[brite750]

Originally posted by shadowboss:

Now take this with an ounce of humorous sarcasm ok? No offense intended, but getting back to the principle of being lazy for a second. I suppose, if I weren't so lazy, I would do some research, go out and buy all the necessary parts, and build my own car. I don't even know how to fix my car to be honest with you, and I just don't have the time anyway. I'd rather pay someone who invested their time in learning about auto repair to fix my car. Sure, I know some basic auto repair, but there's no way I'm going to jump in there and replace a timing belt! HAHAHA Anyway, my point is that the same logic applies to PCs. For some people, they see their PCs as a tool, not a toy. All they need it to do is perform a particular function. So I don't think it's fair to label these people as lazy which implies that they lack some sort of mental fortitude. In the end, I suppose it's about your priorities. For you and me, we like to know what's going on under the cases of our PCs, but for others, they couldn't care less.

Oh, and before I forget. I happen to agree with you that it is despicable for Dell to say, "...just call us and tell us what you want to do, and we'll customize a PC just for you..." I think this opens way too big of a door for gramma and grampa to get screwed over when all they need to do is check email from their grandkids. Just seems like a way for Dell to take blatant advantage of people who don't know anything about computers. Consumer beware.

The car anology is good, in fact in the old days when cars were simple, most people did probably work on their own cars, but today, well, just look under that hood, I'm lucky if I can find the windshield washer reservior. Lazy is probably the wrong word I'm looking for, lets' put it this way, before you buy something like a car or pc you should know alittle about what your buying, otherwise like you say, grandma and grandpa, are going to get ripped off.

[brite750]

Big-K
I just did a google search and that's what came up, no big deal. Ah so you upgraded it after the $300, so now your up to maybe $400 or $450 depending on what you spent, plus an OS, win2000 just set me back $159. I'm just looking at the total cost of pc, although it sounds like your friend has upgraded as well.

[Big-K]

Yeah it had no OS so we installed our copy of XP on it. Ive put in a 128 stick of ram, which we already had. Since i have only one upgrade slot(256 onboard) im going to buy either a 256 or a 512 stick of ram for it. Ive also bought a Radeon 7000 for $50 or so, next day of course they put a 20 dollar rebate on the same product. Ive also added on one Cd-rom drive(slid in)

[~Candy~]

Originally posted by brite750:
The car anology is good, in fact in the old days when cars were simple, most people did probably work on their own cars, but today, well, just look under that hood, I'm lucky if I can find the windshield washer reservior.

Lol, sometimes, it's hard enough trying to figure out which side the gas cap is on.

Has anyone rented a car lately?????? Tell me you didn't have the windshield wipers on for a couple minutes cause you couldn't figure out how to turn them off

[hewee]

OK I did not have that trouble candy renting a car.

[~Candy~]

Well, then you don't count

[michael_jii]

gateway, i have heard you can only upgrade dells with dell components, expensive,

michael

[Wyndia]

The upgrading using only their parts is (from what I've heard and seen) is practiced by many companies.

When I bought a Dell about 6 years ago, I was very pleased with their customer support and the very strong build of the computer. Then, my brother bought one years down the road and it wasn't built as well. Now, they seem as if they are producing for the masses. Lack of quality over quantity.

I don't have much experience with Gateway, but I do remember back in the day how horrible their customer support was.

At one point I would pick Dell not only over Gateway, but most companies. I guess I'd go for Dell since they have good prices, but I'd rather build my own PC.

[deuce]

If your choice is between these two companies, Dell and Gateway, or really any other mass-produced company, I would definitely go with Dell. On a whole, they are reliable, have good support and everyone I've seen has had a good experience. I would stay away from Gateway. I have huge problems with them that deal with ethical decisions made by the various conceited bigheads that have run the place over the years. However, none of it concerns anybody here, except Candy on a few things. But aside from that, I'll still recomend you stay away from Gateway, because Dell makes a better product anyway.


