[dba-Tech] OT: Compaq vs. Dell

I was just reading about Dell servers and it seems that they, too, have
begun to use proprietary parts in some of their servers. See
http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/section/Gripes . I've used Dell servers
for a few years and haven't had any complaints. Fortunatly, I haven't
had occassion to call their technical support so I can't comment there.
At my previous employer, we used Compaq servers exclusively and found
them to be reliable but hard to get replacement parts on the few
occassions where we had a hardware failure.

James Barash

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of William
Hindman
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 12:04 PM
To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] OT: Compaq vs. Dell


...hhhmmm ...I wouldn't expect Dell to normally include malware in their
support ...personally I'd always run Spybot S&D and PestPatrol among
other diagnostics before calling any support point ...now the exception
to that is that I would expect Dell Support to be aware of any recent
malware/virii issues for which updates have not been released by
Symantec/Spybot etc, and warn me of them if my symptoms point in that
direction.

...Dell driver and software updates have been consistently good and
always appear on the Win Update site at the same time Dell makes them
available on their own site which saves me a bit of time.

...based upon customer complaints, Dell has now moved all of its small
business/corporate support back to US based staff who actually speak
English and can deviate from a script ...my understanding is that
HP/Compaq continues to use their India based support but since I don't
use them I can't verify that.

...my real bitch with Compaq servers was based upon a couple instances
where proprietary components simply were not available for one of their
older (3
years) servers and when they were found, the price was simply outrageous
...but you paid or died ...one experience left a client down for more
than a week whose entire business was computer based while Compaq
searched everywhere for the part according to them ...I finally found it
through a desperation plea on another list ...the client bought all new
Dell Servers two months later and I've never even considered using
Compaq again ...with Dell Servers, I can if necessary use ANY OTS
component in an emergency and it will work ...and Dell will continue to
honor the rest of its warranty.

...this is of course just my experience ...others evidently have reason
to see it differently :)

William Hindman
<http://www.freestateproject.org> - Next Year In The Free State!


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Bartow" <john at winhaven.net>
To: "Discussion of Hardware and Software issues"
<dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 11:09 AM
Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] OT: Compaq vs. Dell


> Hi John,
> You didn't mention what size company or the purpose of the server so
> I'm assuming its a small business domain/file server.
>
> I've worked with both Dell and Compaq Wintel based servers. I have a
> Dell PowerEdge Server (Dual Pentium). I have no preference between the

> two as
far
> as servers go. Both companies have fine products and support in my
> experience.
>
> Keep in mind that the supporting equipment and setup will be as
> important
as
> the server. I usually include things like UPS, backup, OS, licensing,
> etc. in the price estimate.
>
> I personally think HP/Compaq has more of a IT friendly, strategic
> outlook
as
> a company but if you're dealing with a company that has a
> knowledgeable support staff that is of little consequence. There are 
> other companies to consider buying a server from but since you didn't 
> list them...
>
> I have recently read that Dell has purportedly discussed adapting a
> policy whereby its support staff will not be allowed to inform its 
> customers concerning the prevention/removal of Add/Spyware (malware), 
> to the point
of
> not even mentioning the possibility that malware may be the cause of
> the customer's problem. In my experience malware can cause major 
> problems by consuming RAM and causing system 
> conflicts/lockups/crashes. Its not a
small
> issue. If Dell or any other company adopts a policy such as this (and
> I repeat, I have not verified that Dell is following through on this) 
> I
would
> have to regard that as extremely poor judgment and avoid their
> products.
I'm
> not suggesting that they help anyone fix malware problems but only
> that
they
> inform people of the possibility of them and offer possible
> alternatives
on
> how to remove the trouble software. Even Symantec does that much.
> (Norton anti-virus now removes some malware but the tech support will 
> still refer people to use Spybot Search & Destroy if it is warranted.)

> I understand
that
> big compaines are being pressured by the potential for lawsuits from
malware
> companies. Kind of like suing a fast-food restaurant for giving you
> hot coffee!
>
> HTH
> John B.
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> > [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of John W.
> > Colby
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 5:23 AM
> > To: DBA - Tech; AccessD
> > Subject: [dba-Tech] OT: Compaq vs. Dell
> >
> >
> > A client is looking to buy a server and has always favored Compaq
servers,
> > but is asking me and others their opinions of Dell vs. Compaq.  I am
> > not knowledgeable where servers are concerned, and I know that you 
> > folks are an opinionated bunch <grin> so I'd like to get your 
> > opinion on whether Dell is
> > as good as / better than / worse than Compaq when it comes to
servers.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > John W. Colby
> > www.ColbyConsulting.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > dba-Tech mailing list
> > dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com
> > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech
> > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com
> >
> >
>
>
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>


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