Goodbye HP & Hello Dell

I've been a HP owner for three years now. Due to too many problems with my last two HP notebooks, see:
Default HP repair "Good/Bad/Ugly" just went very UGLY!!!
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=213610

I have gone back to Dell. I've owned several before and had good luck with them. This is what I have on order:

On order:
Dell XPS M1530
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)
High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4inch (1440x900)
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

I've enjoyed posting here on the HP area. I recall a year ago when this HP area actually had more viewers than Dell. That has changed and probably because of all the problems HP has had with some of their series.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...7277&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN
HP has identified a hardware issue with certain HP Pavilion dv6000, HP Pavilion dv9000 and Compaq Presario V6000 series notebook PCs.

 

I think the new m1330 caused much of the spike in the Dell forum viewer number, and then people considered Dell to be more of a contender with the new "design" notebook lines.

 

The Dell XPS M1530 is not any better either, e.g. bad screen display and the whining sound coming out of it. XPS 1530 owners have been complaining about their purchases in the Dell forum.

 

Did Dell every fix the grainy screen problem with their LCD screens on the laptops?

 

No! it's still good or grainy

 

First I've heard of this... I'll go over to Dell area and ask.

 

Yes yes, I too stayed away from the M1530 due to the "screen Issues". I love Dell, but I'm not about to lay out $1500+ on a laptop that has the possibility of having a bad screen. I would like to place the order knowing in advance that I would be getting that LG screen. Since that (the LG screen) is not an option, I will (for now) place my money else where. True, the M1530 looks like an excellent machine, I just don't feel like getting the Samsung screen, and having the runaround from Dell trying to get the correct screen (the LG).

 

Only complaint I have about HP at the mo is their prices.

Ive had good experiences with my nc8430, but Ive been nosing around at possible replacements, and Im blown away by the high cost of the current line of HP notebooks with a decent dedicated video card.

Why I should fork out £1100 for a 8510p when I could get a 1500 Vostro with 3GB RAM T7250 processor and 8600M GT for £535 incl. VAT is beyond me.

Even the M1530 looks like a complete bargain compared to what HP want for their performance notebooks.

 

I love HP the only bad thing is the graphics cards besides that HP rocks

 

I feel the exact same way. I've said it many times before, and I'll never quit saying it until HP gets their heads out of their a5535, they need to offer better video cards in their laptops. They have an amazing line, except for their ridiculous choice in video cards. They don't understand that they could be cleaning house in the world of performance laptops if they tried.

 

And yet another reason I jumped ship to DELL... they give you gpu choices with many of their models...

 

If you are an avid gamer, then the overpriced XPS might be a good choice. Choose a Sager notebook if your really need a top gaming machine because Sager notebooks offer better graphics cards than the XPS.

 

I guess you didn't read the whole post/threads and saw I ordered a XPS!
I will take a XPS over Sager any day! Heck, I'd take another HP over a Sager!

 

Everyone knows you order a XPS. Just cross your fingers and hope that u will get a good screen display.

 

Yep. I think HP is comfortable and feels that since they lead in nearly every notebook market segment worldwide they must be doing something right. I mean, look at the HDX. They could have gone with an 8800m GTX. But instead they wen't with the 2nd tier enthusiast card - 8800m GTS.

Maybe HP is concerned with battery life and heat. HP's generally have somewhat better battery life than Dell's. Or perhaps HP has multiyear contracts with Nvidia to buy the 2nd tier of any card series. I don't know.

But I agree. If HP slapped some GT's in their lappies, considering their styling and price, Dell would really have their hands full.

As for Sager, I owned one back in '96. Just last year I gave it away. The thing still worked. It was a Pentium 120. The casing was cracked with the paint worn away at the corners. Gameport stopped working years ago though. But other than that, it was good to go.

 

I used to post here on the HP board. I had three HP's before my last two Dells. I always liked HP's styling but I moved to dell because I wanted a 1680 x 1050 screen on a 15" notebook. I don't think HP is ever going to offer that. With the new XPS I feel like it has everything I wanted in a notebook and I don't seem to have any of the issues other people are complaining about on the Dell board, so I'm happy.

PS - I get a little over 4 hours on my 9 cell battery which I think is pretty good...

 

I feel that that the NVIDIA Quadro FX 1600M is a very good card, but it costs considerably more. If they were to release higher end graphic cards they would have to either raise prices or cut costs in other areas that would probably reduce quality. HP's focus is not on gamers, but on the typical home or business user and I don’t think they should change their focus.

 

That's a definite concern. Maybe they should come out with special editions that target the segment of the market that appreciates higher specifications at reasonable prices. The HDX is a definite start in the right direction.

 

What I don't understand about HP is that their business notebooks are so good in terms of dedicated GPUs, but their consumer line is terrible. 8600 GS is just ugh!

 

Maybe HP doesn't put GTs into their laptops to help boost the sales of their gaming division? Don't they own Voodoo? Though I'm not saying those are good reasons. I completely agree with the idea that they should put in better GPUs. I'd still take an HP business laptop over a Dell XPS laptop. Now HP consumer line vs XPS is a different story.

 

I think you worded this correctly. it is about luck since you can always get a lemon. The Dell xps 1530 is a cool machine , but you still have a chance of encountering multiple problems such as screen graininess, earplug noise or getting "shocked" when touching it. These are problems that have occured with the model in the past. The people that had this happen to their Dell feel the same way about Dell as you do about HP.

The best way to really test reliability is by consumer surveys and researching a particular model. The ones I've seen indicate only small differences in failure rates between brands, though some particular models have high failure rates. What does stand out is that business line notebooks are generally perceived to be of higher quality then consumer notebooks, though i havent seen any figures to back this up.

 

I think you've answered your own questions.

