[fiatotz]

Hi All,

I would like to ask your opinion/experience regarding on how computer companies(e.g. Dell, HP and Gateway) support you on your tech. problems in computer. I would like to know if i will buy gateway computers or will go either dell or HP.(I'm from malaysia)

Please follow the format

Computer : e.g. HP + model
Country :
Experience :


Thanks,

[JohnWill]

Personally, I would not buy a Gateway, my experiences with them, and now eMachines which they purchased, has been almost universally bad. Dell and HP have both been far superior, though not perfect.

[fiatotz]

thanks dude.. i just saw cnet review regarding gateway(sx-2800) vs dell inspiron 545s. gateway seems better for this model. anyway I saw HP slimline s5189d and it has good specs. however quite expensive than the 2. that's why im doing some research on how is the support of the 3 companies?

[JohnWill]

Well, my experience has left Gateway in the awful column, and Dell and HP are in the OK but not great column.

[LauraMJ]

Originally Posted by JohnWill

Well, my experience has left Gateway in the awful column, and Dell and HP are in the OK but not great column.

I would agree with that, based on my experiences, also.

[win2kpro]

Gateway is now part of the Acer Group.

Gateway

Dell

HP/Compaq - One step above Gateway, one step below Dell.

[JohnWill]

I don't have a lot of good things to say about Acer either, they abandoned their AcerOpen product line and left owners high and dry.

[win2kpro]

I don't have anything good to say about any company in the Acer group, although I don't know much about Packard-Bell.

If I were forced to buy a mass produced machine it would be a Dell. HP/Compaq must have the record for installing junk and trial programs.

[JohnWill]

Dell is no slouch at installing crapware either, that's why my first stop for any new machine is the current version of the PC Decrapifier, it's the first thing I run after all the Windows updates finish.

[win2kpro]

The problem with HP/Compaq and Dell is the darn recovery partitions on the hard drive.

Both companies return the drive to original configuration crapware and all. This is even true with the HP/Compaq recovery disks, but Dell separates their recovery disks and if you recover with disks you don't have to install any of the old programs.

[JohnWill]

That's not really a problem the way I work. I do the following procedure.

1. Make the recovery disks they recommend for the machine.
2. Run all the Windows Updates.
3. Run PC Decrapifier.
4. Configure the other basic applications and utilities that I put on most any system, AV, PDF reader, other utilities, Office Suite, etc.
5. Run an Acronis True Image full backup to a network or USB disk.
6. With Acronis Disk DIrector, nuke the recovery partition (remember, I have the CD/DVD build).
7. Expand the disk to encompass the wasted space the recovery partition used to occupy.
8. Enjoy the optimized machine.

[LauraMJ]

Originally Posted by JohnWill

That's not really a problem the way I work. I do the following procedure.

1. Make the recovery disks they recommend for the machine.
2. Run all the Windows Updates.
3. Run PC Decrapifier.
4. Configure the other basic applications and utilities that I put on most any system, AV, PDF reader, other utilities, Office Suite, etc.
5. Run an Acronis True Image full backup to a network or USB disk.
6. With Acronis Disk DIrector, nuke the recovery partition (remember, I have the CD/DVD build).
7. Expand the disk to encompass the wasted space the recovery partition used to occupy.
8. Enjoy the optimized machine.

Hey, John,

I have a Dell laptop.....if I have all the installation CDs (driver CD, XP CD, etc), would there be a benefit to making a recover CD, too? I also have Acronis and make a full system image backup.

[JohnWill]

I always make the recovery disk as the first step. Then if there's any question about the configuration, you can always knock it flat and start out with the factory configuration again.

[fiatotz]

Hi Guys thanks for all the info... i will pick either hp or dell depends on the cost and specs. thanks!

[RootbeaR]

Originally Posted by win2kpro

Gateway is now part of the Acer Group.

Gateway

Dell

HP/Compaq - One step above Gateway, one step below Dell.

HP would be my first choice for a pre-configured machine.

I keep reading about little quirks that Dell has that I don't like.

Two disc drives, but will only boot from one.

Can't un-install Norton, according to above post, which is right up there with i-Tunes for crap I remove immediately.

Horror story from my Mothers' friend trying to get hardware under warranty...