What do you really think about Dell quality?

I've always just excepted Dell's build quality as lacking. I have friends who regaurd Dell as bottom of the barrel. Below every thing else... ever the unmentionables. It is too easy to loose confidence in my choice when hearing friends I regaurd as smart and knowlegable rattling off about Dell like that.

With recommendations always accompanied by 'Dell's quality isn't that good...' I'm sure other's here have felt the same way before.

I wish I could word what I'm getting at better.

Last night, I worked with three laptops side by side. a Toshiba Satellite M60, a HP Pavilion dv1000, and my own Dell Inspiron 6000D.

I had a bit of a revelation working with the three together.

All these machines are geared to different segments of the market. Further more, my WSXGA+ matte screen is radically different from the lower resolution, but none the less beautiful glossys on both those machines. But in a general comparison. I actually got to thinking my 6000 beat them in more areas than I ever realized looking at my machine on it own. Atleast in my opinion. (My intented purpose for my 6000 aside and choosing a machine out of its particular market segment aside.)

...So I pose the question and I don't think there needs to be any poll with this. Just a simple explanation of what you think about your Dell's build and why.

Could be a help to potential buyers as well as a way to boast (or lower) our esteem in our machine.

Personally. I like my 6000. For my purposes it suits me well enough.
HP, and Toshiba seem to scratch and lose paint just as easily over time.

 

For me, I think dell is like every other manufacturer. It has it's good and bad qualities.

For one, the Inspiron quality isn't up to par compared to other laptops-- Just in durability terms. I think they could use better choices on some of their parts like the 9300 keyboards. Its ridiculous that the keyboards break that easily.

You look at their latitude line, and it is better built (which is expected since it cost more money). More durable, doesn't have near the problems that the Inspiron users have.

Most of my complaints come from the fact that I spent 2200 dollars on a $3000 configured machine, and have had several problems with it. I don't necessarily hate my laptop, but for $2200, I expected better than what I got. All of my problems are related the 9300 designed -- don't really care for the white bumpers, but they don't drive me too crazy. Plus the poor built quality and my screen problem.

My complaint about my screen I think comes from the fact that it is a 17in + matte. I think matte would look good on the smaller screens, but for a screen as big as mine, the matte just doesn't not work.


When you go from looking at an external LCD monitor at school to your laptop, there is a big difference in terms of quality of the screen.


Those are my complaints. My laptop specs work great. It is just the physical part that I wish I could change.

 

When it comes to components like hard drives, they all seem to use the same cheap stuff.

 

I have to agree. I loe dell the only thing I hate about them is thier customer support

 

I think my E1705 T2500 was a better deal than any other laptop on the market. Since I forgot to order the OS backup CD - I called Dell for it and they sent me a Drivers Disk and OS backup disk for free with next day shipping! I have a preferred EPP account and so Dell's customer service to me is excellent.

I am very happy with the build and quality of the E1705, and I got no dead pixels.

My first laptop was a Sony Vaio bought for $2600 and it broke a year just after the warranty ended. So that's why I hate Sony laptops because they don't last even though they make very beautiful laptops.

 

My friends love their Dells. I prefer bricks and mortar and good return policies.

 

I agree with SG. Good and bad qualities about Dell.

When I started looking for a laptop, I really didn't know the Inspiron Series that much. I would always go to Office Depot and play with the Toshiba P35 and P30. I thought they were the best computers for the 2 grand price tag; however, both computers ran on old graphics processors (ATI 9100 intergrated). After doing more research (finding NBR), I found the Inspiron line with decent specs. The Nvidia Geforce 6800 is what pulled me toward Dell. That is a huge difference from the intergrated graphics of the P30 and P35. I think that Dell is always on top on technology. I give them two thumbs up for that. I always loved it when I said, "My notebook smokes all of yours in performance."

I used a $750 off coupon for my $3200 price tag bringing it down to $2400. In the 10 months of my i9300 era, I have had only one part fail. That part was the AC adapter, but my warranty sent me a new AC adapter in two days. Another thing that fails my test for quality is the i9300 A05 bios. It cooked my Pentium M until I downloaded i9kfangui. Saving battery power and cooking the processor isn't my cup of tea. But other than that, all has went well with the i9300. I cannot say that my notebook is one of the fastest anymore because of the Nvidia Geforce 7 series, but all in all a great buy.

 

My new 9400 laptop LDC screen completely died after 10 days. Waiting for a replacement laptop to arrive. So, my first impressions have not been good at all.

