Keep on seeing ads for Dell and their stuff always looks reasonably priced, certainly better than Staples where I bought my last PC from.

Everything looks better and cheaper than just a few years ago but I supposed that's competition and technological advances.

Anyway, I am just looking for a new system that my daughters can use - and it will get a lot of use - so is Dell any good? If not who else can you recommend for a home computer? Websites would be preferable - What Computer etc eventually bamboozles me with too much information.

over the past two years the advantage of building a pc from scratch to buying a prebuilt from the likes of dell has disappeared. as i used to work for tekheads (local company which sold separates to the home user) it used to be the case that you'd save £X00's when building your own.

now though dell and the bigger players are knocking out reasonably high spec machines for prices you cant beat when building your own.

the only real advantage left to building your own, is future proofing and quality of parts. (which as an ex RMA technician, isnt always the case)...

if the computer is going to be used mainly for browsing or anything non-game like the dell machines are great. it was only last week that i informed my GF's rents to get one as they had an unbelievable dell EValue code (excellent machine for not a lot of ££) and a tiring p3 setup.

Dell stuff is OK. Not really any better than any other cheap brand, not very upgradable, they use non standard Floppy drives and power supplies etc so if things fail you get ripped off or throw it away. For a ready built cheap system they are pretty good. I bought my mum a Dell dinension 3000 base unit so they can't be that bad! it does everything she needs it to. (I think she has switched it on about 5 times!) Check out www.hotukdeals.co.uk which is a great site for Dell deals and can usually save you a few quid.
Go for it, you could do worse.
:)

Yeah that's what I thought. I just want the thing to be reliable and work - I don't know or want to know enough to get into all the upgrading side of it etc. Thanks for your reply.

Be aware that the Dimension 3000 machines don't have an AGP slot which is where people put graphics cards. As a result you won't be able to play new games on it. It will do everything else though.

:D

I recently ordered a dell inspiron 6000, that was on special offer. Just called up to cancel the order and they offered my a 20% discount if I'd still have it. Still in two minds to be honest, but think I'll hold out and buy something a bit better in a month or so. Need to really assess what I want to be using it for.

Originally posted by Jamie
I recently ordered a dell inspiron 6000, that was on special offer...

If you're wanting a laptop for about £500, these (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8662403700&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=88932) are nice, know a couple of people with them & they're solid. Can do with better graphics if you're gaming, but you don't get a gaming laptop for £500.

Originally posted by steev
If you're wanting a laptop for about £500, these (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8662403700&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=88932) are nice, know a couple of people with them & they're solid. Can do with better graphics if you're gaming, but you don't get a gaming laptop for £500.

Personally, I think THESE (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8623738275&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3NwZWNpZmljYXRpb25z&product_uid=79595) are much nicer. Nice radeon mobility 9700 too ...

Yes, but I was looking for the same price as the Dell you saw, about £500 all in. You get a lot niftier if you spend a bit more...

like this... (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8677165232&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=91195)

Originally posted by steev
Yes, but I was looking for the same price as the Dell you saw, about £500 all in. You get a lot niftier if you spend a bit more...

like this... (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8677165232&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=91195)

Yes, but I'd rather have an Intel Centrino system, than an AMD Sempron (not too keen on AMD, used to have an AMD system that always crashed, blue screen thingy).

Acer's any good then?

Price wise, I'd prob go up to 700 quid.

Steve and Jamie
Please keep on with your discussion - I'm getting plenty of info and the weblinks are really useful.

Forgot to ask - which is a good one for wireless broadband if that's not a stupid question?

Originally posted by Jamie
Yes, but I'd rather have an Intel Centrino system, than an AMD Sempron (not too keen on AMD, used to have an AMD system that always crashed, blue screen thingy).

not really AMD related that though.



Granted the technology on the Centrino is superior to Semprons :)

dell make decent machines, a lot better than some other budget manufactures (packard bell for example).
The acer laptops are pretty nice as well, the dell has the advantage of being configurable though. You can spec a inspiron 6000 at a price anywhere between 500 and 1400 depending on what you need.

I've never heard a problem with Acer laptops, I know a few people with them, one of which has (probably flukely, don't try it!) survived a drop onto a corner with no more than a scuff.

The AMD/Intel fight bores me, the stability problems have been non-existent for years now, the "I once had an AMD which crashed" argument doesn't hold water any more guys. The fact is most people care about price mainly, & generally AMDs work out cheaper. I really don't care either way.

Regarding Cranberry's wi-fi question, generally wi-fi is wi-fi, this Intel-Centrino-mobile-technology stuff on the adverts is misleading, the main benefits are power stepping to save battery power, which AMDs also do just as well. If you're getting a laptop with wi-fi, look at the specs, it will say 802.11*, the * will be probaly b or g or may even n, basically b is old, g is newer, & n is newest. Avoid b.

