Dell or no to DEll?

ironderek

Hi, I looking to buy a laptop. I think go for Dell Inspiron 1525 or Studio 15, but I herd so many bad comments about dell and dell products. Are they making good strong laptops? Or mayby is time to start looking for something different- mayby Asus?

Alanstrainor

Haven't heard much bad press about Dell in general, recent dells seem to be very good on the reliability side of things, there are a few known issues with certain models. But not the ones you mention.
What's your budget and what's the intended use of the laptop?

AlmightyCushion

I think dell are pretty good but asus are very good laptops as well (asus make laptops for apple, sony and they make some of the xps range for dell). I would probably rate asus over dell for build quality.

ironderek

I don't wont to spend more than 650euro, and I'll use it only for movies, music, internet etc. no gaming.

Tom Dunne

Dell are the Ryanair of laptops - cheap and cheerful. The build quality isn't the best, but they do what they claim to do, at a price that simply won't be beaten.

We have about 30 Dell laptops in work, I have never had a problem with one of them. From 17" models, down to the 12" models, never a bother. As Ryanair have thousands of flights per day, Dell probably sell thousands of laptops per day. Do both of problems? Of course. Do other airlines/laptop makers have problems? Of course they do too.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Dell (or Ryanair, for that matter ). But, if you are looking for build quality, you may want to pay that little bit extra.

AlmightyCushion

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Dell are the Ryanair of laptops - cheap and cheerful. The build quality isn't the best, but they do what they claim to do, at a price that simply won't be beaten.

We have about 30 Dell laptops in work, I have never had a problem with one of them. From 17" models, down to the 12" models, never a bother. As Ryanair have thousands of flights per day, Dell probably sell thousands of laptops per day. Do both of problems? Of course. Do other airlines/laptop makers have problems? Of course they do too.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Dell (or Ryanair, for that matter ). But, if you are looking for build quality, you may want to pay that little bit extra.

That pretty much sums it up all right.

Trotter

I got my 640m laptop from Dell 2 years ago and there was a warranty offer (4 years next business day onsite) so I took it up.

Last week, after 2 years of working hard, the mouse button on the laptop stop clicking right. I sent an email, and filled out the info they wanted when they replied. (Within 3 hours).

They asked if there was anything else that wasnt quite right on the laptop so they could get them checked out while the engineer was in my house. I said my left hinge was slightly wobbly, the CD drive made old age noise and the fascia was worn.

Hey presto.. Engineer arrives before 1pm the next day (I knew he would because Dell rang that morning to confirm, just as I'd asked) with a new fascia, touchpad, mouse, and CD drive.

I have now what looks like a brand new laptop.. and I still have 2 years warranty left.

OH.. and I got a call from them this morning to ask was I happy with the overall service. I certainly was!

Dartz

That's the thing... You rarely hear from people who are happy with a brand. They tend to be fobbed off as just fanboys who refuse to listen to your horrible problems with one service agent from hell. 9/10, Dell do a decent job. They wouldnt be where thay are today if thay didnt.

fifth

I got an xps at the beginning of this month and [i know its new..] so far i'm loving it! Build quality doesn't seem bad on it. It's a looker and it's a beast for performance as well..decent price.

Alanstrainor

Dartz wrote: »

That's the thing... You rarely hear from people who are happy with a brand. They tend to be fobbed off as just fanboys who refuse to listen to your horrible problems with one service agent from hell. 9/10, Dell do a decent job. They wouldnt be where thay are today if thay didnt.

That's very true indeed. But even saying that, we dont get much nightmare dell problems on here, despite having a large amount of dell users. As dartz said, Dell wouldn't be here if they were throwing out rubbish machines. Not saying they are the greatest, but for the price, they can't be beaten.

ironderek

Ok. You convinced me to buy Dell. I would like to buy a laptop with 15,4" display. Which one should I choose? Studio, Vostro, XPS, Precision?

MarkR

We use inspiron 6400's in work. Does what you want really.

Alanstrainor

ironderek wrote: »

Ok. You convinced me to buy Dell. I would like to buy a laptop with 15,4" display. Which one should I choose? Studio, Vostro, XPS, Precision?

Well we need your budget, what you're going to be using it for and any preferences you may have.

ironderek

I have to spend on laptop 800-1000euros max. But if I'll found decent dell laptop for less than my budget is I'll go for it. I'll use it for internet, movies, music, sometimes games, recording and conerting DVD movies, working with the graphics programs.

