Dell :: Quality And Assistance 4 Years On
Jan 10, 2010
I purchased a Dell Dimension 3100c in early 2006 at a very low price.
I know it is not a laptop but that goes without saying its still a computer.
the only issue I've ever had with the dimension was a corrupt hard drive, I contacted
Dell support and my issue was fixed within no time.
The machine still runs like the day it came out of the box and I still use it as my main workhorse, albeit with a RAM upgrade (512mb to 2GB)
I have to say, you can't really go wrong with Dell.
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Mar 3, 2009
I have got some problems with my notebook.
1) I changed the picture quality to 3D (from quality to performance) after that i am not able to open my nvidia control panal.
I also updated my drivers .. didnt work
2) I am not able to play any games (big once like NFS pro) . It works very slow
3) If i put a memory card in my card reader i get a blue screen.
4) If i on my blue tooth it asks for installing drivers (every thing i have to search and intall it again and again).
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Apr 26, 2010
I have a vostro 1500 (T7300, 2GBx1 ram, nvidia 8600m GT gfx). It's about 2 years old and warranty just finished. OS is win xp sp3.
Recently I feel the computer becames really slow, especially after I opened BT downloader. I first thougth it is hdd problem, so I swapped the original seagate 160GB with a new WD 500GB, OS and all software cloned to the new drive using seagate's diskwizard. I didn't do a clean install because I have quite a few software that is troublesome to re-install and re-configure. The problem didn't get solved. I then checked the hard disk with seagate tool, no problem found. Did de-fragmentation, no improvement. checked the DMA mode and it's normal. I even opened up the laptop to clean the dust in vent and noticed a temparature drop when full loaded from 86C to 75C. But that doesn't solve the slowness problem.
So up to this point, I think maybe I have to do a fresh install. But before I do that, I hope someone can help me with other alternatives, to identify the problem or solve it.
the symptoms are like: slow startup, slow reaction to almost all actions, like opening browser, opening windows explorer and folders, opening applications. Once it is opened, performance is normal. I also tried copy large size and quantity of files from the hard drive to external hard drives and vice versa. For large size files, speed is normal, but for many small sized files, speed is terrible. It looks like disk buffer is not enabled or sth, but I don't know how to check that. After all, the new drive I just switched to shall be a good one because I used it on another laptop and it's fine.
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May 3, 2010
I have 6 days to decide whether to extend the warranty on my Inspiron 9400. The laptop cost me £1200 ($1800) when I bought it. The extention will cost me me £109 / $166.
This will take my warranty from 3 to 5 years NBD onsite response. Anyone think this is a good idea? I am happy with the performance of my laptop.
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Jun 13, 2009
I've heard some stories of XPS systems (m1330/m1530) imploding after 1.5 years... anyone have any firsthand/secondhand info on the percentage of these or have I just heard about a few random people who have been unfortunate enough to have had disasters?
I have the nVidia GPU in my m1330, if that makes any difference - I heard about those dying, but I was under the impression that problem popped up out of the box and not 1.5 years down the road?
It's my only computer, so I use it most of the day, but I don't game (mostly word processing, browsing, working etc) and I try to be gentle with it.
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Sep 29, 2008
I bought an Acer 5672 WLMI a little over 2 years ago. I thought the Acer offered good value for the money. The specs were Intel Core Duo processor T2300, 2GB RAm, X1400 ATI Video card, 120gb HDD, 15.4" screen, winXp Pro -cost of the system was $1800 + tax (Canadian dollars).
The 5672 always ran hot. It was almost hard to keep it on my lap it sometimes got so hot. I was not even gaming. I was just doing standard web browsing/word processing. The bottom of the latop got so hot that is basically disintegrated most of the Microsoft WinXP Certification sticker. I pulled the bottom cover off and there was nothing obstructing the CPU Fan. I also would intermittently get a green/blue? line about 3-4 inches wide down the middle of the screen. This green/blue line was intermittent. Generally, the screen problem and the heat problem became worse as the 5672 became older.
