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brzilian
New member
Ed Dixon said:
Since when is MAG a cheap no-name brand?
Since when is MAG a cheap no-name brand?
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Ed Dixon
New member
Many firms have low end models. My experience is to avoid those for some key components like monitors and displays.
Each makes their own decisions. Having been burned a number of times over the 30 years in this business, I tend to go for higher end in some area like monitors.
Ed
Each makes their own decisions. Having been burned a number of times over the 30 years in this business, I tend to go for higher end in some area like monitors.
Ed
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Ed Dixon
New member
brzilian said:
As far as I can tell, they still are. Half of the Dells I have were purchased in the last 6 months and all are solid as a rock.
In general I have had better luck with the standard components inside a Dell that most any other brand. Working on Sony, Compaq, or HP is usually a problem as they have a much higher use rate of custom parts and components.
The fact is that most consumers never upgrade their PCs. For the ones that do, it is usually simple things like more RAM, a second hard drive, a CD burner, or external add-ons like monitors or USB devices.
Only a tiny percentage go into further changes for things like video cards, different sound cards, motherboard changes, BIOS updates, CPU changes, etc. While the folks on these boards are clearly different, they represent a tiny fraction of the market for PCs.
Dells game is quality PCs for low cost, and they do it well. Gateway, who used to be the king, is having problems keeping up., as are a number of other firms.
Ed
vestast
Gassy Member
Yes but Steve L. will not be an average user. He WILL want to upgrade in the future just like most of us do. So the point is that A dell PC while being solid enough for an average user/gamer, is not very upgradeable.
These days there are plenty of people that will build a custom machine for you that will be upgradeable in the future and will cost close or less than a Dell.
From Ed
Well I do. We've been using nothing but Dell Desktops for the past 3 years and their customer service has absolutely gone downhill. We've had issues were it takes them 3 weeks to ship us a wrong part, to being referred to a 1-800 number that no longer exists..
These days there are plenty of people that will build a custom machine for you that will be upgradeable in the future and will cost close or less than a Dell.
From Ed
Well I do. We've been using nothing but Dell Desktops for the past 3 years and their customer service has absolutely gone downhill. We've had issues were it takes them 3 weeks to ship us a wrong part, to being referred to a 1-800 number that no longer exists..
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Ed Dixon
New member
My experience is the opposite. I have never had a problem upgrading a Dell PC. What specific items do you think might be a problem for the Dell?
Ed
Ed
vestast
Gassy Member
I was thinking in terms of upgrading the CPU, and limited PCI slots. I find that alot of times you buy one of those systems the Mobo will not take a higher CPU than what was installed. Have you run into that ?
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Ed Dixon
New member
Not yet, but I rarely consider CPU upgrades. I try to buy the speed I need. If a PC becomes too slow for the tasks at hand, I tend to look for another box rather than trying to upgrade the CPU.
CPU upgrades tend to be pricey compared to the benefit they offer.
As far as PCI slots go, I have added lots of cards to Dell PCI slots, again without any problems. The only issue that can surface here is when try to use an older full size card. Modern PCs have a smaller depth box, and large cards just may not fit length-wise.
Most Dells have 3 open PCI slots. Some models have 5, but that is becoming more rare.
Ed
CPU upgrades tend to be pricey compared to the benefit they offer.
As far as PCI slots go, I have added lots of cards to Dell PCI slots, again without any problems. The only issue that can surface here is when try to use an older full size card. Modern PCs have a smaller depth box, and large cards just may not fit length-wise.
Most Dells have 3 open PCI slots. Some models have 5, but that is becoming more rare.
Ed
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brzilian
New member
Ed Dixon said:
Its not just an issue of upgradeablilty. Search through posts here and over at Harmony-Central.com and you will encounter quite a few people who have had problems with Firewire interfaces on Dell laptops. The reason Dells have issues is because they decided to go with a cheaper Firewire chipset manufacturer to save cost rather than the standard most other companies use.
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Ed Dixon
New member
I have no experience with Dell laptops, so cannot comment there. I do have lots of experience with their desktops, and have found no problems in this area.
One can name just about any PC, or product for that matter, and find posts somewhere discussing problems. At face value that means little. What does matter is when there is a common thread of consistent problems with many users in the same area.
I use Dells desktops for a variety of things. Some run NT, some Win2000, some Win98, and some XP. They include scads of applicaitons and interface cards. Most of my hardware problems ended the day the non-Dell gear was moved to the attic storage area and Dell gear replaced it.
That's my experience. Others may have different results, for the phrase "your mileage may vary" is relevant for almost all PC gear.
For the people I work with and for, the general opinion is that there problem frequency is lower with Dell gear than most other vendors.
Ed
One can name just about any PC, or product for that matter, and find posts somewhere discussing problems. At face value that means little. What does matter is when there is a common thread of consistent problems with many users in the same area.
I use Dells desktops for a variety of things. Some run NT, some Win2000, some Win98, and some XP. They include scads of applicaitons and interface cards. Most of my hardware problems ended the day the non-Dell gear was moved to the attic storage area and Dell gear replaced it.
That's my experience. Others may have different results, for the phrase "your mileage may vary" is relevant for almost all PC gear.
For the people I work with and for, the general opinion is that there problem frequency is lower with Dell gear than most other vendors.
