[tdi_veedub]

I've worked with a few Dell's and find that some of the software they preload on their machines really eats up resources. Once all of that is disabled, they are nice little machines. For a general use PC they are pretty good value for the money.

Dell should not be responsible for what people install on their machines. Noone else is, or should be. I don't understand why people feel that a corporation must kiss the ground their customers walk on. Too many people must be reading slashdot.

[CouchMaster]

I vote GateWay - they come with Microsoft Office/Works etc.

[MSM Hobbes]

skyman & Fidelista, I too agree, but with a disclaimer... seems to me that too many things in life are dumbed-down and/or people allow the technology around them to overwell them, w/o taking the slight bit of effort/time to investigate and learn about the products, options, and different paths. Yes, it is a very very confusing jungle/swamp. Yet, w/ a bit of perseverance and common sense, a person can wade through it and survive. Unfortunately, vast majority of people buy a Dell or G'way on price alone, as if that is the only important criteria - and then beetch an moan an have unpleasant issues when the tool they acquired doesn't perform at all or live up to their expectations. True, I go the other route, in spades... as I will normally investigate things to death; as I'm wayyyyy too curious, about too many things. Yea, still get burnt at times. However, then at least I'm somewhat less ignorant about the situation. Back to pc's, I still agree that Dell and G'way and their clones are good for most people, as you say, but... to up the quality and to have a better experience, there are better options... [Mac mini... ]

[deuce]

The solution to the Dell/Gateway debate:

buy a Fujitsu Lifebook.



That is what I plan to buy when I am able to replace my current laptop, but if if Fujitsu isn't an option I will get a Toshiba instead. I've "heard" good things about Fujitsu and know good things about Toshiba from experience, but it really just comes down to the fact that those are the only two companies I trust for a damn right now.

[vanillag1rl]

also check out the poll
http://forums.techguy.org/t329153.html

[rlw]

That's an easy one.

All gateways are JUNK

Dell has some excellent computers if you jump up to the optiplex 280s and up.
I've sold hundreds of them, the only one I've ever had a problem with was when a lady tipped over a large bottle of water and it drained in to her computer. It fried almost every chip in it

[MSM Hobbes]

rlw, thats nice, but, can you elaborate as to WHY gateways are junk?
Just curious. Thanks!

[rlw]

They have a high mortality rate. Parts are hard to obtain once out of production and over priced. I had to order MBs several times to obtain the correct one at a price 3X of what it is worth. Most parts are proprietary.

While this is true for alot of manufacturers some just don't have the high failure rate.
Dell use to be just a bad 6 or 7 years ago but they have brought their quality up above every one else since that time.

Now I'm only considering their business and up systems and note books and in in no way talking about the printers they sell "junk".

So I would go with a dell any day over a gateway.

RE: Fujitsu:

We bought the top end Fujitsu Tablet 4000 series for medical software developement. It's the most expensive so it has to be the best, Right?
Any way we load a couple of our apps on it take it out to demo it and what happens?
It dies during the first demo. The LCD on the tablet screen had to be replaced. They did get us a quick replacement though.

[jillian2]

Originally Posted by CouchMaster

I vote GateWay - they come with Microsoft Office/Works etc.

So did my Dell.

Jillian

[John Burns]

Originally Posted by tdi_veedub

I've worked with a few Dell's and find that some of the software they preload on their machines really eats up resources. Once all of that is disabled, they are nice little machines.

I just bought a Dell Dimension 4700 at a good price - but I think what you stated is true. Just for my information, do you remember some of the software you encountered? One of them I found was My Way Search Assistant, etc. which I removed - just interested in what I might have that I could remove in addition to that. Thanks.

[hewee]

My Way Search is blocked in most all hosts files too John as are lot of other sites with myway.

Have you got a good hosts file?

