If not Dell... what?

[AZZenny]

I have had several Dell computers -- desktops and laptops -- in the past 10 yrs. Two of the 4 desktops I've had always were a little peculiar -- one was just haunted, but one of the two I have now is just sort of ...lame. My computer guy suggested switching from Win XP Media to XP Pro (like my other Dell that works well) but it's not just that this one acts up with freezes and errors on shutdown or startup all the time -- it's noisy, the CD drive has never uploaded or played cleanly, blah blah.

I'm not dissatisfied with Dell, but not ecstatic. My kid tells me time to go Mac, but one Mac in a group of PCs sounds like trouble. So if not Dell, what brands of PC have people had really good long-term experience with?

 

[Darth Llama]

I have always built my own, but I have also worked a lot with Dell's and actually been pretty happy with them. HP makes some good desktops just stay away from the Compaq line, that's HP's really low budget/low quality stuff. I have a friend that has a Sony PC that's really nice, but I have no idea what Sony's prices are like. I know their laptops are insanely expensive. HP is comparable to Dell in price.

Are you looking for a gamer? or something for just general office/windows stuff?

 

[AZZenny]

All-purpose, but with some power. My computer guy likes Dell best, but admits they do occasionally make ... not exactly lemons, but less-then-well-integrated units and I seem to have gotten two of them over the years. (I gave him the haunted one, and after 6 months he agreed it was just plain possessed no matter what he did, so he eliminated it.)

The noise problem is this model, something about the location and suspension of the hard drive. We shoved some rolled-up washclothes under it and it helped, but didn't eliminate it. I was going to upgrade the CD drive and the video interface (to support my lovely Samsung monitor) and clean everything out and replace the OS, but then I realized it'll still hum at me, so maybe just replace it, although it's only 2 years old.

 

[Sandan]

Dell and HP are about the standard choices now, both have support and will likely be around for some time. I used to buy Gateway for work but I think they pretty much disappeared

For most people Dell, HP are great and they have support but as the man said, I build my own but it isn't for the faint of heart.

 

[Skkorpion]

Went HP this time and Vista. Thrilled. No more Dells. Last two were hassles. Dumped my Firefox browser.

 

[Ryanwb]

I prefer HP over Dell after working with them hands on for a number of years. You can get a pretty decent deal at Costco and at the very least save on shipping.

I have a CIS degree so I've always just built my own due to the geek factor and also because I like to decide where to cut corners and not leave that in the hands of a company.

 

[AZZenny]

My computer guy Bruce is also suggesting perhaps build one to suit, using a company locally -- I think it was Technology Partners. Anyone ever heard of them? A colleague highly recommended them to him and he's just started using them for a few things. One big plus is they will use XP Pro through Dec 31, while I gather HP and Dell will not offer it after the end of next month, and I do NOT want to go Vistas under any circumstances.

Does HP use Intel Dual Core? (Or is it up to Quad Core now?) I don't want AMD.

 

[Gaddabout]

Your fear of AMD processors is irrational. It's like drinking Sprite while skewering 7-UP brand. They're different only to people enamored with lemon lime soft drinks.

 

[AZZenny]

Not irrational fear, just personal bias, if that's OK with you. I like diet Coke, hate diet Pepsi, too. I have Intel stock, I have followed the development of their new processor technology in the Israeli business news for a few years, plus I had an AMD several years ago and it never interfaced with some stuff quite as well.

The irrational fear is Vistas.

 

[KloD]

My 2 cents...
If you're going to purchase a computer from a company, you're going to get less than you pay for. They are out to make money, not provide you with good hardware. I worked with HP and Dell for over 12k users for 10 years and both have positives and negatives as far as service, but all use the cheapest parts they can. If you don't want to build yourself, I agree with Darth on HP's Compaq series (god aweful), and with Dell I stick to the XPS series. Sony builds garbage and I've had to return just about everything we've bought from them (laptop and desktop).

Of course you can have a preference for chips, but truthfully.. one is not better than the other. I have one of the fastest standard line chips intel makes in one of my desktops (Q6600) and just recently built a new desktop with the new 9850 quad core AMD chip. I prefer the AMD. But, it makes little difference how fast your chip is if they surround it with crappy components and motherboard.

The Dell XPS series is based on Alienware specs (which Dell now owns) and they use good hardware, but they are expensive.

 

[Gaddabout]

Not irrational fear, just personal bias, if that's OK with you. I like diet Coke, hate diet Pepsi, too. I have Intel stock, I have followed the development of their new processor technology in the Israeli business news for a few years, plus I had an AMD several years ago and it never interfaced with some stuff quite as well.

