Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/07/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have owned, with my family, 8 Dell computers over the past few to many years. AS much as the assembled multitude dislikes Dell, and especially the reliability of Dell, I disagree. I have never had a hardware problem, and I buy consumer grade computers ( which use the same quality components as the fancy business machines), I have had several problems with software, BIOS, and a single bad keyboard and a mouse. Never a hardware failure ( other than a $15 keyboard and an even cheaper mouse, that probably was a software issue anyway...) I have never had a HDD go out on me, and I have owned at least 15 over the years. I have bought Maxtor ( now), WD, and Seagate. I have worked for WD ( Imaging Business, not Drives). Rarely is it a hardware drive problem, especially after the first few days of running. Less often even is a motherboard problem, again after a few days of operating. It is usually a software, OS, or BIOS problem, but finding that out ( and fixing it) is like pulling teeth.. Techs generally will not be able to help you.... Even those from Dell that speak English as their first language..... I was once told to re-install my OS and my SW because there was a conflict in the BIOS and my mouse... A Toshiba Laptop .. a simple change of mouse cured the problem without losing anything...except my temper..... Dell is no better than anyone else, but they are also no worse. You are buying a high tech product made for consumers. It is like buying a fancy rice cooker, TV ( low end), or a microwave oven. They are mostly all made in China, of the same components, and especially of the same quality components. Sometimes the difference between maker A vs. B is the QA checks done. Sometimes it is simply the price point that is marked on the box. But never believe that any Company with a reputation they want to be positive, like Dell, ships garbage, knowingly faulty items, or even second grade parts. It just is not true. Yes, Apple is totally designed in house ( maybe.... did you know that MOST of the designs on PC's are done at a small company in California? and the design kits are given away by Intel? and as long as they buy Intel processors, the use of the design is free....).... and certainly under Apple's control all the way. Are they better? Like I think Brian said, at least they are totally under one entity, so there should be more seamless integration of the total SW + HW issues. Is it real? Maybe.... or maybe it is just hype.... Buy whatever you want, backup as often as you can, buy drives from whoever you wish. Sometimes the SW will just go nuts on you, because it can...... Rant off..... Frank Filippone red735i@earthlink.net