Cracking Dell Deal !!

iduncan

ive got a brand new "pulled from a dimension last week"
Dell DVDROM/CDRW if you want to make me an offer for it?

consultancy_uk

If you want a good deal check out the returns from PCWord (back of store usually) - sold as seen, but they boot it up first if you ask them

Picked up an Advent T9300 - Athlon 64 3400, 512RAM, 240GB Disk, 5700 256 Card, TV Tuner, Wireless, XP Home and a Keyboard all for £440 !! Total Bargain - Half Life 2 runs like a dream on it ;D

Also does anyone know the best place for RAM - need to get 2 x 512 to swap for my 2 x 256! ??

gasplug

rowantoad.....thx but this was the code I used and it doesn't work anymore.
iduncan....thx but no thx. I'm just gonna tell Dell to stuff it.
It was a simple error to make late at night and I'm unhappy that they won't be a little more flexible.
Just waiting for the Call Centre in India to call back. :-/

gasplug

consultancy_uk.....I've read a little bit about new 64 bit processors coming along soon (now..??).
Is this Athlon processor one of those..??

rowantoad

what machine were you after gasplug?

small business section of dell are charging delivery at the moment so not worth buying from in there anyway.

gasplug

I've been made redundant and last day is Dec 31, when company laptop goes back.
I just need a pc just to do the basics till I get another laptop from new firm. (whoever they'll be..!!!)

ccluedo

Hi all,
I am contemplating buying this power laptop from Tiny(Time) in January...(waiting for any sales/incentives).  Would be grateful for any/all opinions on if I could do better for my dosh?  Also, what is better..and why?..AMD64 or P4 (prescott).  Reasons thus far for considering Tiny are that I already have one which is 4.5 yrs old and has given me no probs at all (so far)! and that I can get interest free for 6 months

Spec as follows:
Processor - Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz HT Processor (Prescott)
Operating System - Microsoft® Windows XP Home
Memory - 1024MB DDR RAM
Hard Disk - 80GB Hard Disk
Optical 1 - DVD-Rw / CD-Rw Multiformat DVD Burner Drive
Display - 17" WXGA Ultra-High Resolution TFT Screen (1400 x 900)
Graphics - 128MB ATi Mobility Radeon 9700 Pro (M11) Graphics
PC-TV System - Mini PC-TV Tuner Fitted
Modem - 56k V90 modem
Internet Access - Supanet Internet Access Preloaded
TV Out - TV Out For Large Screen Presentations
Network - Gigabit LAN Ethernet built-in for ADSL router and networking
Wi-Fi - 802.11b Wi-Fi Wireless Adapter
Firewire - 1394 Firewire (Camcorder) Port
Card Reader - Multi-Format Card Reader & Writer
Sound - 5.1 advanced sound system and built-in microphone
Keyboard etc. - Advanced keyboard and Two Button Track Pad
Ports etc. - 4x USB2.0 Ports, 12 Cell Li-Ion Battery & A/C Charger, PCMCIA
Weight; Dimensions - 4.5Kg; 395 x 285 x 39 mm
Software 1 - Microsoft® Works Version 7
Software 2 - Microsoft® Office XP - 60 Day Trial
Software 3 - Cyberlink Power Suites (DVD / CD Creation Software)
Model - N2919

Cost: £1099

TIA

don9999

Time/Tiny always sell what appear to be brilliant value-for-money machines. However, IT experts would never buy a machine from them!

They are well-known for using poor-quality components that have a greater risk of failing. Their support is also very poor.

(In summary, most companies will buy their components in bulk, accepting a small failure rate eg. 2 faulty items in 1,000. Time/Tiny buy bulk components with a far higher failure rate - and hence can buy them cheaper. If you're one of the lucky ones, you get the a cheap computer that works fine. If you're one of the unlucky ones you end up with a PC containing faulty components, and have to run the gauntlet of Times' premium rate 'support' etc..)

'I' would never buy a machine from them!

Cheers,
Don

ccluedo

Hi Don,
Many tnx for reply. I understand what u are saying.... maybe I was just lucky with my last one. My understanding is that the premium line is for software probs..hardware coming under the 12 month guarantee on a nat rate number..but I could be wrong! I note a regional number on the 0870 "alternative" site (says tech line save £1 p.m) which I would probably try 1st anyway if there was a problem I am reasonably confident I could sort any software probs myself. :-/

Can u suggest any similar spec/cost alternatives? Dell are custom parts and difficult to upgrade I believe.
Also re my question about AMD64 v Intel P4 (prescott)...any thoughts?

TIA

Wonga

"I am the best PC builder here!"
"I can build better and cheaper than Dell"
"My dad is bigger than you're dad"

blah blah blah,

Bottom line, Dell are a huge company that have been very successful in building and supplying PC's to home and business, and, thay have more experience than we do (even me and I have been in the game professionally for 15 years), they also do not go off to computer fairs to source their components which in my opinion is a little buyer beware attached. Parts are often (but not always) mis-handled, are returns or difficult to return under warranty. I did say not always but in my opinion you should take care when buying at the fairs.

Even if we can build a PC for the same price as Dell or a few quid less than them, where is the profit margin for the build? They have to make their profit so if you knock maybe £50 off their price can you/we still build as cheap as them, possibly but component quality may suffer. Then add on the cost of a legit version of XP rather than a 'backup' or torrent download and the price starts looking a littler better.

I do agree that Dell are (IMHO) not the best PC suppliers, but this is only my opinion, I know some pretty large organizations that use Dell PC's and Servers religiously (I work for one of them), although on the other hand, I would refuse to use a Dell server in a critical environment (from experience) so it is horse for courses.

Dell are generally good business machines where upgradability is not the intention, a 3 year life cycle then replace/swap out is normally the order of many organizations.


And don't forget, not everyone is a gamer, so high end graphics, cpu and memory is not a 'requirement' for everyone.