Dell: How can anyone stand to deal with these guys?

[glasswave]

Just spent most the afternoon trying to get a blutooth card from them for my Laptop (purchased by my work).

Their website is incomprehensible. First, you have to pigeon hole yourself (Ed, Big Biz, Sm Biz, Hm). Each area of the website sells different products (as if they know what kind of computer or camera you need), the products that are offered in multiple areas are different prices. To just get a price quote over the phone, after holding for nearly an hour, you have to give them all your personal info., so you can have a customer # and they can start spamming you. A $13/2 oz. part costs $15 to ship. Then they'll tell you it takes two weeks to ship, and by looks of this forum, thats with luck.

They use to make the best cptr's in the biz, now they come crammed with preloaded with (Dell authored) spyware and non "compatible" components. It seems the only folks that do well are the one that by the actions of their incompetent shipping dept. get a $2000 lens when they ordered a $200 one.

What a joke. Whew, maybe now I feel a tad better. Not reccommended.

 

[Jimsokay]

Yeah, but think of the money you saved over buying a Mac.
--
Jim

 

[Justin Blethrow]

And for many of the same reasons you mention, patticularly incompatible components. In any case I build all my own these days; it's frankly not hard at all, you get better component quality for the money, you have a clear upgrade path, and you're forced to really learn your own system in process.

--
http://www.pbase.com/jdb/root

 

[pici]

Justin,

Do you know of any good websites that you would recommend to anyone attempting box building for the first time?

If you do, your input would be much appreciated.The sites I've located seem to assume the reader has done it before--providing instructions such as "and don't forget to check the BIOS before proceeding". Uh, ok but what should I check for???

And for many of the same reasons you mention, patticularly
incompatible components. In any case I build all my own these days;
it's frankly not hard at all, you get better component quality for
the money, you have a clear upgrade path, and you're forced to
really learn your own system in process.

--
http://www.pbase.com/jdb/root

 

[glasswave]

and that's coming from a guy who likes Macs. I'd never take a mac home from the store & just start running it.

First thing I do reformat and put a clean build on it. Sans all the bloated junkware they install. BTW, iTunes is like AOL sw, once installed you can never get rid of it completely w/o reformating. It even comes with it own spyware. Apple is a joke. But hey, at least you look cool.

http://www.mcelhearn.com/article.php?story=20060111150127268

My $1200 home built clone (win 2k/Linux) system (Asus MB,1.6ghz P4, 2gb, 160mb RAID) runs circles around my work's g5's and XP dual Zeons, and it's already getting old.

In closing, my Mac book pro is the best Laptop (after format and re-install of OSX) is the best laptop I've ever had. By far.

Yeah, but think of the money you saved over buying a Mac.
--
Jim

 

[glasswave]

...the tech forums at Maximum PC are very good. My advice would be to get an old system. Failing that, get a hard drive for the unit, put your old hd in a safe place, strip your PC down to the case and build it up w/the new drive. Try several custom windows installs, using maxpc forums when you get stuck. The guys over therew are great.

Good Luck

Do you know of any good websites that you would recommend to anyone
attempting box building for the first time?

If you do, your input would be much appreciated.The sites I've
located seem to assume the reader has done it before--providing
instructions such as "and don't forget to check the BIOS before
proceeding". Uh, ok but what should I check for???

And for many of the same reasons you mention, patticularly
incompatible components. In any case I build all my own these days;
it's frankly not hard at all, you get better component quality for
the money, you have a clear upgrade path, and you're forced to
really learn your own system in process.

--
http://www.pbase.com/jdb/root

 

[GeorgeH]

I've been buying from Dell (desktop, notebook, camera, accessories, software) in the past five years; 30+ orders No problems with website navigation or product delivery. No problem with lost package, maybe 1 or 2 delays. Always good price with good service. I like Dell because it works for me. I do not call their sales reps as I can do almost everything on via their website.

I ordered from IBM twice for a notebook. First time was good (2 years ago). Second time just last month. They lost the notebook since the new Lenovo notebook was shipped from China. Took me another month to get a replacement.

Just spent most the afternoon trying to get a blutooth card from
them for my Laptop (purchased by my work).

Their website is incomprehensible. First, you have to pigeon hole
yourself (Ed, Big Biz, Sm Biz, Hm). Each area of the website sells
different products (as if they know what kind of computer or camera
you need), the products that are offered in multiple areas are
different prices. To just get a price quote over the phone, after
holding for nearly an hour, you have to give them all your personal
info., so you can have a customer # and they can start spamming
you. A $13/2 oz. part costs $15 to ship. Then they'll tell you it
takes two weeks to ship, and by looks of this forum, thats with
luck.

They use to make the best cptr's in the biz, now they come crammed
with preloaded with (Dell authored) spyware and non "compatible"
components. It seems the only folks that do well are the one that
by the actions of their incompetent shipping dept. get a $2000 lens
when they ordered a $200 one.

What a joke. Whew, maybe now I feel a tad better. Not reccommended.

 

[apiron]

My first and only experience with Dell was horrible, a borderline scam. I'll never ever buy from them again.

 

[jk]

last time (4 years ago) when i bought a computer i bought from http://www.abspc.com i bought one of their off the shelf boxes and customized it they use normal retail parts and i upgraded parts on my own over time its still works fine after 4 years

Do you know of any good websites that you would recommend to anyone
attempting box building for the first time?

If you do, your input would be much appreciated.The sites I've
located seem to assume the reader has done it before--providing
instructions such as "and don't forget to check the BIOS before
proceeding". Uh, ok but what should I check for???

And for many of the same reasons you mention, patticularly
incompatible components. In any case I build all my own these days;
it's frankly not hard at all, you get better component quality for
the money, you have a clear upgrade path, and you're forced to
really learn your own system in process.

--
http://www.pbase.com/jdb/root

--
beam me up scotty

im giving it all shes got captain

 

[danegeld]

And for many of the same reasons you mention, patticularly
incompatible components. In any case I build all my own these days;
it's frankly not hard at all, you get better component quality for
the money, you have a clear upgrade path, and you're forced to
really learn your own system in process.

--
http://www.pbase.com/jdb/root

I used to build all my own PCs, but finally quit doing it after I got tired of replacing components that should have worked together, but didn't and other components that shouldn't have failed, but did. It's not that I didn't know what I was doing, since I used to take apart Amigas and build other Amigas from the parts. I went through a series of Dells, but got burned with the Rambus fiasco; I had one Dell after that and when it failed, ordered a PC from Monarch. It turned out to be a disaster. At that point I switched to Mac and I'm much happier now. My days of building PCs are finally over. I don't regret it, but I'll never do it again, either.

----------------
http://www.pbase.com/tmalcom/

 

[CSharr]

Too long a story to waste my breath. Suffice to say that they are the worst company I have ever had the displeasure to deal with. Almost put me off the world of computers on my first step in.
--
Chris