Should I put aside my prejudice

Hello,

This coming Monday I want to replace my laptop with something new & durable, rather than my current cheapo Acer.

Currently & recently, I've pretty much decided on the HP dv6680ea (UK btw).
Last night, I decided to see what exactly Dell could offer me. For £10 less I could get a Dell XPS M1530, all I would lose is a TV Tuner, 0.2GHz processor speed. & a lightscribe drive But I would jump from the 8400m GS to an 8600M GT, considering that I do plan to use it for moderate gaming, mostly source games but others as well. I have a desktop for full effects, shading etc, I want something to mess with at work & Uni when I'm bored.

I was also stunned by how good it actually looked, IMO not as good as the pavillions but still good.

This has caused me to sway, but I just can't get rid of my dislike of the Dell brand. Have they changed? Would others recommend the switch from the HP to the XPS?

Please help because I'm really stuck

Related

 

I would definitely go for the Dell. The graphics card is a major improvement over the 8400m. I have had several Dell laptops over the last few years and can recommend them for build quality and support.

 

I know just what your feeling.
I was prejudice against dell until about 1 month ago when I did further research.
It looks to me that dell sucks when it comes to desktop pc's but laptops/notebooks are another story.
If I were you I'd go for dell. Their warranty's are excellent in my view.
And if you get complete protection you'll be good to go if it gets damaged in any way.

Dell is good when it comes to notebooks but I wouldn't buy desktops from dell because they are expensive, extremely proprietary, and they seem to use low quality parts.

 

I would have prejudice against HP actually. My girlfriend's HP Pavilion zx5170 is about 2.5 years old and it has had many problems, from a loose contact in the closed-lid-detector (causing the display to go black occasionally), to a battery which abruptly dropped to ZERO capacity after 14 months (just out of warranty GRRR), including a monitor that wobbles a lot because the joints that hold it are crap.

So to sum it up, even though I have never owned/seen a Dell laptop, I would prefer it over any HP, especially a Pavilion.

 

I would have to agree about the anti HP pfeeling. I owned one and it was ok but not stellar. My wife had one when we met and since then its lost the touchpad mouse. The cable on the Keyboard went bad... the case is cracking around the hinges from being opened/closed that was all under 3 years. Oh yeah and she paid $1500 for a POS system.

 

I has some dealings with an HP zv or zd 5000. Even though it had a bad owner who treated it bad The power jack broke. LCD hinge snapped. Plastic pieces chipped off all around the notebook.

But I think they've improved somewhat. I ordered an HP dv8000 for someone and I'll do a video review on it when it arrives.

 

XPS support is really good theyre usually really quick and helpful..

 

Thanks all for your opinions (I know I'm posting in a Dell forum so I know there's likely to be some bias).

I think i'd have to agree it would be desktops where Dell are very bad, like most OEM's. As before, I've got a full desktop for playing games with all the sparkly bits.
The support doesn't worry me, good build quality should mean I have no need to mess with support. But it would appear that Dell give better support to their XPS line, obviously because it's flagship.

I think I may give Dell a chance

 

I'd say for gaming and such, the 8600GT is MUCH better than the 8400GT. You don't want to be disappointed down the line when you need the power of the 8600 and only have the 8400. Most game bottlenecks occur with the graphics processing, so getting a better graphics card will help you out. The CPU doesn't really matter too much. I've also heard that some TV Tuners that plub into laptops aren't the best of technology. And yes, with Dell's XPS line, you will be getting excellent support (can't vouch for it personally since I own an Inspiron, but I've read multiple times that they are good).

Oh, and for the HP, my friend's screen hinge cracked so now to close his laptop he has to stick a screwdriver into the Kensington lock on the left side and turn it every time. Pretty annoying if you ask me.

Hope that helps.

 

I haven't had any serious problems with my Dell Desktop -- Dell Dimension 8400, about four years old now.
The worst it's done is not get past the disc check for one game (installed but wouldn't run -- kept asking for the game disc when it was already in the drive). And I have to turn down the options in some games because the video card is an X800SE. So I wouldn't say Dell's Desktops are bad.

