New Laptop

[Rexmons]

TOG, I used to always recomend Dell to all my friends and family who asked me what they should get, because not only were they cheap, but they were also reliable. But starting approximately a year ago I began noticing a major decline in the quality of their merchandise (keyboards were falling apart, DC-IN jacks were breaking off).Then I read an article a few months ago about how Canada was actually suing Dell because they said Dell knowingly was selling computers which had defective equipment in them. I rarely find the need to call the manufacturer for support, however I have had to call Dell on a few occassions for work related items or for friends and family (to get drivers, or product recovery cd's) and I can honestly say Dells tech support is the worst I have ever had to deal with.

[theotherguy]

Originally Posted by Rexmons

I can honestly say Dells tech support is the worst I have ever had to deal with.

I haven't had to deal with their tech support in years. It have have fallen off drastically.

[xoxoxoBruce]

It bothers me that walmart will be selling Dell's products. Is Dell big enough to keep walmart from fucking them up?

I've bought 6 desktops from them and had two problems. 1, they mailed a replacement monitor with a shipping label to return the bad one, and 2, they sent a guy from a local repair place to my house to replace a CD drive.

Mitch, aren't those laptops in Iraq mil spec... armored?

[Bullitt]

I think Dell won't let Walmart strong arm them around too much. Dell has become this successful through their online business that it seems like stepping into a storefront like Walmart is more like testing the waters. If it is the right temp. they could expand their presence in Walmart stores, become their exclusive computer source, or branch out to other store fronts. In any case, Dell seems robust enough to hold their own if it comes down to it and say sorry Wally, ya ain't workin our for us.. see ya.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

I think Dell won't let Walmart strong arm them around too much. Dell has become this successful through their online business that it seems like stepping into a storefront like Walmart is more like testing the waters.

I don't think Dell has any choice but to go Wal-Mart big time and fast. Dell was doing so well, in part, because Dell computers had no sales tax. When Michael Dell relinquished control to a new management team, those idiots started doing kiosks. That meant that Dells had to charge sales tax in those states.

A price advantage for Dells is lost forever. So Dell must do something to compete with Circuit City, et al selling HPs as both Compaq and HP. That market segment is people who need to touch it and who need to be manipulated by a salesman. Since Dell must now charge sales tax, then they must make up for that market loss by going after the 'we need to see it' customers and people who buy on value.

Wal-Mart is a perfect opportunity for Dell. Now that even CompUSA is folding like a rock in water, computers become even more a commodity. Circuit City, et al overhead is too high. Dell's new hope is to sell computers on Wal-Mart’s lower overhead costs.

However after all the hype, I still don't see Dells in Wal-Mart’s. That implies a serious marketing fubar - not typical of Dell and not typical of an operation run by Michael Dell.

Compounding Dell's problem is that Michael Hurd of HP has 'dirt under his fingernails'. Hurd quickly undid a big mess created by Fiorina thereby making HP a worthy competitor. This is but a new phase in the computer business as computers are finally approaching the commodity that TVs have long become. Once a product arrives in Wal-Mart, Target, et al, then it is the ultimate in a commodity. Next step, third world nations take over the industry as has already happened to IBM's computer and disk drive businesses.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Speaking of sales tax, for a couple of years the state of PA waived sales tax on PCs, around back to school time. Anyone know if that's happening this year?

[yesman065]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Speaking of sales tax, for a couple of years the state of PA waived sales tax on PCs, around back to school time. Anyone know if that's happening this year?

My daughters just arrived today and Dell did NOT waive the tax so I shipped it to my moms in DE - hence avoiding the sales tax another way.

This is my third Dell. My office has about 10 - 12 of them - no real problems to report with any of them. One coworker recently bought an IBM and she has sent it back twice in 6 months - once for a battery and the other for a sticky shift key (Methinks her kids spilled soda on it)