Will you buy a Dell again?

I would if the price is right. Customer support isn't as big an issue since i solve most of the stuff myself

 

I have yet to have any serious issues with customer support. In fact, I like their online chat. It is SOOOOO much faster than using the phone. I was fixing a friend's computer and ended up connecting to Dell's online support chat. Fixed just like that.

 

I like dell too. They just do everything they can to fix the problems. Changed my system twice with upgraded configurations. From 87ml sli to 88m sli to 98m gt sli...

 

If only their business computers started using MXM...

 

I can't complain about the build quality of my XPS 1330. Everything fits and is tight. I love the design, the performance etc. Mine was built in Poland.
However, if I buy a product that costs EUR 1000 or more, then I expect to have a fault free product. They know that the graphic cards are faulty yet don't admit it and leave it to the consumer to get it fixed which isn't even a real fix because the replacement can always break down too. And I'm not someone who buys computers for personal use every 2-3 years, so I might end up with a broken laptop that won't be fixed anymore in 2-3 years.

Btw. the support that I have gotten so far isn't really helpful either. In Germany, I think they use East Europeans to cover the support. But I don't think it really matters what nationality sits behind the phone because my experience with tech support so far was pretty lousy.

Additionally, funny thing is that Dell thinks that I'm a business customer just because I let the laptop ship to my working address. Duh, I'm not at home during the day, so it makes sense to have it shipped to my working address. However, what has happened now is that they only gave me a 1 year warranty period and not the mandatory 2 year warranty period for private customers. They tell me they can't change it in their system and all they say I'm a business customer. Didn't matter that I paid via my own credit card etc. That's what I call call "unfriendly" (to be polite) and that's why I won't buy from Dell again.

 

I've owned three laptops.
1) Sony Vaio VGN-A17GP - it was overpriced, but a solidly built machine which has never missed a beat.
2) Asus F3JP - Very cheap, terrible screen, flimsy plastic case and a dodgy keyboard. Despite all this, it never missed a beat.
3) Dell XPS 1530 - Nicely priced, numerous minor manufacturing defects suggesting poor QA, two motherboard replacements (possibly heading towards a 3rd). Service is top notch, however.

This was the first Dell I'd ever bought. As great as the service was (the tech came out without 3 days both times after ringing support), these things shouldn't really be happening in the first place.

I wouldn't buy Dell again.

 

In short, the answer is 'maybe.'

The vast majority of the notebooks I have owned have been Thinkpads. I picked up a used T41 about a week ago and to be quite honest have been using it more than my M1730... one of the main issues is the build quality. While the M1730's hardware is top-notch, the cooling solution is awesome and the features are wonderful.... the actual cosmetics of the M1730 leave much to be desired. I'm starting to see little wear marks on it within a year that I have never experienced on my Thinkpads(or Gen 1 XPS for that matter), and the wobbly screen hinge is pretty annoying.

I generally keep my notebooks for years and take them everywhere... they need to stand the test of time as far as hardware and build quality is concerned. Don't get me wrong; I'm going to be keeping my M1730 for quite some time, and I'm sure it's going to end up in my little 'computer museum' several years down the road when it's put out to pasture. However, my next big, bad, hardware-heavy machine will most likely be something else. If Lenovo continues making something like their W700 that's probably what I'll go for. I'd take the hit in gaming performance for stout build quality.

 

If you like Dell but care so much about build quality and endurance, you should check out the Dell business line, like the Latitude. Those things are built like tanks.

 

Well, I need durability as well as performance, as I do game a fair amount as well as run some pretty hardware-intensive tasks. I just took a look at the Latitude line and while they look pretty durable, the hardware just isn't there(and the lack of a good 17" workstation replacement is kind of a bummer). We'll definitely see later on when the time comes, but the Lenovo W700 has much the same specs as the M1730; just a weaker video card than the 8800M SLi... and supports the new quad-core mobile processors that're coming out. Not like it really matters, though... I'm keeping the M1730 as I just don't sell my notebooks.

 

Then look at the Dell Precision line. It's like the Latitude but with serious GPU's (Quadro FX instead of Quadro NVS). And there is a 17-inch workstation, the Precision M6400.

When he mentioned the Latitude line I'm pretty sure he meant the Precisions as well, many parts are common (main difference is the GPU).

 

Lol. In response to the OP's question, "I just did."

 

Ok, I finally had it with Dell.

Background:
as mentioned earlier, I bought the XPS 1330 and had it delivered to my work address (because I'm not home during the day, makes sense, right?!). For some reasons, Dell also sent the invoice to my work address. Well, thought it doesn't matter because my name was on the invoice as well.
Anyways, now Dell claims that I'm a corporate buyer instead of a private consumer because in their system they have my work address as my main address. In Germany, as a private consumer, you receive a mandatory 2 year warranty period. As a corporate buyer, you only receive a one year warranty periord. So basically, my laptop is out of warranty, although it should last until next year.

I asked Dell who bought the laptop and how was it paid. They didn't care because in their system it said that I was a corporate buyer. I can't believe it!!! I paid with my own credit card and even paid the VAT. If I were a corproate buyer, I wouldn't have to pay for the VAT. So, I asked, well, then refund me the VAT and leave me in as a corporate buyer and I will take advantage of our company's corporate account should I need tech support in the future (my company happens to have a corporate account with Dell). They said that's not going to work and they can't refund me the VAT. WOW, I'm really p***** off with their attitude and really puzzled. I mean it is or better it should be so simple to verify whether I'm a private person or a corporate customer but they refuse to acknowledge it. Well, I handed it over to my lawyer and let's see how things turn out. Also, as soon as I get my laptop repaired I will sell it because I don't want to have the hassle to have it fixed again in the future.

Regardless of the design and build quality, this was definitely the last time I bought from Dell.

 

Whoa, a corporate warranty is less than a home user warranty? That's not the Dell I know!

@HerrKaputt: Yes, I didn't mean strictly Latitude machines. Precisions and Vostros are also business-grade models, although I don't know about their build quality; I've never seen either in person.

 

Hm... just took a glance at that M6400, and frankly I'm impressed. As before I'm not going to be getting rid of the M1730, but that sounds like a pretty sweet machine. Has a backlit keyboard as well as a Thinkpad-style trackpoint... now if only that keyboard could transfer over to the M1730.... hehe.

 

Sounds like you spoke to an arse hole at Dell there, did you excelate it further with them to somebody else? also surely your companies buyer should be able to verify your an employee not the companies IT buyer.

They also should indeed saw your own billing payment details and been able to confirm you purchased privately.

 

Ja, ich stimme dir zu. Dell sollt sich schaemen, und hat dein Geld nicht verdienen, sondern verschwinden. Ich hoffe, dass sie einen gluecklichen Ausgang haben. Toi toi toi! Und viel glueck!

-idq000