 

I dont know about the desktops that dell builds as i build my own desktops but it sounds like you do as well, when i was looking for a new laptop i wanted something else than a dell, just because i like a little variety, however i really couldnt complain about the first dell i had and the only problem with it was the mother board and we called and had it replaced in no time (tech came to the house and it took him about an hour to fix it, up and working to this day still) and i take it too the woods with me to download trail cam pictures so that i dont have to haul all the cameras home, and it has held up exceptionally well!

i also know that buddy has had a sony, an hp and now an alienware, and needless to say he likes his alienware the best, but he has had numerous problems with the hp and sony laptops!

Just thought id give you my two cents!

 

SAJAX, well, I'm a refugee from the HP boards because I had 3 DV9700Ts with 3 different hardware problems since December. I bought a Vostro 1700 in early April, got a much better warranty, better graphics card, sturdier system. I'm really, really pleased.

There were some trade offs for me to buy a Dell (T9300 to T8100, no lightscribe drive, no fingerprint reader) but this computer works, it's more quiet than the DV9700T and I have no complaints.

Honestly, even though I had been an HP customer for 15+ years and this is my first Dell, I will never own another HP. I had to send in my HP ZX5000 series 3 times in one month for repairs within the first six months of owning it. I thought that was a fluke or I wouldn't have bought the DV9700T.

Anyway, that's just my 2 cents, fwiw.

 

I had a DV6000t that I bought a bit over a year ago. And had no problems. One of the hinges came loose, but I fixed that with screwdriver. I was always happy with it. But I just got a M1530 (My HP had a Go7400 and my Dell had a 8600). And everything about the M1530 is just in a different league.

 

Go for a Dell. I know what you mea about prejudice--I worked tech support all through college and watched the Inspiron line turn slowly but surely to ****. I swore I'd never buy one. I just bought an M1330, though, and I really love it. It's fast, sleek, everything that Dell's "bargain" laptops aren't.

Just make sure to get a warranty, and I'm sure you'll be happy with your choice to go XPS over HP.

 

Dell's XPS customer service is top notch. My family owns about 7 laptops total at one time, ranging from Gateways, Dells, HPs, and Toshibas. I can honestly say that Dell has outlasted all those laptops. I ordered an HP dv6700t only to have it die in a week. My mom had a dv4000 and the wireless card fried within a month. I really dislike HP, I don't think they make good products and I'm super happy with my M1530. Go with the Dell, especially the elite XPS line. Don't forget the warranty either. Best of luck.

 

Yea, I'm pretty sure I'm going with the Dell now. In my price range I can put the processor up to a T8300 (2.4GHz), My main PC has a lightscribe drive so no worries there (Yes I did build it myself), still missing the TV Tuner but I'd hardly use it I think.

Just a couple questions about Dell's warranty & Accidental Damage Support

1. I can afford to have either maxed (4 year warranty or 3 year Accident damage)
2. A link to any description of what they both cover & more importantly do not

Current configuration comes to £837.99, with 10% coupon £760.19. Bring on monday

 

"This has caused me to sway, but I just can't get rid of my dislike of the Dell brand. Have they changed?"

you sound just like me, up until about 2 months ago i wouldn't have recommended a Dell to anyone, people telling me how their computers had broken or gone wrong i'd toss my head back and laugh and say" it's a dell, that's the problem with it". considering the culmination of my experience with their machines in the past couple of years ( owned by various friends and family members) been nothing more than a giant Crash fest.

but once Alienware had decided not to bother updating anyone about their latest models (the m15x and the seemingly ill-fated m17x should they continue to act the way they are) i decided to sniff around, saw the M1730, read some reviews.. decided to try it out.

