Dell's inspiring new Inspirons

After my last experience with Dell, I'd go back to a slide rule and a typewriter before I'd ever buy a computer from them again. I'd even use an abacus and a sundial first.

jhammond:

I've had a 4500 desktop for several years now and run everything from high-end CAD programs to stress analysis software. No problems at all.

I'm interested in buying a Dell laptop and would be interested in problems you had?

Iv'e got a Inspiron 5150, had it speced for CAD etc. never missed a beat except for a virus I inadvertantly down loaded that sent it crazy for a while till I cleaned it up, more of a portable desk top than a lap top, weighs a ton compared to the latest models., still got the original battery & is left on most of the time & used a couple hrs every day for years , I would buy another without hesitation !!

Brien.

This was a desktop for business bought last year. It came chock full of all sorts of third party garbage applications along with Norton Internet Security, which was a total resource hog. After I loaded a couple of common applications that I'd had no problems with on other machines, it became totally unusable. Dell's "Gold Key" customer service might as well have been a gold key to an outhouse. I stopped payment on the credit card charge, we fought about it for five months, and in the end they credited my account for $300. Which I spent having a reputable PC shop wipe the hard drive and do a clean install of Win XP with none of their crapplets. Then it was fine. The cost of my lost time was enough to buy three PCs.

I don't know about Dell laptops. I just know how I was treated when I had a major problem. Caveat emptor.

JH