After 15 months the hard drive failed. I put in a new 160gb HDD. Acer never gave me the original winXP CD and the Win XP Certification Sticker had burned itself off. I reinstalled another copy of winXP Pro that I had. The laptop ran ok for a bit, but then the wireless starting acting up...I would get dropped wireless connections and sometimes it could not detect wireless signals that I knew were there. I stopped using the wireless completely.
After about 18 months the CPU fan started to make an intermittent noise. At approx 2 years, the CPU fan failed completely. I thought I could replace the CPU fan, but realized the CPU was an intergrated unit with cooling tubes and cooled the CPU chip in addition to some other chips on the motherboard. I checked the Acer web site and did not see this part listed (not many parts were listed). I checked on ebay saw a few posting for a new fan/cooling unit -cost was approx $170. I debated whether or not I wanted to spend $200 and time fixing a 2 year laptop...that always ran hot and had some potential screen issues.
For a few days I ran the latop with no CPU fan and used an external fan to try and keep everything cool. I had motherboard monitor and could see this was not working and temps were getting high. I was debating what to do, when the laptop just died. The screen displayed a bunch of funky colours and then it just died. I was able to power it up again, but a few minutes later it did the same thing (funky colours on the display and shutdown by itself). I tried rebooting and nothing..it was dead. I pulled the hard drive and checked that it was ok...............
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Apr 8, 2010
Hey folks. I wrote a review for The Acer Guy back when I first bought my laptop (Aspire 6920-6621), but it's time for an update.
(Link to my original review [url]
Here's some basic specs:
Windows Vista Home Premium
Two 140gig HD's
1.83GhZ Dual Core Intel Processor
3gig RAM
And some dinky graphics chip.
Well, after two years, I have to say it has held up but not as well as I think it should have.
A few months after writing my first review, I had to send my Laptop to Acer. Admittedly, the customer support was fantastic. They took care of me.
HOWEVER, I'm not pleased with how my computer came back. It wasn't put back together, and I didn't want to send it back to them again.
Regardless, the build quality is a bit iffy. Not sure if other people have had this issue, but cracks are forming in several places. The first time I sent the computer back, it was because of cracks on the bezel. They replaced it, but after a few months the cracks came back. There is also a crack on the bottom cover.
Keyboard flex is there but not too severe.
When I was dusting my keyboard, the sharp end of the spacebar snapped off, so now a good few mm's are missing. I sanded it down and it looks fine, but still.
The express card placeholder doesn't stay in well, in fact, if you aren't careful, the thing will come out.
In terms of performance, it's still holding up. I've not had any problems with Vista, and I game as well as code. Steam has given me a few C++ errors, but meh.
Audio quality is acceptable. The left speaker is crackling and the "subwoofer" adds a nice effect, but overall it's disappointing. Should be better for all the hype.
Screen quality is actually pretty good, much better than most computers I've used. The only thing that I've used that compares is a Mac.
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Jul 30, 2009
All I hear about macs is that they have no problems, they run flawlessly, they dont get slow, and basically "They just work".
I have no idea what this means though. I have never had a mac, never worked with a mac. I have always worked with PC for about 8 years now.
I am mainly a College student so most of my computer time is spent doing research and or presentations like power point and so on.
However my second main and boy do I mean MAIN focus is Gaming. I do a ton of gaming on my computer.
I never move my computers around but I use laptops mainly just incase I ever do need to. Most of the time this means lower settings on my games but its worth the portability.
My friends tell me Mac's do gaming now. I don't know how right they are about this at all.
Basically everyone I know that owns a Mac praises it as if it was the holy grail of computer technology.
Im not a mac hater but whats the big deal? Why does mac just work?
Is it true that Mac has no problems? or is it just an entirely different series of problems than PC?
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Jan 27, 2009
2 years later and still no x64 vista audio driver for dv8130. I have looked all over the place for some kind of work around, I find lots of tips, and drivers for different models nothing WORKS. the closest I get it during the install it will say media device not found for driver. I dont even know what chipset the sound card is, for vista x32 it has a driver it just says conexant ac-link
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Oct 18, 2008
I'm planning on buying a gaming laptop sometime at the beginning of the year and I was wondering if I could get some insight as to the quality and performance of the XPS M1730. And also as to Dell's customer service.
