Everyone's telling me Dell is no good. What brand should I get then?

Question

I'd like to hear your opinions :)

Thanks!

Please don't suggest MAC's. Thank you.

Answer 1

Dell can be crap (never buy the lowest end dell machine. Ever), but their support is great.

The main problems with Dell are:
-They are an OEM, and want to save money wherever possible. Maximize profit by skimping out on components.
-Outsourcing is awful. You can't understand the people on the phone (Malaysia, usually, also where they build over 90% of Dell notebooks). The Malaysian guy is cheaper to hire, and while he may be nice, if he has a thicker accent it may be frustrating.
-Dell skimps sometimes. The cost of windows is subsidized by McAfee, MusicMatch, etc. trials. These trials are annoying and are bloat.

That said:
+Dell support is good via the online chat function. Usually, they go through less troubleshooting steps if you know the problem and they type english well, although a little slower.
+Dell's warranties stand up to the task. For peace of mind, its good on a desktop. On a laptop, CompleteCare (drops+spills, accident insurance) and the extended warranties are an absolute blessing.
+Dell's size gets them great prices on components, and you often can often find a coupon that may save you anywhere from a few bucks to a couple hundred. Most Dell PCS have about 10% off by default, but on a notebook, you can enter coupon code 9C12FJVBKTKPV$ (40000 uses or March 29th expiration) for $400 off $1499+, and on a desktop, 3T1P07DB496T2Q (same expiration date/conditions) will give you 25% off any desktop $999 greater.

For most users, Dell is a great company with convenience. of being established and having support For quality/pickyness, some people will build their own or buy from another company.

My experience?
-Dell XPS is more money, but much, much higher quality parts and the support is better.
-Gateway desktops declined around 2002, but the new ones are much, much better. Gateways tend to have a little less trialware than Dells.
-HPs are pretty good to, at least, the notebooks are. Desktops are good, and if you're looking for a media center pc, better than dell.
-Alienware (bought out by Dell), Falcon Northwest, and Voodoo PC (bought out by HP) make great gaming computers with a price premium.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Fist of all, Im a computer technician and can tell you that Dells computers are one of the most reliable brands for consumers.
So don't believe everything that people say, they are just rumors that were generated when Dell had that problem a couple of years ago with the users identity, but come on people it's been more than 3 years since that drop it already!
Another good consumers brands are Gateway, and Sony...!
Im talking here about consumers, a computer that you will use for home use and that of course you don't want to spend $3000 on it.

Stay away from Compaq, wish is now the same as HP, I tell you this because i saw someone recommending you a HP.
I had repaired more Compaq/HP computers than any other brand on earth. The reasons why Compaq is so popular is simple, They have the greatest ads campaigns and the most beautiful computers cases, with nice colors etc, but it's not about what you see outside right?
Another thing is that's the brand that Radio Shack distribute and you know that there is a a Radio Shack in avery cornner.
Hope this help!

Answer 3

I have also heard a lot of bad things about Dells. I don't like gateway, I have one and hate it. I also have 3 HP's, I love them. My husband had put a virus on my computer and it was so easy for me to fix it, even thou I did not have a restoration disc and did not find out till after the fact. The new HP's come with a split Hard drive the back-up stuff that I needed was stored on the other side all I had to do was copy and paste from one side to the other and it did every thing else ... now hubby is not allowed back on my computer and I have since changes virus scanners too. My very 1st computer was an HP and it is now 10 years old, and ran well for a very long time. It stopped runny when I hooked it up to a faulty power supply and got zapped in the proses but I am told I can still find the part I need for it. Also HP tech support has always been very help full when I 1st buy the computer and don't know what I am doing. HP has a lot of new options too. My newest one is a Media Center and I love it. The best thing I can say is to go and look around at computers, best buy is one of the best places to go if you want to just look because they don't pressure you to buy, and most of there associates are able to answer your questions.

Answer 4

You may purchase whatever you like, but Dells are good for a short time, because you can't do to much upgradeing with them unless you go to them. Custom build is the way to go, you will have room for upgrade, and more flexability to get what you really want instead of paying for things you will not use at all. A good duel core AMD OR Intel would run you about 800.00 depending on where you get it done. I am a pro custom builder and have been in business well over 15 years, and build and sell about 75 or so systems a week, and never charge over $900.00 for a standard duel core system.

Answer 5

Dell is good and so is HP, Compaq, Toshiba, Gateway and others.
The reason everyone is telling you Dell is good, is because Dell has been Very Heavily advertised on Tv, radio, newspaper and everywhere else, so people are recommending the name they have heard the Most.
See the Dell name, has been pretty much forced on everyone wether they wanted to hear it or not.
I have a Compaq and it operates flawlessly and the support is Very Good. I am not saying compaq is the best , I am saying it has been good so far for me.
Do an online search for Dell poor or superior support and read reviews.

Answer 6

Don't listen to them. Buy what you like, even if it's a Dell. I have one upgraded Dell Optiplex GX-260, two custom desktops, and a HP laptop, and I use the Dell most of all. They're cheap, support is good, and they use standard stuff inside. I fix laptops for a sideline, and their laptops are pretty insubstantial, but they ARE the cheapest around.

Answer 7

ALX (alienware), but they're way to expensive (but works fine as hell!!),
and HP is good but the new cases don't fit me.
But sometimes, the best way to get a new desktop is usually first asking yourself what will you do with it, so then focus on wich components get (eg.: huge HD monitor, great proccesing speed, hard drive, a high tech case that outstands and rocks!, etc.).
then go out and make it yourself or go to a computers specialized shop and tell them what you want and your future specs for to upperlevelize it, (usually they have packages already focused on three spec: office work, multimedia use, and xtreme gaming).
So be confident in these aspects first and go get one that fits your needs and capabilities.
I hope this is somewhat useful :P

Answer 8

Well it depends whether it's a desktop PC or a laptop that you're
interested in. For a desktop PC, I suggest you buy each of it's components separately.For example an assus graphic card, an intel dual core processor, a plextor DVD-RW, a creative soundcard.... For a laptop, I would suggest a sony vaio or a lenovo!

Answer 9

Fujitsu laptops are nice. I second the votes for Toshiba above. And by the way, you don't use an apostrophe to pluralize words. It's Macs, not Mac's.

Answer 10

HP is pretty brilliant. I have a couple of friends that are techno geeks and although they themselves are Mac users, they admit that HP is possibly the best PC out there.