I got a " Business" Dell as like you said, they're better made & I got the next " day service" so I don't have to wait a week or more to have my "working" notebook back. Dell has the better guarantee programs than HP does... Plus I hated talking to the INDIA folks with the HEAVY accents that I couldn't understand every time I needed something.

 

What Consumer Surveys have you read? Could you please post the links?

Thanks

 

I did the exact same thing. Once there was a hot deal on an M1330, I bought it with a dedicated GPU, then sold my HP DV2422 to help cover its cost.

Dell FTW!

 

The most recent one was in a Dutch consumer magazine. Another one has been floating on the net for a while. No doubt it has been in these forums at some point. I'll go see if I can find it.

*starts googling*

Best I could do was find the chart that goes with the article of Consumer Report
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/laptops/laptops-are-built-like-crap-210853.php
I think it was a survey of 50.000, with data from 2003-2006 on which this chart has been based. (something like that , cant find the original article).

It indicates the same thing other surveys indicate, failure rate differences between brands are not as big as generally perceived. though in this particular survey I guess they looked at the more established brands. Still.. failure rates of 15% and up is a LOT, and laptops in general just break down often.

I guess you can easily find the whole thing if subscribe to consumer report. Sorry I couldnt provide you with better links

 

Thanks Blemish

I bought a laptop recently. I tried "Googling" but wasn't able to come up with anything definitive. I am not a member of Consumer Reports either.

 

What it comes down to then is Customer Service and HP still sucks! Dell has next day repair service at your place. With HP, first you have to get through to someone in INDIA who has very HEAVY accent and you can't understand, then they try to tell you that you don't need it fixed. Then the week or so to get it fixed.
I know as I had to send my last HP back FOUR times!

GOODBYE HP - HELLO DELL

I did see in some report last year where Apple was nearly perfect on the Customer Service ratings. Maybe that is why they seem to be doing so good lately.

 

Aye ur right, it does seem that way. I would base my decision on the same thing really. Of course I'd try to avoid notebooks with design flaws but beyond that customer service is really important. Especially with notebook failure rates.. which is one of the highest in all of consumer electronics.. And that is saying a lot.

 

Ironically my Dell customer service experience was been the opposite. Got sent to India a dozen times before giving up and calling back later in the week, whereupon I got lucky with a NA call centre.

With HP business support I don't think I've ever ended up in India, HOWEVER I am using the Canadian support for both companies, so perhaps their reputations are just reversed up here.

In the long run, IMO it's all a crap shoot

 

lol.. sadly this appears to be very true. We just gotta buy a notebook and pray nothing ever breaks... EVER!

 

Warranty is only good as long as the people coming are competent and the parts they replace it with don't arrive defective. Dell is no better than HP. Dell spent two months of on-site service trying to fix my compuer, and every visit only made my computer worse. They continually brought defective after defective after defective parts to "fix" my computer. We're talking REALLY obviously defective stuff.. like a motherboard that sounded like it was going to take off like a jet.. or else explode.. Finally in their inept trouble shooting they replaced a perfectly fine PSU with a doa one that blew my entire system and required them to send me a whole new computer, I finally gave up and fixed the damn thing out of pocket myself. Afraid to tell you I am not the only one with this type of story. I had to replace several components in my mother's less than a year old system, and one of my bff and my uncle had really bad problems with their Dell laptops within a year of purchase too. Needless to say I would buy a hundred HP before I went with Dell again, though realistically I will say it's all a matter of luck and really they are pretty even companies.

Just look here about your beloved XPS: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3079446&postcount=25


There are numerous reports of crappy screens, uneven bases, and even people getting shocked because Dell skimped on the power adapter and only made it 2 pronged instead of 3 like they should have.

 

I had a really bad experience with HP and weighing the design, GPU, prices of both notebooks, I just went with the Dell. Couldn't be happier with my deal (XPS M1530) and secured it with a 4 year warranty with complete care and all the bells and whistles. I think, for the most part, it's future proof. I also hated dealing with HP's customer service reps. My mother's laptop didn't last 2 years, and the wireless card went out within 2 months. My own laptop-- the dv6700t, died within two weeks. Motherboard failed. I made the switch, not looking back.

 

Sounds like my experience with Dell LOL Best of luck to you.. I hope your M1530 servers you well for years to come. The notebook is seriously HOT and I would so own one if I hadn't already maxed out my Dell hell for a lifetime.

 

Very similar to what I went through! Dell for me from now on!
I did like my HP until it went bad on me and the customer service is what turned me back to Dell. I had owned 4 dells before and none ever went bad. I hope my luck holds out.

 

Yeah, my dells never had problems either , but HP? always , no more HP for me despite of my dad loving it , well everybody is different.

For me Dell is the best, I am getting another Dell very soon from either US or Japan.

Congrats on your decision.

 

nobody done that for sure , but think about it we all have different needs and preferences.

so why are you getting so emotional?

some love Dell and you guys love HP, that's it.

I think HP build and finish is better than dell XPS line models but Dell has better CTO options , and so I like Dell.

High resolution LCD is the most important component of any laptop IMNHO since we can not change LCD,I need to customize it and all HP offer horribly low resolution LCD besides the W line of mobile work stations(3000US).

Plus , HP offer a low-end GFX like NV8400GS with only 128mb of GDDR 3 or 256mb GDDR 2 in its consumer affordable line of laptops. Well, to be precise, the HP 8510P and W offer NVIDIA FX570 , which is a great card but they are hugely orver priced compared to Dell equivalent machines(latitude and Vostro).

And I prefer Dell's design and finish, all HP consumer laptops are too flashy ,bold and glossy.

Also, Dell Inspiron, Vostro and Latitude are all built like a tank, not XPS though.

But I know many love the glossy finish of HP and hate Dell matte finish and it is just a matter of personal taste.