Issues with Dell !!!!!!

[bicker]

Lot's of folks like to say that -- it's fun bad-mouthing the big guys, of course. However, time and time again, when qualified sources evaluate the quality of Windows-based personal computers, Dell comes out on top. Sometimes HP Compaq is up there in the list; sometimes you'll see some other brands too, but Dell is almost always #1 or #2. What this indicates is a general lack of quality in the industry as a whole, at least at that price-point.

 

[gr8tpanther]

I am having my OWN personal war with DELL!!!

I bought a laptop and they have replaced EVERY SINGLE WORKING part in that thing and it STILL didn't work!!! I made them send me a replacement! So far it is working OK...

DUDE, we are NOT getting ANOTHER DELL!!!!

What made ME mad is I OWN every OTHER type of computer and I have NEVER had a problem with any other one!!! I told them that too!

Called Tech Support and they ask what model I told them POS DELL!

Yeah don't like Dell much! Next time I go IBM!

Make them send you a replacement if you are still under warranty!

 

[bicker]

IBM no longer sells laptops in the US. The US retail market for laptop computers became so commodize that there just wasn't enough profit to be made, while still providing a high-quality product with high-quality service, that folks would expect from IBM. When you go to IBM's web site to look for personal computers, now, they redirect you to the site for a company named Lenovo. They're probably pretty-good (from what I've heard) though perhaps not as good as Dell, and surely not as good as true blue IBM, in terms of service.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

The US retail market for laptop computers became so commodize ...

This is so true of almost all electronics and many home appliances as well. Remember the old days when you used to actually tried to get stuff repaired. There is often no point these days.

 

[Donna]

I have a Dell Laptop and desktop and the one time when i did have a problem with the desktop monitor, they sent me a new one the next day. The desktop before this had a problem and they had a service person here the next day to fix it. Nothing but rave reviews from me from Dell. Maybe they've gone downhill since then. Now HP, thats a whole nother story. talk about crap laptops. you open Word and the HP shuts down from overheating.

 

[Lynn CC]

Anyone have an Alienware laptop? I was thinking about purchasing one this month for DS, it's around 3k. It boasts, it's the best for gaming. Anyone have one?

 

[Donna]

Anyone have an Alienware laptop? I was thinking about purchasing one this month for DS, it's around 3k. It boasts, it's the best for gaming. Anyone have one?

This is my son's dream laptop. he says he NEEDS it for college, yeh right. He's a junior and he's stuck with the crappy HP that overheats when he plays games. He said they're rated the best and i've never heard of them! I had a feeling it was a "gaming" thing, lol.

 

[Patch'sD]

I have had at least six dells over the past six years. The only problem I have had is with their power supplies, I have lost three of them and have become quite good in repairing them myself. I would like to ask what type of problem you are having with your computer. If Dell is trying to fix via Microcode and Software settings, maybe one of us can help.

 

[bringerofdreams]

LynnCC, I have been dreaming of buying on of those Alienware PC's for years. If you can afford it go for it, I hear they are awesome!

I have only ever owned Dell computers. I have always found the reliability and service to be second to none. Until last year when I needed to re-install the operating system because I kept getting segment fault errors. Now, that usually means that there is faulty hardware, but I had been having various software problems after installing the Microsoft .net software and I just knew it was related.

Long story short: I tried to re-install the OS and it kept crashing in the middle of the install. I could not get past it, as every time you would restart the computer it would just go right back into the beginning of the install again. It was an endless, frustrating loop. I called Dell support who told me I had to call Microsoft. So I called Microsoft, who charged me $35 for the call and told me they could not help me as I had a bad hard drive. LOL, I used to be a help desk tech myself so I knew this was not a hard drive problem. Now I was mad. I paid $35 for bad advice and I still had the problem. I called Dell back and this time I got a tech (not an american tech either) who was not only able to solve the problem, but he called me back the next day to make sure everything was still ok. Now that's service!

So while I understand that Dell has some not-so-helpful and not-so-knowledgeable techs, other companies are no different. Even big brother Microsoft could not help me and the problem was with their own product!!!!

I will continue to buy Dell. I am on my fourth Dell computer (always their high end models, NEVER those impossible-to-upgrade cookie-cutter $499 models lol) and although there have been small problems here and there they are still head and shoulders above most other manufactureres.

 

[Lynn CC]

I was just about to order the Alienware MJ-12m 7700 which is supposed to be the best laptop for gaming that a gamer could dream of.
He is a Freshman in college, got a GREAT scholarship to go there and loves it except for one problem...

His College is blocking the ports for gamers, WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS?
He is miserable, that is what he likes to do to unwind after classes and homework. Some kids like to party, he likes to game. It's been a very aggrivating week! He had to get his laptop registered in order to live in the dorms, and now he can't play his Star Wars Galaxies. He would have went in with another student and rented an appartment in the North End if he knew this ahead of time. The computer department says they are having network difficulties, no one can download Itunes or anything like that either. So I'm hoping they will get the problem fixed so I can order this Laptop!