The irrational fear is Vistas.

Sorry. I was being confrontational to be funny. Guess it was missed in translation. I'm a Mac guy.

 

[Sandan]

Your fear of AMD processors is irrational. It's like drinking Sprite while skewering 7-UP brand. They're different only to people enamored with lemon lime soft drinks.

Nothing wrong with AMD but right now Intel processors are far better and set to get even more so.

5 years ago the story was the other way around, in 5 years it might be different again. Right now Intel Core 2 Duo is the only way to fly.

 

[Sandan]

Sorry. I was being confrontational to be funny. Guess it was missed in translation. I'm a Mac guy.

You can be cured of you love of shiny expensive plastic wrapping and irritating marketing.

No you probably can't as you have religion

 

[KloD]

Nothing wrong with AMD but right now Intel processors are far better and set to get even more so.

5 years ago the story was the other way around, in 5 years it might be different again. Right now Intel Core 2 Duo is the only way to fly.

That is 100% opinion, not fact.

My quad core AMD kicks my quad core Intel's ass, let alone a dual core. AMD's quad is actually a quad, where Intel's is actually a duo.

 

[CardFan67]

That is 100% opinion, not fact.

My quad core AMD kicks my quad core Intel's ass, let alone a dual core. AMD's quad is actually a quad, where Intel's is actually a duo.

Actually it is dual Duos... AMD is a quad but Intels is not a duo but rather dual duos which is still a quad...

 

[Gaddabout]

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

That is 100% opinion, not fact.

My quad core AMD kicks my quad core Intel's ass, let alone a dual core. AMD's quad is actually a quad, where Intel's is actually a duo.

Depends on which chips you are comparing. The benchmarks have most Intel chips being better than AMD for almost each price point and test.

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/processors/3d-studio-max-9,369.html

 

[Ryanwb]

That is 100% opinion, not fact.

My quad core AMD kicks my quad core Intel's ass, let alone a dual core. AMD's quad is actually a quad, where Intel's is actually a duo.

Sorry but this isn't a true statement. The first quad-core that Intel released was four cores on 2 dies, however the new generation of chips are true quad cores. Also, please show me any technical data that supports your claim that AMD is faster. I have always seen Intel better

 

[SweetD]

I would go with HP and I would check this site out www.gitsolutions.biz They give ASFN discounts

 

[Darth Llama]

You can argue AMD vs. Intel all day. I could find benchmarks showing AMD is better, and then a benchmark from someone else that shows Intel is better.

Bottom line is, most people won't even notice a speed difference in comparably priced AMD or Intel chips. The speed gains are generally only noticeable in benchmark tests and not in every day application. It's very rare to see any speed difference in comparably priced chips that the average user would even notice. Don't buy for benchmark numbers, buy what makes sense and gets you the most value for the money.

 

[KloD]

Sorry but this isn't a true statement. The first quad-core that Intel released was four cores on 2 dies, however the new generation of chips are true quad cores. Also, please show me any technical data that supports your claim that AMD is faster. I have always seen Intel better

So it's not untrue, it's just out of date. My claim is based on my own expirence. When performing specific tasks using same spec hardware in both machines, my AMD machine always performs faster. You're right, my claim is not supported by tech data and I should have said that. I'm not a gamer, so those specs mean nothing to me. I design databases and write software designed for specific tasks in the medical field. I've not used the new gen of intel quads, but I will soon now that I know they are out.

 

[KloD]

You can argue AMD vs. Intel all day. I could find benchmarks showing AMD is better, and then a benchmark from someone else that shows Intel is better.

Bottom line is, most people won't even notice a speed difference in comparably priced AMD or Intel chips. The speed gains are generally only noticeable in benchmark tests and not in every day application. It's very rare to see any speed difference in comparably priced chips that the average user would even notice. Don't buy for benchmark numbers, buy what makes sense and gets you the most value for the money.

I'm KloD and I agree with this message.

 

[Durango]

FUJITSU!!!!!

At least if we're speaking laptops. I love it! Zero complaints! Went to Fry's with HP in mind, left with Fujitsu. Nothing else compares, maybe Toshiba, but nothing else even comes close. This thing got a shock absorber that retracts the hard drive when it needs to, and a spill resistant keyboard. They're the only laptop that's actually built in Japan (to the best of my knowledge, the rest are China, Malaysia, etc), and all the customer service is actually here in the good ole USA!!

 

[O]

I got your customer service right here DooRag!