 

I've owned two inspirons (desktop replacement models) one has been very reliable only having its HD die and they replaced it withint 3days under warranty (this took over a year to happen) however It runs pretty **** hot and it is heavy and made of lots of plastic versus all the nice aluminium and carbon fiber they use now in new dells and other companies. Also I've noticed compared to newer models mine has way more screws!

On my other inspiron I have had troubles. I've gone through two of the so-so keyboards. And my monitor's backlight died (all this has been fixed under warranty, the light took three years to go out) my other issues were with two liquid spills which fried the machine however dell fixed the machine within about 1-2 weeks which seems ok but they use refurbished parts, better yet a full replacement would be cool.

Service is generally good. they solve my problems and all that however it can take some time and the quality sucks. I hate the indian accents and the sound quality over phone lines. Wait times can suck also.

Overall though dells are good machines with good service and support and you get a great bang for your buck and they do keep up with technology. Since I bought mine they have improved their machines a great deal it seems though service seems to have fallen. I would buy there again.

 

Dell is so so. not good, not bad. The only good laptop from Dell is the XPS line. I just don't like their laptop design. Too bland for me.

 

I don't think the build quality of dells notebooks is that bad. I have seen many dell models over the years, and at my home we have a Dell XPS M140, Inspiron 9100, and a 700m. The 9100 and the 700m have lasted quite well over the past 2 years. They still run strong. The 9100 is thick and ugly, but other then that its quite a solid machine. My XPS M140's build quality is really good. The only thing I don't like about it is the latch when you close the screen, It seems to be a bit loose. The 700m I must say I'm really impressed with its design the only thing is the keyboard is a bit small. I wouldn't say dell is in general any worse then Hp's, Compaq's, and lower end Toshibas. They arn't as solid and as well built as an IBMS, but they arn't trash. And for the price they are 100% worth it.

 

ill prefer an asus but with prices like dell. Last quarter sales were weak for dell so notebooks from them fortunately are cheaper

I don't think an asus offers Complete Care warranty though. So i cannot go wrong with the dell

 

Interesting thread Metamorphical... To tell you the truth, my opinion of Dell has changed a lot over the last two years. I was one of those Dell bashers being in IT and working with their older machines. I never would consider getting one myself ("Why would I want a computer that sounds like it's named after a kind of pickle?" I'd joke around with my Dell owning friends) Later a coworker ordered the 700M for their sister. I'd have to say I was quite surprised. The styling was nice and clean. The screen sharp. I recommended it to my sis as well and she hasn't had any problems with it after ~2 years or so. This was a big change from their old, rickety black bricks.

Granted looking at it now they all have that 700m color motif and it doesn't quite work as well on a larger form factor. But looking at what you get with a 9300, XPS, and now the 1705, I'm convinced that Dell is doing something right (not everything mind you but a lot)

In my research (of possibly getting an XPS M170) I was impressed to find out that in the XPS, Dell of all people has created one of the thinnest, lightest Desktop Replacement notebooks on the planet. (Due to their custom built chassis) Not what I would have expected from the Dell of old. Of course the 9300 shares the same chassis as well so it deserves the same recognition.

While Sony may have the edge on industrial design (err *big* edge), their support is terrible. Between a Dell and a Vaio, I'd go for a Dell because if something fails, Dell will be there to help.

Though I'm also looking at some upcoming Asus models, I'm not ruling out the XPS (nothing comes close in terms of performance) The only thing keeping me back is size.. and the longetivity of the design. While it's garish, I think the black-on-silver looks fairly attractive (plus the design is iconic for high performance) But what about 3 years from now, when there are much, faster machines. Will pulling out an XPS at a coffee shop be the equivalent of driving up in an 1980 yellow japanese sportscar? --Back when yellow was 'in'...

Whichever one I decide on, I have a new respect for Dell... now that I'm able to form an "educated" opinion.. -and this is coming from an IT guy who likes to ride on the bleeding edge of tech. They like all manufacturers have issues. But I believe they do make decent machines now, don't let what other people say make you doubt your purchase.

 

I think Dell is fine depending on what you are comparing them to. When you mentioned your Dell being just as good, if not better, than the HP and Toshiba you looked at, that would make perfect sense. They are about the same, and I prefer Dell because they are much cheaper.