As Cyclone says, avoid Packard Bell.

I've got an Inspiron 6000 and its fab ! Screen is great size, keyboard is nice size for my big fat dyslexic fingers and the trackpad thing is brilliant how you can scroll up and down pages on it. I bought a mouse but didnt use it as the trackpad is so nice [never liked them before].

I've got it on wireless ADSL at home and on the move I have a 3G/GPRS card from Vodafone so I can sit in hotels and on the train and send emails etc :thumbsup:

When I ordered the laptop there was an offer of having a free colour printer. Didnt want that so I called them [sales guy in India was fab] and they said I could have a laptop case instead [saved me some dosh] ! Had free double memory at the time so that made it a better deal.

Oh, and the wireless broadband router box they sold me wasnt compatible with my USB ADSL modem [Ethernet only] so i complained as they didnt warn me of this and they gave me my 50 quid back and let me keep the product. Customer services called me along the way whilst they refunded the 50 squid. In the end I got a free Ethernet ADSL modem off a mate and all was well :thumbsup:

All the reviews I saw for the Inspiron 6000 were pretty good.

I think the one I had on order was:

1.6 intel-m CPU (centrino)
512mb ram
40gb HD
DVD read only
CD read & write
screen res 1680*1050 (yum)
screen size 15.4"
all setup for wireless network etc
bla bla bla

would have cost me just under 440 quid with the 20% discount.

thinking i should have took it now ...

the advantage of the acer ...

60gb HD
free lappy case
way better vid card (ATI radeon mobility 9700)
DVD can write

apart from that, it's pretty much the same.

someone tell me I didn't make a mistake cancelling the dell !!

:o

Does anyone actually realise that the phrase 'centrino' doesn't actually refer to just the processor ?

It refers to an implemetation of an Intel Mobile processor, an Intel based chipset motherboard and an Intel based Wi-fi solution - any deviation from this combination does not allow the system to be called 'Centrino'

Originally posted by parrotface
Does anyone actually realise that the phrase 'centrino' doesn't actually refer to just the processor ?

Yep, but as Intel are known for processors predominantly then most people assume Centrino is just another name for their latest processor.

Originally posted by Lurch
Yep, but as Intel are known for processors predominantly then most people assume Centrino is just another name for their latest processor.

its a marketing initiative from Intel for a particular combination of CPU, mainboard chipset and wireless network interface. The combination currently consists of a Pentium M processor, the Intel 855 chipset family, and an Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 (IEEE 802.11b) or PRO/Wireless 2200 (IEEE 802.11bg) network connection.

But i guess i'm not most people :).

Edit - whoops should have read further up ;)

Hi I've had one of their lap tops for 3 years now. No complaints but what i want to tell you is that their Tachnical back up service is great. When your lap tops down and you are dreaming pound notes,tried the lot yourself you just phone them. Had to twice once i got through to bangalore in india then deli the other time. Each time a very well trained technician saved my hide. And the last thing is no phone costs.

Originally posted by Jamie
way better vid card (ATI radeon mobility 9700)

If you're wanting around £700, this one (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8677165232&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=91195) has a Radeon x600 (or, from looking at the on-site reviews, a mis-badged x700) & would set you back £630...

Originally posted by steev
If you're wanting around £700, this one (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8677165232&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=91195) has a Radeon x600 (or, from looking at the on-site reviews, a mis-badged x700) & would set you back £630...

Couple of questions:

1) How would you rate the CPU, an AMD Sempron 3000+ compared to a Centrino 725 1.6GHz?

2) How would you rate the video card, an ATI radeon mobility x700 to an ATI radeon mobility 9700?

If I wasn't this busy I'd find you some decent comparisons, but I am so I can't.

As far as I'm aware the x600 or x700 (whatever) is the next generation up from the 9700, though they are both the budget versions of their respective ranges.

And as the Sempron 3000+ beats the equivalent P4, I think the Centrino wouldn't be a problem, though the "proper" mobile AMD chip is the Turino, so you may like to compare power usage...

Plenty of various (CPU/GPU et al) comparisons at tomshardware (http://tomshardware.com) & Anandtech (http://www.anandtech.com) if you've more time than me to go hunting...

Originally posted by Jamie
I recently ordered a dell inspiron 6000, that was on special offer. Just called up to cancel the order and they offered my a 20% discount if I'd still have it. Still in two minds to be honest, but think I'll hold out and buy something a bit better in a month or so. Need to really assess what I want to be using it for.

Intersting - this happened to me too!
Unfortunately I'd already bought another PC, but in other circumstances, would have snapped their hand off, an extra 20% off makes it a real bargain!