Why does DELL suck?

[steamboat12]

Dell computers have gone so far down hill in recent years. I have had so many problems with them over the years. I was cursed with a Dell dimension for 2 years. It was a total nightmare. I think that every moving part failed. Their support was abysmal. I had to fight to the death to get my PC serviced. However, it never worked properly. I guess their proprietary parts were built to crash. Has anyone else had a horror story with Dell?

[KorruptioN]

Misinformed user alert!

I agree that their support is lacking at times (outsourcing), and the bundled software effectively neuters the system, but you can't argue the fact that sometimes they are very good deals. For your average joe, he/she wouldn't care exactly how everything inside works.

If you dislike the proprietary-ness of it so much, why did you buy a Dell in the first place? You should've built your own machine soon after.

[laptop-tech]

My current desktop is a Dell dimension (the famous Dell/Bell $399.00 xmas deal 2 years ago) - running 100% from day 1

my current laptop is a Dell Latitude - running 100% from day 1 (had it for almost 2 years as well)

whenever I see a great Dell deal, I recommend to my friends and they all have them now, running 100% from day 1

[forthman]

Funny you should ask this,one of my co-workers(older fellow) said his wife ordered a mid range Dell,seemed like a nice pc,they have zero computer skills,but they did own an old Win95 box.Anyway they get their new pc, follow the instructions turn it on,and nothing,Dell did'nt install WinXp!No O.S,LOL.Dell apologized and sent them their Disks with some free software.What a joke.

[MrDisco]

Dells are fantastic machines. i almost wish i didnt spend all that money building my own and instead just got one of theirs.

[xwar]

Dells are only good for those who are computer ******** ...

[tmpz]

Dell is pretty good for a regular home user. Some deals are awesome, no local computer store can compete with that, ie Dell deal days. Yes, Dell does put a lot of junk on your computer. So format it and reinstall. No big deal...

If you're buying something not on sale, local computer stores have better deals...

[icy_krystalz]

Dell, nevertheless, are good computers; however, you can't overclock the processor. When you purchase a computer from Dell, they limit your choices of upgrade(no AMD choice yet, only get a few choices of upgrades). Upgrading your memory later on(after purchasing your computer) is hard to do, since no local stores have those kind of memory. IMO, if your a hard core gamer/overclocker, Dell is not the way to go. If you are, build one yourself.

[gman]

Dell, nevertheless, are good computers; however, you can't overclock the processor. When you purchase a computer from Dell, they limit your choices of upgrade(no AMD choice yet, only get a few choices of upgrades). Upgrading your memory later on(after purchasing your computer) is hard to do, since no local stores have those kind of memory. IMO, if your a hard core gamer/overclocker, Dell is not the way to go. If you are, build one yourself.

Are you talking about laptop? Or Desktop? Upgrading Ram of a Desktop is easy. Do that all the time.

[Shaner]

Are you talking about laptop? Or Desktop? Upgrading Ram of a Desktop is easy. Do that all the time.

A lot of Dells used to come with RDRAM though, which was a giant PITA!! I believe they mostly stopped using that type of RAM though.

I think Dell's are great machines for what you pay. You get a good computer for a very low price, cheaper than you can build yourself.
The service sucks (it used to be good, until they outsourced to India), but their machines are good.

[gman]

A lot of Dells used to come with RDRAM though, which was a giant PITA!! I believe they mostly stopped using that type of RAM though.

I think Dell's are great machines for what you pay. You get a good computer for a very low price, cheaper than you can build yourself.
The service sucks (it used to be good, until they outsourced to India), but their machines are good.

The keyword is used to and it is a few years ago. In the past 2 to 3 years, you can just buy RAM somewhere else including their server grade machines.

[hagbard]

Dells are only good for those who are computer ******** ...

Hey, I still build my own.

[Decius]

When comparing OEM desktop systems (HP, Dell, Gateway, etc.) it's like trying to pick out of a bunch of really ugly dogs at a pet store. Dell stands out cause they tend to be the cheapest. I still recommend OEM systems to people who know squat about computers, if for no other reason than they have SOME support and a warranty from a large company that won't dick them around as bad as I've seen in some mom n' pop operations. In the end they usually get a Dell (Hint: I also have a friend that works at their corporate support, and he gave me their number).

When comparing laptops, Dell sits in the middle. They offer god quality systems with good warranty coverage encased in crappy shells. They are all plastic. Now don't get me wrong, I do have a Dell Inspiron 700m that has functioned perfectly with day one, and has worked it's way through all the tickering and configuring I've done. Also, I'm not at all familiar with the business-class Latitude systems. I would of like to go with IBM or Toshiba when I was laptop shopping initially, but they were either cost-prohibitive for me (IBM) or offered NO customization or upgrading of parts at time of order what so ever (Toshiba). Still I would of paid the extra money, as Magnesium or Titanium shells beat plastic any day of the week.

[lazybum131]

Most of the Inspirons are all plastic, but the 17" have magnesium alloy lid and base. The new Latitude D620 and D820 casings are entirely magnesium alloy according to Dell.

Some Toshiba Tecra's now have only plastic casings and AFAIK all the Satellites are plastic.

[gordholio]

I bought a Dell 1907FP 19" LCD monitor and it doesn't suck.