TheHairyFairy

Just ordered 2 M1530 XPS laptops, they are for xmas but the offer was pretty good. Delivered all in for £1068. They are :

Intel® Core 2 Duo Processor T5750 (2.00 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 cache)
Microsoft Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1
3072MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [1x2048+1x1024]
NVIDIA® GeForce Go 8600M GT with 256MB dedicated graphic memory
250GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
Fixed 8x DVD+/-RW Slim Slot Load drive, including SW
Dell Travel Remote Control
LCD 15.4" Widescreen WXGA (1280x800) TFT Display (220nits) with TrueLife

One in Midnight Blue and the other in Bubblegum Pink. I could have picked up laptops a lot cheaper but they would not have been near as good looking and prob not built as well. We already have a 1730xps in the house with the nvidia 7950gt card and its a monster machine and a joy to use.

As others have said they do what they say on the tin. For every horror story theres 100 happy untold stories.

Link to the offer http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/235756/dell-xps-m1530-laptop-core2duo-t575/

Saruman

Dell are grand. I have one that gets about 7 hours batter7 life (vostro 1000) and i also have a lattitude that i have dropped on concrete a bunch of times (remember to zip your laptop bag!!) and its grand!!

toushea

ironderek wrote: »

I have to spend on laptop 800-1000euros max. But if I'll found decent dell laptop for less than my budget is I'll go for it. I'll use it for internet, movies, music, sometimes games, recording and conerting DVD movies, working with the graphics programs.

I would for your budget reccomend the top of the range studio 15

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=ie&cs=iedhs1&kc=NRS15354&l=en&oc=N0953506&rbc=N0953506&s=dhs

good processor, lots of storage (320gb), good RAM and VRAM. Ideal intesive stuff like dvd conversion and gaming and probably hard to beat in your budget range at €919

ironderek

This is really hot deal on XPS "TheHairyFairy". But what do you think guys about Dell Vostro 1510-1710, Latitude E6500 or Precision M4400-M6300? I really like them. The Dell Precision M6300 looks exactly like Dell XPS M1710.

BostonB

TheHairyFairy wrote: »

..... We already have a 1730xps in the house with the nvidia 7950gt card and its a monster machine and a joy to use....

I thought the 1730 XPS only came with the 8700 or 8800.
The 1710 came with the 7900 and 7950.

git_ireland

To be honest I wouldnt give that shower a cent of my money. Had numerous problems with the motherboard on my last PC andeven though I had cover they never bothered to do anything about it.

Use a well known brand. Better backup service.

Besides they are also gonna lose 2000 jobs in the new year in Limerick, another reason not to buy.

Black_Knight

Well my replacement Vostro 1510 is giving me awful trouble.

It all started back in May, when I bought my lovely new 1500. It had a few problems, the odd bluescreen, a few dead pixels here and there, electrocuting me.... This was all after about a month of me getting it.

Got a replacement 1510 (as the 1500 was disconntinued) which was all good. Until I hear about its dodgy graphics card, and I start getting dodgy looking screens on start up. Then to top it all off, I put a CD into my DVD drive (mad thinking I know!), and the bleeding thing wont come out now, no DVD drive recognised in the BIOS, no DVD drive in my computer, eject button does nothing, and theres no manual eject pin hole.

I hate you dell, I really hate you!

Podge2k7

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Dell are the Ryanair of laptops - cheap and cheerful. The build quality isn't the best, but they do what they claim to do, at a price that simply won't be beaten.

We have about 30 Dell laptops in work, I have never had a problem with one of them. From 17" models, down to the 12" models, never a bother. As Ryanair have thousands of flights per day, Dell probably sell thousands of laptops per day. Do both of problems? Of course. Do other airlines/laptop makers have problems? Of course they do too.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Dell (or Ryanair, for that matter ). But, if you are looking for build quality, you may want to pay that little bit extra.

+1 I completly agree!

daithijjj

Podge2k7 wrote: »

+1 I completly agree!

+1 more.........

i got the dell 1720.....love it and the build is much stronger

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/2529/3553/dell-inspiron-1720-laptop-notebook.phtml

I had an Inspiron 6000 up until about 6 weeks ago. Best laptop I ever had except its graphics were a bit on the slow side by today's standards. I replaced it with an Acer Aspire 5920G and I pretty much hate it, it runs very hot and it's also got one of those dodgy Nvidia GPUs. So I'm kind of looking at Dell again, possibly the Studio 1737.

samhail

Ive never had any issues with Dell - well the machinery delivery times for high spec machine maybe.

Black_Knight

In saying what ive said, I rang dell yesterday, took 30 seconds to get talking to someone (nice), then spent about 40mins running through checks and the likes. I wasnt expecting any miricals afterwards but they said they would ring back today and see if anything had changed. That they did and now tomorrow (24th/ Christmas eve!!), a dell technician is calling to my house and replacing my optical drive and motherboard. If that all goes as planned then ill be pretty happy.
Though they didnt want to give me an extended warranty, but i didnt ask too much.