Anybody got a Dell laptop??

[Wilberforce]

Hey folks,

My current laptop is dying a fairly rapid death (but given that i've had it 5 or so years and it wasn't new even then I don't mind too much) with the list of things that don't work getting quite long now. Track-pad is erratic, so have to use an external mouse, DVD-ROM's had it, one of the USB ports and one of the card slots don't work, battery life is shot, and even the keyboard is starting to get a bgit suspect. Time for a new one then...

So saying, I was looking at Dell's offerings, as they seem to be well spec'd, if slightly expensive, machines. Anybody got any good / bad stories about them?? I was considering keeping an eye on their outlet store, cos I have no qualms about buying a refurb or cosmetically damaged job.

Comments please,
Jim

[BadBoy]

Not got a laptop, but I've got a Dell desktop and swear by it over other makes I've had.
They are more expensive due to the fact the Dell are a business machine supplier, and as such their machines are designed for extensive use, not a few hours every evening like the machines you can buy on the high street. This means the components inside are better quality and as such more expensive.
I bought mine refurbished from http://www.essexlaptops.co.uk and have never had a problem with it. Well worth checking them out if you don't mind 2nd hand. To be honest if your only using it for personal use I wouldn't buy a new Dell as the machine would out live the operating system installed on it and refurbished is cheaper, and helps the enviroment

[Alchamist]

Dell laptops are ok, but I really wouldn't buy new - they lose half their value the moment you walk out of the shop. Most laptops are pretty much of a muchness these days, however I would always recommend Toshiba or Fujitsu personally. If you want a brick after 12 months, buy Acer. Even IBM's aren't what they used to be these days.

[Wilberforce]

Jay,
That's why I was looking at their outlet store... Refurbed or cosmetic damage machines with usual Dell warranty, etc, but at suitably reduced prices. Got no qualms about buying something like that, given the abuse it'll get going to work with me, etc.
They just seem to be fairly well spec'd and built machines...

[Alchamist]

As with many laptops, you'll be limited to using manufacturer own parts in there if you want to upgrade. Just watch the hard drive - they really don't like getting hot, so if you are going to use it for extended periods of time, get a cooling base.

Also ... Dell warranties ... be careful. They can charge you for site visits to rectify faults with their equipment ...

[Dave_RAYNET]

I was going to say....

Dell, nice machines, just pray they never go wrong. I used to work for the company that had the repair contracts for Dell (and many others) and their repair procedures are crap.

[Trugga]

Just to balance this out - I've had two Dell laptops as company issued machines (Lattitude CPx and CPi and they ran... well they were still running when I sold them - I guess they are still working still (I bought them off the company for personal use when their time came to upgrade).

There were a few issues, mainly to do with processors coming loose (to fix that you just have to press hard on certain keys to reseat it), other wise I think they were fine.

Company policy changed (buyer power) and we moved onto Compaqs (I do like my N610 - again bought off the company when I was made redundant)

Lawrence

[gregster]

I've got a dell laptop and a HP laptop....

The dell is mine and is a few years old and has been really good....its nothing special, a latitude d600 but I have been pleased with it...

The HP is one that work provide....its painfully slow, and something else I have to drag,as well as all my tools/test equipement/parts, into customers houses when I repair their washing machines and other appliances, as we are not allowed to leave them in our cars/vans...
It is a useless piece of junk, and now we have been given mobile internet cards for them which means I can spend hours downloading stuff in a customers house that would take seconds at home....
However it makes a great trestle, if opened about 4" and stood in an "A" shape, for holding up the front of washing machines when they are tilted back, stopping then from falling on my head as I work on bits underneath.... but dont tell work....

Also found that google street view is brill for blagging "No-one Homes".....
No answer on customers phone number, load up google street view, give office description of their house viewed on the laptop(as they make a note of this on the system at work), and get to go home earlier....ahhhh we do love technology!!

[yaki]

We've used Dell exclusively at work for the last 7 years and always buy the Latitude models, currently have around 1000 of them to suppoort. The Latitude range build quality is pretty good and reliability is spot on, bit pricey though compared to Acer and the like but they will defo outlast them.

Compaq are another good make, yes they are owned by HP but the Compaq business range are quite hard wearing. My 16 year old daughter has a Compaq Evo N610C for 4 years and it is still going great even with the abuse it gets from a typical teenager, only thing I have had to do to it is replace the cooling fan which jammed.

Good point on keeping them cool, don't use a cooling pad myself but if my Laptop is not on a hard surface I usually put a large book underneath it so the cooling vents don't get blocked and dust n fluff don't get dragged in by the fan.

Using a laptop on the carpet or sat on the quilt in bed is a no no and doesn't do them any good

[Roo]

Hi Jim
I have a Toshiba Laptop and I think its great
''Tesco Direct'' have got this deal at the moment and you don't have to pay for 6 months .. http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.206-7130.aspx
Hope that helps ya
Cheers

[Sir-Doris]

I swear by Toshiba laptops and have a sony as well which is a few years old now but the build quality on the sony is lousy compared to the toshiba which is only a year or 2 younger.