What about a DELL?

Question

I'm looking at having to buy my first personal computer for school. Since DELL is offering discounts to students through my online school, I was considering buying one from them. Only thing is that I've heard a lot of complaints about DELL computers and the service also. My neighbor had a DELL that cost like $1500$; she says it was a horrible system and sold it. She could only get like $500 for it. I've also had a couple other people tell me that DELL sucks. I was wondering if DELL systems or really that bad. I can get a processor setup for all my school needs with a 1 year service contract for $275, through the school of course. After hearing all the complaints about their customer service and their actual systems from various people, I'm wondering if the discount is really worth the hassle. Should I buy from them or spend more and get one from Compaq or some other company?

I want to thank all who answered my questions. I was thinking it may be the people and not the computers. I see from the answers that a majority of you like DELL. I'm going to let the tally role on. It'll probably be a couple weeks before I actually buy my computer; so, that gives me time to decide what operating system and features I want.

Answer 1

You know.. being a computer tech I can tell you that Dell is earning a bad reputation.

BUT, most of the people spreading that crap about Dell systems are not computer savvy. They don't understand the common rules and musts of having a computer. Like cleaning it out.. or running a virus check every now and again, or turning it off.. simple stuff. I have owned two Dells, older ones, good solid systems.

Now, on the other hand.. Compaq has a better reputation of standing up to first time computer users. I have a 11 year old Compaq at home acting as my server, it runs like I just bought it a month ago. Great computer to have. Out of the two? I do recommend the Compaq, not because of better or worse.. just of general preference of use.

Answer 2

Dell's support has been outsourced to countries where, if you're lucky, English is a second language. That being said, the hardware isn't any different from everything else on the market and the software is exactly the same. Dell cuts costs by using the cheapest parts possible, just like everybody else.

As you're in school, you'll probably be surrounded by people with computer skills, so getting the nearest geek to fix your Dell-of-a-Deal PC may be as easy as springing for pizza one day, instead of spending hours on the phone with a different hemisphere.

If you're like I was in college, you don't have any money to be wasting on a more expensive computer just to avoid some aggravation. Of course, I'm a geek, so if it broke, I could fix it myself...

As a business owner, I'd go with something else. The less I have to call people like me, the better. But...

If it were my call, as a student I'd go with the cheapest thing out there and buy myself a good computer for my graduation present to myself.

Answer 3

I am a computer technician and the majority of the systems I work with are Dells. I'm actually kind of surprised people complain about them so much. I do run across issues but that is to be expected when supporting large quantities of PCs. Overall the systems have been pretty reliable. I'd just say that if the school is offering the GX260, GX270 or GX280 models that those have the most problems.

Answer 4

1.) You will never get what you paid for it when you sell.
2.) If you don't know what you are doing everything sucks.
3.) If you over buy(latest & greatest) most of your old friendly programs may not run.
4.)Know what your going to do with the computer & make sure the one you buy will do it and support those programs.
5.) I've worked on most brands..Typing on a Dell now. It will probably out preform anything you will need for school including Auto cad.
6.) Personal laptop is a HP 9000
There all the same...Don't over buy. What you need tomorrow may be different.

Answer 5

I have had two Dell notebook computers and I never had any problem with them. However because I never had a problem I didn't need to use Customer Service so I can't comment on that aspect. I recently switched to an HP because by the time I specced up the Dell to how I wanted it, it was coming out more expensive than the preconfigured HP (which is a great notebook by the way).

Answer 6

Dell is good for a few reasons. Their computers are highly customizable from the factory. Good warranty...Reasonably priced budget line, etc. Their tech service is not really that good, but sadly is better than many. I had a Dell for 3 years and just ordered another Dell 2 days ago (bigger machine). If the 2nd is as good as the first, I won't need support--I'll get a 3rd down the road.

Answer 7

I support a site that has about 1,400 computers on it, mixture of Compaq, Dell, HP and a handful of others. (No Apples).

Out of the box, at least 10% of all the Compaqs are DAO. The parts in them are unique to the Compaqs and thus difficult to upgrade. Usually die within 1-2 years.

The Dells have about a 1-2% failure rate. They are "generic" in their parts which (for desktops) allows for easy upgrading of almost anything. They are very well laid out inside, with easy access to almost any part, cases that open wide, cables neatly held in place with clips, etc. that makes repairing them much easier then any other brand. The majority of our PC run through their entire three year lease without requiring any major hardware repairs.

HP - rock solid. Require little repair or maintence. Which is a good thing because when you open one, the cables are held in by duct tape (literally), and getting to anything inside is a nightmare. Plus the parts are too often unique to HP. Repairing one, when it breaks, will cost you more than repairing the Dell because of the additional labor time.

Hope that helps....

Answer 8

Hi, no Dell is an excellent computer manufacturer and maybe the people who told u all the bad stuff about it r just the ones with bad experiences with it and people could have bad experiences with any company. Get a Dell for ur self and if u r worried about security then buy one with Ubuntu Linux on it. I hope I helped.
Good Luck and take care!

Answer 9

I have had 2 dells and 4 HP's. I prefer the HP because the problems getting the dell fixed. I take the HP back to best buy and they fix it(which has never happened yet). One of my dells crashed the hard drive 1 year after I got it. Adding to the frustration that I lost all my photographs and documents and music was I had to send in the hard drive to dell and wait for the new one to come back then wait again for a service tech to come to the house to install it and reload my programs.

Answer 10

I have a Dell it's about 3 yrs old now and I love it. Never had a problem with it either. Just be sure that you are getting what you want and do some research on all of the different kinds out there. A Dell suited my family just fine for what we wanted and needed it for. Depending on what you are looking for you may find a different kind suits you. GL !! I loved picking out my first computer!!