OT:Dell computers

[Fairlight]

This public service announcement was brought to you by Ken Cole:
> We at GE use only Dell desktop/notebook computers, several 100,000 of
> them world wide and we have very little problem with them.
> 
> We do though stay to just two models, one desktop and one notebook.

Several of my clients get Dell servers.  The PERC RAID controllers like to
die, unfortunately.  Of all the things you don't want to see die, that's
pretty much the top of the list.  And yet, it's the most common fault point
I've seen.  We've had integrated NICs just up and die as well.  Their rack
servers are -mostly- okay, but not without fault.

Their support is not stellar for business, although it's markedly better
than what colleagues, clients, friends, and anecdotes and news stories
around the net indicate of their consumer level support.  To say they are
not beloved for their support is an understatement.

I'd probably only really consider Dell for notebooks, myself.  I'm about as
willing to go with Dell on a notebook as I am with HP.  And I own a Compaq,
so...  It's a different story, because it's a lot harder to spec out and
build your own notebook than it is a server/desktop.  The latter, I prefer
having absolute control over what goes in, down to brands.  I refuse to buy
Seagate drives, for instance.  WDC all the way, these days.  (I remember
when the reliability and performance of those two vendors was pretty much
reversed.)  So since you can't (easily, affordably) spec out a custom
notebook, you pretty much have to go with one of the major players.  At
that point, I pretty much look at cost:features and go with the best I can
afford, resigning myself to knowing I'm stuck with whatever dearth of
support they offer.

mark->