HOWEVER, I would strongly recommend EVERY person in the market for a computer to go with one of these 3 routes: (in order that I would recomend them)

1.) Build it yourself. Typically cheaper, but on a basis of VALUE, always better. (quality) You know everything that is part of your computer, and it's there because you put it there, because you need it. You have strict control over your components, and can easily build a system that will last for years without the need for an upgrade. You also get the satisfaction of knowing that you built it yourself. I built my last computer almost 3 years ago, and it still runs very well, and fast enough for me. It is a 1.4 Ghz P4 with 640 mb RDRam, Radeon 7200 64 mb ddr, 48x tdk cd burner, lite-on dvd=rom, sound blaster audigy platinum, 100 and 120 GB HD, 10/100, XP Pro. All for about $700 which at the time was really good.

2.) Have a local shop with a good reputation and competitive prices build you a computer. It will be almost as good as building it yourself, but will be a little more. You will get the quality parts you pickout, and won't have to deal with all the stupid crap the mass-produced companies (a.k.a. dell and gateway) load on your compuer. You'll also have local support, which means fewer hassels than with a compaq.

3.) If you don't feel comfortable or don't have the time to build it yourself, and don't have a local shop to do it for you, go with one of the discount-built systems that you would find at Staples or Fry's--just make SURE you aren't getting sh*tty parts that will fail in 3 months. Typically, some of the discount-systems at these stores are a good compromise of a bare-minimum solution. (i.e. come with ONLY an OS, no monitor, no other software) I good idea is to post the components of one of these and let people here pick at it.




If it's a laptop you need, than I would go with either Dell, Toshiba or HP (laptops only....never buy an HP *cough* compaq desktop).




As a final note, NEVER EVER EVER buy a Compaq!!

[jdemnyan1116]

Everyone can praise Dell but my daughters company just purchased 75 new dell computers and they have to have 2 tech reps on site to keep them running. This was 3 months ago and the technicians are still there and still as busy. A local banking firm around here with many branches just purchased some dell computers and for two weeks they were practically shut down. Customers were not too happy. Finally got them working but usually one out of the three are down at least twice a week.

[Lurker1]

Since the title is Dell Vs Gateway Pick a Dell as Gateway may not be here much longer.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/7/36745.html

[Big-K]

I just realized how dell gets so much money!
As soon as you set it up, you got tech support with you 24/7, whether you like it or not!

[matthewnj]

Dell has by far the worst tech support and customer service. You will hold for over 1 hour to get a tech support rep on the phone, and they will be in India.
If they don't know the answer to you rproblem they hang up the phone. And you will have to start over from the beggining.

There is no number to compalin or get a credit for you plan, they give you an address to write to, I wrote 8 letters. I never got a response.

Whatever you do, do NOT buy a DELL

[MSM Hobbes]

If you've not seen it, there is also a thread here http://forums.techguy.org/t334161.html pertaining to Dell pc's. This thread http://forums.techguy.org/t315250.html also has some pertinent info. My mom has a Gateway, she loves it. Bro in law family has a Gateway, they love it. However, both are ~2-3 year old machines, nothing really recent. Yet, support has been great for both parties. But again, I would go Apple, build my own, Dell, and then Gateway.

[Fidelista]

Originally Posted by skyman

In today's computer age you have 2 types of people.

One, the people who know all the ins and outs of computers and know exactly what works best for they want. They know and understand all the hardware that will create a great system and know how to build it and make it work for them.

Two, you have the average user who wants to experience
the web, email, word processing, a calendar, a file that they can put their recipes in, a simple spreadsheet or database program and have someone to call when they have a problem.

Both users have a place to go. If you are in the latter category,
Dell is the best way to go.

Dell is cheap and offers the most for your dollar and is more than the average user will ever need.

Is Dell the system for everyone? No but it is the best that is out there for the AVERAGE user...

I agree 100 percent .
Most users are just that ,USERS. They have no interest in PC's internals or software, and woulndt open a case for any reason.
For them , I believe a Dell is a very good deal.
A friend just bought a mid-level Dell >>>>4700 with a 2.8 P-4 chip----512 ddr ram---80 gig hd---17 crt monitor--everything needed for about $700.
A fairly powerful PC that will do almost anything well {hes not a Gamer}.
I think it was a pretty good deal.
As far as tech help goes , I am not impressed with any companies help. I would use it only in event of hardware failure.
The last two machines I have bought were Dells {8100} {8200} and I have been very pleased, no problems but the ones I created! >f