Disposable Computers
(Note: This post is in response to this. Opinions expressed may not actually reflect those of gthing.net or it's owners. This response is meant in good, clean fun.)
Many years ago I bought a tube of toothpaste for $3. It was good toothpaste, it got my teeth clean, it tasted okay, and it was great for every day tooth cleaning jobs. When it came time to refill my toothpaste, I realized what the catch was - it was not refillable. At least, to refill it I would have had to buy another tube of toothpaste and squirt it into the first tube, and that just seemed pointless.
I bring this up because a friend of mine recently bought a Dell computer for a couple hundred bucks. He may or may not know it's a terrible computer, but he's excited anyway. You see, at the price, it's a disposable computer.
He was telling me all about it. He told me it was a Dell. I know a thing or two about Dell's.
In my opinion, any company that sacrifices quality for a price point is more than a little shady. Here are some highlights.
- Chinese manufacturers believe Americans will buy whatever is the best deal. To accomplish this, they use whatever parts can be sourced for the cheapest price that day. This results in mixed quality of the finished product.
- To further cut costs, as much cheap, outsourced labor is used as possible. Have a problem that is actually covered under warranty? Call it in! Guess where you're calling? Overseas.
- The warranty is halfway decent, but the service sucks. Send your computer in and expect to wait 3 months (that's a quarter of the total warranty period) to get your computer back. If you're wondering what the status is, don't worry - just call their crack support team (this may require you to speak another language)
- Dell uses a design-by-comittee method of designing their computers. This results in them churning out the same clunky plastic ugly computers year after year. These things aren't light either - you can use them to bludgeon people to death.
- Dell cuts corners wherever possible. It's a business model that works since most consumers are not discerning, and really do go for the price point. Go for one of their business class machines, and you might even get a halfway decent computer.
- Resale value on Dells sucks. Keep one for a normal 2 or 3 year period and you can only expect a few hundred bucks out of it - if you're lucky. There are reasons for this kind of devaluation, and it doesn't happen to all computers like you'd think.
- Flimsy hinges. I hope you like your screen falling backwards as you type.
- Dell's warranty is full of loopholes that help them get out of solving even the most common problems.
Congratulations, you have purchased a disposable computer. When it dies (not if, but when) it will actually be cheaper for you to buy a new one than to try to repair the broken one. Anyone who buys these computers is contributing to our single-serving, disposable society. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
But at least it was cheap!
zing.
zing.
Use say 'outsourced labor'
Use say 'outsourced labor' as if it's a guarantee that it makes a product suck. Try to name any manufactured product that is manufactured from beginning to end by one company. Not Apple.
A huge number of US companies use overseas call centers. Many people hate them, but again, it's not a sign of bad product.
Overseas manufacturing and call centers are the result of both creative destruction of US industry and trade imbalances resulting from pegged currencies and a weak US Dollar making it more cost effective to manufacture elsewhere. I think Dell computers suck too, but your second point is a flawed argument against them.
You offer an interesting
You offer an interesting perspective that merits consideration from several angles and the addition of some facts about Dell that might broaden your views.
First, did you know that Dell is the only computer manufacturer to offer free global consumer recycling, so that when the product reaches the end of its life we are responsible and will recycle your PC. That is only one of the many environmentally friendly and responsible leadership components brought to the market by Dell.
Second, do not assume all our computers are made in China. They are not. We manufacture PCs in Round Rock, TX, Nashville, TN and Winston Salem, NC, as well as Brazil, Ireland, India, China and soon Eastern Europe.
In fact, last I checked and I could be corrected but Dell is the only PC manufacturer still manufacturing in the USA in its own facilities, not out-sourced to some third-party manufacturer.
Third, yes we have service issues. We are working hard to regain the leadership we lost oin this front....and we are seeing significant progress. Are we perfect? NO. Are we where we want to be? NO. Are we investing and committed to getting there. You bet.
Check out www.serviceuntitled.com for a 3part interview with Dick Hunter who heads up our tech support and service or the recent postings at direct2dell and ideastorm on this matter.
We do not cut corners and think you will find a renewed commitment to quality in the new products coming to market. Look at the XPS systems and some of the new laptops. Our quality is outstanding and its why most Fortune 500 companies depend on Dell.
As for design....we are on it. Look at the category breaking xps 2010 for example. We have heard our customers at Ideastorm and all I can say is stay tuned for more
Hope that gives you some further information and appreciate hearing your thoughts.
hm. i have a dell. and it is
hm. i have a dell. and it is kind of broken. i think to fix it i will get in my car, get on the freeway, roll down the window and chuck the thing outside.
if not a dell then what? i do not like mac's. everyone tells me that the mac is the best but i do not like mac.
hm. i have a dell. it is
hm. i have a dell. it is kind of broken at the moment. i think to fix it i will take it and get in my car. i will get on the freeway and when i get to high speeds, i'll throw it out the window.
if not a dell, then what? i do not like mac's. i don't like computers. what is not expensive, and is easy to use?
@Paintjunkie: This post
@Paintjunkie: This post isn't about computers. It's about scooters. I could care less about Dell computers. I don't think they suck because of the reasons stated, I think they suck because they are crap. They design for the lowest common denominator - and that's okay for their business model - I would just never use one by choice.
@Richard: I appreciate your post. It's good to hear Dell is working on better customer support! As I said before, this post isn't really about computers, it's about scooters. Visit the link at the top of the article.
@Amera: Why do you hate on macs? If it's like most people then it's because you formed your opinions about computers many years ago and have not re-evaluated since, even though the computer market has changed drastically. Your exposure to macs has been limited and with the pre-conceived notion that they suck based on what your brother/mother/father/teacher/friend told you ten years ago. As far as ease of use - if you think Windows is easy to use, then any machine that runs windows will be the same. But keep in mind that you really do get what you pay for. It's been true since the beginning of time and it's true now, especially with computers. Using a Mac for two weeks (giving it an honest try!) has a 99% chance of making you wonder why the hell you EVER used a PC.
@Richard I'm impressed that
@Richard I'm impressed that you came right out and sad you were from Dell. I posted a negative post about a company the other day and one of their reps pretended to just be a "normal consumer" and it made me totally hate them. Now I will reap swift revenge on their first born.
Way to represent.
Yeah, but I couldn't resist
Yeah, but I couldn't resist the chance to spout out some political garbage.
Let's start an argument over the safety implications of a camouflage scooter. Safe or not? Easier to evade the po-po or not? Awesome or not?
@paintjunkie: safe? no.
@paintjunkie: safe? no. sleuth? maybe. awesome? yep. nodoubtaboutit.
@sam: my scooter is like unto your mac. you wouldn't get a dell, because you feel like your mac is in some way superior... i wouldn't buy anything made by tank, because i know they suck mad horse dong.
[...] were made cheap and
[...] were made cheap and likely designed to wear out and be out dated in a few months contributing the disposable society. The average computer consumer doesn’t seem to buy into the ‘you get what you pay [...]
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