Dell Inspiron Laptop Bargains (merged threads) [CLOSED]

puno

No contact from dell so far and my order is not appearing on the online status screen anymore!

mac_534

I got this e-mail today about by 1150 order...

Dear Customer,

Thank you for contacting Dell Online Customer Care.

Due to an increased volume in e-mails there is a delay in responding
to your e-mail. Kindly accept our apologies for this delay.


Dell records reflect that Order No: xxxxxxxx has been cancelled
because a part( Combo drive) of the order has gone end of life
which implies that Dell no longer is manufacturing this part.
I apologize if you were not notified of this order's Termination.

However, you will receive a call from the sales team advising
you of an alternative part available and then re-process the
order as per your request.

I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have
caused.

If you have any further queries do not hesitate in responding
directly to this mail and I will be glad to assist you.

Thanks,

I await with baited breath....

puno

I hope the alternative part is

"...at least equivalent functionality and performance."

Quoted from Dell's T&C's

Since they dont have the cd -writers anymore I doubt they have and dvd writers either. I suppose Dell can only offer 2 options


1. Try to fob you off with a non writeable drive

2. Offer you an alternative laptop


There is no doubt they will try option one first. If they go for option 2 they will then try to go for the cheapest options first

Inspiron 1200 - has a CD writer combo but has the inferior celeron processor, smaller Hard drive, less Ram

Inspiron 2200 - this machine has 2 options

a. 1.4 Celeron machine (again inferior to the 2.8 P4) Ram options 256, 512,768,1280 40GB Hard drive, 8x DVD writer - the spec is inferioir to what was orginally ordered

b. upgrade all the options - Pentium 725 M 1.6, 1280MB Ram 60GB hard drive, dvd writer, This would be comparable spec to what was originally ordered.

Also dont forget the all in one printer that came as part of the original deal.

If you've had the email with the 2 pdfs the order is legally binding so they have to honour the orginal deal or provide and machine of AT LEAST equivalent performance and spec.

It will be interesting to see what they offer, I've taken snapshots of all the relevant webpages and and have the phone recorder set up for the call, just in case this turns into a legal battle.

Bring it on.

p.

mac_534

Interesting points puno, I'll post here as soon as I hear from them to let you know what they're offering.

Frugal_Moose

DELL have not taken any money yet from my credit card, doubt they will now. I have received the 2 pdf's though so will wait to hear more from them. What a crap way to do business. There have been no phone calls yet either.

dauphin

Puno, I agree with your analysis. The Inspiron 1200 clearly does not cut the mustard and the only machines that are configurable to a spec comparable with what we ordered are the 2200 and, it seems to me, the 510.
I would be particularly interested if you could expand on your thoughts about suitable CPUs. I agree that a Celeron is not a proper substitute, but are you aware of any comparisons between the 2.8 Pentium we ordered and the Pentium M models such as the 725, which appear to have a slower clock speed but bigger cache, and which I suspect are actually more desirable. For example, it would be useful to know whether the M360 offered as standard with the 2200 is of equivalent performance to the 2.8 or whether one would need to insist on an upgrade to the 725. Similarly, there are quite a few processor options offered with the Inspiron 510 and I wonder which is the minimum processor required to give at least equivalent performance to the 2.8. It is all very confusing now that pure clock speed is no longer the determining factor, and I feel that we need to be as clued-up as possible in order to be in a position to argue our corner with Dell.
It also seems to me that, tempting though it may be to try to agree a deal on the spot when we eventually receive our phone calls, it may in fact be more sensible to find out what is on offer, establish a point of contact for calling back, and then take the opportunity to review the offered spec at a bit more leisure before reaching an agreement.

goingsenile

Just spent 2hrs on the phone to our friends at Dell.

Call 1: Customer services India - order has been cancelled because no more 1150's being made so will transfer you to sales to rebook. Sales India - how much have you to spend? £600 or so Inspiron 2200 1.4GHz 256MB {stopped him here with expecting spec I'd ordered, section 3 t&c, etc} told I'd be transferred back to customer services but cut off instead.

Call 2: Dell switchboard operator in England transferred to CS India (again) - same story. Told sales would sort it out this time. Sales India - How much do you have to spend? {gave explanation of UK consumer rights} Told I could have an Inspiron 1200 256MB......{stopped here} Told customer services would help but cut off instead.

Call 3: Dell in England transferred to someone in possibly Dublin transferred to CS India with instruction to ask for a manager. Manager told CS rep to configure a system to the spec I had ordered. After 10mins CS rep said all systems like that well over £600 {you don't say!} Offered 2200 with 512MB ram. Rest of spec a bit hazy - not sure she know what she was talking about. Manager no longer available. Asked for any other manager and cut off.

Call 4: Customer Services India switchboard {don't know what happened here!} transferred to CS India. Insisted I spoke to someone who could help so transferred possibly to Dublin.

The Conclusion: After going away and checking guy said Inspiron 1150 customers would be offered 2200. Could not confirm spec or when we would all be phoned.

From the above, things don't look particularly promising. Especially when you see how much it costs to put 1GB ram in the 2200. So after all of the above I'm just waiting for the phone call again.....

goingsenile

Agree with Dauphin.

Any computer experts out there wish to share in simple words (for simple people?) the differences in the processors listed above and dare I say highlight which one is best?

There, gauntlet laid down. Come on all you PC professors!

puno

dauphin wrote:

...
I would be particularly interested if you could expand on your thoughts about suitable CPUs. I agree that a Celeron is not a proper substitute, but are you aware of any comparisons between the 2.8 Pentium we ordered and the Pentium M models such as the 725, which appear to have a slower clock speed but bigger cache, and which I suspect are actually more desirable. For example, it would be useful to know whether the M360 offered as standard with the 2200 is of equivalent performance to the 2.8 or whether one would need to insist on an upgrade to the 725. ....

Spent a bit of time googling, here's my conclusions

The M360 offered as standard with the 2200 is actually a Celeron Chip although it doesnt say it when you order! The "learn more" section next to the CPU choices when you configure the order have a table which show it to be a Celeron(can be found when configuring the 2200 next to the CPU choices, when you find this click on Processor NUmbers and scroll down.)

Generally the feeling is that the 725 is equivalent in speed to the 2.8 P4 dont get confused by the reduced clock speed, these chips are considered at least as good if not better than the P4's and there are rumours intel are going to make these available to desktop PC's soon.

To summarise a Pentium M chip is as good as a P4 as long as it is not a celeron

p.

puno

Just received this,

Dear Sir/Madam,

We're regret to inform you that your Dell order xxxxx has been unavoidably delayed.

We apologise for any inconvenience and are working to rectify the situation.

Your Sales representative, who can be contacted at uki_customer_care@dell.com will confirm your updated order number & new estimated delivery date as soon as possible.
(If you have already been in contact with either you sales representative or customer care regarding the cancellation of this order, we will not contact you).

If your order was placed on through the Internet, a member of the team will contact you shortly with an update.

This email is to apologise for the delay and to inform you that your sales representative will confirm your updated order number - you need take no action.



Regards,
Dell Order Status Updates


Lets see what happens now!