Is Dell that bad?
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33680
Printed Date: 21 August 2025 at 7:33pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Is Dell that bad?
Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Subject: Is Dell that bad?
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 6:56am
|
I want to replace my laptop with something
- less than $1300 - That isn't toshiba (yes I know they are meant to be wonderful but this is my second is a very short period of time!) - As small as possible, but pref with a CD/DVDrom, although a Sony Viao netbook has grabbed my attention (its pink). I have found all of this in a Dell but I've heard they can be crap computers and useless for repairs and servicing. Any Dell users e`xperiences appreciated! Or suggestions/linkies to other potential models would be great  -------------  http://lilypie.com"> |
Replies:
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 7:33am
I have a Compaq, and I  it. My FIL has just bought a smaller HP Netbook and he loves it too - it's so cute!!! They both have CD/DVD as well. I've had mine for 18 months now and it's still going strong - haven't ever had a problem with it.
|
Posted By: _H_
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 7:48am
me too! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
minik8e wrote:Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 7:52am
|
We've got a Dell laptop had it for 12 months now and had no problems. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 8:36am
| I agree Toshiba is cr*p. I also have had a Dell and it was just as bad. I now have http://www.bondandbond.co.nz/computers-accessories/computers-notebooks/notebooks/hp-pavilion-elite-high-performance-edition-hpe-180a-pc-only/prod101865.html - this one and wish i had it right from word go. It is perfect for everything! It is $1349, but if you wait for a sale you could get it for about $1200 |
Posted By: MrsH23
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 9:04am
|
My DH is into the IT stuff, he says that Dell is rubbish because they use cheap parts, hence the cheap price. He doesn't recommend an Acer either I don't think. He's not home for me to check what he recommends but we have an HP which he likes. I know to avoid an AMD processor, Intel is definitely superior and at minimum a dual core (or quad core is faster).
You can always ask the salesperson to do you a deal too, see what you can get them to throw in for free. ------------- Lisa mummy to Ryan http://www.alterna-tickers.com"> 
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 9:18am
|
I wanted a Dell, cos you can get pretty pink ones lol, but DH said no way they are crap. His mum has one and she has had to have it fixed SOOO many times.
I have an HP, but would love a Mac hehe or a Sony VIO ------------- |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 10:06am
Yup same, he wouldn't let me get a DELL or Acer. He highly recommends Asus. I ended up getting a Mac Book Pro in the end. HP isn't that better either TBH. If you leave the laptops charging all the time it actually ruins the battery and they need to be constantly charged. Happened to 1 of my laptops and 2 of my friends as well. But their computers are better. ETA: HP also have over heating problems too due to crap cooling fans. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Lexidore
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 10:23am
|
I work for a company that sells Laptops, and I find that like everyone above has said, stay clear of acer, and toshiba... HP and Compaq are actually the same company now, and I have an HP and so far apart from the touchpad being a bit of a PITA I don't have any issues, mine is one of the netbooks and I love it!!! We have recently started selling Dells, and I was none too impressed at all... I generally will recommend asus and hp/compaq when selling. Biggest bonuse with Asus is they have a 2 year global warranty while everything else is a 1 year warranty.
Oh and Sonys are good, but expensive for what you are getting. Rather overpriced ------------- 
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 10:26am
|
My HP touch pad is stupid too, I get so mad with it lol ------------- |
Posted By: Lexidore
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 10:30am
|
Mine has started getting a little better now but god to start with I couldn't even use it, still have issues but not as bad as when I first got it! -------------
|
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 10:38am
|
We use an ASUS - second hand but still going pretty well. -------------  
 
|
Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 11:06am
|
Which model do you have Bex? Do you miss the cd/dvd rom? Whats it like to watch on demand on etc? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 11:08am
|
I've got a dell desk top & it's been great. Good to know about the laptops for when we upgrade though. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 11:44am
|
Yep stay clear of Toshiba, had mine for 3 years (I simply can't afford another atm) and its just one issue after another! Had only owned it for a couple months before it had to be taken in for repairs...and 2 new hard drives within two months, new touch pad which has again crapped itself so I just use a usb mouse...
