Why is DELL Still in Business??????

[Steve R.]

Earlier this month I attended a training session where we had to bring our corporate laptops. At that training session, I noticed that the power cord to my laptop was not the same as that of my neighbor. One of my biggest peeves is the use of proprietary products. So I was astounded to observe that not only does DELL use proprietary power cords but that the cords are incompatible with other DELL laptop models. Disgusting.

That experience sensitized me to other breaking news about DELL's product quality. I won't repeat them, but here is one from the New York Times: Suit Over Faulty Computers Highlights Dell’s Decline. The Times wrote:

After the math department at the University of Texas noticed some of its Dell computers failing, Dell examined the machines. The company came up with an unusual reason for the computers’ demise: the school had overtaxed the machines by making them perform difficult math calculations. (emphasis added)

So DELL is making computers that get stressed out when they do computer work?!?!?! When one looks at ridiculous statements like the above, EULA's that deprive the customer of all rights, and so-called intellectual property laws that turn everyone into a criminal, no wonder that the US economy is in trouble and US companies are going down-hill.

As an ending to this tid-bit, many years ago DELL installed proprietary power supplies that looked identical to regular power supplies. If you replaced a DELL power supply with a regular power supply, there was a good chance of you frying your computer. Nice of DELL to offer you the opportunity to brick your equipment.

Warning! Dell PC owners read this before replacing your power supply

 

[SOS]

Interesting. In 10 years of using Dell Products I've never had an issue with any of this. Didn't think I was that lucky. I should have been buying lottery tickets

 

[Vassago]

Dell products are seriously overpriced for their quality. The laptops are known for breaking down, with keys not responding after a very short time. Eventually the keyboards won't work at all. Then their "proprietary" power supplies are known for overheating and actually catching fire/smoking. This goes for both laptop and desktop power supplies. My company had a contract with them for both and went through quite a few before we dropped them. Then there's the whole issues about proprietary parts, when others don't do the same. Why anyone would go with Dell's cheap expensive products, I have no clue...

 

[SOS]

Wow, again - interesting. I've had Dell laptops and the only problem I ever had with one was my screen went out after several months and it was a used machine so I don't know how old it really was.

As for the desktops, I had dell machines all through my time with Boeing and bought several as surplus and had no problems with stock items going into them. I also have had three brand new Dell desktops from 2-3 years ago now and have never had a problem, the cases are extremely easy to get into now and then I've upgraded RAM, Hard Drives, and CD/DVD drives with no ill effects. I also currently run an older Dell Optiplex as my server at home and it has been swimming along nicely.

Boy, I sure must be lucky. Gotta go buy those lottery tickets.

 

[Vassago]

If it's a desktop, I'll build it myself. The warranties are substantially better and longer and the price is substantially cheaper. But with laptops, I'll go with Asus or HP/Compaq, they seem to be leading right now in satisfaction and price/value.

Also, always check http://www.slickdeals.net for the best prices on laptops, desktops, tvs, clothes, food, and anything else you can imagine.

 

[Galaxiom]

We use Dell computers at my workplace and are very happy with both the equipment and the company. We have somewhere around 100 Dell desktops and servers plus LCD monitors. The servers run 24-7 and the PCs run during office hours.

I have been at this workplace for three years. In this time the motherboard failures have been very few and all related to the faulty electrolytic capacitors in the GX270 models.

This capacitor problem from about 2005 affected many manufacturers of many different types of equipment using reputably branded capacitors containing faulty electrolyte sourced from a major supplier. I replaced the caps in several machines and they completed their service life without further incident.

I can only recall one or two power supply failures in all these machines over that period. These did not smoke. Two generic supplies in another brand of computer both failed while emitting acrid smoke. Fortunately someone was in the server room on both occasions and pulled the plug before the smoke detectors went off.

Two hard drives failed. One was in a four year old machine and another in a two year old and was replaced under warranty. These were Western Digital drives so I think it would be unfair to blame Dell for using cheap components.

We had three failures of 17 inch LCD monitors after about four years of service. The backlights in two larger monitors failed after a short time but were replaced under warranty and have not had any problems since.

The warranty service is very good with replacements generally delivered the next day despite our location well outside of a metropolitan region. We get a three year warranty on everything.

The cases and internal construction are a joy to work with. They are very quiet machines with an excellent heatpipe CPU heatsink design that does not require a CPU fan. The UltraSharp digital monitors are fantastic. I really like their built in USB hub.

 

[pbaldy]

My personal laptop is a Dell XPS, probably 3 years old now. The only problem I've ever had with it is that it doesn't like to recover from hibernation (don't know if that's a Windows problem or a Dell problem). Otherwise it's been very solid and it's in daily use. At work I buy Dell servers and desktops. I did experience the problem with capacitors on Optiplex models a few years ago, but they were very good at making things right, even after the warranty had expired. Their servers have been rock solid. I won't say they're "the best", but my experience with them has been very good.

 

[Banana]

When I had a Dell laptop several years ago, I went through 3 power adapters, 2 covered by the warranty, one out of pocket (as it had expired then). It was quite annoying and frustrating.

When 3rd power adapater died on me, I decided enough was enough and got myself a Mac. Never looked back.

 

[GaryPanic]

No problems with dell or its service -

Had 1 Dell PC go pop and Dell can out said it was faulty -replaced no questions asked - ask the engineer and he said that it was just a bad one - and that the problems were far and few between - spoke to head office - over 1000 dells and no real issues -occasion glitch - but in all they werer happy with spec and service...
I guess it pop luck

Bought an Acer - came broken - what gives?/ - i must of had one of the 5% that fall through the checking process ...

same with cars - one or two have major faults -out of a batch of 100 - Worked for Vovlo - and the service departy could not find out why the car was faulty at one fo the services - the car actually catch fire while test ing for the fault - someone had wired the HT (?) leads the wrong way round..
Volvo instantly accept the blame nad told thre customer to pick a car from
the lot (higher spec) no extra price and then compensated the owner as well .

