[dba-Tech] OT: Dell is cr.p

I've had just the opposite experience but my experience is very limited.  If
I was buying machines in larger numbers for a corp I might run into the same
hardware and service problems.

I'm sitting here with three Dells - one P3 and two P4s.  They've all run
flawlessly except for a CD drive which failed in #2 - an easy replace I did
myself.  And I've only bought 6-7 machines from them over the years.  Max is
running another Dell P4 one of my old ones.  

So I can't say whether their service is good because I've never needed it.  

I like ordering Dell on line and having someone bring it to me.  Never have
to leave my chair.  But, like a restaurant, I suppose it will only take one
bad experience to lose me as a customer.  


Rocky Smolin
Beach Access Software
858-259-4334
www.e-z-mrp.com
www.bchacc.com
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jim Lawrence
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 5:34 PM
To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] OT: Dell is cr.p

Hi Gustav:

I agree with you. One of my contracts is to install Dell products in both
residence and business locations. The worse problem is not the hardware,
though in some cases that is very suspect, but their lack of trained service
and sales personel.

In a number of cases, after an install, clients have sought me out as the
only decent help they can expect to get.... though I am flattered that is
not the way the system is supposed to work 

One business client had requested an upgrade to their Dell RAID array and
the hard drives were sent and I was contacted. As soon as I saw the specs I
was on the phone, to Dell, asking for confirmation as the disk sizes seemed
beyond the componenet capabilities. I was told that I did not know what I
was talking about and maybe another tech should be called. I should have
baled at that time but upon encouragement from Dell and the client, I went
ahead and performed the upgrade. It failed uncerimoniously and took all
weekend to recover from it. (17 hours it took to rebuild the RAID and Dell
had to pay for it.) The truth was that I was right all along and having
never seen the product before, just read the spec sheet.

Rest assured, these people will not purchasing again from Dell. 

This is sad in a way as Dell was, at one time, considered the best PC built
with the best service and support. Before they went mail-order my company
was their sole rep and sales for this area... and they were a very easy
sell.

Jim    

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Gustav Brock
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 4:54 AM
To: dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: [dba-Tech] OT: Dell is cr.p

Hi all

Dell is the single brand we experience most trouble with at clients.
Delivery schedules are never held and tech support is .. eh .. challenged.

Latest a laptop with a high-end graphics adapter broke down. My colleague
instantly located the graphics adapter as the error source. But standard
response from Dell is always: Reinstall. So the poor fellow did and this
failed of course as soon as the graphics driver was installed. He has now
been waiting four weeks for Dell to come and pick up the machine for repair.

Recently, Dell introduced two laptops with an "innovative" keyboard. Some
stupido had the idea that the left Shift key needed to be made wider. To
accomplish this, the bottom row of keys have been "shifted keywise right by
one" so now the z key is positioned at the x key position! Now what kind of
morons - there must be more than one - raise, create and approve such a
design? It could have been a nice April Fool story but this a Dell story.

/gustav


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