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Jun 29, 2009
So im about to buy a dell studio 15 next month and im still a little concerned with the quality of the battery. My current dell inspiron 9200 battery lost its charge a year and half in. Same thing w/ my brothers Dell. Do Dell laptops still lose their ability to hold a charge that rapidly or Has Dell improved the battery?
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Dec 7, 2008
I have just bought a Latitude E6400 with base spec LCD screen and base spec graphics card. The screen is very bad for eyestrain with harsh whites at all levels of brightness and contrast, except those at which it is too dark to read. I wondered if anyone else had this same machine and could comment? I called Dell and they said it is just because I bought the base spec, and to improve the problem I would have to return the machine and buy a better one.
I have turned off all the animation effects on vista and am just using it for text with no 3D stuff at all. This does not help with the screen quality.
I am upgrading from an Inspriron 630m with the same resolution LCD screen, which was never any problem despite long hours of use daily for over 2 years.
If this is the normal level of quality with this screen, has anyone tried buying an aftermarket screen of better quality and upgrading? I am considering doing this.
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Aug 4, 2009
The reason I have quality quoted is because I received my new studio xps 1640 and there are definitely some issues with the stuff that gets by. First of all, we'll start with the most annoying issue.
The "hinge cover", as the repair technician called it, the one where the heat vents are, the plastic grills were damaged. My laptop was obviously dropped in the production line and the scared employee quickly threw it in a box before getting in trouble.
Anyway, I instantly noticed this and dell was quick to send a new part along with a technician. There was only one problem, they send the wrong part. They sent the entire computer frame. How do you mix those two parts up? Anyway, they're coming back in two days with the "right" part and are going to fix it. The repair man was NOT careful with my laptop.
He messed up some of the screws and as dumb as some may say this sounds, it bothers the out of me. Last but certainly not least, dell put two stickers on my laptop. One that says Windows Vista, the other that says Inte Centrino 2. There is nothing wrong with the vista sticker, however, the intel sticker is NOTICEABLY crooked.
I see it every time I open my laptop and those are supposed to be badges saying "I'm proud to have this inside" but I'm embarrassed for people to see my $2,300 crooked sticker and half stripped screws. They really need to check their laptops before they go out, there is no way in hell that they missed these, they just made a conscious decision not to fix it.
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May 12, 2010
Does anyone have experience with using the DVI connector on the Dell E-Port or E-Port Plus? I got an E-Port Plus from eBay listed as "new" and have it hooked up using the DVI connection with my new E6410 driving it (with NVidia 3100M graphics).
Black text on white background has a bit of a red glow to it that didn't happen with my older laptop/dock combo. I'm trying to figure out if it is a bad E-Port or if this is just the way the E-Port/E6410/3100M will be
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Feb 19, 2010
I have posted already on this forum asking for advice
What I would like to know is what you think of the £699 Studio 17 (from the link).
Does anyone have one who could tell me what the build quality is like and would you recommend it?.
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Sep 3, 2009
anyone know hows the build quality of the Studio 14z?? Does the chassis and palm rest flex a lot?? is the palm rest really.
prone to scratches?? I know its made of plastic, and im worried that its a really cheap feeling, non durable laptop...is this the case?...
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Apr 8, 2009
Recieved my Studio XPS 16 with WLED screen today...and I want to assure those that are worried...it's still beautiful.
No, I haven't seen the RGB LED screen...but I put the same Windows screen (with a large range of colors displayed) of my 1720 next to the screen on my 16...and the 16 blows it away.
I apparently had no idea what "white" really was on a laptop screen...it looks so crisp and nice. And at maximum brightness, my 1720 can't compare to the maximum brightness of the 16.
So don't be crushed if you couldn't afford or couldn't see your way into paying the extra for the RGB LED Screen..it's still a sweet looking screen.
