HP or Dell, Desktop or Laptop, Business or Home?

Lady_K

After problems a couple of months ago with my desktop I am now in a position to replace it, I would like to order one today if I can get to a decision.

I have been reading up on the net and looking through some of mse but I still don't know what is the best way to go about it. I’m getting more confused than ever.

I decided my first preference would be HP/compaqu but possibly a Dell if there was a real bargain but I'm put off with Dell by things I've read when it comes to their delivery and support service and if there are any problems when it first arrives.

I’m still deciding whether to go for a Desktop or Laptop, I know that’s something I can only decide as its personal preference. I like the idea I can move the laptop easily around the house or take it to my daughters house ect rather than have a Desktop in the bedroom only. But I don’t like that a laptop is really mostly not repairable and can get damaged more easily.

There was another thread on here (cheapest laptop thread) about the Dell Vostro 1510 laptop which is a business one, the offers change after tomorrow though. http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/4x_vostro_1510?c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&l=en&s=bsd

I don’t know if this is good or what and if its better to have business or home and which operating system to have on it, whether to upgrade anything or not. I was thinking about going for the one at £349 or the one at £249 but VAT is added to these on the checkout unfortunately. Also is the warranty better on business?

I did look at the Dell Vostro Desktops just in case I decide to stick with a desktop but the specs on those seemed to be lower than this laptop or maybe I’m wrong? I’ve looked at the home desktops and laptops too and just don’t know what to do. Would I be better going for a HP business or home desktop or laptop over Dells?

And if I do decide to go for HP where the best place to buy it from? I'd like to also go through a cashback site if possible.

Basically I want a min 2gb ram and reasonable everything else, I will not be using it for games just general pc stuff, Microsoft office and photos etc. I just want something sturdy and reliable above all which is why I’m leaning towards HP. My budget is around £400 but I don’t mind going over if its worth it, but obviously if I can save a little its better.

If I do have a desktop I would like to have a fairly big monitor though.

beecher

I ordered a Dell desktop for my parents the Sunday before last and it arrived on Friday - I'm very happy with it. It was an Inspiron 330 with 19" widescreen monitor and printer - came to just over £400. I found it a bit confusing finding the best deal as there were so many different permutations, but they do offer free delivery/upgrade to 20" screen for different prices.

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspndt_530?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs
I have an HP Compaq at work and find it to be pretty reliable too but I think they are slightly more expensive.

Good luck - my advice would be to just make a decision and stick with it as I found I spent hours on end researching and eventually just made a choice as it could've gone on for ever!

Conor_3

I know a lot of people who have ordered Dells and some of my clients have as well. Personally I'd stay away from the budget range and get the business ones instead as they seem to be built better than the home ones with a negligible difference in price but the one thing you get on a business one is a nice clean Windows installation which isn't clutter with all the trialware and Norton/Mcafacrap rubbish that the home versions are.

Lady_K

Thankyou,

I think I'm going to go with Desktop as if I'm not completely sure about a laptop I'm better off going with what I know I feel comfortable with already. I can always get a cheap laptop later as a backup if I really feel the need.

I do like the idea of rubbish free installation though that I'd get with a business pc as I won't want norton antivirus etc I like to put on what I want myself.

So now I'm looking at HP and Dell business, will I be ok with the warranty though as I'm really a home user? I find the HP website pretty confusing though wheres the best place to buy a HP pc?

timestar

If you search any computing/shopping forum you will find that Dell get awful reviews. But, Dell sell thousands and thousands of PC's so some will always go wrong, and it tends to be only the ones that go wrong you hear about. I have bought 2 Dells - a desktop and a laptop - and been happy with both. Dell are in the PC market as a mass seller and if they were actually awful would not sell in the numbers that they do. Okay some of their components are definitely towards the budget end but the build quality seems generally okay. [P.S. I don't work for Dell - lol]

Conor_3

timestar wrote: »

Okay some of their components are definitely towards the budget end but the build quality seems generally okay. [P.S. I don't work for Dell - lol]

That's why I was suggesting going for the business models as they seem to use better quality components than the home ones - at least from what I can see having had my hands in them.

Lady_K

Still haven't ordered one yet, I got so confused looking at the HP and Dell business sites I just didn't know which is best. Felt sick trawling through stuff over and over.

I think its also because they don't come as a bundle, as I was going to get the tower, monitor, keyboard and mouse. I can't even make a decision on the tower as yet apart from getting a business one. I could get just the tower now and get the rest later but I kind of wanted it all at once.

I want to choose a HP one over Dell but get even more confused on thier site. I have never bought from HP before so I think I might be able to use a £40 off voucher for signing up with them although I've forgotten my username and password so can't retrieve it just yet as you need username to retrieve password.

Conor_3

The Dell business models come with a mouse and keyboard - you only need to get a monitor.

mikeD

I bought a Dell in 1999 and it has gone very well for most of the time. Just lately it has been playing up somewhat so have now bought a new Dell Inspiron 531 for £427 which includes their All-in-One printer, VAT and delivery. I am hopeful that it will give the same good service that my old one has. However I'm not sure about coping with Vista Premium as I'm so used to Windows 98SE. I'm also nervous about the set-up. Should I get professional help which would add to the cost?

nuttyginger

I own a vostro 1500 laptop (great deal start of this year) and a dell desktop now about 3 years old. Both have been reliable and excellent value.
I myself am looking for a desktop for the other halfs sister and have found that if you get the evalue codes they can work out cheaper, I've found a decent spec entry level-ish one for £320 ish incl delivery, obviously you can tweak the spec.

There are loads of evalue codes on the website below.
http://www.dmxdimension.com/

Remember Quidco also offer 4% cashback at Dell too, but I would click through from the website above, note the evalue code then clear my cookies just to be safe.

HTH.

Ooooh and remember if you go for a vostro make sure you get it to £299 ex vat and delivery for free delivery, whilst you might not need the extra stuff, if its free you may as well!

superjaggybunnet

Why not look on https://www.europc.co.uk

They have some cracking deals! I am thinking of getting a desktop from there myself. They seem very good prices for a reasonably high spec. machine - if you browse for a while and find it!