Now if you are comparing a Dell to an Asus, Fujitsu, or even in SOME cases (I hate Sonys) a Sony, they are nowhere near the same standard. They are also nowhere near the price, so you can't really complain!!

I am a firm believer that Dell has the most bang for the buck, and they always get the latest technology (I had the 6800ultra for a while, then they were one of the first to get the 7800GTX). But they are far from the best built computers

 

I think Dells are decent computers for their price. I have a sub-$600 Inspiron 2200 which I just recently upgraded to 768mb from 256, and it works great (for what I use it for). Build quality, however, is absolutely horrible--lots of screen flex, and I can easily cause ripples on the display by pressing on the back of the screen. My roommate's XPS 170 is incredibly better built (and 4 times as much), but it doesn't perform all that great and freezes up constantly, with 512 mb ram and all Dell's bloatware still on there. If you find a machine to fit your needs and are careful with it, Dell's not the worst choice--especially for the price of their Inspiron line

 

There decent. My 8600 held out for 2 years with little damage. But now im starting to see it wear out. There must be something i like, as i have another Dell coming soon. Just something about Dell....

 

On top of the heap is IBM, they are simply the best built machines and no other company is in the same league, I have an IBM T20 close to 5 years old, it's on 6 days every week straight, It's heavily used, and it just keeps on going and going, doesn't want to quit.... never had a problem, never needed technical support. You will pay a premium to buy an IBM, if you can afford it, it's worth it. (Lenovo ?? I don't know)

The second is probably Fujitsu

And then come the rest....

I have a Dell Inspiron laptop, a couple of people I know or work with have different models of Inspiron / Latitude's, and generally they are pretty good, I don't think Dell is any worst then all the others (which unfortunately doesn't say much...)

I have a Toshiba laptop and customer support was a disaster, once they held it 3 months (!!) waiting for parts to fix it!

Dell is the better choice in some areas, Dell has unparalleled flexibility in building and customizing your system, and with good coupons (and patience… , Dell prices can beat most others. I would still recommend to purchase an extended 2 or 3-year warranty on systems above 8-900 dollars.

 

Many people would argue that Asus' new units are equal if not better than IBM in quality (their ensemble units -not the made to order ones) But I would tend to think it's probably more neck and neck. I'm very surprised at their industrial design, material and build quality. (their 6v series has won numberous design awards) Mainly among the enthusiasts/tech people --those who tend to do lots of research before picking a unit. You can see this on the forums here --Asus has almost 10k more posts than even Dell & HP. My other (more logical choice) is an Asus. But I'm still considering an XPS M170.. Which like I said isn't really a logical choice (kind of getting a 2 seat roadster when you've got kids)..

But I agree with you, Dell comes in somewhere below the top 2 or 3.

 

I actually have been very pleased with Dell quality and customer support. The fan on the Dell broke one time and they sent me a box the next day, and I had my computer back in two. I have never experienced a faster turnaround with repairs. Support is always helpful to me, but I agree that the heavy accents can be difficult to understand. An anecdote about the Dell build quality: One day about a year ago I had it in my backpack and forgot, and I got mad and kicked the backpack. My poor 1150 was kicked about 5 ft and suffered no ill effects. Also, I think their keyboards have the best layout and feel (although they don't make them with the delete button on the bottom anymore =/ )

 

I have seen some of the posts about Asus on this forum and others, and they have a strong fan base, I guess you can put Asus in the top three, but I have never seen one first hand, and I don't know anybody with an Asus, I have researched them recently, and they are pretty expensive like the IBM's.

Dell definetly doesn't score on design..... and most 17 inch laptops at I saw at CompUSA and BestBuy etc. are pretty ugly, but "looks" is not my first critiria in chosing a computer.

 

I am typing on an Asus right now. Really, nothing of high build quality. It is at most as good as a dell inspiron. Screen flexes a lot. Typing isnt easy and the touchpad isnt very responsive. Thats why I am considering to buy a new notebook. Probably inspiron or maybe toshiba m100. Well, my decision may change after I get the specs of the new latitude line. It seems the new latitude line has a nice stylish design (not as stylish as sony ). Also integrated fingerprint reader, magnesium alloy casing, HD protection, and wide screen. If it costs, say, 400$ (at most) more than an equally configured inspiron, I am gonna buy the new latitude.

Btw, it seems that two color options will be available for the new latitudes

 

Curious, which model did you get, an ensemble or BTO, and how long ago? I know their later laptops have been hailed as some of the best built out there.
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It is an Asus A6V.