Dell outlet / vostro / reliability.

I've been thinking about buying a Vostro, despite my absolutely nightmarish previous experience with Dell. I've even been looking into ordering from the Dell Outlet, although I'm especially dubious about this. Attempting to research potential problems, I noticed this.
http://www.thisistrue.com/dellhell.html

Hmmm.... interesting... and lots of Vostros seem to be up on Dell Outlet at the moment. I for one do not want to repeat my 5150 experience if I can possibly help it.

Any thoughts? I see a long thread regarding issues with Vostro screens; I'll have to delve into that... any more problems I (and anyone else interested) should know about?

 

I have a Dell Vostro 1400 and I ordered it the day if came out. So far, I haven't encountered any problems whatsoever. My audio doesn't have that static noise that everyone is complaining about nor did I get a grainy screen. This is my first dell so I might not know much about Dell's problems.

 

I'd say that the reason for the large quantity of Vostros in the outlet are do to the bad screens, people returning them and all. As to how long they'll be around? Not sure probably depends on how long till new hardware comes out that is not compatible with current model. But needless to say I think there have been enough people buy Vostros that it will be hard for dell to just drop them completely.

 

I certainly don't think they'll be dropping the whole Vostro brand, although I am intrigued what kind of name they'll get themselves in the long run compared to other business notebooks.

In terms of current machines, does it seem likely, for example, that a Vostro 1500 1680x1050 model in the outlet would have a bad screen? From what you say, it sounds like it; in which case, that pretty much rules out that option for me. On the other hand, I'm not sure how concerned I should be with a brand new one, either...

 

im in the same boat and researching/thinking about a vostro or inspiron

basicly...once you buy the laptop dell will still do drivers for it anyway, as will nvidia for the card etc for a long time yet, so it doesnt matter if they drop the laptop in a year or whatever anyway

but...if adell laptop is returned to dell with a fault, they dont just put it in the outlet,they fix it then put it in the outlet , so if one was returned with a faulty screen and another with a faulty motherboard or whatever, they will possibly make 1 good machine out the 2 and put it in the outlet


ive been checking the vostros all day, and also looking at them on the normal dell site, but it says small businesses only not home for the vostros,but i rang up a very helpful rep who said they would sell them for home over the fone, in messing about with configurations on the main site and comparing with the outlet vostros, theres not a great deal to be saved really , around £100-£120 , compared with some £300+ savings on the inspirons,but the vostros have a better price/spec ratio, also i want vista home premium not business, and not many of the vostros have premium

im not sure what to make of it all really and ive got a head ache from it all, but i need a new machine asap

anyone got any idea how long delivery from the uk outlet takes ?

also ive been out of touch with the dell outlet for a long time, but i see the free delivery offer runs out on thursday , so what will the new offer be ??? , i remember when i last had to hunt the dell outlet the offers would change and vary, so im not sure weather to order before thursday, or wait for the new offer ??

can anyone shed any light on this and what the last offer was before the free delivery one ?

thanks all , and the poster of this thread...let us know what you decide to do and order if you do !

 

I'm not worried about no new drivers turning up. I'm worried about having a machine with design flaws that mean the computer cannot be relied on and has to undergo major surgery every few months, like my last Dell.

Maybe so, but then again, it may not be so cut and dried... what if a customer decides that the screen is 'grainy' or whatever and returns the machine; it may still be within factory specs, at least enough to be deemed 'good enough for outlet' and put straight up: that's my concern.

It doesn't totally answer your question, but I think I'd have been better off if I'd gone for the offers on the main site a few weeks ago, rather than waiting.

cheers, will do.

 

Vostro 1400 user here. Had some issues with screen (Grainy and so on) but Dell took care of the screen.
The price I got the system for is well, un-beatable (sig).

I think you will be happy with it.

 

I got my Vostro 1500 off of the outlet about a month ago. Ironically it came with a perfect non-grainy LG WXGA+ LCD. The only real problem with it is the hard drive clicks unless NHC is running with that max-performance hdd mod. Oh, and I got it for $750, including tax.

 

Looks like we are all in competition for an outlet vostro lol.
I too have a serious headache looking at the shockingly bad outlet day after day (uk outlet I mean). To be honest, the last few days I have been looking I have struggled to find a decent deal that saves me much more than £30-50 and thats not worth it for a refurbished machine where I usually have to concede part of my perfect spec in the outlet.
Im looking for C2D with min 667 FSB, 2 gig ram, 128 graphics and glossy screen. Bluetooth and cam are nice extras if possible but the whole lot is a real challenge to get for the £500 mark.
Let us know how you get on.

B

 

good luck with your search, dont forget the outlet prices dont include vat, something i didnt realsie at 1st and wasnt clearly stated until you go to buy !!

after hovering and searching the outlet constantly since friday, i checked as soon as i woke up and there were a load of machines on about an hour ago, i swiftly looked through and put 1 in my basket,went back to check more and theyd all gone within that few seconds

ive just bought myself an inspiron 1720 and got a superb deal, great machine,super price with everything i wanted, wasnt sure about the vostros and the slight savings, and after reading on here it seems the inspirons are a better made machine with a little more quality and lastability !

 

Well done Polsta, at least we know its possible to get a good deal via the outlet. I'd quite happily go for a 1520 if I got a good deal on one.
I was looking at the 1400s and cant help noticing that some come with the 90 power supply and others the 65w, someone on here suggested that could be a telltale sign of a better graphics card even although the specs dont state that. I find it hard to believe that none of the 1400s have an 8600 card. I did call the outlet and ask this by the way and was greeted with THE most disinterested sounding irishman I've ever heard who said "the machines only have what the original buyer ordered" no further advice was given. Anyone got any ideas?

B

 

at least you got through to ireland,i reached mumbai

the 1400 are a smaller more business/collegey portable on the move laptop i think, they are designed to be lighter and more portable and less power consumption,which means less power graphics because they ar not designed to be a gaming machine/desktop replacement

if you have £500 odd, then check what i got for £600 (a machine that would of been over £900 when i was putting configs together on dell main site) yesterday, and maybe you would be much bettter of paying that extra ton,and having an inspiron 17" with an 8600gt rather than a 14 machine ??

good luck mate !