 

[Lynn CC]

This is my son's dream laptop. he says he NEEDS it for college, yeh right. He's a junior and he's stuck with the crappy HP that overheats when he plays games. He said they're rated the best and i've never heard of them! I had a feeling it was a "gaming" thing, lol.

Yes, it's a gaming laptop! Atleast your DS can play games at his college, my DS is having the ports blocked right now by the computer department, a gamers nightmare!

 

[Planogirl]

Our Dell has done real well so far. But don't me started on my old Compaq... We've had two HP's two; one was great and the later one was constantly malfunctioning. Luckily for us, the last HP got some oddball virus which ruined it somehow.

Someone I know who works for Dell has told me that they've been looking into somehow bringing all CS back to the US. He said that they've had lots of complaints but they haven't decided yet how to address that.

 

[bringerofdreams]

I was just about to order the Alienware MJ-12m 7700 which is supposed to be the best laptop for gaming that a gamer could dream of.
He is a Freshman in college, got a GREAT scholarship to go there and loves it except for one problem...

His College is blocking the ports for gamers, WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS?

It's hard to say why they may be doing this, but there are several reasons I can think of:

1) Hackers may be sending out bots that are attacking those ports and causing the IT department headaches.

2) There may be an abundance of students using the server resources to play games and causing the server performance to degrade.

Please keep in mind that schools give the priviledge of internet access to students so that it can be used in an educational manner. It was never meant to be used to play games. Their servers may not be able to handle this type of bandwidth and recources.

 

[Lynn CC]

It's hard to say why they may be doing this, but there are several reasons I can think of:

1) Hackers may be sending out bots that are attacking those ports and causing the IT department headaches.

2) There may be an abundance of students using the server resources to play games and causing the server performance to degrade.

Please keep in mind that schools give the priviledge of internet access to students so that it can be used in an educational manner. It was never meant to be used to play games. Their servers may not be able to handle this type of bandwidth and recources.

I understand what you are saying, but they should let students know they will not be able to play games if they live in the dorms, AHEAD of moving in.
He moved in on a Sunday and his game worked, then on Monday it didn't. He would have rented an appartment nearby just so he could play his games in his spare time. He's joined 2 clubs (pre-law and Gov't), read ahead in all his classes, read 2 books of choice in a week and a half and now he's bored. He just wants to play Star Wars Galaxies, I feel for him. I can't get onto the Disney forum in his dorm room either!!!! That wouldn't fly well with me either LOL
Thanks for your suggestions, I printed it out so he could read.

 

[CharlesTD]

This is my son's dream laptop. he says he NEEDS it for college, yeh right. He's a junior and he's stuck with the crappy HP that overheats when he plays games. He said they're rated the best and i've never heard of them! I had a feeling it was a "gaming" thing, lol.

My mother works for a game developer called DICE (they produce the Battlefield games) and they have several variations of the Alienware laptops and they have some issues with them they work OK not great for games but ok. They have heat issues with them and the screen run at such a high rate that they tend to burn out fairly quickly. They have the latest version not sure what is in it but it was about 6K Canadian with tax and it has had a processor failure and screen failure allready and it is only 3 months old. They have some Toshiba models and they have had 0 issues with them they aren't as good for games but again they have run them and have no issues with heat or faulty screens etc.

 

[Doctor P]

There is only one type of Dell computer, laptop or desktop, that comes with less than a one year warranty, and ALL of the computers come with mail-in or in-home service. Yes, the OP may have a lemon. Yes, the OP may be having problems with tech support, but the OP is not telling the whole story it would appear. Either they bought a low-line computer that even Dell won't warranty for free for very long, or they have not taken advantage of the mail in option if it is a laptop. If it is a desktop, it would appear that Dell covers in-home service for at least one year on all the computers it sells. So, I would be interested in what the full story is (not suggesting that we are not being told the truth, only that there would appear to have to be more to the story).

 

[CharlesTD]

There is only one type of Dell computer, laptop or desktop, that comes with less than a one year warranty, and ALL of the computers come with mail-in or in-home service. Yes, the OP may have a lemon. Yes, the OP may be having problems with tech support, but the OP is not telling the whole story it would appear. Either they bought a low-line computer that even Dell won't warranty for free for very long, or they have not taken advantage of the mail in option if it is a laptop. If it is a desktop, it would appear that Dell covers in-home service for at least one year on all the computers it sells. So, I would be interested in what the full story is (not suggesting that we are not being told the truth, only that there would appear to have to be more to the story).

IMHO the more to the story is it is a DELL and they suck at everything from their computers to their customer service.

 

[bicker]

Yet, they're the best retailer out there. Sad.

 

[N.Bailey]

Yet, they're the best retailer out there. Sad.

While I can agree that they're probably the biggest, I disagree highly that they are the best!

 

[gr8tpanther]

IMHO the more to the story is it is a DELL and they suck at everything from their computers to their customer service.

Well, I can attest that Dell's customer service is not ALL that bad, they have fixed everything that went wrong with my laptop and in the end, replaced the bad one, however, I haven't had the replacement long enough to know how good this one is going to be yet, but when I know, I will post. I think they backed up their warranty rather well, just wish more of them could speak English so I could understand them.

And as for the IBM? I have an inside person who can get me one if I want one.