No more Dells for me

Originally Posted by rennD

Mine came with a CD but it is a standard Windows Vista install. It does not restore to original with the restore partition. I called Dell and they sent me the DVD with the image I needed. Not sure if they still do this though.

If you were to ask me today about support, I have always been happiest with HP support. So, I guess no more Dells for me either

HP screwed me over pretty good. Long story, but in the end AMEX took care of me. HP are kings of the "not our fault...." despite evidence showing they tried to cover up the problems with that video card overheating and dying through a sneaky bios update....
oh, and even though you have the same video card in your machine, had the same problems, as everyone else... because it was a factory direct custom build from HP, they won't fix it without $700. Ya HP, smyd,.

[rennD]

Originally Posted by sodomanaz

HP screwed me over pretty good. Long story, but in the end AMEX took care of me. HP are kings of the "not our fault...." despite evidence showing they tried to cover up the problems with that video card overheating and dying through a sneaky bios update....
oh, and even though you have the same video card in your machine, had the same problems, as everyone else... because it was a factory direct custom build from HP, they won't fix it without $700. Ya HP, smyd,.

Sorry to hear that. I have not had these experiences personally.

Originally Posted by rennD

Sorry to hear that. I have not had these experiences personally.

Because it was a known problem, I have a feeling their tech support were on guard. Throughout the conversation the guy was trying to bait me into saying it was my fault. I figured it out and ran around it. He continued, and eventually blamed me for the video card dying.

I was livid. I complained enough about this on notebookreview.com, but I was just plain pissed. It was a known issue. Just replace the stupid card and I'd be on my way. Rather I get accused of breaking the card, and the bastard on the phone threatened my warranty saying he had it recorded that I stated it was my fault. I said screw it and called AMEX.

I will NEVER buy HP again. Dell, I've had problems before, but they've been fair in the end. HP basically told me to piss off. Dell were upfront with the Nvidia issue, and took care of their customers. HP were sneaky little shats about it, and tried to con people. I give my money to Dell. SMYD HP.

[kgoings]

You can download an ISO of the OEM windows version from bittorrent, the burn it to a disk. Your Lic will work on that. No biggie, HP doesnt give you a disk either unless you pay for it.

[mosesbotbol]

None of the big guys are going to give you an OEM CD, not just Dell. If the .cab files are on the PC, you could create your own CD.

I hear you... You paid for the license and should get a CD. I think the manufacturers get a deal on the OS when they don't give you CD. They offer these hooky burn your image software which is no good if you want to build the PC from scratch.

Dell as a manufacturer is no better or worse than HP or Lenovo; they are all hitting at every pricepoint.

[WildBlueSooner]

I do not like Dell. Had 2 dell laptops and both of them crapped out. Now have a Toshiba that I bought 3 years ago and it runs like new!

Originally Posted by WildBlueSooner

I do not like Dell. Had 2 dell laptops and both of them crapped out. Now have a Toshiba that I bought 3 years ago and it runs like new!

And I've had a Toshiba Satellite get handed to me that had the black screen of death!

Toshiba is one of the worst when owning up to their own hardware failure. Do a google search for "toshiba black screen of death" and let me know what you find. The best they have done is toss out a BIOS update, which is unusable to those who can't even see anything on their screen nor log into Windows. The black screen of death is basically that.

[MedicCook]

I am completely tired of Dell and Windows. If I can save enough money up by this fall I will be moving to the other side of the computer world.

[kgoings]

Originally Posted by MedicCook

I am completely tired of Dell and Windows. If I can save enough money up by this fall I will be moving to the other side of the computer world.

I refuse to pay the AppleTax. My next purchase will be a Lenovo Thinkpad, it will have windows but I will mostly use RedHat

Originally Posted by kgoings

I refuse to pay the AppleTax. My next purchase will be a Lenovo Thinkpad, it will have windows but I will mostly use RedHat

I've got colleagues who use those and are actually ok with them. That said, if it was me, I'd slap on a copy of Ubuntu and VMware Workstation to run any WinBlows I need to.

Originally Posted by kgoings

I refuse to pay the AppleTax. My next purchase will be a Lenovo Thinkpad, it will have windows but I will mostly use RedHat

I have used IBM/Lenovo notebooks for the last 5 years with minimal problems. I had one motherboard have an issue, and it was my fault by picking it up by one corner when open. Other than that they are rock solid. The one I am using now is 2 1/2 years old, and I don't plan on replacing it any time soon. They are great with warranty as well. They had to replace a DVD burner, and they overnighted it to me. Just one thing make sure you find the tech number for Atlanta they are the best.

[WildBlueSooner]

Originally Posted by kgoings

I refuse to pay the AppleTax. My next purchase will be a Lenovo Thinkpad, it will have windows but I will mostly use RedHat

Might be my next one as well. Although I love my Toshiba and have had no problems in 3 years (never formatted)!

[cbsmokin]

I only have Dell's right now. Typing on an Inspirion 6000 at the moment. It's old, has to be at least 5 years and still chugs along. I wish it was faster, but I think I have gotten my moneys worth out of it. Recently I have been kicking around the idea of buying another laptop. My wife really wants a Mac, but I don't know if it will work on my wireless system. I have to find out. Back on point is that I don't feel that Dell is necessarily the good deal they used to be. They really are not out pricing anyone anymore.

Don't really know the point of this post, just my .

[kelmac07]

I have three Dells in the house now (mine, wifes, and sons). Had problems with my sons and called Dell and raised holy hell and they finally (after about three days and 20 phone calls) sent a tech to the house to repair it at no cost to me.

[mosesbotbol]

Lenovo / IBM ThinkPads are the best general laptops. They are the industry standard workhorse, and have been for over a decade. Yes, they look dull, but if you want 4+ years out of your laptop, ThinkPads are the way to go. Their history and peformance records speaks for itself.

Originally Posted by cbsmokin

I only have Dell's right now. Typing on an Inspirion 6000 at the moment. It's old, has to be at least 5 years and still chugs along. I wish it was faster, but I think I have gotten my moneys worth out of it. Recently I have been kicking around the idea of buying another laptop. My wife really wants a Mac, but I don't know if it will work on my wireless system. I have to find out. Back on point is that I don't feel that Dell is necessarily the good deal they used to be. They really are not out pricing anyone anymore.

Don't really know the point of this post, just my .

I have had a couple of Apples, and they worked on any wireless system I was ever on with them.

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Lenovo / IBM ThinkPads are the best general laptops. They are the industry standard workhorse, and have been for over a decade. Yes, they look dull, but if you want 4+ years out of your laptop, ThinkPads are the way to go. Their history and peformance records speaks for itself.

My mom still has an old R40. I bought it before they came with DVD drives because it only has a CD drive in it.

[acarr]

I bought a Dell laptop about 9 years ago and had so many problems that I would never buy another Dell. The modem, mouse, hard drive, and cd rom went out on it at different times.