You get my gist, not worth the hassle! I'd love a pink laptop too! I'll be keeping an eye on this thread, for future reference! Let us know what you end up getting Flake! ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: Lexidore
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 11:53am
|
Tash, i have http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4bfdb49b0269fc9e273fc0a87f3b0751/Product/View/XC6479 - this one
Nope I really don't miss the CD drive, most stuff if I really need anything most things are either downloadable or I can transfer from Antz laptop via usb. I don't watch on demand but I have downloaded Eps that I watch and I find it awesome for that because its a lot smaller and nicer for in bed hehe. -------------
|
Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 11:58am
|
Wow, I had two toshibas and they were both second hand and lasted really well, only started getting slow (compared to new ones). Now we have a Dell and I liked that I could pick and choose the specs for it and so far it has been running great!
So I guess it goes to show that some people have luck with laptops lol! ------------- 
 Oct 11
|
Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 11:59am
|
We had a dell. Hard drive crapped out under warranty. Fixed it and then it died again after warranty. Ditched it as it was a few years old by then and we wanted to upgrade.
Bought a compaq (owned by HP) two days after warranty ran out the cd rom died. Then the wireless modem then the power adapter. It was just over 12 months old and the customer service was all thru india and was a nightmare. After the customer service experience I have vowed never to touch a compaq or HP again. (we also had issues with a printer thru them.) We now have a dell again and have had it about a year. We bought it in texas and customer service was in texas as well. We figured to go with a local customer service department. Not that that matters now we are back in NZ. Our thoughts (DH is in IT) are that laptops are fragile and do break. They put up with a lot more than desktops. It is a competitive market and price wins out in the purchase decision so they all use the cheaper parts to keep the cost down. I don't think any particular brand is much better than the next. It is just good luck as to whether it survives or not. IMO go for customer service and an extended warranty. Buy the warranty for the time period that you want the laptop to last. I think you can get 5 year extended warranty's and if it lasts longer that is a bonus. By then the technology would have moved on a lot and you will want a new laptop anyway. |
Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 12:33pm
|
So looking at the HP mini series, can anyone tell me why these ones:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/nz/en/ho/WF25a/321957-321957-3329744-3832383-3832383-4004509.html - are cheaper than http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/nz/en/ho/WF05a/321957-321957-3329744-3832383-3832383-3943764.html - these seemingly lower spec ones? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> |
Posted By: Lexidore
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 12:37pm
|
Thats a bit weird, the only difference I can see is that the more expensive one has XP while the others have Windows 7 so maybe that has something to do with it... the 7 is a starter version which is probably a bit more basic than XP home... seems weird to me though -------------
|
Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 1:28pm
Hmm I've got an Acer but its an older model, 2-3years old and still going strong. Maybe I just got lucky but was nice and cheap (only $800 new) and obviously fairly good quality as I've never had any issues with it and I used to be quite a gamer (World of Warcraft anyone  ) so its seen fairly hard use. Maybe try one they aren't as bad as some seem to be saying.------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 4:04pm
|
Okay, so people in the know, if you could choose between
http://www.sony.co.nz/product/vpcw126ag - Option One http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/computers/notebook-computers/pc-notebook-computers/hewlett-packard-hp-mini-210-1032tu-netbook/prod103492.html - Option Two or http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/computers/notebook-computers/pc-notebook-computers/hp-hpmini210-1015-mini-210-1015tu-netbook/prod108228.html - Option Three What would it be? Thanks! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> |
Posted By: MrsH23
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 4:38pm
|
Personally I would go with option 2, more RAM and bigger hard drive.
ETA -It also has the home premium version of windows 7 instead of the starter version. ------------- Lisa mummy to Ryan http://www.alterna-tickers.com">
|
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 5:30pm
|
One or two. I have an HP Mini, I got it on sale for $999, gutted because it's only 60gb and all the others were 8gb mem, a few weeks later they bought out the ones with more memory! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: kiwigal
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 7:55pm
|
Same here Dell is a piece or s**t you get what you pay for. Dh has only ever had toshiba and it has lasted really well. And get a extended warranty just in case if something does go wrong . |
Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 8:16pm
|
Extended warranties are a waste of $$ IMHO This is the second Toshiba in 3 years. Its under warranty, but I'm not sure they're going to cover it. We'll see They're nice, but not as wow as they're made out to be. For me, anyway. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 28 May 2010 at 7:53am
Had both of these problems with our HP... highly recommend taking the battery out if you are not using it remotely! We have a Dell and so far so good, for what we wanted in our price range a couple of our IT friends actually recommended Dell.... if we had more money we would have gone Mac but unfortuately we are on a tight budget... -------------   
|