hi,

i'm thinking about buying a dell. but i've heard horror stories about how bad their support is. i like the computer, but sites like this

http://www.dellsucksass.com

scare me from buying a dell.

any help is appreciated.

 

I've heard most other computer companies are just as bad if not worse than Dell. They're all moving their support overseas to India and you get what you pay for. As a former employee of Dell, it makes me sick to see them doing this crap, but now that I'm just a shareholder I just want them to give me a good return on my stock investment. If they can get away with this then I guess we'll be stuck with it until they are forced to change. If it makes any difference, I just bought a new Dell notebook a few weeks ago and love it. I haven't had to use tech support yet so I can't help you there.

 

My hard drive died a few weeks ago (on my desktop machine)...a Dell. The symptoms are: as the machine powers up, the hard drive makes a grinding noise and the OS never boots. In fact the machine does nothing.

Contacted Dell's crack staff, India division, and these are some of the great replies:

"I apologize for the persistent trouble that you are facing. Since
there can be more than one reasons that may lead to the issues
that you are facing, the following troubleshooting is based on
another probable reason."

"I am Johnson. In our commitment to ensure a faster response ,
I will be handling this issue in the absence of the previous
technician. I request your valuable time and kind co-operation, so that this issue is resolved at the earliest."

"In our commitment to ensure a faster response to you, I will
Be handling this issue in the absence of the previous technician.
I have understood the cause and symptoms of the problem that
You have stated. Please follow few more step and it will help us to find the cause of the problem and we will do the needful."

"I request your valuable time and kind co-operation and
so that this issue is resolved at the earliest. Test the system with the external keyboard and check whether the issue occurs with the external keyboard. Thank you in advance for the kind co-operation and valuable time you have provided me in this interaction."

I could go on....I've had weeks of meaningful exchanges with Dell, but my computer is still down with a failed hard drive. The next day service is a crock.

My .02 cents.....Dell does Suck Ass.

Cheers -

 

Are you buying a Laptop or a Desktop?


If you are going laptop, there is IBM, then there is everyone else!!! You pay a little more for IBM but they are better laptops. I'm in IT i'm in the know.


As far as desktops....

Dell is ok, better than Compaq and HP. Steer clear of Gateway at all costs!!

To tell you the truth if you are technically inclined you can build your own PC the way you want, for less.


Why not look at Apple? There equipment is pricey, but you get what you pay for. Apples Free BSD based OS is FAR and AWAY superior that any buggy, virus prone, $hit that Micro$oft puts out!!!

 

Dell is fine. My computer is still working after 3 years and all the phone calls I have made to them have resulted in a quick, helpful response. But now, I'm moving to Apple so have fun with PC's!! If I were to buy a PC from the manufacturer, it'd be Sony or Dell.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by seminole2001

Why not look at Apple?

 

If you buy Dell pay more for the small business lines. The computers have far superior components (i.e. video cards that are not soldered on to the motherboard) and the tech support is inifinitely better. There are some great deals for new PCs like this on eBay with intact extended warranties.

I've worked with Dell professionally many times on the business side and they have always bent over backwards to help (and give me discounts). I too have heard the horror stories but they seam to come from the bargain basement boxes...

 

Dell is as good as any retail system, both in reliability and service. There isn't a single major computer company in existance that i haven't heard a hundred horror stories about. Yes, their service sucks. But so does brand x and brand y and brand z. At least they don't use proprietory parts any more. ( i think). Bottom line: you aren't any better off with another brand.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by seminole2001
Are you buying a Laptop or a Desktop?

 

I'd recommend Dell. I've had extensive experience with them (laptops AND desktops) in the business environment and my comments mirror those that Strike has made and I also have experience with their home line (Dimension XPS) that both my mother and myself run for our respective desktops. I HAVE worked on some junk Dells (my dad's super-mini-case desktop (no longer produced) is one, but the vast majority have been solid computers.

My personal laptop is an oldish (1998 vintage) IBM Thinkpad that's run like a champ consistently unless I do something to screw it up (load WAY too much beta software...oops).