dell with a 100-foot-stick. I get a discount on their already low prices, as well. I snapped, on my mom, when she told me to "get over it," (when I was looking for a computer). If you need a cheap PC, buy an eMachine, which is owned by Gateway, and has improved in quality (so I hear). If you can afford it, buy an Apple.

The Codex seraphinianus! Cool!

As a Apple & PC tech, I have to say, Dells are crap, and tend to be pre-broken out of the box. Apple is the best deal, (and you don't *have* to use an Apple monitor, any SVGA would work just fine), and cost the same as a name-brand PC. If you're getting a PC, Gateway or HP are your better bets.

I haven't bought it, yet, though, because I feel that since the French company that makes them is still cranking them out, that the book is suffering from "Hallmark Syndrome," meaning that they're charging an exorbitant amount ($350 - $400) for a book that isn't even really in a limited edition. I'm waiting until people wise up, or I can find it from some schmuck who doesn't know what he has...

:hi:

Gateway. They eat hard drives as snacks. Keep looking. I have had very little trouble with Dells, HP, e-machines, even some off brands. But Gateway is another story.

We've had very few problems. Can't say the same for dell.

The computer is decent enough for my purposes, but I'm probably going with a Gateway next time, or I'll get a computer whiz friend of mine to help me build my own.

I have had is a virus. Thanks to downloading my free AVG Anti Virus protection and totally getting rid of Norton, I haven't had one problem since.

My son has a Gateway laptop. The little power connector on the back of the laptop was loose so we sent it to Gateway for repair. We had purchased the extended warranty because it was a kid's computer and just assumed something would break on it. We got the computer back and the connector was good for about a month and was loose again. When this happens the computer won't charge, rendering it USELESS. So, we sent it back AGAIN for repair of the same thing. We got it back and it worked for maybe another month and the connector was loose AGAIN. :grr: I called Gateway to get ANOTHER box for shipping it back and was informed the extended warranty had expired 4 DAYS EARLIER so now it would cost US $350.00 to put in the new part which THEY should have put in the first time I sent the darn thing in. What they did on the first 2 repairs was try to solder it or something instead of putting in the expensive part it needed. Needless to say, I am not a happy camper when it comes to Gateway and will never buy another one. All they did was do a half assed repair in hopes of waiting out the warranty expiration. That was obvious.

They use the standard round connectors you might see on any electronic gadget. My GF has an HP and the connector came loose - wouldn't charge. I was able to solder it myself since the store that was going to repair it said it could take a week plus before she got it back. I've now re-soldered it 3 times - now we have taped the charge cable in such a way that there is no way to pull on the power cable. I have no idea WHY these morons would use such a connector on a mobile device as big as a laptop. It's a major design flaw and they are terrible about admitting the problem and fixing it.

I use to do stained glass. :) Hell, I might as well try that before blowing $350.00, eh? If it doesn't work or hold then I'll send it in for the new part. I thought about taping it too...DUCT TAPE...just one more use for it. :)

My family is a Gateway family, and we've been EXTRAORDINARILY happy with their computers. I have a 450 mhz that my aunt bought in 2000, and I inherited in 2001, and have beat up and loaded down and thrown around like all get out, and that baby still runs like a charm. I gave it to my son, last year, to play his computer games on, and even he hasn't managed to break it. It's never been in the shop, and has never had any noticeable problems. Most of my family has had the same experience.

My beef with Gateway is, that, to compete, they had to close down their stores, and they laid off my cousin, who was a very loyal employee, and sort of the "customer rep," for my family -- about 100 people, who strictly bought Gateway. I bought an eMachine, while I save up for an Apple. I plan on giving this computer to my son, when the other one finally poops out, or he wants to do things that he can't do on it.

e-machine a year ago. So far it has been flawless. Cheap too.

I heard they had a lot of problems pre-Gateway ownership, but that most of the major kinks had been worked out. And yeah, cheap -- a good option in affordability, without having to go to a Dell.

only the fan I can live with it.

they are very blue and they make a great product. Once you go Mac you never go back.

I had a Performa, back in the mid-90s, which was a shit line, and, I think, part of the reason why Apple had so many problems. I've now had a Gateway and an e-machine, both with which I'm very happy. But, I am saving to give Apple another chance. It has always bothered me that they're the ones who came up with the cool interface, and Bill Gates got all the money.

i'm sure Jobs will win.

Overpriced.
I use "E-Machine" computers. I have one that has worked day in and day out for over 5 years. Probably made in some malaysian sweatshop, like Gateways and Apples, too.
Computers are a Tool, not a hobby or political statement for me.

e-machine. works good enough for me so far :)

They are now using the lowest quality parts manufactured in China. They are now using India tech support if you bought a Dell for personal use. If you are a Dell Business customer, you get American Tech support.

Dell has gone downhill in recent hills. Several I/T types I know have said this to me as well.

Try Newegg, PriceWatch, or any of dozens of other sites for computer hardware.

Build the machine you want with exactly the components you choose. Maybe not for everyone, but it doesn't take a computer science degree, either.

Bush's trade adivsory panel, ACTPN.

time is worth anything to you, you're better off buying a quality pc or mac.

Like a whole company of bushturds, except that a few of them are somewhat competent

The company I work for has a contract with Dell, so all computers and equipment we buy are Dell. Their products totally suck! I had to have my printer replaced after 3 months, when the thing broke and their own service people could not figure out what is wrong with it and my 2 year old PC is on fumes.

Bad enough I have one at work, that goodness I don't have one at home. Dell sucks.

Bad enough I have to use them here at work.

Gateways are also terrible and Macs aren't good for what I do for a living.

I'd much rather assemble my own beast, which I'll be doing in about 2 months.

but I have no idea of blue/red.

My dad has bought his last 3 computers from ABS -- www.buyabs.com, which has been around for at least 20 years (they used to make 286's). He's really enjoyed them, got excellent pricing, and the support has been top notch.

I usually build my own so the only computers I can speak to are IBM, Dell, and HP corporate versions -- which are all excellent but not great for the home.