Ed
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brzilian
New member
http://msnbc-cnet.com.com/2100-1042_3-5162141.html
"Dell continues to win market share and turn out record quarterly profits, but two recent surveys show that the company has slipped, when it comes to a more subjective measurement: customer service."
"Dell continues to win market share and turn out record quarterly profits, but two recent surveys show that the company has slipped, when it comes to a more subjective measurement: customer service."
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Ed Dixon
New member
As I said before, that has not been my experience thus far.
The last 3 units I have purchased have worked well enough, that zero calls have been necessary in the first place.
Ed
The last 3 units I have purchased have worked well enough, that zero calls have been necessary in the first place.
Ed
wheelema
Boner-obo
Ed,
Just own up to the fact that your a big Dell stockholder and move on.
Just own up to the fact that your a big Dell stockholder and move on.
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Ed Dixon
New member
I own no stock from Dell or any other firm. I work as a software developer and consultant and have no relationship with Dell or any other vendor other than as a customer of their gear.
Ed
Ed
wheelema
Boner-obo
Ah well, I guess all of the viewpoints here are just religious.
What do you code in?
What do you code in?
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Ed Dixon
New member
C++ using Microsoft tools.
Ed
Ed
MichaelM
New member
I know this is way off topic but...
Hey Ed I've just started messing around with C++. Do you know where I can find an API for Windows, so I can do more than just little console programs that mess with numbers etc?
Hey Ed I've just started messing around with C++. Do you know where I can find an API for Windows, so I can do more than just little console programs that mess with numbers etc?
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Polaris20
Active member
Ed's a lucky guy, because every Dell I've ever worked on was crap. Their notebooks are an even bigger joke.
But to each their own.
If you actually get anything from Dell that's not their bargain doorbuster, then it will cost you more than building it yourself. A lot more.
The PC with the 3Ghz chip and the 17" display probably has integrated graphics. What if you want to replace the PS because it's too noisy for recording? Oh yeah, you can't.....unless you buy an adapter.
Like I said, to each their own.
EDIT The Dell I found on their website had a 3Ghz chip and nVidia 5200 graphics for $1100. Not only could you build one for that, but you could build a quieter one.
Everything up to $900 all has integrated crap.
But to each their own.
If you actually get anything from Dell that's not their bargain doorbuster, then it will cost you more than building it yourself. A lot more.
The PC with the 3Ghz chip and the 17" display probably has integrated graphics. What if you want to replace the PS because it's too noisy for recording? Oh yeah, you can't.....unless you buy an adapter.
Like I said, to each their own.
EDIT The Dell I found on their website had a 3Ghz chip and nVidia 5200 graphics for $1100. Not only could you build one for that, but you could build a quieter one.
Everything up to $900 all has integrated crap.
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Ed Dixon
New member
MichaelM said:
The Microsoft Visual C++ toolset has all that and more. It can be had separately or as part of the Developer Studio. The Microsoft Developer Network also has lots of other downloads and API info to build just about anything.
Ed
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Ed Dixon
New member
The new Dell PCs I have are very quiet. Placed on a carpet floor, one has to check the light to see if they are running. I have some older Dells and new ones, and the different in noise level is substantial. The main reason I purchased two of these, was because my older PCs were just too noisy to work near.
I could build my own, but I choose not to. I prefer to buy a compelte system and just use it. Time is $.
Most of the Dells I have have integraged graphics, network, and sound. For me that works fine. I don't do games, and all my recording is done via a Fostex digital recorder. I use the PC for mixdown and CD burning (in the music side).
Integrated components may not be for everybody, but for my needs, it works and takes up no PCI slots.
The last Dell I bought was a 2.4 P4 with 80 GB hard drive, CD burner, modem, floppy, 6 USB ports, and 256 Ram. It cost me $350 delivered to my door with XP Home installed.
I have a number of consulting customers who also have Dell gear. There experiences match what I see here.
Ed
I could build my own, but I choose not to. I prefer to buy a compelte system and just use it. Time is $.
Most of the Dells I have have integraged graphics, network, and sound. For me that works fine. I don't do games, and all my recording is done via a Fostex digital recorder. I use the PC for mixdown and CD burning (in the music side).
Integrated components may not be for everybody, but for my needs, it works and takes up no PCI slots.
The last Dell I bought was a 2.4 P4 with 80 GB hard drive, CD burner, modem, floppy, 6 USB ports, and 256 Ram. It cost me $350 delivered to my door with XP Home installed.
I have a number of consulting customers who also have Dell gear. There experiences match what I see here.
Ed
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Polaris20
Active member
I am glad you're happy Ed, because the rest of us have had quite a difference experience with Dell, some with more than just 5-10 of them.
By the time you order a computer from Dell that can actually record well (not the $350 integrated crap) it's cheaper to do it yourself, and more expandable, less propriatary. And you know what you're getting.
You say you use the integrated sound, because you record on a Fostex and you mixdown on the PC? You don't really use the integrated sound for mixdown, do you?
By the time you order a computer from Dell that can actually record well (not the $350 integrated crap) it's cheaper to do it yourself, and more expandable, less propriatary. And you know what you're getting.
You say you use the integrated sound, because you record on a Fostex and you mixdown on the PC? You don't really use the integrated sound for mixdown, do you?