mairving — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 23:40:26 +0000

Well two things.

(1.) If you never have a problem with a computer then it is a great computer.

(2.) You can see the differences in a company when you do have a problem. The ones with good customer service make a difference.

In saying that Dell is good, I am going merely by averages. They generally have less problems and better problem resolution than the other guys. The same with Gateway on the other side. The components inside a Dell are generally better than Gateway.

Parker — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 23:26:18 +0000

I don't like Gateway.

Chad Simper — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 22:44:36 +0000

I must agree with the general concensus that Dell is among the best. I have had a countless number of computers in the last ten years and recently I have began using Dell. I have built my own in the past for kicks but I have always went with a brand, not really knowing why.

A couple years ago, I was doing an working with the district system administrators for the local schools. My main job was to maintain the computers at the high-school (about 500). They had just purchased brand new Gateway computers (in 1998) when I started maintaining them and within a year, 300 of them had already been returned for one reason or another to be repaired. When I left in 2000, they had a contract with Dell to supply the next round of computers in 2002 - my suggestion.

Needless to say, I have never recommended or purchased a Gateway since.

I think Gateway was an excellent company with an excellent product, at one time. But, I think they grew too fast and made some poor decisions (they just barely broke even last quarter, if I'm not mistaken).

I have a Dell laptop (nearing one year old) which has yet to have a single problem (although, one thing that irritates me is that the cover for the video card on the bottom falls off constantly - only gripe though). In January, I purchased a very expensive Workstation that I have not had a single problem with so far.

I still have three systems that I built on my own though that are running just as well.

I think it's all in the parts until you have a problem.

mjames — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 21:23:39 +0000

Geese, you guys are crazy.

I get the consensus Gateway isn't like very well! Why? I've read you generally "stay away from Gateway" and you know people who had problems with them, but hasn't everyone at some point or another had a problem with a computer? Doesn't make the entire brand bad, IMO.

I have a Gateway. Been running since Dec. 1998 - never needed anything, including reinstalls. Only thing I've done is added 128 MB of new RAM and other goodies on the outside like a cordless mouse, but the point being is that Gateway has been very reliable for me. And when I DID have a problem, their support actually solved it.

Peter J. Boettcher — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 19:01:24 +0000

Thank god for people like your cousin, next time I get someone complaining I spend to much time messing with computers I can give them this URL

Mark Hensler — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 18:28:02 +0000

My cuz has one pic of it online right now. The next time I go to his house, I'll get more pics if it's still up.

Go to his site at http://gliebetronics.com Then go the the 'Innovations' section (dropdown top right). It's the fourth pic down.

Grandmaster — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 16:19:09 +0000

Yeah, I wanna see some picks of that bad boy

Mark Hensler — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 07:17:52 +0000

I should get a picture, huh?

Parker — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 03:51:49 +0000

That would be fun to have a computer hanging on the wall that works and everything.

Mark Hensler — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 03:18:37 +0000

LOL...
My cousin has a computer completely dismembered and hanging on the wall in the garage. The HD has the lid off and he's got plexy glass cable tied to it to keep dust out. AND.. it's fully functional!