Current Dell Offers (merged) [CLOSED]

tonyg_2

I waited in all evening for them to call. They didn't. I then checked their web site and it said they came at 5.01pm (possible they did as I got home just after) - they also said they had left a card for me but they didn't. A wasted night in. This is the second time in arow I have been promised something from Dell on a particular date and not received it. Not happy!

biglugs

These guys are very efficient - after agreeing they would deliver my machine from Coventry today (they received it on Sunday night!) we agreed a 5-9pm delivery and they sent me a letter by post to confirm the time to be sure someone was here. Then they delivered it at 3:10!!
Luckily someone was here so now I'm writing this on my new 17" TFT screen which I find too bright - have to work out how to tone it down. It's OK for gaming though - a little bit of lag but still pretty OK.
AND I didn't get the XP disc with it like I did with my previous machines - so I'm going to contact them and ask for one.

santana-mx3

biglugs wrote:

I didn't get the XP disc with it like I did with my previous machines - so I'm going to contact them and ask for one.

I ordered a Dimension 3000 in March and another in April. Both were ordered via the home site and came with the discs. I ordered a Dimension 8400 in May and a Dimension 5100 in July. Neither came with discs - just the cardboard cutout with a picture of a disc and a note saying that you don't need one! I think the lack of a disc is due to a policy change rather than whether you order via the home or business sites.

I was very happy with 3000s and the 8400 but a bit disappointed with the 5100.

BTW, although it is obvious that Dell PCs don't include a floppy drive if you don't choose one, I was not expecting the following which I found when I received the latest (Dimension 5100) machine:

No Serial Port
No Parallel Port
No PS/2 Keyboard Port
No PS/2 Mouse Port

I needed the serial port for my label printer. I now have to use a USB converter.
I needed the parallel port for a dongle for some software I need to use. I now have to use a USB converter
I didn't need the PS/2 connectors on this machine though I did on my previous one so that it would work with a KVM switch. However, not having PS/2 ports on this machine mean wasting 2 of the 5 available rear USB ports with another 2 going on the parallel converter and serial converter leaving only one for my printer or scanner.
There are two USB sockets on the front but no space to add any more (if you have a floppy drive and two CD drives - same applies to the 3000 but the now discontinued 8400 was fine). So it's time to buy an external hub.

These things may not matter to most people. But it would have been nice to know in advance.

I had also missed out on the extra £70 off on the weekend since I ordered it on the Friday afternoon just before the offer. :-(

Searcher2

Sanata - Thanks for these points. I agree.... what a waste of USB ports! I didn't expect to have to waste a USB port for a keyboard. I also have to buy a USB cable for my printer and lose another port on that! (Just checked and my printer doesn't have a USB port). I am disappointed now! I went for the 5100 over the 3000 mainly for the expandability which on balance I hope more than compensates for the loss of serial ports. Mind you I only paid about £211 for it as I got a package without a screen.

EDIT : Just been having a look. The 9100 does have a serial port - but it is optional!

Externally accessible

Serial: One 9-pin serial port (optional) ** but I can't see an option! **
Video: One VGA connector
1 mouse: PS/2 port
1 keyboard: PS/2 port
USB: 7 USB 2.0 ports - 2 front/5 back
Headphone: 1 front headphone jack
7.1 Channel Audio: 5 miniature jacks for line in, line out (front, rear and center) and microphone
Network: Integrated 10/100 Ethernet

Whereas the 5100 is

1 front headphone jack
1 front microphone jack
8 USB 2.0 ports - 2 front/5 back/1 internal for media card reader
Serial ATA Ports: Two 7-pin connectors
1 integrated graphics port

This would imply the 5100 doesn't have an ethernet connection - but it does (doesn't it?)! It's also not clear if the 5100 has a 9-in-1 media card reader. The tech spec indicates this might be optional (but again was not an option on configuring) but the 'product highlights' and 'front view' indicate there is!

I have another question though - I borrowed a 3000 from a friend until my 5100 comes. I am happy with the noise level of the 3000 which I consider to be low. How does the 5100 compare?

As a suggestion why don't you ring Dell and tell them you don't want the 5100 as you are not happy with it? You didn't get any discounts so you have nothing to lose. When somebody else on a forum asked them to take it back they offered them 15% off to keep it.... as presumably it saves them the carriage and they would have to put it on the Dell Outlet and reduce the price anyway.

redfox

santana-mx3 wrote:

These things may not matter to most people. But it would have been nice to know in advance.

the tech specs on each Dell machine is available on the machine customising page which tells you what ports they have before you buy it

This is the tech spec page for the 5100

tonyg_2

Given that the 3000 comes with just a combo drive any views on the cheapest (decent) DVD burner? Noticed 1 Panasonic on Aria for under £26, but once postage is added will be rather expensive I think...

Searcher2

redfox wrote:

the tech specs on each Dell machine is available on the machine customising page which tells you what ports they have before you buy it

This is the tech spec page for the 5100

So... has the 5100 got a 9 in 1 card reader or not then?

"One 3.5-inch bay for optional floppy drive or 9-in-1 media card reader" on tech spec (baring in mind there was not option for a 9-in-1 card reader option when you configure your machine) versus "The DellTM Dimension 5100 desktop gives..... USB 2.0 support and a 9-1 media card reader "

And according to the tech spec there is no Ethernet but there is in the Product Highlights. "Networking: Integrated 10/100 Ethernet."

I have noticed that Dell don't use a consistent way of presenting information.

To be fair I would have assumed a keyboard, mouse connection and serial port was standard on all PC's and it's not something I would have checked for - especially as I have a Dimension 3000 and it would be fair to assume that the 5100 would have more features.

Searcher2

tonyg wrote:

Given that the 3000 comes with just a combo drive any views on the cheapest (decent) DVD burner? Noticed 1 Panasonic on Aria for under £26, but once postage is added will be rather expensive I think...

I've been looking at this too. There are two clear options in my opinion :

NEC 3540 - Scan have it on Today Only at around £29 - but out of stock in black and high delivery charge. Other places have it - so have a scout.

Philips 1640B £33.85 inc delivery

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?PHI-16DVDB

In a computer magazine it claimed the NEC was THE drive to have though on https://www.cdfreaks.com both drives get very good reviews - I would get the Philips based on cdfreaks - and it's cheaper!

GrizzlyAdams_2

When customising would I need to add a video and sound card? And if I don't what's the significance?

Cheers.

biglugs

When customising would I need to add a video and sound card? And if I don't what's the significance?

Video card will make 3D games play much better - some 3D games may not play at all without one. Sound card is only really necessary if you're into things like surround sound - i.e. you want to connect 5 or more speakers to your PC.

On a separate note I've just got an email response from Dell saying it is no longer their policy to ship the original Windows CD with ANY system, to comply with Microsoft requirements, and that all I need to do is recover my system using the Dell recovery procedure. I've responded in an appropriate way!!