2 1/2 weeks onwards, i'm loving my 1730, and i'd happily recommend the XPS brand to anyone looking for a well built, good looking laptop with plenty of power under the hood.

give it a try, you're covered by their 14 day no quibble returns policy ( depending on where you're from) and they do seem to be really well constructed machines.

the only thing is i'd avoid the outlet store, it's cheaper, yes, but there seems to be lots of issues arising from the refurbished outlet laptops, with damaged parts, poor rebuild quality etc.

 

The 8600M GT is far better than the 8400. If you receive a grainy screen, be prepared to threaten to return it in order to get a decent LCD.

 

Going from HP to Dell was like going from coach to 1st class. Dell has superior customer service and there is no comparison when it comes to notebook build quality. After selling both of my HP notebooks and going with Dell I feel like I've just been released from prison.

 

Thanks to everyone

Placed the order 20 minutes ago and now wish Dell delivery times weren't so long

Treated myself to the 9-cell battery as I felt the raised keyboard position would suit me & the heat situation.

Thanks Again!

 

I'm so glad I helped to convince someone away from HP

Hope you enjoy it. Post here when you get it!

 

Good luck with the screen, and hope you receive the LG version. From what I've read the WXGA screen (1280 x 800) will most likely be Samsung, and that probably won't compare to the LG version. Nonetheless, if the screen isn't grainy I'd say you're going to be well off.

As for the XPS m1530 itself, I'm waiting for another deal to pop up due to my $1000 after-tax budget.

Good luck.

EDIT: Ironically I'm considering a HP dv6700t or HP dv2700 SE. I kinda like the design and switch that turns the touch pad on or off.

 

I know DeLL sometimes gets a bad rap but it's really tough to beat their prices and they do sell nice laptops if you know which ones to buy. I've owned 4 of their laptops and i've been extremely happy with each one, no complaints.

 

Yeah, I think most of the bad reviews appear due to the high number of people who buy the XPS models. The more DELL sells, the higher the possibility of lemons appearing is.

 

you should get rid of your prejudice against Dell, since you had an Acer why do you care about a name on your lappy still?

Dell is at least better than Acer ,HP and Toshiba.

HP is truly a consumer oriented company while Dell is a more prosumer kind, so you will get more performance per $ with Dell, think about the GPU difference in their consumer grade 15.4's.

If you know any hp consumer 15.4 has or had WSXGA+ or UXGA option let me know.

Dell is more fully customizable , as an ex-HP user, I can tell you there is no way going back to an HP..................but for a person do not need high end graphics or better screen options like my dad , I would recommend an HP but one of its business models(6910P or 8510W depends on your choice of LCD size.)

I think it should be like this:

1 Dell.
2 Lenovo.
3 all others.

 

if you order WXGA+ or better , you will never get a dim grainy screen.

 

Exactly , and these CTO to buy a dell are more demanding than HP people who accept pre-configured models like PAvillions.

So Dell people tend to be more critical or picky.

 

It arrived this morning, so 5 days.

I think I may have a keyboard with a bulge, which I may get fixed because it's bugging me. No grainy screen, but I have no idea who has made it, looking at the device manager, it's not LG, Samsung but CPT ??

Spent the day updating and uninstall all the rubbish. But I'm a happy camper, got to try some games now.

 

Congrat's on your purchase!!! I think you will really like it

 

Hope you enjoy it!

 

Heres a couple of pics.
Thanks to everyone who convinced me and gave me their opinions.

On my desk, next to a 19" Acer Monitor



Black isn't showy, but it still looks good. I couldn't use a red laptop



The pictures I've seen made the extra height of the 9-cell look huge, but it's not that big IMO

 

The only Dell desktop I had lasted a year and died of power supply and motherboard failure. Granted, it was 6 years old when I bought it and I had the power supply SEVERELY overloaded with 5 hard drives and CPU usage was always 100% doing various things. I was quite impressed that it held up for that long before it let go.

I was also impressed when I got my Inspiron 1520 (and proceeded to take it apart and upgrade the motherboard and video card). Twice it has saved me from the thinkpad going in for repairs - although the second time it was a qualified repair center that screwed it up.