 

[Adam Caramon]

I've never liked Dell either. The power cord issue has already been mentioned. On one of their models from a few years back, you had to buy special RAM specifically made for that model. The RAM cost 2-3x the price of similar RAM.

Where I work has a contract with Dell. I'd guess around 5,000+ computers and laptops. In my own little department, I've seen 2 desktops replaced (reasons undiscovered) and a laptop replaced due to a faulty power cord that overheats.

I would never buy a dell for personal use, and I always steer friends and family away from them as well. My favorite is probably HP, with Acer being a close second.

 

[Dick7Access]

Gentleman, Gentlemen, what interesting reading!! It is a discussion I have heard all my life. On every product made. It truly does have a bit of luck involved. Two people can have the same car, and both have different luck. The reason for butting in here, I have a HP, two Toshiba and a Asus. The Asus is not by choice. I spilled ice water on my other computer (Sony) and when Best Buy could not fix it they gave me a new one. Question 1. Is Asus made by Dell, If not who? Question 2. When I went in to Best Buy a sales person and a tech person picked out a Sony that they said was equivalent to my ice water computer. They gave me the charge for extended warranty and was about to ring it up when the store manager came over and took it away from me. He then gave me this Asus . No amount of arguing could change his mind. Has anybody else ever had trouble with Best Buy in this manner.

 

[Banana]

Wow, that manager certainly sounds like a prick.

Even granting that the manager was correct that Asus is the correct replacement, he should not have argued with you but rather with the tech person for either not consulting with him first or following the guideline but once it's in your hands, it's "too late" in a manner of speaking. The customer never should be pulled into a dispute over the store policy.

I'd definitely have wanted to get in touch with his supervisor. I don't need to care or know what is the store policy, and certainly not seeing it being pulled out of my hands.

No matter how one slices this, the manager is a prick.

 

[Dick7Access]

yes, he did take it out of my hand. I had look at the computer out on the floor and liked it. They then brought the boxed one to the checkout counter. They then gave the price of the extended warranty and I gave them my check card. I took the area supervisor name but they would not give me his number. They said call the store he comes in occasionally. I left before I would get to the point before I was arrested. MY questions are did they give me an inferior computer? Who makers Asus? Did anyone else ever have a bait and switch with Best Buy? And lastly why would a big company like Best Buy want this kind of info floating around? That same week I bought another computer (HP), but I certainly did not buy it from Best Buy

 

[Banana]

Unfortunately, I can't really tell if they did in fact give you an inferior computer as we'd have to know the full specs, pricing, and everything between two machines (well, 3, if we want to look at the original Sony you were going to get). But as I indicated, even if this was in fact an equitable trade and Sony was actually not correct replacement, the manager should be shouting at the staff for giving out wrong replacement and mark that as a loss on the ledger. To drag you into this is just unacceptable customer service.

Having never bought any electronics from Best Buy, I've yet to experience this kind of tactics. I typically buy almost all of my electronics via online.

 

[Dick7Access]

spec wise it is a better that my Sony. Price wise also I checked that. I have been led to believe that any Asus is a piece of junk. I can't trust my source, so I am trying to get outside opinion. Ironically, this Sony was also a freebe from Best Buy, as the Sony I had before the ice water job I took it to Best Buy to fix my USB port and they cracked my screen. They walked over to the display and found the exact model, which had been upgraded. They even put MS Office back on for me. The bright spot both time I will tell all was a life saver. My carbonite account.

 

[Galaxiom]

One experience with Dell servicing was when a colleague reported to Dell servicing that the audio had failed in a desktop PC. What my colleague didn't realise is that the computer had been bought without audio.

The Dell technician pointed this out then fitted the audio hardware at no cost.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I'll offer a thought that DELL is still in business because they sold a lot of mid-grade desktop and laptop PCs to the U.S. government. If they sell in good volume even though they make a cruddy product, they will do pretty well, particularly since the U.S. government likes to hand out service contracts separately from the original vendor anyway. You would not believe how tough it is to write a sole-source contract to make the original vendor maintain his own product. And if DELL is off their own hook for the maintenance issues, they can stay in business longer.

As to the ASUS question, I don't think that is a DELL offshoot. ASUS makes a few pre-assembled models but they make more money off of motherboards for those who can (and want to) assemble their own PCs.

 

[statsman]

When they first opened a Best Buy in my area, I dropped in to take a look.

First salesperson: My name is Steve. Do you know we're not on commission?
Second salesperson: My name is Brian. Do you know we're not on commission?
Third salesperson: My name is Marie. Do you know we're not on commission?

It's not nearly as bad now as it was when it first opened but is this commission stuff the corporate greeting or does Best Buy really think I care how they pay their sales staff?

 

[Friday]

My employer has used Dell for years. Mainly the desktop line (optiplex). I've never had a problem with the Optiplex. Our company refreshes every three years, so we always have fairly new machines. Laptops are another story. First we had Thinkpads, then they switched to Toshiba, then to Dell, then back to Toshiba, and now back to Dell. I am currently using a D630. It's a clunker (slow), but hasn't failed on me yet. Warranty expires next spring and they have switched again back to Toshiba, so I will be getting a new Toshiba in April or May. I like the Toshiba line. I am looking forward to next spring!

 

[Vassago]

Asus are coming up in the laptop department. I haven't personally owned one, but they usually are very highly rated for their lightness, quietness, and low heat. You say the stats of the laptop are above the ice water Sony, have you had any problems with it that would make you think it's inferior? If not, then why think it may be?