Dell or Gateway You Decide
Written: May 20 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Your Decision
Cons: Your Decision
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| seagull5's Full Review: Dell Dimension XPS T600 |
I wrote basically the same review for the Gateway Performance section but those who are wavering between purchasing a Gateway or a Dell perhaps they can take my experiences with both companies and help them with their decision.
I own both a Gateway P3 450 and a Dell XPS T700r and have them networked
together at home.They are both good computers with basicially the same hardware but down the road its the companies that you have to deal with.
I have found both Gateways and Dells tech support to be most of the time above average.Dell has more diagnostic tools at your disposal.
In two years Gateway has replaced two motherboards,a dvd player,tv tuner,
processor,three monitors,two power supplies,two sets of speakers,a cdrw,
two hard drives,and a couple of mice and keyboards.Even though I purchased the Gold warranty I only had onsite tech to install the first motherboard replacement.Gateways basic answer to troubleshooting is a reformat.I can`t count the times that I have reformated the Gateway.
I am not sure if Gateways techs are timed with their calls but it always seemed to end in a reformat.Dell seems to work a little longer with your issues.You are supplied with a diagnostic disk that goes over all the hardware in the computer.Less reformating that shows that it was an hardware issue all along saves alot of time.
Gateway sends parts UPS that usually take 5 to 7 days to arrive.
When I was shopping for my new system I ordered another Gateway to keep all the eggs in one basket.Gateway kept me waiting 5 weeks so I cancelled and ordered a Dell XPS T600.They had the system built and out the door in 5 days.
I also had my share of hardware issues with the Dell.First it was the motherboard.
then a sound card and finially a hard drive.The motherboard was sent and a tech was at my door two days later motherboard in hand to install the board.The sound card was shipped overnight by Airborne express.When the hard drive took a dive I called tech support and another one was ordered.
You have to call customer service to get a tracking information.
When I called customer service I talked to a young lady trying to get information on when it would arrive.She said that the order was cancelled
and Dell was sending a replacement system which would be the same or better as my origional system.She said they did not want to `throw any more hardware at me. I had the 600 for 4 months well out of my 30 day exchange time frame.My origional system was a 600/128/13.6 7200 IBM hard drive,Turtle Beach sound card/16 meg Voodoo 3000 video card/40x cd rom.
A week later it arrived.Dell sent A XPS T700r with a 27.65 IBGM 7200 hard drive.They bumpted my processor 100 mtz and doubled my hard drive size.All the rest of the parts are the same but the upgrade was a very very pleasent surprize.This is a refurbished system which is only fair as the system that was sent back was four months old.I never asked for a replacement system.I did call and thank them.Your warranty carries over to the new system.Dell will upgrade your standard 3 year warranty for up to 5 years adding another two years of parts coverage.
After owning the Gateway I find their monitors an extremely weak link with their systems.
One point Dells power supply is supposed to be propritery.It will put a damper with a mother board upgrade.
I am not judgeing two companies I just want you to make the right decision on who gets your computer dollars.I wish you a happy and trouble free computing experience.....Peace
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
seagull5
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Member: Harry Goodman
Location: Bradenton,Fl.
Reviews written: 28
Trusted by: 28 members
About Me:
I live in Bradenton,FL and have spent many years an IT troubleshooter for facilities.
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