Don't know what all types of junk they have on your new Dell but guess there is a lot. Demo's etc.
But when I was back east I was trying to clean a ton of spyware off my cousins Dell.
Anyhow it got where I need to run a format. They had so many CD's I was not sure what was what. They also had a Windows CD. It was only for that Dell PC. Anyhow I called Dell and asked about just installing the windows and he said I could. It was easy and knew the CD was for that PC. It installed the windows and then I called back and was told where to get the drivers for the monitor, sound card etc from the other CD's. It was all easy really and it still had Dell things install that was installed with the windows. What I mean by Dell things is the Dell update and that. But all the junk was gone now. I installed AVG, ZA firewall, Spybot,ad-aware etc that I had downloaded and burned to CD before I did the format. Now I had to call there cable company to do something so I could get online. Now I got the PC with with some protection so got online and updated the AVG, ZA firewall, Spybot,ad-aware etc first. Then I got all the windows updates that too some time because you have to keep going back. Even when you think you have the last update go back because there are updates for the updates that will show up.
But they now had a better running PC without the junk on it. They had other Dell CD's for the Nero we installed. But it was great because you could install only want you needed to have.

[tdi_veedub]

Hewee, I just did the exact same thing to a Dell last week. Formatted, only installed windows (the brown Dell CD), and used the service code to get the drivers from the dell website. I was appalled at all of the useless crap they pre-install. Also, AOL was pre-installed on this machine when she bought it. My customer does not use AOL. Out of curiosity I also read the terms she agreed to. Goes a little something like this: "You agree that all software installed on the PC is your choice and are bound to the terms provided by the software". SO they made her agree that all the crap that they installed when she bought the machine was her choice, when in fact, she did not even know what she was getting (other than XP, Musicmatch, and Wordperfect). That's pretty snaky considering that as a consumer, you don't get a choice to purchase only the hardware.

But all that aside, it is a good machine, now that it has been decontaminated ...

[John Burns]

You are right - I removed AOL immediately too - and everything else I could find that I wasn't going to use - IF I could identify it. There was something called My Way on there too which I finally got rid of - but I hesitate to remove something I can't identify - even if some Dell "technical" person suggests it, if he can't identify it either - lol!

[DellHelpDesk]

I thought I would post this just as clarification to anyone who might own a Dell or a PC in general.

Dell has always offered software support for the customers who are infected with Spyware or viruses.
It is a fee based service and is known as Dell Help Desk Support of which I am an employee.

This fee based service is open to anyone who owns a computer not just a Dell. When a year or two contract is purchased it covers all PC equipment in the home(s) as well.
*The backing up of data and/or Networking issues are a seperate fee based system.

This is the same service that Microsoft, Dell, HP, Symantec and Mcafee all offer. Its a fee based service for various reasons and it stems from the fact that your computer doesnt come connected to the internet which is a consumer responsibility.

I use this site as a resource on a daily basis.
Google and a boulion search works wonders, it pulls me here from time to time and have created an account to be able to help others if I have some free time.



Jason In Canada

p.s. If you have questions about your Dell I could help if you like...I wont charge you this time.

[hewee]

Originally Posted by tdi_veedub

Hewee, I just did the exact same thing to a Dell last week. Formatted, only installed windows (the brown Dell CD), and used the service code to get the drivers from the dell website. I was appalled at all of the useless crap they pre-install. Also, AOL was pre-installed on this machine when she bought it. My customer does not use AOL. Out of curiosity I also read the terms she agreed to. Goes a little something like this: "You agree that all software installed on the PC is your choice and are bound to the terms provided by the software". SO they made her agree that all the crap that they installed when she bought the machine was her choice, when in fact, she did not even know what she was getting (other than XP, Musicmatch, and Wordperfect). That's pretty snaky considering that as a consumer, you don't get a choice to purchase only the hardware.

But all that aside, it is a good machine, now that it has been decontaminated ...

I had CD's for everything but that is on a Dell that over 3 years old. Will it was over 3 years old last July and out of wannanty. But they give free life time software support.
Don't really now what they mean by life time but they did help me and it was easy for them as it did bot take that long at all because they just had to tell me what CD to use. Installed windows and called back and was told where to get the drivers off the other CD's. Plus when I put those CD's in he was telling me how I was to go tru the menu to pick my model out but it already knew and had picked the right Dell Model.
So it was all so very easy.

He hee that is funny but hey you know they make money from AOL and the others that let them add the junk on are PC. Your right there no way of knowing what all they put on your PC and I have been to there site and there is a lot it does not tell you about what software and hardware brands you get.