I'm sure the RGB LED screen is probably nicer (for 250 bucks, it had well better be), but I'm FAR from unimpressed with the WLED.
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May 25, 2010
BUILD QUALITY
How's the build quality on E6410 compared to Thinkpad T410? Creaks, flexing, etc? I'm almost sure this month my next purchase won't be a Thinkpad and Latitude seems to be a good choice. Our office use them.
I currently have a 6-year old T41 and 2-year old T61. I'll miss the keyboard and trackpoint but i can live with that.
OPTICAL DRIVE BAY
I have an utrabay HDD adaptor on my T42 does E6410 have the same? I can only see a travel lite module.
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Sep 12, 2009
Im thinking seriously about buying a M6400 How is the build quality?
Are there many problems, because im not sure if i will be in a region where dell has decent represantatives, i need it to be stable and reliable, no repairs needed.
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Feb 16, 2009
quality of the E6400 touchpoint for me? I never thought I'd like touchpoints, however after having used on on a Lenovo the other day I found that I much prefer them to touchpads.
How do people find it on the new Latitude series?
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Mar 20, 2010
I'm in the process of returning my system (not due to this paint issue) but due to the screen issues/dell's inability to give me a replacement [full story: The continued adventures about a boy and his laptop....
Back to this thread's topic, I have babied this thing and have never dinged this portion of the laptop on anything but the paint still seems to chip away.. does anyone else have anything like this picture?
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Oct 24, 2008
I got to build a Dell comptuer. I have almsot no choice but for ram and processor.
Every model has only one choice for GPU. Why? It use to be you could build a computer you wanted. Now if you want dedicated GPU you have to go to a Studio and pay 200 bucks more? And if you want a non-suck GPU you have to go to a XPS and pay another 200 bucks.
What happened to modability.. what happened to choice and quality at Dell?
I got to HP and i can choose to get integrated graphics or upgrade to dedicated... why did Dell move away from this? And move into ... if you want this upgrade to a new model and pay 4 times more...
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Aug 19, 2009
I've been considering both of these systems, but I was wondering if anyone had a bit of personal experience with the screen quality.
There are the obvious differences of size, resolution, and matte vs glossy, and the general strengths and weaknesses of both of those, but I would like to hear some impressions from someone that has had first hand experience with each.
I am going to be using the system for graphic design (student) work, some of which will go to print as well as digital photography editing. I know about color calibration and how important it is.
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Dec 16, 2008
I've been a diehard thinkpad fan for years and I'm looking to upgrade from my T60p. I love the build quality, but I've been reading too many issues with the FireGL V5700 in the new W500 series. Moreover, I've read good things about overclocking the Quadro M770 to get closer to the M1700 speeds. So I'm now looking at the Dell M4400, normally I abhor the chassis construction of Dells, but the all magnesium casing of the 4400 series looks very good.
First, coming from a thinkpad, will I be satisfied with the build quality of the Dell?
Second, I'll be primarily using autocad, rhino and 3ds Max and have a question about the effect of screen resolution on the acceleration of the viewport displays in the various programs. Normally, I'd get the highest resolution screen possible, but will there be significant performance degradation from sxga+ (1440x900) to the wuxga (1920x1280) display when using these viewport accelerated programs due to the more demanding resolution?
Third, considering that the system uses DD2 memory, will I be able to upgrade the cpu to other Core2 ES chips that you can find on ebay? It looks like these chips use pins, I haven't been keeping up to date with the new mobile intel chips, are they all pga rather than bga format now?
And finally, when can i except some sort of deal on these systems on either the Canadian or American sites? I've been seeing a lot of 30% deals on inspirons and xps systems, but not on the precisions.
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Apr 3, 2010
Does anyone one here have one and can comment on its quality/performance?
I'm looking at the i5/310M, I'd prefer the i3/310M but that doesn't seem to be an option.
I'm hoping for 4hrs of battery, is that being to hopeful?
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Sep 16, 2008
I am in the markey for either an E6400 or an M4400. I like the power of the M4400 and the looks but I have heard some stuff about the lid not being as sturdy as it looks.
