mzagorski Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Hey guys, Just some advice - if you can really avoid it, never buy a Dell laptop. Ive had mine for just over 1 year now and its got to be one of the worst purchases that I've ever made! Ive had to replace the CD ROM twice... they just die. The screen looks like its dieing - white area appearing on one corner. Very badly made - lose fitting case around LCD. Bad design - they put the modem / network ports on the RIGHT side... perfect for annoying people that are right-handed. Fine if you never use a mouse! If they could make their laptops with the build quality of a Mac Powrbook... Id start to be happy. They also need more reliable screens and CD Roms. Rant over... just a warning to anyone tempted by Dell's appealing deals - if you do get one, make sure that you have plenty guarantee / service. And if you plan to move to another country - make sure its valid for international - if not, Dell dont recognise their products when you cross a border... they only recognise your wallet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Just some advice - if you can really avoid it, never buy a Dell laptop.More importantly, never buy pot on the streets on New York when you are wearing a dress and are known as the Dell Dude. The love a guy in a skirt at Rikers! Ive had mine [Dell laptop] for just over 1 year now and its got to be one of the worst purchases that I've ever made! I have had my Dell laptop for about two years, and it has been great. I couldn't be happier with it, save for wishing I could have waited a few months for the mobile nVidia graphics chips. I have not had any problems with the construction, the CD/DVD drive or the screen. I do not carry it everywhere (it ain't light, by the time you add a mouse, power supply and other stuff I carry) but it has been great. Perhaps you simply got a bad unit? Have you called them and made the point of cronic quality issues? Have they been willing to replace the unit, or just told you to shove off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mzagorski Posted February 12, 2003 Author Share Posted February 12, 2003 Hi Ernest.... Yeah, maybe im just unlucky. As for Dell... well... I purchased the unit while I was living and working in USA... but now I am back in the UK. So.. they dont recognise my warranty cos Im no longer in the US. - So... im stuck with a dieing machine... Maybe I need to mail it back to a friend in USA or something.. LOL Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 So.. they dont recognise my warranty cos Im no longer in the US. - So... im stuck with a dieing machine...What about if you ship it to them in the US? Does that make it too expensive to be worth the trouble? You didn't answer the question, though--have you talked to them (ask for a supervisor) about the situation? A cronicly bad unit is not normal for Dells. They should be able to recognize that and go the extra distance to make you happy. Send a letter to headquarters, it amazing what putting something on paper can do in this day of phone and email. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mzagorski Posted February 12, 2003 Author Share Posted February 12, 2003 Hi Ernest... well, I'll try and contact them when I get home. When I had problems with a Dell desktop in the past... I ende dup writing 4 letters to Dell HQ.... and got no reply out of them.. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Well, I think I'll shut up now. But the bit about buying pot in a skirt in NYC...I stick with that advice! from NY Newsday: "Police: 'Dude,' You're Getting a Cell Benjamin Curtis, who plays Steven the "Dell Dude" in television commercials for Dell computers, was arrested Sunday night on the Lower East Side and charged with buying a small baggie of marijuana. Wearing a tuxedo top and kilt after ducking out of a party with a Scottish theme, Curtis, 22, was arrested at 11:30 p.m. at Rivington and Ludlow streets after officers spotted him buying marijuana...police said." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Nichols Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 I like the story... Ernest... A couple things I know about Dell. Dell makes very reliable computers. They make money by doing so. Most of the people I know that have Dell Laptops love them and they work really well for them. The reason they make money by making them reliable is that they sell you all the extra protection (1 year, 3 year) and you never have to use it. Since they don't make money on parts, they make a profit there. When you DO have to use it, I have seen both sides... 90% of the people say it was amazing, they came out and fixed it... but I have heard 10% have similar experiences. I have also seen the same thing with Gateway and the others... That is why I build my own... Can one build their own laptop these days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mzagorski Posted February 12, 2003 Author Share Posted February 12, 2003 Well, I spoke to Dell and they say that they want me to pay for a new LCD and CD ROM and the service... 1 year and 4 months old = pretty close to dead machine. The new parts and service are likely to cost more than I could buy a new faster laptop for too... Maybe this is a sign for me to just give up on computer graphics :ngeupset: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mzagorski Posted February 12, 2003 Author Share Posted February 12, 2003 Dude.... Ive now got my kilt... Can I get a Cell?.. err... Dell!? See.... :ebiggrin: :ebiggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dollus Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 We had a Dell laptop and had a good experience with it. The card slots were on left. After about 2 years, a crack appeared on the top of the case. There was a special promotion when we bought it and received a 3 yr warranty at no cost. They sent us a box for the laptop and paid the shipping. About two weeks later, we had our laptop back with a brand new LCD screen installed. Can't complain here. Maybe it was all the traveling that did it in. Did you always carry it with you when you traveled? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mzagorski Posted February 13, 2003 Author Share Posted February 13, 2003 Sure I travel with it - thats the reason that I purchased a laptop. If it can't handle travelling then they have sold me good unfit for their purpose. I dont travel with it much though... cos its one flimsy piece of crap... but Its probably come to uni with me 15 times at the most. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dollus Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 What I meant to ask was> Have you always carried your laptop with you on the plane/bus/train or have you packed it and checked it below with the rest of your luggage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mzagorski Posted February 13, 2003 Author Share Posted February 13, 2003 Hi John, Answer to your Q: Nope, Ive always had it with me. I always kept it with me in the cabin during air travel. I always do whatever I can to minimise any potential vibrations / shock to the system. I DO look after my hardware as much as possible. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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