Is it made of metal as the lid of the E6500 is?
Which is a more durable laptop in yor opinion?
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Dec 4, 2009
I received my Studio XPS 1645 this Monday. My Specs:
-I7 820
-8G Ram
-128g SSD
-RGB Screen
-Blue-Ray
The machine runs beautifully and the screen is amazing but I am having what seems to be an incredible amount of build quality issues. I wanted to know if others have had the same issues and how they resolved them...
-The tech is coming for a second time to fix my screen. It came out of the box with a large scratch. The second screen has several dead pixels.
-Above the keyboard, in front of the screen, the batter (9-cell) doesn't fit flush
-The Sound is uneven. It is FAR louder coming out of the right side than the left. The settings in the control panel seem fine.
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Nov 5, 2008
I got my Studio 17 on Friday and have fiddled with it since then loving almost everything it has to offer. On the flip side I'm deeply disappointed by the screen.
First of all the brightness is borderline acceptable. I didn't opt for the LED backlight since I assumed the brightness would be on the same level as the HP Pavilion I owned.
With this being said I urge all of you potential buyers to choose the LED backlight option other else disappointment awaits.
But the biggest dismay is the quality of the screen, it's so disastrous that I can't enjoy watching any movies on my laptop. My Pvilion has absolutely extraordinary image reproduction, the screen quality was second to none while the Dell has a screen I would expect to see on an Acer. It's pale, contrast isn't good enough and colours don't look alive and vibrant. I'm glad that I bought a Sony V4000 32 inch TV two weeks ago which is what I use as a display, and it's light years ahead of the Studio in image qualitly.
More over there is a horrendous leakage of light on the lower part of the screen making the taskbar and the blacks look pale. Lastly the viewing angle is embarassing, the screen has to be tilted in a certain angle or else the image looks terrible. My HP looks spotless from pretty much any angle and the same applies to the Sony TV as well. I'm very disappointed by this, especially when dell equip their laptops with Bluray which isn't justified on such a screen. I feel that they are making the standard screen sub par on purpose so that people are forced to opt for the more expensive options.
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Apr 27, 2009
I and my friend had little Skype video chat.
He owns Inspiron I guess 1525 and I have Studio 1535.
We did some test and his camera quality was perfect, but min e was horrible.
It really amaze me and here are the screen shots from his and mine camera.
I'm with Vista x64 SP 2 - for some reason Vista just don't want to work with Creative Drivers and freeze my skype and camera is was lunched.This is due to some bug in SP 2, with SP 1 was compatible with Dell Drivers.
So I'm with standard Vista driver.
My friend is on Windows XP and He told me - He is with drivers from Del's web or something like it.
Is this normal?
the difference is like day and night as you wil l note.
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Aug 11, 2008
I'm looking to buy a M1530 with the 8600M GT. I'm concerned about heat issues as the machine will be mostly used in Thailand in a non airconditioned room, often 90-100 fahrenheit. I don't do much gaming at all, so the vid card won't be running maxxed out or overclocked at all, i just want a decent 3D card for CAD and modeling. I also intend to use it with the 9-cell all the time which will help to keep it elevated a bit.
I was disturbed to hear the the GPUs can't be swapped out like some of the 17" Dells, so i'm not to keen on purchasing a laptop with known heat issues and taking it too a hot climate, especially since Dell will not be able to later swap out the video if they get a cooler running card. The 7800 go died in my E1705 just 14 months after use. Am i heading down a foolish path by considering this laptop for a hot climate?
Also, i'm a bit torn between the non-LED WUXGA screen and the 1440x900 LED screen. I loved the WUXGA screen on my E1705, but it later developed some fugly dark areas. Also the idea of LED seems nice. OTOH, I don't mind the ultra high DPI that will be an outcome of using WUXGA at just 15.4", i'm happy bumping up the font sizes to compensate.
Has anyone been able to compare the screens side-by-side? Why can't dell just give me LED lighting and WUXGA resolution...
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